Biting.

[Brontie]

If your foal/horse bit you, what would you do? Ild prob tap it on the nose and tell it no, that way they learn. Please dont say "Omg Omg Ur an Abuser!"


What would you do.

 

[dwi]

tap it on the nose and say no. only works if done immediately

 

[JulieL]

My friend's horse used to nip so when it did my friend would, not hard, but as quick as poss tap her firmly just above her horses hoof with her foot.

This way her horse didnt associated being smacked so didnt become headshy and associated a clonk on the leg (again not a kick, just a sharp tap) with nipping - soon stopped her horse nipping!!

 

[Brontie]

What if tapping the horse, it becomes agressive and feels your a threat?

 

[Mid]

sort of flap him on the nose so it makes a 'bopping' noise. mine tries to bite sometimes, just cos he's greedy really.

 

[Persephone]

My six month old Dales filly bit me a couple of days after I got her. I was putting her feed down in the stable and she lunged at me biting my shoulder really hard and drawing blood through a wax jacket jumper and t shirt. Anyhow she bit me so hard that I just reacted automatically, it felt almost like self defence because her attack was so hard and fast and she got a right slap on the muzzle. It was a bit too hard maybe because she jumped back and snorted a couple of times and looked really shocked. I then held the feed bucket and she ate with me there holding it and talking to her. I did feel absolutely awful about it but she really caught me by surprise. Anyhow, I never had to smack her again during her whole life. She never once attempted or made a move to bite again, so in hindsight, it was the best thing I could have done.

 

[hannah87]

not sure - depends with a foal they are generally playing and testing the water to see wat they can get away with and its important to be very clear wat is ok and wat isnt. and get it nipped in the bud frolm day one. tapping on the nose can turn into a game for a foal - i would be inclined to growl very loudly at them and move them away from me - perhaps a slap on the neck but not the head.
a horse is different and generally theyv already learnt wats right and wrong but still depends on the horse tbh to wat id do. if a horse lunged at me for no apparent reson - ie tickled its belly etc then it would probably get shouted at , growled, and possibly a punch on the nose but not in all cases.

 

[JulieL]

To be honest Brontie - my friend's horse didnt see this as a threat as she did not associate my friend tapping her leg with her foot - the horse just thought every time she nipped, she seemed to have this twinge in her leg!! My friend did not use her hands in any way so the horse again had no association with being smacked etc so therefore didnt feel threatened/head shy by the actions of my friend.

It worked and very quickly. It was nothing like a kick or a big reaction, just a nip (from horse), tap on leg = confused horse