10month colt biting me

[kylee86]

my 10month old colt is trying to bite when being led he walks with his ears back neck and head extended and teeth ready. he doesnt do it when im stroking him over fence\stable or in field. he has started doing it when being groomed he will try and bite my legs. so far i have been ignoring the behaviour as i felt he was trying to get reaction out of me. but obviously hasnt worked. so how do i stop him doing this. he hasnt dropped yet so cnt geld him. i have tried telling him no and backing him up but he still does it. i have also tries pintching his lip when he trys to bite that stops him for all of 3 seconds.

 

[The-mad-cat-lady]

Give him a smack !
Or the cocky little devil will be evil by the time he's two..

 

[Puzzles]

Your colt is doing what almost all young horses do. Babies like to nibble everything when they're young and teething and youngsters are the same. Your horse needs to learn that it's unacceptable but it's not necessary to smack him to teach him that. If your horse doesn't get much turnout or mental and physical stimulation - particularly if he does not get much equine social contact (especially with other youngsters) then he could just be desperate to play and interact with you.
It's quite possible that nips you wen you're grooming because he is trying to groom you back. Bearing in mind that he also does it when being led, it's likely that he's testing the boundaries because he doesn't know it's not acceptable.
Often just a simple OTT 'OW!' reaction (yell, jump on the spot and basically have a silent tantrum - make him jump) as the shock can be enough to deter them once they realise it hurts.
However my preferred method is to ignore the biting and never let it interfere with what I'm doing with the horse. Preventing the bites is ideal: i.e. by tying him up quite short when grooming him and making sure he has a haynet so he doesn't nip out of boredom. Make it difficult and unpleasant for him to bite you by putting a bony elbow in the way when he goes to bite you. You don't need to hit him with it, just move so it is in the way. Don't even look at him or react as (if the first 'OW!' method doesn't work when used consistently over a period of time) for an intelligent, bored youngster even a negative reaction is better than none at all. Once he realises that biting achieves nothing then the behaviour will diminish.
I don't like to smack horses for biting as it can make them headshy or fussy when being groomed, wormed, bridled or otherwise have their head handled. The 'bumping' method above also avoids your horse associating the unpleasant consequence with you.
I think you need to look at this problem holistically (i.e. the whole picture) and focus on dealing with what is causing your horse to bite, as if the trigger/s are still there then no matter how you react to it he will still be motivated to continue.
Good luck!

 

[The-mad-cat-lady]

Just give him a slap in other words .....

 

[ischa]

Hitting a foal/horse for nipping will Not deal with the problem and will make your foal/horse head shy in the process
There are something's you can try and
Here are a few ,
Just pushing them away firmly but gently (at first) usually does the trick. Just keep repeating til you get the message,
Pinching on chest or neck to stimulate the action of other horse
Get a squirty lemon have that in the parm of your hand when he approaches you to bite try squirty near or in mouth is better , so the taste is a deterrent to him and its not a nice taste so hopefully will think twice
Or there is something I buy and use which is called a nip buster
http://www.horsespeak.com/nipbuster/nipbuster.htm

 

[tallyho!]

Hitting or slapping foals is a signal you are game for a laugh! All foals at this age are nipping and mouthing each others legs, manes, tails. It's called play. He is a baby. Would you slap your baby?

I use gestures and loud "no!" when I am expecting a bite and stop what I am doing and step back or stop when leading until I get the behaviour I want. Then I move forwards or continue and give praise like a scratch in a favourite place and use my "nice" voice.

Coltish behaviour like you describe is typical. He can't help it, it's instinct. He has a strong desire to play. Does he have friends?

Please don't "slap" him. You are more intelligent than that.

 

[AMW]

He is a colt and is trying to assert himself over you. Ours is the same, he is going to be kept entire so he doesn't get away with it. He is tied up short when grooming, he has been taught to stand in his own space when being mucked out or feed put in. He gets a bump under the chin if he tries to bite when being led so he doesn't get headshy. He is 11 months, has a super nature & is intelligent & is def a colt & at the stage he would jump on you if you bent down in front
Don't be too sweet with a colt, they play rough and don't hug too many trees.

 

[flyingfeet]

Why is he so close when you are leading, use a 3m+ lead rope and have him behind you as herd leader

My 18 month old leads like this and stops when I do and backs up, basic 101 lead training.

Additionally if they are particularly mouthy due to teeth take a second short rope for him to carry, mine loves carrying things*

*Downside is at the moment anything on the floor goes straight in the mouth....

 

[kylee86]

hi thank you for all your replies. he is out mainly 24\7 he comes in at night 2-3 nights per week. he has a 5 yr old field friend that he is also nipping at they grab each others legs so i did gather its play. his bitting stared when i decided to turn him out 34\7 he did come in every night b4 and i would brush him for 30mins as i was treating for lice and pinworms. i thought after 8 weeks of being poked prodded and bathed most days it was now time to leave him to his own devices and let him be a horse in the field. however this did not mean it was ok to be horsey and bite lol. so im woundering if he was content with the grooming everyday. i still walk down to his field twice a day to say hello to him and give him a good scratch.

 

[SeasonalSituation]

hi thank you for all your replies. he is out mainly 24\7 he comes in at night 2-3 nights per week. he has a 5 yr old field friend that he is also nipping at they grab each others legs so i did gather its play. his bitting stared when i decided to turn him out 34\7 he did come in every night b4 and i would brush him for 30mins as i was treating for lice and pinworms. i thought after 8 weeks of being poked prodded and bathed most days it was now time to leave him to his own devices and let him be a horse in the field. however this did not mean it was ok to be horsey and bite lol. so im woundering if he was content with the grooming everyday. i still walk down to his field twice a day to say hello to him and give him a good scratch.

If you think that'll be the problem, then maybe try a week where you just bring him in for half an hour or so just to groom etc.

Why are you only bringining him in 2/3 nights? I'd do all nights in, or none at all personally, then its more of a proper routine.

 

[AmyMay]

Why is he so close when you are leading, use a 3m+ lead rope and have him behind you as herd leader

Wow that is asking for trouble.

OP keep him on a short rope, with your hand underneath his chin - that way you have more control of his head - and can anticipate when he tries to bite.

Don't slap, or pinch - just control.

As for the grooming - start introducing tying up - again that way you have control of the situation.

 

[freckles22uk]

When my stallion was a young colt and tried the nipping thing... rather than smack him with my hand, as I did not want to make him headshy I would kick his hoof hard enough for him to feel it, near the corenet band... but you need to to it so he does not realise its you doing it...

My boy never bites now, and only took a few sharp kicks to realise..

 

[Todmiester]

amy I read that too and thought exactly the same thing. The youngsters Iv handled all went through this stage some worse than others. I found that a very quick nip on the edge of the nostral along with a growl made then realise quite quick that they had stepped out of line. When yourcolt walks politely beside you then paise him with a scratch or gentle stroke.

 

[kylee86]

i personaly dont wont my colt stabled as he tends to come out with a locking stifle turning him out 24\7 seems to have done the trick however my landlord prefers them in at night 7 days so his daughter will tend to her pony more. so we came to a compramise that they come in fri and sat night. i dont lead any of my horses on long rope as i feel i have no control. i will try bringing him up for an hour a day and turning him back out. he hasnt made contack with bitting me yet as im always ready for him and give a loud sharp no b4 he makes contact however he is still trying. he tends to try and bite more if i was to hold on the side of head collar he will toss his head to try and get them teeth to me lol

 

[Maesfen]

Hitting a foal/horse for nipping will Not deal with the problem and will make your foal/horse head shy in the process

That is a load of tosh, sorry. A well aimed slap immediately after he has bitten you will not make him head shy in the least but it might make him think twice about doing it again and where did anyone say hit him around the head anyway?

OP, don't take any messing from him, don't tickle him with a slap but really mean it that it will not be tolerated. That lesson now, done properly, hard as it sounds will be the saving of that horse as it gets older otherwise you will have a stroppy horse that thinks it can walk all over you without reprimand for anything it does.
FWIW, if my lot try it they'll get one swift hard slap on the side of their nose; if they try it again they'll get another one; it soon stops and when they behave I make a lot of them. They very soon learn that the punishment will fit the crime and are nicer people to handle as a result but I have never had a head shy horse in my long life (that I have brought up myself)

 

[fburton]

Wow that is asking for trouble.

I agree. It's an example of where modeling your actions on equine social behaviour (or an interpretation of it which might be simplistic and/or incorrect) could easily lead to problems.

OP keep him on a short rope, with your hand underneath his chin - that way you have more control of his head - and can anticipate when he tries to bite.

Don't slap, or pinch - just control.

As for the grooming - start introducing tying up - again that way you have control of the situation.

Good advice.

That is a load of tosh, sorry. A well aimed slap immediately after he has bitten you will not make him head shy in the least but it might make him think twice about doing it again and where did anyone say hit him around the head anyway?

Yes, if you're going to go down the slapping route -- not mandatory by any means -- it has to be done right and well because the opportunites for messing up are significant. We have all seen the consequences of poorly administered punishment (too severe, not severe enough, bad timing).

 

[ischa]

Maesfen Im a trainer I have had many horses
Sent to me with headshyness (why) because people using such punishment to recorrect problems
And have made matters worse !!
And when I read the post correct me if I'm wrong but a couple of people gave there advice in hitting the horse Maybe it wasn't pointed at hitting horse in face as such
But that seems to be the first place where humans make contact .
And as said by another poster
If not timed etc it can go very horribly wrong .

 

[AmyMay]

I think, ischa, to be fair, Maesfen has had more youngsters through her hands than the years you have been on the planet.

Yes, to arbitrarily clobber a horse around the face can lead to problems - however, a slap on the neck or a quick bang on the nose once or twice will not make a horse headshy.

 

[somethingorother]

I usually make a loud tsshhh noise and a big arm movement. It works even with very bolshy colts who have never been taught not to bite. Or a quick clap, or other load noise.

I would give the loud noise/ big movement (towards not away from horse) combo a go before going straight in for a big slap. But if this didn't work then yes, a slap on the shoulder and loud growl would be the next step for me.

people who ignore it seem to end up with a big problem from what i have seen.

 

[ischa]

I understand that a couple of smacks fair enough on chest etc is not going to do any harm
AnyWay Op , good luck and hope you get it sorted !!

 

[Miss L Toe]

Any "punishment" must be immediate, non emotional, I had a filly who decided to jump up at me one day, I did nothing, same thing next day, I hit her on neck with end of a longish lead rope, no further problem, just testing the boundaries.
I don't have a lot of experience with colts of this age, but I would avoid "playing" with them, not too much scratching or cuddles [no cuddles], they are not playthings, and we are humans not horses.

 

[ponypilotmum]

1. get it gelded, unless it's wonderfully bred and you're experienced with colts and plan to breed from him. Otherwise in 12 months time biting will be the least of your worries.

2, a loud NO and a short sharp smack works wonders. Namby pamby-ing ruins horses.

 

[ivandenisovich10]

If I had slapped mine I wouldn't have been able to get near him agin for months, he came near enoigh wild in november and its its taken till now to be able to do everything with him, he is still wary of some things but a low deep no is all he needs and he stops and looks at me as if to say sorry. We can only just get a head collar on and off easily no so a slap would have put is back to stage one again. He really is very respecful of the voice

 

[Spyda]

I don't suppose anyone who's suggested an immediate and sharp smack means aiming it on or near the colt's head.

Don't lead any young horse by having it positioned behind you. Teach him to walk up so you're beside his shoulder. This will allow you to watch him for indicators of imminent misbahaviour (usually quite evident from ear and eye expression), whilst putting you in the safest position to counteract anything untoward. I agree about leading him on a long-rein; I use a cut down lunge rein myself. You don't want anything too long else you'll be wresting with too many coils but still long enough that you can safely stay in control if you need to distance yourself from him slightly. Personally I find a loud sharp, "NO" whilst adopting a fierce posture often gets the message across with babies. But you do have been consistent and very firm. Horses aren't stupid, they know when someone else is boss and means business, and it doesn't have to mean hitting them around the face or head. A sharp smack on the shoulder should be more than adequate if and when needed. If you need to resort to worse tactics to gain control you need to look for outside help and on-hand assistance.

 

[JFTDWS]

Maesfen Im a trainer I have had many horses
Sent to me with headshyness (why) because people using such punishment to recorrect problems

I'm sorry but I would never take the word of a "trainer" who could not explain their theory in a remotely compresible manner. I've met a number of trainers whose sole qualification for the job is that they've handled a few dozen horses and not "ruined" one yet (by their standards, not mine).

Personally, I would go for a sharp, instant bash on the nose - it's certainly what I did with my 2 year old when he went through this stage - as he comes to nip, he finds my fist in the wrong place. He knows the boundaries and he is the friendliest, least headshy beast you would ever meet! But there are alternatives...

 

[meandmyself]

Why is he so close when you are leading, use a 3m+ lead rope and have him behind you as herd leader

My 18 month old leads like this and stops when I do and backs up, basic 101 lead training.

Additionally if they are particularly mouthy due to teeth take a second short rope for him to carry, mine loves carrying things*

*Downside is at the moment anything on the floor goes straight in the mouth....

What?! This is -terrible- advice. Having a trained, adult horse trailing behind you is bad enough, but a with a mouthy baby, it's asking to be trampled or grabbed.

 

[forestfantasy]

That is a load of tosh, sorry. A well aimed slap immediately after he has bitten you will not make him head shy in the least but it might make him think twice about doing it again and where did anyone say hit him around the head anyway?

OP, don't take any messing from him, don't tickle him with a slap but really mean it that it will not be tolerated. That lesson now, done properly, hard as it sounds will be the saving of that horse as it gets older otherwise you will have a stroppy horse that thinks it can walk all over you without reprimand for anything it does.
FWIW, if my lot try it they'll get one swift hard slap on the side of their nose; if they try it again they'll get another one; it soon stops and when they behave I make a lot of them. They very soon learn that the punishment will fit the crime and are nicer people to handle as a result but I have never had a head shy horse in my long life (that I have brought up myself)

This exactly ^^
I've had all my horses since foals and all have excellent manners and wouldn't dream of biting/barging etc because it's simply never been tolerated.
Oh and they certainly aren't headshy or scared!
OP you need to set the tone now for his future life - nip it in the bud now and you'll have a lovely lad in the future

 

[Enfys]

That is a load of tosh, sorry. A well aimed slap immediately after he has bitten you will not make him head shy in the least but it might make him think twice about doing it again and where did anyone say hit him around the head anyway?

OP, don't take any messing from him, don't tickle him with a slap but really mean it that it will not be tolerated. That lesson now, done properly, hard as it sounds will be the saving of that horse as it gets older otherwise you will have a stroppy horse that thinks it can walk all over you without reprimand for anything it does.
FWIW, if my lot try it they'll get one swift hard slap on the side of their nose; if they try it again they'll get another one; it soon stops and when they behave I make a lot of them. They very soon learn that the punishment will fit the crime and are nicer people to handle as a result but I have never had a head shy horse in my long life (that I have brought up myself)

This.

Thankyou Maesfen.

 

[flyingfeet]

What?! This is -terrible- advice. Having a trained, adult horse trailing behind you is bad enough, but a with a mouthy baby, it's asking to be trampled or grabbed.

Oh dear lord the BHS brigade are out in force!!

Amy if you *think* you can hold a 600kg horse by its head under its chin you are either a super heavyweight power lifter or have some weird idea that a 60kg human can control a horse by being on its head

If you yank a horse around under its chin its going to stand on you, this is a classic BHS and awful way to teach a youngster to walk

Please watch this for a drop of common sense:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBHd...DvjVQa1PpcFMWj-i1KBmj1AJR9E-g1e9s_7c9CCsW6Q4=

 

[AmyMay]

Oh dear lord the BHS brigade are out in force!!

Amy if you *think* you can hold a 600kg horse by its head under its chin you are either a super heavyweight power lifter or have some weird idea that a 60kg human can control a horse by being on its head

If you yank a horse around under its chin its going to stand on you, this is a classic BHS and awful way to teach a youngster to walk

Please watch this for a drop of common sense:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBHd...DvjVQa1PpcFMWj-i1KBmj1AJR9E-g1e9s_7c9CCsW6Q4=

Actually Jen, I've never had any instruction on the BHS way as you call it. I've just had good hands on experience with experienced breeders and handlers of youngstock.

If what you do works for you - then that is fantastic.

However, common sense would indicate that you never want an unpredictable youngster trailing behind you - you always want it beside you.

As for 'if you can hold a 600kg horse by its head under its chin you are either a super heavyweight power lifter or have some weird idea that a 60kg human can control a horse by being on its head' I think the OP refers to a 10 month old cold foal - not a 600kg full grown horse. Never the less you've misread my statement. Simply having your hand on the lead rope under the chin (rather than half way down) gives you the advantage of being able to move the head away from you quickly and also feeling what is going to happen before it happens. Full grown or foal. And I would never advocate yanking any horses head around.

I've always been taught when handling youngsters (from newborn upwards) that close is safe. It's always worked for me and seems sound and logical advice.

Having something on meters of lunge line trailing randomly behind does not seem sound or logical advice - just dangerous.

However, as I said earlier if it works for you - great. But, those with more experience than either you or I would say you are wrong (and lucky).