He is a miniature horse and is 11 months old. He gets very excited at feeding time, which is when the biting occurs. He runs around the barn, whinnying and kicking up his little heels, then runs up to the person feeding him and bites them. It is very painful, and totally unacceptable behavior. Biting has occured only at feeding time. There are small children in the family who sometimes tend the animals in the barn. This is the first experience this family has with a horse of any size. Please advise us how to stop this behavior. Thank-you.
2007-01-29 03:09:34 · 11 answers · asked by jewel 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
What worked very well on my horse was pinching his muzzle. In the wild, horses who bite or attempt to bite more dominant horses are bitten in return. Since you need to be the dominant one here, bite back. As soon as he starts thinking about biting or acting like he is about to, have your fingers ready. When he comes into your space to bite, pinch his muzzle. Don't grab a big chunk, just enough to fit between your thumb and pointer finger and make it QUICK, don't grab and hold. While you do this make a loud SHHHHH sound. Horses respond better to this noise than saying NO. Never hit a horse in the face, this will only make him head shy. Adults need to be present at all times when the kids are helping out and only adults should reform this horse with the pinching technique. The times he does come into your space and not offer to bite, reward him with lots of praise and rub him on the neck. That's what mares do to calm their foals....they will lick them on the neck, so it works the same way when you rub them on the neck. Also, find some of his favorite spots to scratch as a reward. My horse likes his chin, up under his mane, and eye area lightly scratched. Rub around on your little guy to find his favorites. Hope this helps!
2007-01-29 05:37:21 · answer #1 · answered by rockerchic821 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are several things you could try to get this 'miniature horse' to stop biting, but it will take TIME for you to do this. This is not a 'horse' at all, but still a 'colt' ... a BABY ... and it needs to be treated like a 'human baby' ... only baby people 'cry hard' when they are really hungry, and baby horses may 'bite' ...
If I were you, I would try making sure your little horse has 'munchies' available ALL DAY/EVENING in addition to it's regular 'meals' and that you feed it at least twice a day, up to four times a day rather than just once a day. Remember, it's tummy is 'small' and needs 'frequent filling' for it to 'feel good' ... and SMALL CHILDREN should only 'help' in the barn, not be responsible for the REGULAR FEEDING of the animals, so ALWAYS BE SURE THERE IS AN 'ADULT' in the barn at 'feeding time' and that it is the 'ADULT' who feeds this horse until all the 'biting behavior' stops.
2007-01-29 03:57:12 · answer #2 · answered by Kris L 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
An good hard whack on the nose and a sharp NO can sometimes work. But, I have faced the same problem with a horse I had and smacking him only made it worse. He thought it was a test to try and see who was the strongest. So he would bite again. I had read something a long time ago, and since I was desperate, I tried it, and it did work. The next time he bit at me, I just threw a loud howling fit, like he had killed me. And I did this up in his face and carried on for about 5 minutes. And he never bit at me again. I really think that he got scared with the reaction he caused (and maybe a little embarrassed). He is now a two year old, and if he even opens his mouth to pick on another horse in the pasture, all I have to do is raise my voice and he quits. You did not indicate if this horse is a stallion or not, and if he is, you may want to geld him to calm him.
2007-01-29 05:35:29 · answer #3 · answered by Paint Pony 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This IS a serious problem. You need to be in a safe place where she can see you with the food and wait till she calms down, then go in with the feed and feed her. Do not just run in and dump the bucket and run. Sit with her while she eats. Make sure she is getting enough. If she bites you need to verbally scold her NO NO NO loud and authoritative. and take the feed out of the stall. Only give her the food when she is calm. as much as i don't like corporal punishment and immediate slap to the nose might be in order. ONLY At that very moment.
2007-01-29 03:22:46 · answer #4 · answered by Tim O 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
First of all know he is treating you as one of his own--when you feed more than one horse in a field they nip at one another to get space --and in knowing this and watching the reactions on the other horses --they bite and kick back--seeing we don't bite-(I hope you don't :-) _ then you need to make it clear to him that this is totally not acceptable behavior--he needs to know to stay off of you and respect your space--there is always the easy way out--where he is not allowed in the feeding area till the food is in place--and then that hasn't taught him manners--so what I have done in this case is to either throw a feed bucket towards him when he comes at you--that will startle him just as another horse would do when they kick--its not mean its just telling him to stay out of your space--make him stay back from you till his feed is in place and then you wait for him to ask to come to the food and into your space--he will bob his head and maybe nash his teeth --the way babies do when greeting other horses--that's a good sign--that means he is finally learning that you will not allow him to hurt you--and you don't want this to continue as he gets older it will get worse--so the sooner he learns that you can and will hurt him back the better--its how the horse world teaches their own to respect one another--'
2007-01-29 03:29:37 · answer #5 · answered by skizzle-d-wizzle 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Keep in mind this horse is young (about four years old in human years) but luckily hes a mini so that won't be hard to forget :DD lol. Biting is a very common problem, especially in youngsters. This is a learned behavior, deriving from suckling, that is a clear message that screams "Stay away, I am dominant over you!" Biting is actually a greater sign of dominance than kicking among horses.
It's very important that you establish you are alpha before this develops into a more serious problem. I'd suggest helping the family that owns him, but if you don't feel experienced enough, call a horse trainer. Even minis can pose some serious injuries, especially to young children.
First we want to show this little guy who's boss. Spend time with him some time other than feeding time. Keep an eye out for signs that he is going to bite. If he ever pins his ears, narrows his eyes, and exposes his teeth like hes going to bite, do not let him. Push his nose away, then grab his muzzle and RUB it all over with your hands quickly. This is not at all painful, but very uncomfortable. Kinda like those people who rustled up your hair or pinched your cheek when you were a kid. This way, you are not taking the colt's curiosity away, just making it a whole lot more difficult.
A very important thing is that this mini respects your space. You want him out of your space unless he's invited in. But you can go into his space whenever you want, for you are alpha. A good place to do this is in a round pen - practice sending him out of your space. Get him to trot a few laps around the pen. Eventually you'll get to the point where you can invite him into your space (in which he'll follow you around at liberty) but its important you keep your sessions short since hes so young.
So now, feeding time. Next time you go to feed him, send him away from your space. Do this by whatever means possible (staying out of his kick zone). I use my body language and sometimes a lead rope for a little reinforcement. Remember, horses kick and bite each other out in the pasture all the time..so why is it so criminal for a person to get their horse's attention with a little slap? I am NOT saying go all out and hit him, but sometimes you just need to get their focus. Once you've sent him away, and he's staying away, you can provide his food and walk away. This way when feeding time comes, he'll know he better stay out of your way if he wants to eat. If he ever attempts to bite you, send him away from you before he does.
This takes a lot of knowledge of equine behavior, and even courage. If you don't feel like you are the right person for this, i'd suggest hiring a trainer. Good luck with your mini!
2007-01-29 09:56:32 · answer #6 · answered by yayme616 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
What you need to do is give him a whack back in the nose (just once), yell NO or make a buzzer sound, and then give him a evil/condesending stare afterwards. 99% of horses will back down and try to look away from you.
Another thing you can do is tie him up during feeding.
2007-01-29 04:42:25 · answer #7 · answered by D 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Be calm about it, and don't let him know that you are afraid. Stand with him and give him attention while he eats. If he does and you see him coming, pop him on the shoulder or wherever you can reach at the moment and say NO! I'm not sure if people do longing work with minis, but that might help, or if you try join-up.
2007-01-29 06:01:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Pop him in the mouth every time he does it.
Pet him a lot when he's being good so he gets the connection. Teach him who is boss- if he were the omega horse in a herd, he'd get his a** kicked for pulling that.
You have to be the dominant horse in his herd.
2007-01-29 04:31:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
feed him a little sooner
2007-01-29 03:41:00 · answer #10 · answered by smars442002 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋