The Complex Causes Behind Horse Pawing

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Horses may not be able to speak but they are excellent communicators. Without saying a word they can show you how they are feeling and whether their needs are being met. In the above video, you can see a horse making an exaggerated and repeated pawing movement on the ground. What does this mean? Watch the video, and then we will provide a detailed translation of this horse ‘language’ and try to figure out what the animal in the above clip is trying to tell us.

Horse Body Language and Welfare

Understanding horse body language is vital for safeguarding their welfare. Certain behaviors, called stereotypic behaviors, are useful indicators of sub-optimum well-being. Research shows that if a horse exhibits these behaviors for more than 10 percent of the time, it is not happy!

Stereotypic behavior in horses includes cribbing (a grunting noise as the horse grabs an object with its incisors), weaving (lateral swinging of the head, neck, and forequarters), and stall walking (repetitive circular walking while in their stall).

However, some experts believe that pawing is also a type of stereotypic behavior as it is often seen in conjunction with cribbing and weaving. Some horses may be more genetically prone to these behaviors than others.

Not All Pawing Is a Problem

Pawing is a natural behavior for horses and does not always indicate that there is a problem. They do it in the wild to uncover food and open up water holes. You will also see them pawing the ground to soften it up before rolling. If they come across an unfamiliar object, they will paw at it to try to figure out what it is. So, pawing itself is nothing to worry about but if it is happening excessively, it could indicate a problem.

Humans can inadvertently or purposely encourage their horses to paw more often and more vigorously. If you reward pawing with food or attention, they will soon learn that this behavior gets them something that they value. This is called operant conditioning and is the theory behind reward-based dog (and other animal) training.

Horse Pawing Likely Has Many Causes

If you ask a group of horse experts what causes pawing, you are likely to receive multiple answers. These will range from an intestinal upset to impatience and even dominance. Others think that it is a mechanism to compensate for uneven flooring or unbalanced hooves. An alternative opinion is that it is a way for the horse to compensate for being domesticated and is a way in which they exert some control over their environment.

Very few scientific studies have been conducted into why horses paw the ground. However, some preliminary research has indicated that it increases with age and happens more often in the afternoon and after physical activity.

The bottom line is that it is a natural behavior that can become excessive due to welfare issues, physical discomfort, or human encouragement. We have no way of telling which is the case in the above video.  If you are concerned about this behavior in your horse, you should always get them checked over by an equine vet with expertise in behavioral issues.