Nippy youngster, how can I discourage it?

[HeidiPie1525]

I bought a lovely 4 1/2 year old just over a week ago, I knew his ground manners weren’t great but he’s amazing under saddle which is just what I need. However, he’s a bit nippy and it’s really annoying!

He was imported from Spain as a 3 yr old and gelded before he left. He’s been in the UK a year before I bought him. I’m convinced he was ear twitched when he was there.
How can I discourage the nipping without being too unkind? He’s a smart, clever lad but can be a little head shy so putting a bridle on can be tricky as he’s both throwing his head about and trying to nip at the same time. I know the person I bought him from did some work with him to help him get over his head shyness but I want to help him be more confident.

Any ideas? I’ve tried to attach a picture of the annoying little toad and have no idea why it’s not straight or why there’s 2! Thanks!

 

[twiggy2]

Beautiful head.
To be honest, no treats and don't allow it to happen, if he is head shy the reprimands will make that worse,, when is he biting?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would just push a nippy horse's head away without comment, or if it persists, let it run into my elbow. To get over the head-shy problem while bridling, I would get him used to putting on one of those headcollar/bridle affairs that are used in Endurance.

 

[Orangehorse]

Monty Roberts says to give them a tap with your foot (NOT a kick) on their lower leg as a distraction and push their head away. You have to be aware and meet his mouth with your elbow, or a hard brush, but do not try to smack as it becomes a game. Then there is Cribox, which is a nasty tasting substance you smear on your hands! It is for discouraging chewing on wood, but I had to use it with a youngster that kept chewing the reins.

With the head shy, you can try to see how far you can touch, and then remove your hand, so you reward the keeping still by taking your hand away. You have to take time and patience for this.

 

[Gloi]

Ignore as much as possible trying not to be in range of he is a shy sort. If he doesn't get a reaction from it he is less likely to treat it as a game.

 

[Carlosmum]

I pinch the skin just behind the elbow or on the chest, more or less what a more dominant horse would do with a cheeky youngster. Get the timing right and you can get the pinch in just as he goes to nip.

 

[benz]

He’s beautiful ? my colt tried getting nippy with me and I didn’t want to make him headshy, what worked for us was me pushing his head away when he tried nipping and then immediately bringing his head back towards me. Repeat until he gets the idea. I didn’t make any other fuss about it. It sounds weird and I was dubious but it worked nicely for us and he very quickly caught on that nipping got him nowhere. I think however you decide to handle it, consistency and timing is the key.

 

[paddy555]

for the biting tapping the lower leg with your foot. For the throwing his head up teach him to lower his head on command. Headcollar on, one hand on the poll, one on the nose part of the headcollar, give the command "down" and wiggle your hands one after the other to encourage the head down. If you get a tiny bit then reward and repeat. You should be able to work towards getting the head down simply in a voice command or just by one hand on the poll and "down" Once the head is down then you can start ear/poll/crest massaging to teach him how nice it is.
Then break the bridle up, get rid of the bit and reins and teach him to have the headpiece etc on his ears when his head is already down. (bringing the bridle down on top of his ears) then with the noseband fastened (but still no bit) make the bridle into a sort of Hackamore and put it on in the normal way up over his face.

 

[HeidiPie1525]

Thank you everyone for your advice, a few of these I am already implementing, others I will try.

I can get his bridle on, but he tries to bite the noseband and waves his head around, he is ok with it going over his ears, it's just getting it on without the wrong bit ending up in his mouth.

I am totally in love with him, he has reignited my love of riding, under saddle he is amazing and has a super work ethic for a young chap. I look forward to riding more than I have for quite a while, so I can work with not great ground manners, he's not my first youngster (my 3rd!) it just isn't a problem I have dealt with much before.

I'll keep you updated with our progress!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

He has a very cheeky look. A big character there I think.

 

[Littlebear]

I pinch the skin just behind the elbow or on the chest, more or less what a more dominant horse would do with a cheeky youngster. Get the timing right and you can get the pinch in just as he goes to nip.

I agree, i do this on the chest for anything i don't want - pushing, barging, nipping etc it works an absolute treat. I must admit i pinch really hard and very quickly, enough for it to shock them and it really does work.

 

[IrishMilo]

I have a nipper and it's my fault for giving him too many treats when he was a baby! Lesson learnt. He's slowly getting better.

If he turns to me and tries to nibble I do a huge, over the top star jump and make a ridiculous loud sound - tends to startle him enough that he doesn't do it again, and it's a non-violent approach.