Bite me again boy!

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Sizzlea89

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My welsh section A has been biting really badly over the last few days. He's been nipping for months but suddenly he's started going all out with the teeth and snorts. I was trying the poke and no technique like I would with the dogs, I tried a sharp clap but he ended up rearing and boxing out. (I got out of the way don't worry) since that he's been untrusting and biting more. Does anyone have any idea of some other techniques I can try to stop the biting? He got me a sore one today round my wrist. I was contemplating a water spray but I don't know if he would respond to that. I know giving him a slap on the shoulder doesn't work as he just gets angry and bites more.
 
Sizzlea89 said:
My welsh section A has been biting really badly over the last few days. He's been nipping for months but suddenly he's started going all out with the teeth and snorts. I was trying the poke and no technique like I would with the dogs, I tried a sharp clap but he ended up rearing and boxing out. (I got out of the way don't worry) since that he's been untrusting and biting more. Does anyone have any idea of some other techniques I can try to stop the biting? He got me a sore one today round my wrist. I was contemplating a water spray but I don't know if he would respond to that. I know giving him a slap on the shoulder doesn't work as he just gets angry and bites more.
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Why is he biting you? Work out the reason, deal with it, and he'll stop. Biting is a communication - he can't speak, so he's saying in the only way he knows "I do not like what is happening". You can choose to suppress or ignore what he's saying and that may stop the biting, but not change how he's feeling - and you can be sure he'll find some other even less desirable way to express his feelings.
Deal with the cause, not the symptoms.
 
You need to get tough with him. I have a 2 year old and already 16.1 youngster here who started to bite a lot and generally be a thug. I had to get really tough with him. I use a rope halter to make him back up out of my space if he so much as looks like he wants to bite. Every time I go in the field I make a point of making him move his feet. If he is in my way with the barrow I do not go round him, I make him move. And finally, something that I wouldn't recommend unless you are sure your pony is not head shy or frightened of you, a slap with the back of my hand immediately he goes to bite. A couple of times this has been on the face. A big no no usually, but all other methods didn't work! And absolutely no treats, not ever. Now he is lovely with me at all times. I can even cuddle him (before I got tough on him you could not even stroke his neck without his ears being pinned and him trying to take a chunk out of you). He's still like that with his owner though as she gives him treats. Now he's an unusual case and I would not normally advocate hitting a horse, but when he is going to finish off around 18hh and is becoming dangerous, extreme measures had to be employed.
 
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Mine was a nibbler and whilst she only got me twice the mouthing used to really annoy me. I stopped all treats and got very firm with her when I handled her - I never let her turn her head to me - I'd stop her with a firm hand (whether she was mouthing or not). In the field I would never let her in my space and I would always tie her short. I stopped reacting to her mouthing (stopped shouting at her or smacking or poking) and would either just push her face back round or ignore her. Not only has she stopped the nibbling but she's generally more relaxed being led etc and better mannered.
 
I had the vet out to give him a good check over. Nothing wrong with him. His daily routine hasn't changed and he's not been acting in any other way differently apart from the biting. It's been since the new livery arrived with her mare. But he's a gelding so that wouldn't make any difference, but I believe that the mares owner has been hand feeding him treats which none of the other liveries do because he has the nipping problem. His teeth are good and his hooves are fine farrier was out yesterday for a trim. He's up to date with worming and it's fit and healthy.
 
Small tin or box with something noisy in it like marbles, to shake at him if he goes for you. Otherwise bite him back. I did this years ago with a 4 year old who got me on the back of the leg while I doing his rug up. I bit him on his nose and he never ever bit me or anyone again (he'd also previously bit the yards groom)
 
i had success before stopping one by using a plastic currycomb on my hand and letting him 'run' into it whenever he tried
 
I agree with the others who say be tough with him, as tough as you need to be to stop him. He's trying to be dominant with you so needs firm handling to put him back in his place. My mare can become like this if people spoil her, she gets too big for her boots. I feed her last, make her step back before being fed and generally remind her frequently who's the boss :) She bit me a couple of times when I first got her and had been over pampering her, my fault. The last time she bit me really hurt, she pinched the skin on my thigh resulting in a huge painful bruise. She got a massive bop on the nose for that and my ear piercing screech frightened her so much she's never bitten me again.

If she pulled horrid threatening faces at people over her stable door I would close the top door for a few minutes and ignore her which I found to be very effective.
 
I'll be honest I'd have clouted him with the back of my hand...

done that with many downright rude biters and it soon stops them. My own mare, the only time she every truly bit me in a nasty way, I got hold of her left ear immediately and sank my teeth into it. She did a small 'eee' pulled away and has never done it again. Ever ! That was 8 years ago.
 
Megibo said:
I'll be honest I'd have clouted him with the back of my hand...

done that with many downright rude biters and it soon stops them. My own mare, the only time she every truly bit me in a nasty way, I got hold of her left ear immediately and sank my teeth into it. She did a small 'eee' pulled away and has never done it again. Ever ! That was 8 years ago.
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I tried biting him back and he went mental. Haha he's quite snorty when he doesn't like something.
 
As an aside to the other advice you have had, if he lives out it might be worth trying mag ox supplement. My young gelding gets very gobby at this time of year (tends to be mouthy but not biting, but spring starts coming at you with an open mouth) and last year I tried mag ox and within a few days he had stopped and gone back to normal. I stopped the magnesium and he started again, so he stayed on it until the summer when I ran out and just haven't replaced it yet. Not needed it yet this year but it certainly made a difference to him.
 
Start clicker training him. Its a good way to teach him not to mug and bite. I would also be having a quiet word with the new livery not to feeding or even handling him without your permission. Also is he turned out with the new made? If so he may have dropped in the pecking order and be trying to make himself feel more secure by trying to be dominant with you.
 
If you think he is just being bolshy I would really react quick and sharp with a smack exactly like a mare would do to her foal to teach it some manners. But watch for the triggers - our gelding hates the front of his rug done up and I noticed that sometimes even if he thinks someone is going near his chest he pulls a face in anticipation. We are v gentle with him when doing rugs and don't mind the faces as understand he has been hurt however if he does make contact he will get reprimanded - there is really no excuse to sink his teeth in.
 
Sizzlea89 said:
I tried biting him back and he went mental. Haha he's quite snorty when he doesn't like something.
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When mine bit me the second time (first time I had my leg in cast and I'll be honest handling her with the cast was a big mistake) I saw red as it really hurt - she got a good smack and my OH could hear me in the house! Didn't work though - had to get tough and consistent with her as she was showing dominance. She's a pleasure to be around now.
 
Having had a horse who bites you have my sympathy!
Mine was a bolshy riggy bad tempered a**e sometimes, but he had poor treatment previous to my ownership and as a result he was scared and defensive. I shouted at him or turned his head away if he ever went to nip, if i smacked him it gave him a reason to be scared of me and do it again. I also tried to not give him treats from my hand or he got bolshy, though he did used to stare at my coat pockets after a ride for a polo! Bless him. I had him 9 years and sadly lost him 18 months ago but i can honestly say we had a very close bond and he definiately respected me for not smacking him for biting. It takes alot of patience when you have a horse like this, personally i found him rather fasinating and learnt alot about body language from him!
 
Cripes he'd be getting more than clapped at for that behaviour! I'd have scudded him on the muzzle and chased him off, as for the boxing he'd be getting a rap on the stomach with whatever was handy as well.

Not acceptable behaviour, some serious tough love needed. None of mine would ever do that a second time as the first time there would have been a serious discussion. You should have dealt with it when it was nipping and not let it progress to this stage.
 
Sizzlea89 said:
I tried biting him back and he went mental. Haha he's quite snorty when he doesn't like something.
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No offence OP but it does sound like he's walking over you. You say he's been nippy and now he is biting, if his nipping had been stopped he may well not be full blown biting like he is now. As Black Beastie says.. mine wouldn't have ever done it more than once as they'd have been slammed back into their box the first time. If you can't sort him yourself please do seek someone experienced who's not afraid of telling him how it is.
 
Our bolshy colt was getting quite nippy as a 1-2 year old. We found that a sharp hard smack under his jaw worked well. He never saw where the smack came from and so never got head shy, but did learn not to bite. He is very, very rarely given treats which has helped a lot too, He is now 3 and a very pleasant chap - though with four older and wise 'uncles' and 'aunts' to help keep him in order in the field he doesn't get much opportunity to put a hoof out of line!
 
I agree that he's probably just being rude and needs telling no. Whats he like with his manner in other ways? With my young welsh who I got a few months ago, I made sure he knew from the start who was boss. Didn't have to be nasty, just any time he gets food he has to take a few steps back when I say so, he does it just from voice commands now. I also plenty of groundwork with him. Maybe you could try doing things like that each day, I know it doesn't *directly* have anything to do with the biting but if he has the basic manners in place he should improve :)
 
My welsh A did this when he was younger - they all suffer from small man syndrome!

His breeder who handles stallions regularly gave me the trick to stop it

Do not smack it doesn't work

What you do is when they do nip/bite IMMEDIATELY grab a piece of skin on the neck - like you would if you went to nip a person - then twist with all your might

The old nip and twist routine - only takes a few goes

Those that bite their horses back - do me a favour and video yourselves doing this - I could do with a good laugh :p
 
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cronkmooar said:
My welsh A did this when he was younger - they all suffer from small man syndrome!

His breeder who handles stallions regularly gave me the trick to stop it

Do not smack it doesn't work

What you do is when they do nip/bite IMMEDIATELY grab a piece of skin on the neck - like you would if you went to nip a person - then twist with all your might

The old nip and twist routine - only takes a few goes

Those that bite their horses back - do me a favour and video yourselves doing this - I could do with a good laugh :p
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Smart rap on the muzzle has worked for me over the years ;) looking at over 20 so have to disagree with you there, chasing them back afterwards reinforces the reprimand also.

I think by biting people are perhaps meaning your method ;)
 
I have to say when my (then stallion) bit me, and hard, I bit him back. He reared and tried to box me so I lost it and kicked him in the belly (once). I am quite ashamed of my reaction (it was totally instinctive) but he has never done it since - in fact he is the epitome of politeness!
 
He's really well mannered in every other aspect. Leads nicely, stands, backs up, turns and legs up when asked. It's the only thing I couldn't figure out how to stop. He bites randomly. I was asking for advice because I need it. Not because I need someone to judge me.

Thank you to everyone that has responded with their experiences and ways that worked for you. Great to hear. I'll give some of them a try.
 
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