Help with 2yr old!!

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Xanty

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I got my first youngster a few weeks ago, hes 2yrs in a couple of weeks. Everything has been going well he has settled well, isnt phased by traffic etc. The only problem that I have with him is that he is constantly trying to bite me and today it got so bad that ppl had to come and help me lead him to and from the field as he was quite aggressively trying to bite me and get me out of his way. He has tried to bite me when leading before but today was much worse and as I was by the road was quite unnerving. I can normally lead him 2 and from the field which is a 5min walk down the road with no problems apart from the odd attempt at trying to bite.

I think that hes trying to test what he can get away with and is trying to be more dominant over me. What is the best way to deal with this? Next weekend he will be back in the main field right next to the yard so I wont have to take him down the road Il be able to work on this until I feel like I can take him out again.

Im planning on leading him round the arena and when he tries to bite giving him a shap smack and sending him away from me until I want to let him into my space. Is this a good approach? What else can I be doing? Any suggestions welcomed.

Thanks
 
Unfortunately with babies like children they go through phases. I find the easiest thing to sort it out as they go to bite you poke them on the side of their nose with your finger nail. I have nice long finger nails so it is a bit uncomfortable for them. I try not to make to much of a fuss of it and they go out of that phase in a few weeks.
 
Maybe stupid question, but has he been gelded yet? If not then he has probably got alot of hormones shooting around his body with the nice weather. If he has been gelded, probably is just trying it on a bit and just needs reminding that its not polite to bite and as above he should grow out of it.
 
Yes he was gelded at 8mths. I hope it is just a phase, uve made me feel a bit better. He was a bit more lively than usual today he usually stays at the gate with me when I put him back in the field but today he galloped off, bucking and jumping around. I think hes had too much spring grass!
 
Put your elbow out so he socks himself in the gob as he turns to get you and carry on walking as though nothing has happened! Naughty little so and so! :)
 
Try not to use your hand as you don't want him to become headshy when you put your hand up to him, but he will understand the difference between putting your hand up to stroke him & a dig with your elbow when he comes towards you.

Don't worry too much about it as it's just a phase and it won;t be long before he's trying something else :D
 
Don't worry I bought a 5mth old foal 5 years ago and she was turned away until 2. When I brought her back home she bit...badly too...she caught me on my side once and the bruise took a month to fade as it was that green! It was a phase and she grew out of it.

I think a lot of people dont see this biting phase as they keep their youngsters out 24/7 and dont do anything with them until they are ready to break. He/she will probably be teething since it takes them ages to get all their adult teeth and, like babies, will do anything to relieve the discomfort!
 
Great tip that I've found works with foals (not tried it with older horses though) is to tug the whiskers on their chin if they try to nip. It's uncomfortable to them, but as your hand comes from underneath they don't see it coming and so won't become headshy.
 
It`s a phase!!! I`ve got a rising 3.yo i've had since he was 2 and tbh until recently he`s been a right ****, would nip and nip and just be a **** in general really, is starting to grow out of it now.... if he nipped me i just gave him a sharp pinch on his chin which has worked...dont make any quick movements with your hands though as obviously you dont want to make him head shy.... if he tried to nip you whilst in hand then push him away from you, make him walk backwards, make him see that biting you will make things uncomfortable for him....wont take him long to understand they`re quite clever that way :)
good luck!
 
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