horse biting, how to stop it?

P

pixy

Member
Joined
7 October 2013
Messages
27
Location
Ireland
Visit site
Hi all,so i have a lovely 19yr old horse who i got about 4months ago.hes super in all ways except for the fact that he loves biting me!!! Not hard but enough for me to go "ow". Never leaves a bruise or anything. He does all the time, when im brushing him, tacking him up, putting on/off his rug even just standing beside him rubbing him! Its getting extremely annoying at this point and ive no idea how to stop it....... i dont want to resort to hitting him, i do give a shout when he does it and he knows he has done wrong as he runs away/moves when he does hit his target so to speak!any ideas how to stop this please :)
 
I would ignore the behaviour and when you see him going for a bite push his head away - no voice/eye contact just a firm push away. My friends horse is a biter - he takes the mick with her but I have done the above when I've groomed or tacked him up - he gets no reaction from me - besides the push away. He soon got the idea that he got no attention - good or bad - from me and soon got bored of his little game :)

Will take time for him to get the idea - even if its a friendly groom he needs to know its not acceptable with you :)
 
Last edited:
OH's horse used to bite, and it hurt, nasty too, ears back...just did it..

I got so cross one day I bit him back, on the shoulder, hard. He shot off to the side... Got a mouth full of fur but horse never did it again.....

Not saying it's right or wrong, I just responded....
 
It does sound a bit like mutual grooming, one of mine does this when i scratch her, or groom her vigerously, she uses her lips to nuzzle and rub, then when she really gets going drags the teeth down for a better scratch ouchie !!
 
Short term - keep one eyeo n him and as soon as he turns to bite, ensure he bumps into your elbow. Elbows are hard. (Important he bumps into it as if it was self inflicted, not that you have attacked him with your elbow - subtle but important difference).
Long term do some ground work to ensure you have a properly respectful relationship - no horse bites a kind consistent leader.
 
JillA said:
Short term - keep one eyeo n him and as soon as he turns to bite, ensure he bumps into your elbow. Elbows are hard. (Important he bumps into it as if it was self inflicted, not that you have attacked him with your elbow - subtle but important difference).
Long term do some ground work to ensure you have a properly respectful relationship - no horse bites a kind consistent leader.
Click to expand...

Agree ^^^^

Ive been doing this with my colt and it does work they are quick learners
 
At 19 he is a bit of a character. They are cheeky love bites and a bit of game to him I would think, his previous owners have obviously let him get away with it. My old boy, who I had for 25 years, developed the same habit in his later years, he would nip sleeves and jeans but rarely made contact with skin, and if I told him off he would do the 'wasn't me' face.

As long as it is character and not nastiness I would not be knocking an old horse about, just tie him up short or if you really want to pee him off muzzle him whilst you groom/rug and tack up.
 
Ok heres a little pic of the hansom boy.

2013-10-30104439_zps19809df6.png


now thanks for all the lovely replies, am going to try and just ignore him maybe stick my elbow out if i see him coming

he is tied up in cross ties so he cant get me only when im near his head. Where the main problem is i suppose as its mostly when im bent down trying to brush his legs he'll bite my head or ass!! Or im fasting the front of his rug! Hard to push away when i dont see the sneaky so and so coming for me lol

im also surprised no one said ulcers but thats ruled out anyway as he recently had a virus but a weird one so got bloods, scooped everything!
 
Oh dear, I've just realised that zz was probably being serious, in which case I apologise!

If tickled in the "right" spot, my GSD does the little bites they do for flea control on my arm but it is never painful and I find it rather endearing! It's called "social grooming", a pack/herd bonding thing like mutual grooming.
 
Dry Rot said:
If tickled in the "right" spot, my GSD does the little bites they do for flea control on my arm but it is never painful and I find it rather endearing! It's called "social grooming", a pack/herd bonding thing like mutual grooming.
Click to expand...

My two GSDs both do this! I think it's lovely too!

No advice but I think the elbow thing is a good idea. Also - he's a lovely looking boy!
 
Dry Rot said:
Oh dear, I've just realised that zz was probably being serious, in which case I apologise!

If tickled in the "right" spot, my GSD does the little bites they do for flea control on my arm but it is never painful and I find it rather endearing! It's called "social grooming", a pack/herd bonding thing like mutual grooming.
Click to expand...

No I wasn't being serious, I was being sarcastic lol :P but forgot the :P smiley!
 
DragonSlayBells said:
OH's horse used to bite, and it hurt, nasty too, ears back...just did it..

I got so cross one day I bit him back, on the shoulder, hard. He shot off to the side... Got a mouth full of fur but horse never did it again.....

Not saying it's right or wrong, I just responded....
Click to expand...

I did have quite the chuckle reading this! Thanks, DS :D

amymay said:
Tie him up.....??
Click to expand...

The horse probably is tied up. Unless our lot are arsing around, they are tied up so they can still move their heads and look round....


OP, you need to stop him making contact, which means you being observant and getting the timing right with your command, and being consistent.
 
Horse in the wild stamp the ground or pinch (bite) each other in the neck the establish leadership.
My mare just to bite me like that, when I started reacting by pinching her on the neck it all stopped.
 
Dry Rot said:
What a silly statement!

What he obviously needs are supplements.

He has been driven to correct a mineral imbalance by eating human flesh.
Click to expand...

Lol. :D
My friends cob likes to nibble and nuzzle my back if I'm picking his front feet. I thought it was cute until I realised the ***** was gently trying to find some skin to nip! Yesterday I had my bobble hat stolen by him as I was checking his poorly feet. He then gave the bobble a jolly good chewing :D he knows very well it's not allowed because if you tell him off he hangs his head down and looks pathetic.
 
pixy said:
Ok heres a little pic of the hansom boy.

2013-10-30104439_zps19809df6.png


now thanks for all the lovely replies, am going to try and just ignore him maybe stick my elbow out if i see him coming

he is tied up in cross ties so he cant get me only when im near his head. Where the main problem is i suppose as its mostly when im bent down trying to brush his legs he'll bite my head or ass!! Or im fasting the front of his rug! Hard to push away when i dont see the sneaky so and so coming for me lol

im also surprised no one said ulcers but thats ruled out anyway as he recently had a virus but a weird one so got bloods, scooped everything!
Click to expand...

He's lovely. Do you treat him at all? Ive stopped giving my mare treats (she didnt get much in any event) as she bit me twice (not nasty, ears back type biting but still firm and painful!) and would often look like she might (requiring a blocking elbow or finger, which worked well to put her off at the time) - she has now stopped completely. She still gets her treats but in a bucket!
 
Following this thread as I have a biter, but the ears pinned back, mouth wide open, trying to take a chunk out kind! I've tried shouting, smacking his shoulder, flicking his nose and holding a brush but nothing is working! Today he actually drew blood on my elbow, despite me wearing 3 layers and a thick coat! Nearly at my wits end.
 
Ceriann said:
He's lovely. Do you treat him at all? Ive stopped giving my mare treats (she didnt get much in any event) as she bit me twice (not nasty, ears back type biting but still firm and painful!) and would often look like she might (requiring a blocking elbow or finger, which worked well to put her off at the time) - she has now stopped completely. She still gets her treats but in a bucket!
Click to expand...
He is beautiful...I was wondering if he was used to getting treats and is trying to tell you something is missing from his routine? I haven't had mine for long and he doesn't bite but does very insistent head butts for treats. To my surprise my teacher gives treats during the lesson which doesn't help with my intended no treat policy..but he has quickly learned that he gets just one from me on arrival in his stable. Early days with your chap, I used a firm 'no' as my deterrent and gently pushed him on the neck, so no arm waving etc. and he has got the message. My TB did much the same thing, got the same treatment (he would nip too) and now asks with his hoof, untaught by me!
 
Dumbo said:
Following this thread as I have a biter, but the ears pinned back, mouth wide open, trying to take a chunk out kind! I've tried shouting, smacking his shoulder, flicking his nose and holding a brush but nothing is working! Today he actually drew blood on my elbow, despite me wearing 3 layers and a thick coat! Nearly at my wits end.
Click to expand...

Have you done ground work, especially some which defines your space and teaches him (clearly and consistently but kindly) not to invade it?
 
Dumbo said:
Following this thread as I have a biter, but the ears pinned back, mouth wide open, trying to take a chunk out kind! I've tried shouting, smacking his shoulder, flicking his nose and holding a brush but nothing is working! Today he actually drew blood on my elbow, despite me wearing 3 layers and a thick coat! Nearly at my wits end.
Click to expand...

You need to get tough with your lad and show him whose in charge, have him in a headcollar for feeding, don't let him have his feed till you say he can, start off with 30 secs, as long as he stands still, let him feed, increase the time gradually, same with hay, if he puts his ears back when not being fed, make him back up, move over etc, my lad is a terrible bully with the others, so every time he goes to bite the others, I send him out of the barn and only let him back in when I'm ready, seems to be working so far, but it's early days.
Just to say, no need to shout or get rough, be consistent, a firm no, then a good boy when he complies
 
Last edited:
The hoofpicks with the brush on are good for discouraging them, make sure the mouth contacts with the spikey brush part. The hoofpick is small enough to be held while you do your tasks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top