| A biting horse is a huge liability. For whatever reason | | | | The most common reasons a horse bites involve |
| your horse bites, he needs to be stopped. It's annoying | | | | playfulness and exerting dominance. A horse needs to |
| to have a horse even playfully bite at your hand when | | | | know where he stands in the dominance hierarchy. He |
| you're grooming or saddling him. At times, though, far | | | | doesn't necessarily need to be at the top of that |
| from being playful, a horse's bite can be painful and | | | | hierarchy himself, but he will constantly seek feedback |
| just downright dangerous. | | | | on the issue by testing you. Often he will test you by |
| We know a horse trainer who got careless one day | | | | biting. This is your opportunity to deliver an unequivocal |
| as he was examining a stallion he hadn't had contact | | | | message that you stand above him in your |
| with before. He put his right hand on the horse's neck | | | | two-member herd's dominance hierarchy. |
| and leaned over to look between the stallion's hind | | | | You must let him know consistently and forcefully that |
| legs. The horse viciously bit the trainer between the | | | | this is so. You must not do it out of anger but your |
| left shoulder and neck, knocking him to the ground. The | | | | response needs to be quick and firm. Now, you might |
| trainer was stunned and it actually took a minute for | | | | argue that this seems to contradict an approach |
| him to regain his senses. Besides actually biting the | | | | based on natural horsemanship because it uses force. |
| trainer on the shoulder and leaving a nasty wound, the | | | | Nothing of the kind! Taking a firm approach to |
| horse had dealt a tremendous blow to his neck and | | | | misbehavior is nothing more than mimicking the actions |
| the trainer was unable to turn his head for several | | | | of the dominant mare in the herd who will not put up |
| weeks. This is a vivid example of why even playful | | | | with shenanigans either. Nothing could be more natural. |
| nibbling cannot be tolerated. Biting has a tendency to | | | | When we take action to stop a horse from biting, we |
| escalate if not stopped early. | | | | want to accomplish two things. First, we want to make |
| There are countless reasons a horse will bite, and at | | | | the horse think that it was his decision to bite that |
| one time or another virtually all horses will try it. With | | | | resulted in an unpleasant consequence rather than any |
| some it's a dominance game and with others it's just | | | | action that he saw you take. How do we accomplish |
| playing. There is some crossover in the two reasons, | | | | this? When your horse bites or threatens to bite, avoid |
| though. A young horse that playfully bites probably | | | | slapping his face or attempting to do so. First of all, the |
| doesn't respect you the way he should. If you've ever | | | | horse is much quicker than you and you usually will |
| seen a couple of young colts out in a pasture, chances | | | | come up with air when you take a swipe at him. |
| are you've seen them take turns biting each other and | | | | Secondly, flailing away at a horse's face or head will |
| dodging the return bite. They're not mad, just having | | | | tend to make him head-shy. It's like having a dog that |
| fun. But don't let that youngster try to have fun with | | | | cowers. Everyone will know that you've been |
| you! He must not be allowed to view you in the same | | | | mistreating him! |
| way as he views his buddy in the pasture. | | | | Instead, set up a situation in which the horse will likely |
| There's another very common reason that a horse | | | | attempt to bite, and as soon as he does, pop him |
| bites. We as owners often enjoy a horse that nuzzles | | | | solidly with your balled fist under his chin. He won't see |
| and seems to act affectionately towards us. Whether | | | | the correction coming and if your timing is right, he will |
| or not the horse is actually being friendly is a | | | | connect the blow with his attempt to bite. Be |
| controversial subject and many experts insist that we | | | | consistent and you will soon see results. Timing is |
| are attributing human qualities to the horse when we | | | | all-important. The correction must be firm but it must |
| interpret his nuzzling behavior this way. In most cases, | | | | be immediate or the horse will not understand the |
| these experts insist, the horse is merely looking for | | | | connection. |
| food and that he has been conditioned to behave that | | | | The second thing we want to accomplish is to move |
| way by our habit of feeding him by hand or hiding | | | | the horse's feet. Again, this is a method based purely |
| treats in our pockets. Feeding a horse by hand will | | | | on natural horsemanship which tells us that a horse will |
| likely result in a horse learning to bite. | | | | exert dominance over another horse by making him |
| In addition, many trainers believe that feeding a horse | | | | move. After we pop the horse under his chin, take the |
| by hand raises dominance problems. They say that a | | | | horse's lead rope and jerk it down hard several times |
| horse will believe he is taking food from you and thus | | | | and make a "shshshshsh" noise as you push the horse |
| exerting dominance when you feed him by hand. This | | | | backwards with a combination of aggressive body |
| is debatable but it seems quite likely that feeding a | | | | language and backwards pressure with the lead rope. |
| horse by hand does lead to biting. | | | | By making the horse move, you are exerting |
| So, let's deal with the easy solution first. Stop feeding | | | | dominance. |
| your horse by hand. What could be simpler? If you are | | | | Consistency and timing are the keys in having your |
| just beginning to train a young horse, do not start | | | | horse associate biting with unpleasant consequences. |
| feeding him by hand. This won't be a guarantee that | | | | Be consistent and your efforts will produce results. |
| your horse won't bite (remember, there are other | | | | This is not a problem that can be solved overnight. It |
| reasons a horse will bite at your hand), but it will at | | | | will take time and let's say it again, "you must be |
| least remove one of the causes. | | | | consistent. |