How easy would it be to stop horses biting?

helloamys

helloamys

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Just wondering, seen a horse for sale, but wondering how difficult it would be to stop it biting or if I would just get sick and end up reselling it on
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So would it be difficult?
 
I bit a RS pony back once....it didn't bite me again! He'd learnt it was a way of being left alone though as they kids would leg it once he tried to bite them.
 
My loan horse was a biter - would never trust him even to this day . It decreased when the hand feeding from his owner stopped but he would still take a chunk out of you given the chance
 
it depends why it bites, some horses do it out of pain, others out of fear, some because they have learnt that is how they get their own way.

One of my old horses was a horrid biter in the stable, but when out in the field she was an absolute doll, we never found out why she bit, perhaps she was claustrophobic or just box proud.

If it is a relatively new occurrence then hopefully it can be resolved with good management and correct handling. But if it has been doing it for years I wouldn't be too optimistic that you will be able to get it out of the habit.
 
You might find that they would consider loaning the horse first for you to see how much of a problem it was.

If I really liked the horse in every other way I would consider a biter.
 
I think iv seen the same ad and i think it might be fairly easy to stop as it seems their inexperienced and hes got too high and mighty absolute bargain if what they say about his past is true!
 
I was thinking that, it would be a nice project for before I go to uni
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I'm seriously considering buying it but I'd need a sharer which might be difficult to find if it bites.
Its always worth a look anyway
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Agree that it depends on the horse! It is possible to corect but depends. If it's boredom that's easy, just let it live out in a stable herd with some friends. If it's because it's sick of people telling it what to do all the time (common) and found that biting makes people go away, then that is harder, you'd need to persuade it that people are good to be around really (not with food), and be very undemanding, e.g. Spending time just grooming if that's what it likes etc. If pain, can be sorted.

Biting is often really dear driven so u need to work out the reason for it happening before treating it.

I don't usually go with the whole ih school of things but Kelly marks has a gd tip for horses that bite out of boredom - simply calmly push their head away from you every time they snap, for about fifteen seconds. Then when you are ready just allow them to be in your company again.
Whatever the case you also need to work out what makes the horse happy (e.g praise!) and then give lots of this when it is not biting so it can enjoy being with you!
 
seen the ad too and dont think the biting will be a problem, think they are just inexperienced. Horse is an exracer last raced aug 08 and will be used to being kept busy so most likely doing out of boredom espceially if having to be kept in with the snow and not being ridden, racers are prone to vices but good management will help! If my arab is stressed he gets nippy in his stable, never means to hurt but will nip! I think horse is a bargain for an experienced person that knows what they are doing with an exracer - if thats you then go for it he definitely looks lovely :-) Oh and let us know if you do buy :-)
 
Hi again, wow sounds lovely. Just a quick note, normally I wouldn't dream of interfering with other's advice but do think before trying a muzzle, if he's biting from frustration and boredom as you say, if u muzzle him he'll just find other ways to express himself, probably with his heels, and be worse when u take the muzzle off, because of the frustration .
Let us know how u get on! X
 
Girl at our yard had a Kelly marks associate (sp) out toher horse that bit. It dislocated her wrist, it bit, she pulled back but he didn't let go
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. That wasn't his only problem.

Anyway, I digress. She advised that you get a small tin and put some stones in it. When horse goes to bite, shake tin at him. Keep it up until he gives up biting
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.

Can't tell you whether it worked or not as she moved off the yard.
 
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