Does biting always mean aggression?

[shanti]

A few weeks ago, my 5yo horse bit be. It wasn't a nip; it was a full mouth bite on the back of my arm, I had my back to him putting the lead rope around his neck and he turned his head and he just chomped down. I was lucky that I was able to catch him right in the act and, obviously, told him off. He seemed shocked that I was so cranky about it and stood morosely with his head down while I composed myself (damn it hurt) Then I walked up and caught him without an issue. He hasn't tried it since, though I have been a bit on guard and taking extra precautions to try and avoid giving him the opportunity to try it again. I don't think he was being nasty at all; I think he was either playing or just in a crap mood at the time and my arm was there. He is a mouthy horse in general and will often pick up random things with his mouth and give them a test chew, he explores with his mouth. Knowing this, I really should have been more careful.

So, my question; A few people around me have commented that any biting = an aggressive, nasty horse, no exceptions, and he is now dangerous??

This seems like huge over-reaction/generlisation to me. I hardly think you can draw that conclusion from one bite. To me that's just horses being, well, horses.

Just curious on people's thoughts? Is this the common consensus?

 

[planete]

Yes, it was an aggressive action. No, one bite does not make him a dangerous horse, you dealt with it and he now knows you will not put up with it. Why did he do it? It could be many reasons: he was full of adrenalin from a bit of rough and tumble in the field, something gave him a sharp twinge somewhere, he thought you were being rude and you needed telling off, he could be feeling coltish...no need to overthink it but good to be aware. My pony is mouthy as well and bit a few times when I first got him. He had been roughly handled and did not trust people, he was also in physical discomfort. As he learnt to trust and his physical issues got resolved the tendency to use his mouth aggressively disappeared. Worth bearing in mind there may be some niggling problem somewhere if the behaviour persists.

 

[SEL]

I think anxiety can cause nipping too. I caught a few nasty ones of my cob when he was younger and out of his comfort zone.

ETA - I've seen it often in young geldings that grow out of it, so it doesn't bother me beyond wearing full sleeves and gloves in situations where it can happen.

 

[blitznbobs]

He is a 5 year old. It is definitely aggressive but ti is how horses sort out rank in their herd. He may well have been trying to assert his position in your herd and therefore was not so happy when it didn’t work. I don’t think it is helpful to think of him after one episode as a dangerous horse. He is a horse. Sometimes they do things that is normal horse to horse behaviour to their human herd. They either forget them selves or just don’t know it isn’t acceptable. You should always think that biting is a possibility with any horse because it is, just as kicking and striking are… but I wouldn’t label him a dangerous horse for one offence

Nipping is quite often a friendly act my babies often get enthusiastic about “grooming” me… and it’s painful but they still have to be told that humans are not keen on this … which they do learn but it takes some longer than others!

 

[Bobthecob15]

Our angelic mare sometimes will take a nip of you when she’s having her saddle put on, her saddle fits her but she’s obviously had one before that didn’t as she’s got white marks on her withers. We are aware of it so take care when we put her tack on. I wouldn’t worry personally!

 

[LEC]

Warwick Schiller would say it’s sometimes them trying to get attention and you should engage with them. Tbh I have followed his thing on nippy young ones and it does work as long as body language is not saying more.

 

[planete]

From the OP's description it does sound like a proper full on bite though, not so much a light hearted nip. I have been on the receiving end of three bites in fifty five years and I still remember each one of them! With a real bite you literally have no time for evasive or corrective action. Two of them were from the pony I still have. The only cure was finding out what made him act this way. The other one was from a just out of training TB mare who probably had ulcers at the time. It was fifty years ago and nobody talked of ulcers then unfortunately, people just said the horse was bad tempered.

 

[Landcruiser]

In answer to your question OP, No, it doesn't. IME it can mean lots of things - frustration, pain, assertiveness, play, exploration, fear, aggression, and probably some others too. If it was a one off, and now corrected, I wouldn't give it another thought. To label a horse "aggressive" after a single bite is nonsense. It didn't come from nowhere, but you'll probably never know why it happened. Maybe horse had been biting at horseflies and was feeling tetchy? Maybe he was dozing and was taken by surprise? Maybe had been playing with another horse and forgot the boundaries? Who knows, but unless the biting continues I wouldn't worry. If it does, there's a reason - most likely pain.

 

[shanti]

Thank you for the replies

I guess it was what you would call a proper bite, I had a thick winter jacket on so it didn't break the skin but it left a big bruise and was quite swollen. After the initial chomp he kind of just froze and he let go as soon as I whacked him and he ran off straight away. It was almost like he had been wanting to try it out for ages, got the chance and then realised immediately "shit, I probably shouldn't have done that"
I have always been wary of his mouth because he is so mouthy but I have become a bit complacent lately as we are working so well together, It really came out of nowhere. He has just had his yearly vet checkup and there's no indication of anything wrong, apart from this incident he's been his usual self but I'll keep a check on it.

I really hope it was a one off, I haven't been bitten in years and I forgot how much it hurts!

 

[SEL]

Thank you for the replies

I guess it was what you would call a proper bite, I had a thick winter jacket on so it didn't break the skin but it left a big bruise and was quite swollen. After the initial chomp he kind of just froze and he let go as soon as I whacked him and he ran off straight away. It was almost like he had been wanting to try it out for ages, got the chance and then realised immediately "shit, I probably shouldn't have done that"
I have always been wary of his mouth because he is so mouthy but I have become a bit complacent lately as we are working so well together, It really came out of nowhere. He has just had his yearly vet checkup and there's no indication of anything wrong, apart from this incident he's been his usual self but I'll keep a check on it.

I really hope it was a one off, I haven't been bitten in years and I forgot how much it hurts!

I got bitten by a horse I really would describe as dangerous - I was turning him out (doing a livery a favour) and he leant forward and gripped hold of my right bicep. It was excruciating and I didn't dare whack him for fear of him taking a chunk out. I knew the horse was nasty and I was watching his legs but hadn't realised he would act like that.

I led him in my mare's muzzle for the rest of the week his owner was away and refused to handle him again.

That one was a spoilt yearling who had got to adulthood without humans putting him in his place. Neither the farrier nor the guy who ran the local breaking yard ever had a an issue though and I think that's because they were big men and I suspect he'd had a 'come to jesus' session with a man at some point so he knew not to assert himself. Small females however were another matter.

Hopefully a one-off for yours so I wouldn't badge him as dangerous - I think geldings can forget they aren't in a teenage boy herd sometimes.

 

[starbucker]

My young one did it once recently as presumed it was treat time (id been giving her one on the way in from the field) sometimes they just need reminding of their manners / boundaries. hope its a one off for you

 

[Fransurrey]

My cob was quite mouthy as a 5yo and did bite my back once as I was leaning over doing feeds (it's kept inside field shelter storage, so he can poke his head in if it's open). The yell and nose slap was enough to make him run for the hills. He's never done it since, although as a youngster he did sometimes 'experimentally' try a nibble in the same scenario and a simple 'don't you bloody dare' made him stop.