Comments on: How to stop my horse from biting

By: Janik

Janik — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:26:02 +0000

Hi, can anyone advise me please? My mare is quite good to handle and is responsive from October to March. In March, during her first season of the year, she becomes quite sharp – biting and kicking at every opportunity. She also becomes bad tempered particularly being led in from the field when she has her ears flat, pointing back, head swaying toward me but not quite going for me – almost threatening but she seems to know not to go that far. I had her on Regumate last year but the behaviour still did not change, despite the fact that an ultra sound showed her ovaries had completely shrivelled (due to the Regumate). I am not going to put her on that again as her behaviour did not improve. She will become good and sweeter from October – any advice please? I think it is behavioural but not sure. I think she feels ‘uncomfortable’ and it is her signal that she can get away with biting and kicking. Seems sad that she wants to after we have had such a good and peaceful winter. I have had her on Naf Oestress and now on Moody Mare – they do not seem to help either.

By: katangelz

katangelz — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 00:14:04 +0000

In reply to Thomas. animals, especially horses, have very long memories !

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:37:50 +0000

I have been watching a guy named Rick Gore on horsemanship. Most of what he says is true. Although to warn you he does crack on women in general but if you look at it it is true with women compared to men. Don’t be offended by what he says or how he says it. It’s great advice that I have taken into consideration when I go to ride now. It has changed the way I look at things and how I handled things before I saw his videos. I have done what he says and it actually does work. Don’t be fooled by his brashness on them. He is only telling it like it is. If you don’t like it then don’t watch it on youtube. 🙂

By: Sandi B

Sandi B — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:17:11 +0000

Thank you all for the tips om biting.
I have a 9 year old Palomino gelding, Jace, very calm and gentle and the love of my life.
Last December we were givena buddy for him, Pippo, a miniature horse. Pippo is now only 11 months old and has started rubbing his chest against boards to scratch – but he has worn all the fur off his little front (I put Fiske’s on it) and is rubbing his tail against things as if he has worms.
How can I get him to stop? I wrapped his favourite scratching posts with sheets so they are padded and taped them on with duct tape. I moved the birdfeeder he likes to scratch on too (but not too far, Jace likes a drink out of it now and then).

Could it be nerves? If so, any suggestions would be met with my deepest gratitude.
Maybe he is trying to shed his coat but he sort obsessively scratches himself. Is this “studdy” behaviour???
Not much has changed with his relationship with Jace except now jace started stealing food from Pippo’s dish, which we seem to have solved by putting the little guy’s feed bucket in a place Jace cannot get his head into and that is working very well, Pippo is not such a nervous eater now.
Please help,
Worried Horse Mama

By: Jes

Jes — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:28:55 +0000

As for the biting tip i have, a quick little pinch of the lip worked for me with my youngsters, took about 2-3 times, haven’t bit in at least 12 months, they r 18 months old now.

By: Jes

Jes — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:24:57 +0000

hi Jenny, I have a tip for the standing still part, bought a horse that would fidget about being saddled and not stand while I mounted, my friend who has trained horse all her life taught me a nice little trick, the magical carrot. just after I did up the girth I’d make him stand when he was still he got a carrot. Now he bends his head around while I girth waiting without moving at all, did the same for mounting, as soon as I mounted I’d make him stand still once he was still I’d lean forward and give him a carrot. Now he waits patiently while I mount when I have mounted and settled into my saddle I pack his neck he turns his head and takes his carrot, no moving around at all. Be repetative and eventually you will have a very calm horse that stands patiently while you seat yourself because he knows once your bottoms in the seat he gets a carrot. Worked after about the 3rd ride for me, couldn’t believe something so simple could have such a quick effect. And for all those that think foow rewards aren’t a good idea, I say what ever works and gets you the result you want. He his a great boy for me now and always does as he is told. Goodluck Jen!

By: Robyn

Robyn — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:08:02 +0000

Hi Jenny, If your mare wants to trot when you want to walk, do a one rein stop. To do this you pull just one rein and you must let the other slide through your fingers so it stays fairly loose. You pull her nose around toward your leg. At the beginning she will walk or jog in circles, but when she eventually stops you can give her a pat, release the rein and ask her walk on. The first time I tried it with my boy I had to do it every couple of metres, which was nearly 200 times as we walked back home, but he soon learnt. By the next day he went about 10 m on a loose rein before breaking into a trot and now I only have to do it once or twice on a ride.
I know it is time consuming on the first day or two but believe me it is worth it, I can ride home on a loose rein and he stays walking even if another horse trots on ahead of us.
It works for two reasons, bending their neck around actually causes them to relax but pulling on two reins usually makes them more anxious and frustrated and they try other ways (rearing, head tossing etc) to get their way. Also if you persist and do it EVERY time they jog or trot they learn that there is no point to troting off. Good luck, be persistent and happy riding. Robyn

By: Judi

Judi — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 02:09:56 +0000

Hi – Rescue horses abound here – I’m glad to see that we are all trying to help by adopting. I found a purebred Quarter horse who has neurologic problems in his hindquarters and will never be ridable, but he seemed quiet and I thought at 7, Elf would be a good match. He is a total sweetheart. I do have to sneak up on him with the bridle to bring him out, but he loves brushing and head rubs and always comes when called. My problem: He has terrible feet, but he gets very upset if I try to pick up one – probably because he is so unstady on his back feet anyway. They get very long and really need to be trimmed, but they do break off – He lets me run my hands down his legs, but if I try to pick up his feet, he gets very upset and runs away. I have been told to buy some of the calming stuff to see if that helps and the shoer told me to call a vet and have him sedate him so the shoer could work on him. Any other ideas?

By: Jade Bowden

Jade Bowden — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 23:22:42 +0000

Dear Jenny, when she starts to trot off on you going down the hill turn her around and make her trot back up, she will soon wear her self out and relise that walking down the hill is not that bad after all. Good luck
Jade

By: Catharine Kintoff

Catharine Kintoff — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:44:10 +0000

In reply to Lara.

Jenny: Your horse sounds very much like mine. She is a 13yo OTTB She has been off the track for some time. I am her 4th owner since she came off the track, but she has had a lot of time off, so in some ways is like a young horse in her training level. I have only had her for a couple of months after years of not owning any horses. She rushes at the trot, in the arena and once when I rode her on the road. This is actually a bit scary for me lest she break into a galloping bolt. I have used the one rein stop, sending her into a circle when she tries to start rushing. To modify this behaviour during non riding days, I have been taking her for training walks, in a halter, doing the “Waallk” then “Whoa” voice commands while walking alongside. I also allow her to graze on grass with my permission while we are out walking, but not when it is her idea. My goal with this is for her to see me as the leader, like a benevolent dictator rather than a tyrant. She seems to be improving in obedience to the voice command and pressure on the rein/rope while being ridden. Last time I rode her in the round pen and also in one of the paddocks with a new dressage saddle and only her halter, with the long lead rope snapped on at the bottom ring and the end tied on on the same ring from the other side. She seemed more comfortable with this combination of tack than with any of the 3 snaffle bits and three saddles I have used on her so far. I do think bitless may be the way to go –maybe for you too– and will be looking into getting her mouth checked for dental problems and sores but also it could be that the saddles we are using might be a problem. Finding the right fitting saddle has got to be one of the most trying yet one of the most important things ever for your horse. Finally, with the mounting, I have been using another handler to keep her still while I mount off a mounting block. I know this is not the total soloution, we have a lot to work on and I am not there every day as I live about 15 miles away. My horse has to be on cool calories (fat and protien, low carbs ie very little or no grains) besides lots of hay as she is a hard keeper, and needs a lot of exercise before I mount her too…either longing or round pen or ideally she should be on pasture where she can gallop off her energy hopefully these ideas ought to give you some sense of solidarity hope they helped.