Tracy’s been in touch with a horse biting problem – there’s quite a few of these on the blog now:
“Alastair
Love this chat room, its awesome, but I would like to go back to the “horse biting” issue
I recently did a great workshop with a wonderful Australian instructor, I am new to the horse ownership lifestyle too – 1 year this xmas day it will be and never did I have a horse or any involvement with them as a child, so I’m over the moon.
Anyway I was quietly with my horse in his paddock yesterday afternoon, he is in a paddock on his own and I’m wondering if that has anything to do with the fact he took a nice big nip at me yesterday on my back.
Got quite a shock I must say because since the workshop and showing I’m alpha (as I did have problems with this, was a little too woosie with my leadership skills) he hadn’t tried to bite me.
Horse biting problem
I was standing my stomach to his (side on) just feeling his tummy and his head swung around to the right and nipped me on my back, never my shoulder blade. Now I know this sounds odd but I don’t really remember what I did first. I used to “react” to things like that but know now its not the right thing to do. I did walk towards him so he backed up and I did put my palm on his nose, a little harder than I ever wanted to and for that I feel terrible as I just know it wasn’t his fault I should have just said what I usually say if he gets in my space “ah ah” or “get out of my space” with the correct energy that I have been using.
So does anyone have any ideas why he took this nip at me? Is it because he’s in a paddock on his own? Is it because I wasn’t showing the correct energy and leadership? Or maybe I just touched him in a sensitive area? I can usually touch him all over, yes all over without any issue. I never thought I’d have a problem with horse biting. We love each other a lot and I have learnt a lot from him, maybe he was just teaching me another lesson? I don’t give him any abuse and I don’t believe he was abused, although we never know once they have been rescued.
Horse biting problem
He is a standard gelding, was going to be shot because he didn’t run (trot) fast enough for his owners and fortunately my husband rescued him for me….the day we set eyes on each other, we knew we would be the best of friends with a lot to learn from each other, although I think I am the one with a lot to learn. He is very intelligent, very smart and will know what to do on the groundwork when I work with him (we don’t ride yet). So if anyone can think of any ideas why I’d love to hear from them.
Thanks
Tracey”
Who can help Tracey this horse biting issue? I know it’s something we’ve all come across at some time or other.
Please do leave a comment below if you can help.
Tracey’s post also reminded me of this one:
Best
If you’ve only had a year of experience with horses then it could just be him testing you. It happens. it could happen in ten years. Horses can be moody too (maybe he was having a bad day). I’ve been around horses my whole life & going on two years with my newest rescue. He’s a lifer for me because of the fact that he’s moody & it keeps it interesting for me. Don’t feel too guilty, these are big animals and anything you do with your hands doesn’t compare to what they do to each other although you might have hurt his feelings for a minute (and getting angry is kinda counter productive). Just make sure than you find a consistent way to reprimand him when he does bite.
He was probably having a bad moment. I wouldn’t think too much of it. I have a mare that did that once or twice. I backhand her (gently) and tell her “don’t you bit me”. LOL She is fine after that. You sound like you are enjoying him. Have a great day!
Tracey, what you have described is 100% a dominance issue. Horses have in their DNA to check-out where they are in the structure of the herd. His herd ,at that time, was you and him. So he asserted himself. It`s to be expected whenever you enter an area that he claims as his space. The very first thing to be done on your part is to ascertain whether or not he wants to share space. Your gut will tell you the answer. The very next to look for is a politeness on his part {acceptance of you in his space}. Side-note, Never under any circumstance allow a horse to bite you {they have declared war on you} you have 3 seconds to respond when this happens. My advice. is to arm yourself with a small whip for the next two weeks. A swift rap on the butt works wonders. The relationship will be borne out of respect which in equis equals love
A horse with ulcers will react this way when you touch their belly but you said he never had a problem with this so it is definitely a lack of respect. If you have been doing gw with him he should know how to back up with hussle when you ask. Any time he is disrespectful like this get him backing up fast & hard & back him until he gives up his union card & understands that you are the leader no ifs ands or buts. Be black & white no shades of gray & be consistent with this. He will eventually stop this but may still occassionaly test you & you will need to be ready. Hope this helps.
Hi, my name is Adara
My horse does the same thing.
If I give him a hug he will sometimes bite me on the back. I know he is not aggressive, because he would have his ears back. He just thinks it’s fun to nip and think he is funny. LOL
What I would do is try to watch for signs of him going to bit you again. like is it aggressive or is it just play? (sometimes it is hard to tell.)
When he swings his head to bite you try to stick your elbow out so he will run into it with his nose. He will think that he ran into it, so he shouldn’t want to do it again. You might have to do this for awhile, but it should help.
Also when you do this be careful he may spook.
Do not be tense, just do your best to have your elbow in the way of his biting.
I really hope this will help with his biting! 🙂
One more thing. You said you where petting him on his tummy when he bit you.
Maybe you could try to bet him all over slowly and gently start by the head and work your way to the tail.
Watch for tail switching, ear signs, and be very careful around the back legs.
Stay close to him, because if he does kick he will push you out of the way making it less likely for you to get hurt.
Adara,
smack the crap out of him –he will stop spoiled brat
Hi, I’m not an expert at all but I was told you shouldn’t leave a horse on its own, the horse I look after threatens to nip me sometimes I think it is her being naughty essentially as she threateneds to nips her companion as well.
My horse did this when she had ulcers which I think was in part caused by being on her own too. Might be worth looking up other symptoms of ulcers or gut issues and see if he matches any other ones.
Unfortunately it’s the only way they’ve got to tell us they’re not quite right or something hurts.
X
Hi On the “Nip” in correct language in a perfect world of the Horse and Human is a FORM OF CONTACT. The answer will be known eventually by you. Horses nip for many reasons to share, to Like, to reason with another, to reach out, To warn another, to put a young horse in place, parental guidance if you will, add to this list
It often has various strengths when horses use the nip. But only you will know as you care as you do to share life with this horse. I tell you this is not taken lightly but in horse communication it is a part of it. Humans don’t want it of course so there is ground to cover. But do it fairly.
My very finest mare would nip me lightly like a pinch and me only) on the behind, whenever I was say grooming, cleaning hooves, tacking up! I would feel her of course, I jumped or hollered at her and she would turn her head away as if to say who did that?? And roll those enormous eyes softly, even raise her head up abit as to say you won’t smack me. And she was Right, because by the time I was in her face asking why? it was to late to do much except tell her how mean she was to me, I remember saying Oww! to her and asking her why she did it and if possible she would rub her forehead on me. She had it down to a science. Remember she only nipped me for 20 plus years.
Kat
Spirit Acres Farm
I have learned if you use your hand they become head shy but if you use your elbow they learn when they bite you they should be smart enough to figure out don’t bite my you get shooded away or hit you back.
you were feeling his tummy? He could have had a sore spot there, and he was just telling you “ouch, dont touch me there!”
Do what John Lyons recommends. Act like you are going to kill him for 30 seconds or so. Biting is not to be tolerated nor is kicking. If you react too softly and deliberately you will not make your intentions clear. Then go on as normal.
Hi Tracey,
Firstly… Don’t feel bad about using you Palm on him. If he had done that to another horse he would have copped a lot more than a palm in the nose I tell you now lol. Remember that he is a horse, not a human toddler.
I can see two reasons as to why he may have bitten you…
1. PAIN RELATED a
If you were touching him in an area that is sore it is a very normal reaction. We, as humans do the same. DON’T TOUCH IT… IT HURTS!! My fella is lovely but came to me in a world of pain and was always nippy when touched in the sensitive areas. It is not to be tolerated but doesn’t need to be resolved with aggression either. Just remember that he is a horse and expects reactions as such. When working with him always keep one eye on him and stop the thought process before it becomes an action. You know if he is thinking about biting if you watch him. He will give you a sign that is what he is thinking! Stop the thought process with gentle and strong persistence.
2. ALPHA STATUS
With some horses, once you become the Alpha they will challenge you, especially if they have been in control for some time. For others it is like they revert back to foalish behaviour. I find this with race horses as they generally they never got to go through the whole learning process properly as they are broken in early and sent to work. At the moment it would appear that I have a 6year old, 500kg foal in my paddock. He is hysterical and people just stop and enjoy him playing with me. He still tries the foal nips and takes off at 100mph when I give him the look of NO! And yes he does comic running back to me at 100mph for cuddles immediately as well… Lol Don’t make the biting thing acceptable. His mother wouldn’t. She would reprimand that behaviour very quickly. He would be bitten back, possible kicked or sent out of the herd until he wanted to behave and have some manners and respect.
Be firm and consistent in what is unacceptable behaviour and reward what is acceptable behaviour. He will understand quickly and try to please you.
Remember he is a horse at all times. It’s easy to forget. Love him with all your heart, be consistent with him. Consistenty is the key to everything! If he is confused he will not react the right ways and love him him to pieces by placing rules and boundaries. Understand completely the differences between being aggressive and being assertive. Being assertive is all you need. Learn to think like a horse as you will struggle to make him think like a human. Watch them in their natural environments. Watch them “speak” to each other. There is no point being Alpha if you don’t understand their language. That can just become dangerous and frustrating.
Most of all I give you credit for saying “why”. So many don’t and stay in that place for to long. Hats off to you and I hope you learn to love Leaning the silent and wonderful language that is that of the horse! It’s a wonderful language to know
Bless you and your husband for rescuing. If only there were more people like you, the world would be a better place.
good luck with the biting. 😀
I agree with Deedee. Biting or kicking is a capital offense and MUST be stopped immediately. As John Lyons teaches, you need to act as though he is about to die – scream, curse (or whatever you do loudly) and hit (only behind the shoulder and above the legs for no more than 30 secs.. If yelling at your horse is totally out of the norm, this will have an even greater effect. Horses have a strong sense of justice – they know they transgressed.
MAYBE HE WAS GIVING YOU A LOVE BITE. I HAD ONE HORSE THAT DID THAT TO ME, AFTER I TRIED ALL THE THINGS ABOVE, I BIT HIM ON THE NOSE, HE SHOOK HIS HEAD AND LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS CRAZY,THAT WAS THE END OF HIS NIPPING
DeeDee is almost correct. John Lyons does recommends going after them like you are going to kill them. But he has very specific rules.
1) You must start with a second or two. Any more than that and it is revenge, not training. If you can’t start on time, be more alert for the next instance.
2) Use whatever is available, but you can’t touch their face or lower legs–or cause actual damage
3) Use your voice, body and whatever you can get your hands on and RAIN HELL DOWN ON THEM. Yes, even for a “nip.” A nip is just testing the waters before a bite.
4) Don’t go 30 seconds (sorry DeeDee, you miss remembered this step) . . . hell should last for only 2 or 3 seconds. Trust me this time really only allows for one good swing, which often as not misses as the horse jumps back away from all the anger being directed at it. It’s the intent that counts not the pain.
5) Then as DeeDee says, go on as normal. No residual anger. Incident over and forgotten.
As some of you are already starting to compose you reply’s hating this use of force and anger. Please picture this:
A horse in the pasture reaches over and bites another horse. What happens? If the bitten horse is Alpha it will react quickly exploding anger and with a bite or kick, then go back to grazing. Doesn’t that sound exactly like John Lyons recommends. What a bitten alpha horse will not do is:
1) Ignore the incident
2) Make nicey nicey with the biter
3) Chase the offender all of the pasture trying to catch them to punish them
4) Corner the offender kick/bite on them over and over
BIting (and remember nippy is biting, it’s just a question of degrees) and Kicking can never be tolerated. It must be addressed immediately and with no ambiguity. For your own safety, you must be the Alpha in the herd. Communicate in your horses’ own language to make this very clear.
For Bud
You should never hit anyone with a whip anyone animals or humans there areother ways to go around teaching good behaviour
I had a mare that acted like that unless she was with other alphas. Only when she was in the paddock alone and felt territorial did she do that kind of stuff. So I always made sure she was with other horses that tended to dominate her. I also began to notice the cues and if I saw that look in her eye I would touch her nose with the crop and say FORGET ABOUT IT.
I am a fairly new rider (4 yrs). There are so many different responses to this issue I wonder if there is “one” answer. I cannot stand to be bitten by horses. I’ve been bitten several times and it really bothers me. I’ve been told that coming up to the mouth from under the mouth and smacking prevents them from being hand shy. It must be done immediately, however. I think biting is just a trait they all may have but don’t all exercise.
Deedee is right on, if you did not see it coming and don’t know why, make yourself as big as possible and loud and aggressive for 30 seconds and then go on as usual. Another way that works well with young and obnoxious horses (colts), is to grab their upper lip and squeeze and rub it until they want to get away. If you do this every time they touch you with their nose without permission they soon quit.
Regardless of the reason he bit you he must know that it is not acceptable. In a herd situation a more dominant horse would have kicked him or bit him back. You need to reprimand him instantly, a slap with your hand or even a tap with a whip are not cruel. However, don’t hit him about the face. If you do not react to this he will think he is dominant and that he can treat you how he pleases.
I am horrified at some of these replys
FIRST and I do mean FIRST get a vet (NOT SOME IDIOT WHO MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE READ THE BLACK STALIION -thus qualifying them as experts) and find out if your house had a medical problem. Is your horse ticklish there?
Try and remember what you were doing.
I have known horse to be conditioned to nip as the rider has savagely tightened up the girth and this “nip” was the horsed only way to communicate
stop hurting me
violence is wrong DO NOT HIT
Tracey,
One thing that stood out to me me was that you recently attended a workshop &, as I interpreted,began to learn how to become your horse’s alpha leader. Am wondering what behaviors your horse may have had prior to the workshop that you wanted to work on?
Horses are keen on reading other horses & they communicate through body language. You said ‘nip’ on your back….not shoulder, which would have been more convenient if your horse had intent to harm. Am wondering if this seemed to be in irritation by the horse or a gesture of dominance?
Horses can read confidence in our language….as well, they can be inclined to challenge new ‘language’ from us. They will test boundaries.When you were @ the workshop, this was a structured environment with a professional that could intervene when needed. One workshop is not going to teach you what you will need to know & learn with more experience with horses.
Horses don’t ‘love’ us they same way we love them, but never discount the leadership that earns respect, therefore in the horses mind, a since of safety which ultimately, for them, intends a sense of love. When you achieve this, you may capture their heart and this is a bond that is worth so much. I trust my animals more than people because they don’t lie.
Welcome to our horse world….it will take to heaven & earth, never to hell.
Respect between us & our horses is,ideally mutual & sometimes a challenge to maintain.
I have an OTT thoroughbred that had never tried to ‘hurt’ me in any way.About a year ago (have had this horse 15 yrs) he took an aggressive snap @ me when I went to pet on him as he was eating..I had done this often. If he had wanted to get me, he could have. It was a very firm warning to me not to bother him while he was eating. this is the only time he has ever done this but I do respect his space more, though I still approach him while hie is eating….sometimes he will stop & look @ me as if to say thank you.
All I did @ the time was yell ‘hey!’ @ him.
I have a ‘rescue’ thor. mare that is very alpha & does not like to be approached while eating, so I take this opportunity to approach her. She will be initially disgruntled, but I don’t leave until she allows me to place my hand on her neck & rub her.She needed to learn tolerance & this has worked…with her. I can do things with her in her stall now that I know she wouldn’t tolerate from anyone else….it has taken alot of time, but she no longer pins her ears @ anyone when they stand outside her stall. this process took over 1 yr….have now had her 3 yrs. & she is so much happier.
You have taken on a rescue horse as a beginner…get all the help you can & enjoy the progress you are making. You will end up with a bond that will amaze you.
You didn’t say who the Australian instructor was that conducted the workshop. My best advice would be to get Clinton Anderson’s fundamental horse training DVDs and start at square one. Clinton is the best known horse trainer originally from Australia. He has an uncanny ability to teach and explain the lessons in a most understandable manner. If possible, attend one of the Walkabout Tours he conducts every year. You’d be amazed at the behavioral problems that “correct themselves” as you go through his fundamentals course.
This is definitely dominence. The horse is trying you out all the time you don’t establish leadership in one clinic session then ta da its all done, it is a constant. I would have sent him away for that (as in away from your space)as a leader would have (although a leader would;t have been bitten in the first place) that is not to be tolerated. Horses do not love us but they can respect us if we have learnt that.
Lots of good advise up there – But also a few VERY BAD ONES , what ever you do
DO NOT “smack the crap out of him” and DO NOT use a whip! or other means of agression – that will only serve to make him resentful and change your relationship from one of trust > which it should be . To one of fear.
Backing him up is the best way . I also agree that often horses show agression when they are physically unwell definitly something to check.
Not quite sure what act like you are going to kill him for 30 seconds means……..I have a horse that has bitten on ocassion also, have tried the elbow, yellings at him nothing seems to work. When he decides to bite 99.9% of the time we have our backs to him. He strikes as quickly as a snake. He tried reaching across the electric fence to bite me the other day and touched his nose on it. Zapped him good. I had to laugh because he did it to himself. He actually had a better attitude after that! Hoping to read more ideas from others 🙂
Biting is unacceptable under any circumstances!! It is not cute nor funny and should be checked immediately! You are lucky that you were not hurt!
I believe your horse either has ulcers which can create pain on his sides (my horse bites his sides a lot when he gets ulcers, which also makes him grumpy and he does not like me touching his sides — used to bite me at first), or his previous owners (those who thought he did not run fast enough for them) probably kick him a lot with their heels, so this area of his body is sensitive, physically as well as psychologically. By the way, it is not nice to keep a horse by himself unless there are other horses in another paddock or field close by, that he can socialize with.
But that said, you should never let a horse bite you, so you have to return it and bite him really hard on the face/nose/lips or on the neck. He will never bite you again. This may sound strange, but that’s what my trainer does and it really works. You have to do it right away so he understands why you are biting him.
I think u should just spend time with the horse, like I do with mine and when your horse bites hold there head down and lay down the rules and if that doesn’t work give a little slap on the neck.(good luck)!!!
Cos animals can talk but don’t often get through to the person paying attention they will perform an act to get you to understand. A “nip” means ??mouth, teeth, diet, ulcers, tongue, bit, throat, etc then you will get the message sent by the nip. There is NO naughty horse its trying to tell you something.
I know, many of you was at a clinic with big trainers, BUT how much did you study horses after that ?
This show me you didn’t learned how to read horses language. I am 100% sure, the horse told you some before he bite you. Remember, you play with fire soon or later you will be burned; the same with horses, you play with horses, you will be kicked, bitten, and so on.
You tell you do not abuse him, but a horse, cow, deer, are herd animals, and not to be by him self in a padock. Holding a horse in stall or paddock automatic you punish him like a criminal is held in a cell in segregation sector of a jail or prison.
Please ask your sheriff to put you in segregation sector of his jail for a week, and then you will understand your horse’s feelings.
Remember, the horse is like us the humans, have good days have bad days. First learn how to read a horses language, learn how to be a herd leader and a friend in same time, and not only a dictator.
I started horses in 2010, in 2011 I had my first horse, her name Something Magical (Magic), she kicked me two times, and took her one and a half year to start to trust me. Then, after I found her history, she was extremely abused, and today we are best friends. In some days she tell “Please let me alone, I don’t fill good!”, I give her few treats and a good scratch,and her mood change.She is with other 7 horses in 20 acre pasture.
😛 couldn’t agree more
I have been nipped as well and when it occurs a swift smack on the nose and saying no loudly works well with my saddle bred. My problem is my quarter horse will cow kick without any warning out of no where can any one help me with that?
All the time a horse, and cow, and a bull will give you a warning or two before they take any action like kicking.
A horse in a herd wouldn’t think of nipping the alpha mare. It’s obvious you love him dearly, but he isn’t yet convinced that YOU are the dominant mare. Also, did you have his permission to rub him? Keep your posture so you can at least see his ears out of the corner of your eye. Maybe getting cozy with him AFTER exercise would be safer. Maybe he didn’t have a very good time at the track and is still cranky about things. I have an emotional mare who puts her ears back when I quit scratching her favorite place, but I always try to watch her expression. Be careful and good luck!
U are suppose to pinch them on the cheeck or thrre sonouts like their mother or leader would. Of you were grooming him he may have been grooming u. If he had his eard bsck or wss seishing his tsil i would check gor s physical readon he may have been in pain. Also have a dentist float his teeth. Good luck Standardbred are the most tolersnt of breeds. I perdonally think he was grooming u.
About a year ago, I was adopted by an Arabian who lived next door. His owner wasn’t really taking care of him, or the others that were in the pasture. They were supposed to belong to his daughter and as often happens, she got older and involved in her own life, didn’t live here and just forgot about them. Dad provided shelter, water and pasture but nothing else.
While working around my own property, I found myself being followed and upon turning around, found him behind me. He had found his way through the fence and was getting loose to come and visit. This continued for a few days and when I spoke to the owner, he asked if I wanted them. I really love horses, but at the time didn’t really want the responsibility of another animal- I have livestock of my own.
Needless to say, he now has a new residence as well as two of his pasture mates.
When I first took him in I was feeding him snacks by hand to build the friendship/ relationship and he too nipped me. It was not really a mistake, he just wasn’t being given the snack fast enough as far as he was concerned. It happened fast and so did my reaction- he got a very rapid pop on the nose with the palm of my hand-I don’t even think that he had time to bring his teeth together during the nip!! I actually surprised myself and he was shocked I also moved rapidly forward toward him forcing him to back up. It’s been over a year now and he has never tried that again. He is a big clown now and a great friend. At 17, he runs in Arabian style from the far back pasture when I call him and then play steps as he gets closer. I believe firm rapid correction is the ticket- but it must be fair. Others on the site have recommended “herd-like” treatment and I am also a believer. Fast and fair.
He is my first horse so am still learning but I have always been a student of animal behavior and used it in my dog training for over 25 years. Horses being pray animals are a little different but the principle is the same- correction should be as fast as possible or the reason for being corrected will be lost to the animal. The punishment should be delivered in a way that they are familiar with. Dogs don’t strike or kick one another, so the act of striking is not in their “dictionary”. Horses bite, and kick (strike) one another in response to certain stimuli- and it happens fast. Popping a horse on the nose or on the shoulder with the palm or the heal of the hand is not nearly as severe as another horse’s kick, but is non the less surprising to them and obviously works. Backing them at the same time also helps- that’s what the do to each other.
As others have said on the site, I would also be inclined to investigate the region where you were touching him. Is there soreness there? Is it possible that he has an ulcer? Obviously, if this is the case, correction would be unfair.
I was told by the previous owner of my Arabian that he didn’t like his feet messed with. After having him for a few months and doing some basic grooming I decided that it was time to tend to his feet. Started with the front and just picking them up, eventually worked around to his back feet. Then started picking- front feet first then back. Am now filing and trimming. The previous owner is shocked and couldn’t believe that he let me near them. Said the ferrier had a really bad time with him and had struck him with the file. Apparently beat him with it. This is something I don’t understand or agree with. Everyone on the site seems to support firm fair handling at the right time and I believe it works. But if there is a preexisting injury, sore or something that is causing pain, that issue needs to be considered and corrected.
Good luck and have fun.
My app does this to me when im in the process of cinching his girth. What has worked for me with him and the others i own is to watch him as you cinch him up watch his head and as soon as he turns around to bite take your hand and firmly push his head back to the fornt and say no. After about the fourth time they get it. I wasnt hittin or slapping him just firmly pushing his head back to the front and say no worked with him quickly as well as it did the others.
Hi
When I first got my boy he nipped a lot, I felt this was because the last owner had young children who smacked him in the face and I caught her punching him in the face. You can imagine my anger. I was bitten badly on my thigh as I was saddle ring him, but now I know that there were too manyof us around him fussing and he wasn’t used to this. In the last two and half year of having him, he doesn’t nip like he use to. It took a lot of time. Now when he feels like and I mean an affectionate nip I will knock his chest with my shoulder and walk off stopping a bit away from him and hanging my head. It took him 30 minutes the first time to do e to me, now he comes and gently nudges and I will turn and hug him. He does have his off days and I just go sorry and walk off and come back an hour later and he is much better. He is a jealous horse and if I talk to anyone even my dogs when he is with me, he will eventually nip to get my attention. There is a man battle going on between my husband and him when I am around, but if my husband goes by himself to say hi he is a softy. Yes I like the attention from him, I do warn everyone but I am the one with him everyday and say good night at 11pm.
Just make sure your baby knows who is boss and if you can watch a mare in a field and what she does, she is nudge him and walk away or bite, lol we cannot bite, but we can walk away and ignore and its does work but takes time.
Take your time and get to know him but remember if he is be odd on a day just walk away but make sure he understands that you are doing this and then go back an hour later. Do loads of ground work. It’s taken me a long time and I am still learning and having to listen to him.
He hated his belly being touch, we found out he had ulcers and it obviously irrated him. Now I gently touch him every day with right hand and left hand stopping his head from swinging to nip, this has taken six month and now he just swings but doesn’t attempt to nip.
Good luck
I stand corrected. Three seconds of acting like you are going to kill him. But make them count.
Every horse is an individual and each situation has something unique about it. Based on someone else’s description of an event, I’m not sure what I would do. I’ve probably used most of the suggestions I read in the other comments at least once in the past 50 years but in my most recent encounter with a biting and kicking horse I chose to do nothing but safely position myself when handling him. When the horse came to me he had been with a trainer for two weeks and declared dangerous. I felt the horse was not well. I thought he could have GI problems, as well as, a neurological problem. I had my vet exam him and he had both gastric and hindgut ulcers. He also had equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. As his health has improved so has his temperament.
Definitely an Alpha issue… even with mares and geldings. You must know the pecking order in your herd and you must stay Alpha… they will test you. I have always had stud horses and you must prove you are the alpha to them. They can and will bite the crap out of you or worse before you assert your alpha status, especially if you turn your back. To prove I am alpha in the herd I take the alpha mare and put her through the paces in front of him at least once a week. this keeps her respect and you can be sure she beats the trash out of him. He sees you making her, the baddest b***h of all, dance to your music and the expressions say it all. He sees you as one real bad ass, not to me messed with. Has worked for me many years, but it must be refreshed in their mind often, at least once a week. I never have to hit or yell.
I always keep track of their head and feet because any horse can be a 1200 lb killing machine under the right circumstances. A dear friend of mine had a mare 26 years and it was bomb proof. After it’s last show, where it took 1st prize, the handler was walking it out of the winners circle and my friend was walking behind her mare. A horsefly got on her rump and instinctively the mare kicked back, trying to get the horsefly off. Her hooves hit my friend in the chest and stopped her heart immediately,,, she was dead that quick.
Try and repeat the action of that day and maintain a careful watch and move out of the way if the horse tries to nip. This may be just a case of the horse been ticklish in that area. Rub the horse from behind the girth and see if his expression changes as you move closer to the point where you were when he nipped you. If this is ulcers he reaction would be more aggressive and will normally bite and not nip. take notice and don’t aggravate.
Horses are a big animal and should know there place it is up to you to teach them. That said in my experience horse bite is to test you. A quick and to the point response is best. Some people treat horses like humans but they are not. Don’t get me wrong I love my horses very much and consider them my best friends. When I brought my mare home the first day she was great but a day later she tried to bite, my quick reaction was to give her a good slap on the nose and she never tried that again. Now she is the best horse I have. The best advice I ever got was not let a horse intimidate me. But be carful they are big animals
Nipping is just a lead up to biting. The horse is just testing, with a nip, to see if he can become more aggressive. It’s how the horse world works. When they want to move up in the pecking order, they start testing the waters with the horse above them. If what they are doing works, they keep getting more and more aggressive. The John Lyons solution is a good one, but you must act Immediately. If you wait to think about it, the horse, in it’s opinion has won. You are not going to hurt the horse. You just want to get a mind set that nipping (or biting) is not acceptable under any circumstances. Spending time trying to analyze why he did it is time wasted, and puts you in further danger that he thinks he won. It’s not a bad or good thing to the horse, it’s just part of their world. They do what they can get away with to establish dominance.
Some horses are just naturally cinchy, when you tighten the cinch, they will bring their head around, generally with their ears back. Not a good thing to ignore. The best solution I’ve found is that I just watch them out of the corner of my eye. If the head comes around, I just give them a quick sharp bump on the nose with my elbow and go right on doing what I was doing. They are not sure if they caused it or if I did it, but usually, a couple of times and it will stop. It’s also a good idea to smooth the skin away from under the girth after cinching, to make sure there are no wrinkles under the cinch. You can also lift one front leg forward and then the other. Just don’t stand right in front of the horse and lift the leg away from your body, that is, don’t get it above any part of your body in case the horse takes it away from you. DO NOT let them get away with these bad behaviors. They can and will hurt you (seriously) if it is not corrected. Keep in mind, this is not bad (or good) behavior in their mind. It is just a horse trying to assert their dominance in their horse world. They need to learn that they cannot get away with it – ever. Any time you let it go, you are unconsciously reinforcing in the horses mind that it is working for them. They will try it again, if it is not corrected. Look at how the dominate horse corrects bad behavior. If they live through that, time after time, you are not going to hurt them. It is generally the soft hearted owners who want to pet them through every situation that end up getting hurt. When they show bad behavior, treating them kindly just reinforces it. You want a well disciplined, well mannered horse that is safe to be around. Your job is to not accept the wrong behavior and to stroke and reinforce the right responses by praise and stroking. Be safe and be consistent. If you correct it one time and let it go the next, the horse will probably keep trying as you are not sending a consistent message. Be safe.
Thank you to everyone for all your support and comments. I will take them all in my stride and see what works best. We did have his teeth done last Friday and noted that his Right canine was broken, its possible this could have been his issue and why he kept nipping me. I do take on board also the dominance issue and he is testing me. I’m happy to work with anything and see how it all goes for us. I will also keep an eye on the stomach thing, if it persists over next week I’ll certainly get him checked over again (got him checked out same time as teeth done). Again thank you everyone, this support is fantastic, this is a long journey and I’m in no hurry to get it over and done with.
My horse is very dominant. He will bite at times. He is much better than when he was younger. I use a grazing mask to put him in time out when he threatens to bite me. He doesn’t like the grazing mask but he does learn in a kind way that it is not acceptable.