Following on from the Biting thread...

J

J&C

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The biting thread inspired me to ask all your opinions on one of my horses and what you would do.

He is a NF gelding, about 8 years old. LOVES people, really friendly and very curious and a bit cheeky. He loves attention and will generally follow me around the field trying to get some cuddles.
However, he has a habit of using his mouth a lot. He will lick me and 'nibble' me just with his lips and he nibbles at things like the straps on my wellies, zips on coats, if I put my hands in my pockets he will nibble at them through my coat. Anything at all really. If I am stood talking to someone/doing something and ignoring him he will nibble at my hands until I give him some attention.
He has never used his teeth and is very gentle when he does this. A couple of times he has tried to do this to my face but knows he is not allowed to do this and hasn't done it since.

And just to add he is never fed treats from my hand.

I am quite happy with the way I am dealing with this habit so not asking for help but interested to see what everyone else's opinion is after reading all the different responses in the biting thread.

So post what you would do if he were your horse and also perhaps why you think he does this.
 
Nibbling usually turns into biting, should they not get what they want. Plus it's bloody annoying! (i've got a 2yr old who likes to put EVERYTHING in his mouth).

For that reason it's a habit I don't allow. It's not bad behaviour as such. Ignoring it isn't working (he still does it) so i'd be firmly pushing his nose off, a sharp NO and making him step a pace away from me. I wouldn't smack him for it tho. That would just frighten him and punish him for something he has no idea is 'naughty'. If however he wouldn't respond to being moved away, THEN i'd smack him. That IS naughty, not moving when he's told.

If he did it to a lead mare, they'd tolerate it briefly then put ears back, swing their head and poss snap at him to move him off. They wouldn't lash out with teeth and feet straight away, but they would if he didn't bugger off when told!
 
One of my boys is the same, gives me at least one bath a day!! Has nipped me once and he get such a slap and he has not done it again, but still licks;)
 
He sounds exactly like my 2 y/old who's going through this phase. I don't let him - I like that he's friendly, but I won't have any mouth-activity. I treat him as Kallibear describes - he's warned off firmly by pushing his nose away. If he persists he will get a slap, because he has been warned (repeatedly!) and I won't have him ignoring me and doing as he pleases!
 
It depends I suppose, I don't mind him playing with my zips, but never let him nibble my skin, just as some don't like there horses to run there heads in them, I actually don't mind.

So I would say if it is not a problem to you, and it is purely just investigating behaviour them carry on.

Although as another poster has said, be sure it is not the start of something bigger.

My old boy always used to get under my clothes and lick my back !!!!!! Embarrassing at times :D but never turned into anything more
 
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