How do I stop my horse from pawing or kicking in the trailer?

Pawing and kicking in the trailer are expressions of anxiety, frustration, or impatience, and the specific trigger tells you which response is most appropriate. A horse that paws while waiting to be unloaded is typically impatient and has been reinforced by being unloaded promptly when it paws — unloading stops the pawing and the horse learns the behavior works. A horse that kicks or scrambles during travel is experiencing anxiety about balance and movement, which is a different problem requiring a different solution. For the impatient pawer, the fix is to not unload while the pawing is happening. Wait for a pause, even a brief one, and unload in that moment of quiet. Consistently unloading only during stillness teaches the horse that pawing delays its release rather than producing it. For the anxious traveler that scrambles or kicks during movement, first rule out balance problems: is the horse tied too short to balance itself, is the trailer floor slippery, is the trailer suspension rough? Many horses travel significantly better when given adequate head freedom to use their neck for balance, and many improve with a deeper bedding of shavings that provides grip. Haul the horse a short distance at low speed and assess. Some horses travel better with a companion; others are calmer alone. Kicking at trailer walls is dangerous to the horse and to other horses in a slant-load — if it persists despite addressing anxiety and balance, consult a veterinarian to rule out pain as a contributing factor.