Biting when putting rugs on

[mbf938]

Hi everyone

I have had my mare nearly 6 months now and she is good as gold most of the time. However, when I change her rugs, especially in the mornings, she tries to bite me. She doesn't give a warning like put her ears back or anything - it looks like a reflex almost - and she does it when I am about to place the rug on her back. I always fold it up and put it on really gently far forward so that I won't pull it against the hair, but she still does it and today she actually bit me hard enough to leave a big bruise.

She's a TB and is clipped so she has to wear her rugs but I was wondering:

a) How do I find out why she is doing this - she doesn't seem to be in pain as putting pressure on her withers or other areas of her back doesn't cause a reaction
b) How do I solve the problem or prevent her from biting me?

She used to go to bite when I first got her when saddling, but this stopped within a week as I just made sure I did everything very slowly and gently but this isn't working with the rugs for some reason.

She's a very genuine horse, not grumpy, likes and looks after people and doesn't bite at any other time so I am confused. She has also always been well looked after.

Help!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I have had two big horses which did this. I think that they had both been subjected to short people throwing rugs at them. eventually they both improved. My current mare does/did it. I find that if she has something to eat while I rug her she is better.

 

[Enfys]

Well, for a start tie her up, short, so that she cannot bite you

I can think of a variety of reasons why she could dislike having rugs put on, aside from those mentioned above.

Are your rugs giving her static shocks by any chance?
Are you taking warm rugs off and putting cold ones on?
Are they pulling on her withers, mane, or any other part?
Are there any sneaky, invisible bits of hay sticking in to her?
If she does it less at evening stables than morning, is there something that is done differently?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I don't tie up to avoid problems like this. IMO that does stop the horse injuring the handler but it doesn't solve the problem and can lead to an escalation of the behaviour. If she starts cow-kicking when tied up short, would you tie up her leg next? Then what?
Far better, OP to work out what the cause of the problem is and remove it.

 

[Honey08]

Does the rug definitely fit her well? One of my horses was grumpy about one rug and I decided it was just a tad tight on his shoulders. A TB horse I had years ago had very sensitive skin and had more problems over the years from rugs rubbing her and causing sores than any saddle.. It was always worse if she was clipped too, I don't know if your mare has been clipped recently? I often think this kind of behaviour can seem to be naughty when the horse is telling you something..

 

[Enfys]

I don't tie up to avoid problems like this. IMO that does stop the horse injuring the handler but it doesn't solve the problem and can lead to an escalation of the behaviour. If she starts cow-kicking when tied up short, would you tie up her leg next? Then what?
Far better, OP to work out what the cause of the problem is and remove it.

... and that would be what all the suggestions on this thread are about surely

Tying up is a short term safety aspect, not a long term solution, no one was suggesting that

 

[Pearlsasinger]

... and that would be what all the suggestions on this thread are about surely

Tying up is a short term safety aspect, not a long term solution, no one was suggesting that

Experience tells me that you need to spell things out in words of one syllable to some people (not getting at OP here) or they will seize on one thing you say and go no further. Horsesense is a sadly lacking commodity on here and in RL!

 

[mbf938]

Problem solved = rugging from offside means she doesn't consider biting at all, tied or untied

 

[mbf938]

I think she didn't like the surcingles touching her back (guessing they are colder in the morning, hence the reaction then?), no matter how gently. Rugging from offside means they never touch her.