'Mouthy' horse

[MrsElle]

I have a 5 year old IDxCB who is rather mouthy.

She likes to pick things up and chew them if possible (lead ropes, head collars, much rake handles, barrow handles etc), and also mouths humans and dogs. She never bites when she mouths, it is usually just feeling with her lips, although occasionally she will hold your hand or arm in her mouth between her teeth if she manages to get that far, but never puts any pressure on.

She is not in the least bit aggressive, she is well mannered and respects personal space, and I have absolutely no complaints about her; she is an absolute joy.

Her teeth have been done recently, and she was mouthy in her last home too, so it seems to be just her.

Would you see this as a huge problem, and what is the best way to stop her? Or should I stop her? When she wobbles her wibbly lips on my neck it does make me laugh, and she loves OH's hair for some reason!

While it isn't an issue with us as we know she wouldn't bite, others may not take to kindly to being accosted by a 16.3 (and growing, she's a bit bum high!) ginger beastie

So, what would you do, leave her to see if she grows out of it, or nip it in the bud now? And how?

 

[Elvis]

Personally I'd leave it, as long as she doesn't start nipping. Others would disagree as often it can lead to nipping/biting, however my horse mouths like yours and he's 7, he's always done it and I doubt he'll grow out of it, he's 17hh as well so people are naturally cautious around him but they soon realise he's harmless.

 

[fburton]

Agreed. If it's not a problem for you or other people who have to handler her, then I would leave it. If it does look like becoming a problem, or you change your mind, there is at least one way to stop mouthiness quickly and easily (I have my own method) not involving physical reprimand.

 

[Kallibear]

Are you sure she's not actually Roo and an orange 3yr old 16.2 IDxTB?!?! You've just described him perfectly.

Roo would be devastated if you told him off firmly and would cry for a week. He's a sensitive flower and 'No' is enough.

He's allowed to 'sample' anything he wants provided he stops when asked (I.e when it matters) but he's NOT allowed to chew on humans, ever. He's just calmly told 'no' and his nose gently pushed away. That's enough to stop him and he rarely tries it but I would escalate it to an eventual smack if he didn't listen.

I've chosen a 'socially acceptable' limit to when he's allow to chew and stick to it. Gentle nuzzling is allowed. Attempting to pull clothes, hair or skin into his mouth, even just his lips, is not.

Whilst I don't particularly mind him doing it, other people don't like it and he needs to be handeable by others. They will be less tolerant and, not knowing him well, will quite propably smack his nose. That's frightening and unfair to him and my fault for not training him properly. I can see his hurt, betrayed and confused little face even now

 

[Ladyinred]

We have two girls like this, and, tbh, they do it because we have never stopped them! Neither would dream of doing any harm and I think it is their way of getting to know you/explore items better.

I do tend to warn people and explain there is no malice intended, mainly because I wouldn't want them slapped for coming too close.

 

[Kallibear]

P.s it would make me so sad to think of someone smacking his little face for doing this, so he's trained to be a Socially Responsible Horse.

 

[MrsElle]

Phew, thought it was just mine who did this, I have come across youngsters doing it when teething etc, but they have stopped by the age of 5.

OH and I are the only people handling her really, and it doesn't bother us. She did manage to undo my boot lace and chew it off the other day when I was stood talking to someone and not paying attention, and she has chewed through a brand new leather headcollar, but other than that her chewing and mouthing hasn't really been an issue with us.

I'll leave her to it then, as it doesn't bother us

 

[MrsElle]

P.s it would make me so sad to think of someone smacking his little face for doing this, so he's trained to be a Socially Responsible Horse.

Bless him, that is Big Red all over I have a pic of her swinging a full poo scoop around her head (thank goodness for centrifugal force!), one of her holding a flag in her mouth during the jubilee, and several others. She does make us laugh

 

[TandD]

it must be a big horse thing - my mares 17.3 and will chew anything she can get her mouth around. ive found she will chew, suck or just hold something in her mouth more frequently when she is un-sure/nervous or excited i.e at a comp she will chew her reins...at home she doesnt!

however after going through 2 expensive stirrup leathers and a throat lash we now try to keep leather work out of her way (esp. saddles!) but she still gobbles up her leadrope and tries to lead herself around!! she only gets told no, and have the item taken off her if it will cause teeth marks/ break. otherwise i leave her to it...she gets upset and even more worried if she doesnt have her 'safety blanket'

 

[Brightbay]

My 17hh monster was very into mouthing things when he was a kid (4 year old). He still explores things with his mouth (yesterday, we were doing hoof trimming which he thinks is great fun, as he gets rewards for standing nicely in the field with his hoof on a stand). He got very excited when he saw the hoof stand, and came over and picked up (1) the rasp, (2) the hoof brush and then (3) my car keys. He used to want to hold lead rope in his mouth, but we just consistently rewarded him for walking nicely without the rope in his mouth, and he gradually stopped. However, he will still take the rope very occasionally if he feels a bit worried about something, and I'm fine with that as it's a good way for me to judge how he feels about situations. I can then calm things down before he needs to get bigger and louder about how he's feeling

We will offer him "allowable" things in tense situations - he's allowed to chew on a dog tugrope when e.g. being examined by vet, or treated by physio. We have also freaked out more than one vet by introducing his squeaky bone (yes, another dog toy) during a painful hoof abscess treatment. As far as I'm concerned, a large horse with a squeaky bone going "eeeEEEeeeeEEEeeeeEEEeeeEEE" is much preferable to sedation I think for us the key was actively offering him the things he's allowed to chew on, while gently discouraging him from chewing other stuff. He doesn't normally chew on humans (when taking treats from the hand, I've sometimes had three or four fingers get sucked in with the treats and then carefully returned to me slightly slobber covered but unchewed). He does like Velcro and zips though...