Best way to reprimand a horse

[Keira 8888]

Hi all,

Hope everyone is well and not too wet!

Yet more advice needed please ?

What do you think is the most effective way to let a horse know that what they are doing is wrong/rude?

Prince had taken to begging for treats a few months ago so I stopped all treats except when I caught him in the field.

Unfortunately he still looks for them and nips/air bites at me. I find myself growling at him and occasionally give him a tap on the withers but he still does it.

I’m sure I read somewhere that making them move their feet is a good idea. Does this mean I should back him up or turn him in a circle if he does it?

Since my current methods aren’t working I need some inspiration!

Thanks so much guys

Kx

 

[Keira 8888]

Just wanted to add! This bad behaviour is usually in the morning when I turn him out and change his rug x

 

[IrishMilo]

I usually do a really grandiose gesture if horses are nibbly - if they try to nibble me I do a huge star jump and say 'BAM!' loudly at the same time. I find it shocks them into not doing it again! I'm not a fan of slapping their face for it as I think it creates a vicious cycle. Another thing I do (which I got from Warwick Schiller - highly recommend checking out his vids on YouTube) is to make myself REALLY annoying if they mug for treats. If they turn around, really vigorously rub their muzzle and make yourself really annoying for a while.

ETA - I react to different behaviours differently. If a horse tried to barge through me I'd have no problem giving it a whack across the chest with a crop (none of that poke in the chest nonsense!), because that type of dangerous behaviour should be nipped in the bud REALLY quickly.

 

[doodle]

I “over reacting”. Generally roar “oi” or “no” or “don’t you dare” and throw my hands up in the air and step into them. I don’t make contact with the horse but by this big reaction they should back off.

Be careful though if doing this while they are loose in the field incase they spin round and kick out at you.

Think of it as how a mare would discipline their foal (or any horse telling another horse they don’t like that) and tell them that behaviour is unacceptable. Then if they back of you can lower your energy again and go back to normal.

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

I'm a fan of any short sharp noise, like huh or oi, maybe with a foot stomp for emphasis. Anticipating, so he finds his head making contact with your elbow. Generally protecting your own space a bit more- stand a bit bigger, elbows in a sort of protective stance.

 

[KittenInTheTree]

I find scratching along where the curb strap would lie to be a good way of redirecting the interaction if any of mine seem to be thinking of using teeth inappropriately. Agree also with owning your space. I still always tie up to change rugs though, as I feel it's safer for all involved.

 

[Keira 8888]

I usually do a really grandiose gesture if horses are nibbly - if they try to nibble me I do a huge star jump and say 'BAM!' loudly at the same time. I find it shocks them into not doing it again! I'm not a fan of slapping their face for it as I think it creates a vicious cycle. Another thing I do (which I got from Warwick Schiller - highly recommend checking out his vids on YouTube) is to make myself REALLY annoying if they mug for treats. If they turn around, really vigorously rub their muzzle and make yourself really annoying for a while.

ETA - I react to different behaviours differently. If a horse tried to barge through me I'd have no problem giving it a whack across the chest with a crop (none of that poke in the chest nonsense!), because that type of dangerous behaviour should be nipped in the bud REALLY quickly.

This is FANTASTIC! Thank you!!!!! I will do the star jump and BAM tomorrow morning! Xxx

 

[hollyandivy123]

the last time one of mine bit me i bit him back...........there was a slightly surprised look on his face and he never connected again, FYI horse nose does not taste nice

 

[Tiddlypom]

Do you tie him up when you change his rug?

 

[Keira 8888]

I “over reacting”. Generally roar “oi” or “no” or “don’t you dare” and throw my hands up in the air and step into them. I don’t make contact with the horse but by this big reaction they should back off.

Be careful though if doing this while they are loose in the field incase they spin round and kick out at you.

Think of it as how a mare would discipline their foal (or any horse telling another horse they don’t like that) and tell them that behaviour is unacceptable. Then if they back of you can lower your energy again and go back to normal.

Excellent! This sounds fab! I will report back tomorrow morning ?

 

[Skib]

I give no treats at all. Even to RS horses whom I was told will not come without a treat.
My punishment too is to circle and then back up.

However when horses do things we think of as wrong, it is useful to look at in terms of animal behaviour.
I shared and groomed a biter.
So I looked it up in John Lyons and he suggested that horses who bite, especially stallions, are the ones who people avoid touching in the nose area. Because they fear being bitten.
The horses are seeking a pleasure that has been denied to them. So if every time one meets or grooms them one begins to stroke the face area and gradually gets to the point where one is tenderly stroking or rubbing the sensitive nose area, that will provide the pleasure the horse is looking for.

 

[Keira 8888]

the last time one of mine bit me i bit him back...........there was a slightly surprised look on his face and he never connected again, FYI horse nose does not taste nice

Haha!!!!! Urgh!!! I have such big old teeth - I can just imagine the feel of horse hair and sweat in my mouth ??? But when in Rome! If me big gestures and star jump doesn’t work I may have to do just this!!

 

[AmyMay]

Tie him up and give him a sharp Oi!

 

[hollyandivy123]

Haha!!!!! Urgh!!! I have such big old teeth - I can just imagine the feel of horse hair and sweat in my mouth ??? But when in Rome! If me big gestures and star jump doesn’t work I may have to do just this!!

i'm not recommending it and it was a spur of the moment thing, honestly don't know who was more shocked

 

[Keira 8888]

I give no treats at all. Even to RS horses whom I was told will not come without a treat.
My punishment too is to circle and then back up.

However when horses do things we think of as wrong, it is useful to look at in terms of animal behaviour.
I shared and groomed a biter.
So I looked it up in John Lyons and he suggested that horses who bite, especially stallions, are the ones who people avoid touching in the nose area. Because they fear being bitten.
The horses are seeking a pleasure that has been denied to them. So if every time one meets or grooms them one begins to stroke the face area and gradually gets to the point where one is tenderly stroking or rubbing the sensitive nose area, that will provide the pleasure the horse is looking for.

So are you saying that these horses are actually seeking a stroke on the muzzle? Sorry if I’ve misinterpreted that ?‍ If that Is what you’re saying that is very very interesting as when I try to gently push his nose away (when the growling doesn’t work ?) he sometimes quits completely and becomes very docile. This is very interesting, thank you x

 

[Keira 8888]

Do you tie him up when you change his rug?

I do! After a horrendous day in the summer when it was windy and wet - I decided to venture out to the field with my brand new swish horse rug. I was so proud of this new rug! Sadly I had no clue as to what bloody leg straps were and after 10 mins of me flapping around Prince had enough and left me eating his dust!!! Never again have I tried to change rugs in the field ?

 

[Keira 8888]

I find scratching along where the curb strap would lie to be a good way of redirecting the interaction if any of mine seem to be thinking of using teeth inappropriately. Agree also with owning your space. I still always tie up to change rugs though, as I feel it's safer for all involved.

Sorry to be slow but what is the curb strap line? X

 

[Keira 8888]

I'm a fan of any short sharp noise, like huh or oi, maybe with a foot stomp for emphasis. Anticipating, so he finds his head making contact with your elbow. Generally protecting your own space a bit more- stand a bit bigger, elbows in a sort of protective stance.

Thanks so much. So basically imagine my space is precious and don’t let him invade it? Xxx

 

[KittenInTheTree]

Sorry to be slow but what is the curb strap line? X

Along under the chin.

 

[doodle]

Thanks so much. So basically imagine my space is precious and don’t let him invade it? Xxx

Exactly!

 

[Keira 8888]

i'm not recommending it and it was a spur of the moment thing, honestly don't know who was more shocked

Haha! You legend! Xx

 

[Littlebear]

I use a sharp quick pinch on the chest if anything has a little nip to me (works well also for anything that barges) no fuss and they do not like it, that has always worked for me but the second they show a reaction that they know they have done wrong its over, no bad feeling don't carry it on, go back to what you were doing like it never happened x

 

[Rumtytum]

Funny you should mention it as my much- loved RS horse (with whom I spend a lot of time) did it this morning. I never give any treats as he easily gets over excited and exuberant, but someone must have slipped him something recently and today he had an exploratory nip. My reflex reaction was a loud bark and hard shove on his shoulder to get him out of my space. The look of hurt astonishment! After that he tried so hard to be The Best Boy in the World it made me laugh ?

 

[dogatemysalad]

If you give treats when he comes in, can he smell food in your pockets ? Perhaps stop any hand feeding and give rewards in a bucket in the stable.
When repremanding a rude horse, I generally keep it low key, unless it's a sudden dangerous moment. I don't shout, flap or smack.
For horses that mug for treats, I let them accidently (not accidentally) knock their head on my elbow and give their muzzle a rub saying ' oh dear, poor you. '

 

[Clodagh]

Thanks so much. So basically imagine my space is precious and don’t let him invade it? Xxx

That is absolutely spot on. Lead mare would never move away from another horse invading her space, you be her!

 

[tristar]

put all treats in a bucket

 

[scats]

I’m a small person with a big voice. I can shock most horses into stopping unwanted/naughty behaviour with a loud ‘oi’.

 

[doodle]

I’m a small person with a big voice. I can shock most horses into stopping unwanted/naughty behaviour with a loud ‘oi’.

Robin def know the word “don’t” said in THAT tone ?

 

[laura_nash]

I usually do a really grandiose gesture if horses are nibbly - if they try to nibble me I do a huge star jump and say 'BAM!' loudly at the same time.

This is basically what I do with both my current ones (both very laid back cobs).

You have to tailor it to the horse though, if I'd done this with my daughters previous pony he wouldn't have let me near him again for days, and with my old horse she'd probably have attacked me. With the pony a quiet, firm "no" and a gentle "back off" hand gesture was the most I ever needed, and for my old horse an "accidental" connection with an elbow or the back of a grooming brush eventually did the trick (she was a bad nipper when I got her).

 

[Caol Ila]

Old horseman's trick with a biter: have a stiff dandy brush to hand. When horse comes at you, let him run into the brush. You obviously don't want to smack it with the brush -- your brush-holding has to be pretty passive so it seems self-inflicted. You yourself must stand there and not react, like it's not even happening. A lot of nippy horses who get handlers smacking them for it will see it as a game, because if you're a horse, it totally is (or they'll just get really headshy). Have you ever seen (usually) geldings or stallions playing the face-nippy game? Anyway, a nose full of dandy brush can't be pleasant.