My mum's horse used to try and bite because where she used to live the woman who owned her gave her a treat every time she went past her stable. So every time my mum went past her stable she would bite out. My mum started carrying onions in her pocket (horses hate onions) and every time Yorkie bit out at her she gave her an onion. Yorkie soon stopped snapping.
2006-10-08 00:03:00
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answer #1
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answered by Aquila 4
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If he were biting in the stable or around the yard, I'd ask if you hand feed him titbits, or use food rewards during training. If you do - you must stop at once. Never feed titbits, it teaches horses to nip. It encourages dominant behaviour.
I think your horse is irritated and dominant, and showing how he feels by nipping. He may have learned that its easy to nip humans as we're thin skinned and it gets a reaction! Get hold of a sheepskin coat and wear that, and always be aware to keep your hands put of the way.
You have to be on your toes and be ready to get your hand out of the way if he goes to nip. If he bites the jacket, it won't hurt as much. You might just get a pinch.
But the main problem is that in the situations where he bites, he is trying to dominate you and you really need to have the upper hand. Can you tell him off with a sharp No? Would he be bothered? Does he always do it in the same place, or when you are doing the same thing? Can you predict when he is more likely to do it and be ready to react?
Try changing your attittude towards him, be more offhand and brisk. Be firm when you handle him. He has a slack attitude. You need to get him to see you as a competant adult who is in charge, not a low ranking herd member that can be pushed around.
You can try spreading some Cribbox on a false sleeve and let him bite that, the taste might put him off for a while but he'll soon realise when you have it on and when you don't, so it won't solve the underlying problem.
2006-10-08 00:09:18
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answer #2
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answered by sarah c 7
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This is a respect issue, unless the horse is young...under a year. He is exercising his dominance over you. Watch horses together. The alpha horse (usually female) can control the entire herd with her ears and head. If you do not establish your position in your horse's hierarchy, he will. He will decide he is boss. In my opinion, telling you not to feed treats is nonsense. A horse knows the difference between getting a treat, and biting you for annoying him. John Lyons and other respected trainers agree that if your horse should bite, you must convince him he has made a terrible faux pas. You have about 10 seconds to show him that you are alpha to him and you will not tolerate such foolishness. Trainers recommend yelling loudly and lashing out at his rear with what ever you have. Never hit a horse around the head. See how the mare disciplines her foal. She snakes her head towards his rear, bites on the butt are common.
You need round pen work to establish your position with your horse. Good luck!
2006-10-08 06:12:32
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answer #3
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answered by horsinround2do 6
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I feed my horse approx. 3grms of garlic per day mixed in with his breakfast feed. It gets into the blood stream and leaves a nasty taste in the blood on which mozzies and gnats feed. It doesn't completely stop the bites but is a great help. I buy it in 3kg bags for about £10. and can be used in home cooking as well. I also use a good fly repellant cream round his eyes, tummy and "dingly dangly bits". If you have a grey or a horse with pink nose and heels put a factor 30 sun block cream on.
2016-03-28 01:33:02
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answer #4
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answered by ? 4
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If you hand feed him treats, stop it. Don't keep them in your pockets or anything. If you do give treats, put them in a bucket. Before the horse eats them, say "Take it nice." Afterwards, say "They're gone." My horse knows that "Take it nice." means that I'm offering him a treat and he'd better not get aggressive with it, and "They're gone." means that I don't have any more. He's usually aggressive with food, and the verbal cues seem to keep him from attacking the treats and searching me when I don't have more.
When you're leading him, always be alert. Maybe leading him with a shank could help you stop him if he tries to bite. Make sure you're careful with it, though. If he does get to bite you, whop him on the shoulder, glare at him like you're going to eat him (Just think violent thoughts, and the expression on your face will let him know you're angry.), and yell "NO!" Don't hit him in the nose, or you'll have even more problems to deal with when you have a headshy horse. When he isn't biting at you, think "I love you, I love you, I love you." and your eyes will soften a bit to let him know that he's being a good boy.
2006-10-08 03:34:24
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answer #5
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answered by The Logophile 3
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He obviously associates having something on his head with treats. Stop giving him all treats except when in a bucket. People give horses treats when they catch them. I no longer give horses treats direct from my hand. If it is carrots or apples I through them into there field or in a bucket in a stable. They soon stop nipping at you. He will evently learn. You could always check that he has no problems around his ears in case he is in pain when you put a halter/bridle on and the biting is his way of coping.
2006-10-08 00:16:00
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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I know this sounds kind of mean, but its worked for me in the past with my horse.
Pay a little bit of attention, and when your horse goes to nip, or does nip you, be ready with your fist, and lightly bump him in the mouth. Don't do it hard enough to hurt him, but just hard enough that it gives him a little bit of a shock.
Your horse may be nipping for a number of reasons, but alot of the time he's doing it to try and act dominant over you. Horses communicate mostly through physical touch and body language, so don't think of this soft little bump as hauling off and punching him (it wont be hard enough to call it that), think of it as 'you're biting him back'.
I will give him two, maybe three tries at nipping you after this, and he will probably stop, or atleast think twice before trying it again.
2006-10-08 00:25:11
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answer #7
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answered by xxtorturedinnocentsxx 2
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You probably won't like this answer, but my husband used to deal with a lot of horses with his ex-wife, and he said he used to smack or punch the horse when they did that. He said you have to realize the size of animal you are dealing with and you have to show them who is boss. You aren't dealing with a little cat or dog. Don't know if this is the way you will want to handle it or not, but this is his suggestion.
2006-10-08 04:47:23
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answer #8
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answered by jims_prettyeyes 2
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first off, stop giving him treats. treats encourage biting and niping. once my mare nipped my back when i was getting on her. i turned around and slapped her neck hard. don't slap or hit a horse head ever because it will make them head shy. the next your horse bites you slap him on the neck very hard. horses bite and kick eachother for a pecking order. you're doing the same thing. it won't hurt them. it will suprise them though. you need to be the "boss mare" and he needs to respect you. i would do "join up" with him. monte roberts (i don't know how to spell his name) does it and it exspains on his website.
2006-10-08 03:14:14
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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horses bite especially if they r young and are not yet tammed. i have had expirence with this if u take time with ur horse & b gental it will find no rezun 2 bite
2006-10-08 01:06:13
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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