Please help me with new horse - becoming scared of him

Just waned to say well done for asking for help now rather than waiting til all the little deals add up to BIG deal!!

Hope your lesson goes well, I would maybe lunge him a few times a week if you are not riding, just to keep him ticking over.

Re. the biting, agree that a firm 'no' and also what I do with my bity pony, is not really a smack but a hand in the way so when she goes to bite she kind of smacks herself on the nose with my hand if that makes sense? Or a hand held up in a kind of 'stop' gesture should stop him coming towards you with teeth bared.

Good luck!
 
Pretty much all newbies try their luck. Mine is and he is really quite a sweetheart. I seem to be forever putting him in his place and have to make a point of really praising him when he is well behaved. He is just too big to keep walking over me! Yard is really good though at also sorting out his manners. Was a joy to tack up my old mare today - she is nearly as big as the new boy and had forgotten how relaxing a well mannered horse is!
 
Mine loves rubbing his head too - I think they all do. However he only does it on my terms. If I offer him the palms of my hands up to his head he knows he can rub against them if he wishes. I might then offer my shoulder if he wants a good scratch too. This way he doesn't catch me off balance. I also know where he likes being scratched, and scratch there for him so he doesn't need to rub against me.
 
Oh, and regards biting - with any horse that nips I tap him on the nose -not to hurt - just with one finger as it makes them move back. I then make sure that the horse gives me my space for a few mins or so - then when the horse moves back towards me and is polite he can have a scratch in his favourite place. Didn't take long for 1 of mine to work out which was the better option :)
 
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