Why did my horse kick? Was he scared or was he being aggressive? Figuring out his motivation will enable you to deal more effectively with the animal. If the kick is fear-based, punishing the horse will make him worse. If kicking was motivated by true aggression there are some cases where punishment may be appropriate. In a veterinary treatment situation the motivation is most likely to be fear or pain. In this lecture, basic principles of animal motivation will be discusses that apply to all animals both large and small. Behavior can be motivated by the following factors; fear, pain, instructional behavior patterns, aggression, and the drive for social companionship.