How do you stop your pony or horse nipping people

Ally · 09-30-2007, 05:15 AM

A pony or horse bite is usually very painful, how can you train your horse or pony that it mustn't do that?

What can you do if your horse or pony won't stop biting people?

Ninja · 10-25-2007, 04:16 AM

Most horses bite from some of a few reasons... most commonly because people hand feed it, it is annoyed and feels it can use its mouth to harm you because it has gotten away with it or because it feels threatened.

There are many ways to correct it. I like to try and grab his/her tongue right away and hold it out the side of its mouth so it chews (hold the tongue over the gums not the teeth) lightly on its own tongue while tasting you, but I have trouble often actually grabbing the tongue and doing this especially on youngsters so if I know a horse is a biter I like to have a crop (I do not use crops often but believe that biting is extremely dangerous and must be taken care of) and when the horse goes to bite I am ready and give the horse a brief firm (but obviously not too hard) smack on the center of the chest and leave it at that unless the horse proceeds to do it again. You can also if the horse goes to bite pinch the horse on the lip where the bit would touch.
I try and never ever feed a horse by hand, I work with a horse if it is cinchy tying its head so it cannot reach me to bite and work on making it comfortable with tacking up so it doesn't feel the threat anymore of the pain it may have had happen to it in the past or if a horse is just rude I wait and deal with it as I feel is the firm (but fair) method. I don't like crops but when I am at risk or someone else I feel its better to take care of the issue right away then lightly or the horse will think it is a joke. If one has ever seen horses play they will know the force that is used here is just playing so the force has to be fair but not exaggerated.
I haven't had any of my horses ever bite but usually see this in schooling horses, horses that have raced and been tacked up fast or kids horses... especially ponies!

I'm not sure this is what you are looking for. I think it depends on why the horse is biting so you can look for methods to help the horse feel (if it is a fear thing) that biting is not necessary.

Ally · 10-25-2007, 05:52 AM

At a riding stables near to where I used to live, there was a strawberry roan called Blizzard. He was a 15 hand mixed breed gelding and about 10 years old.

He was a lovely horse to ride, very steady, not spooked by anything.

However, he had a vice. If you approached him from the front for any reason, he would bite you. No warnings like ears back or anything, he just went for you.

The owner of the stables tried everything but could not stop him biting, so she placed a warning alongside his stable door to approach with caution and only allowed employees (and me, as I was semi-staff) into his stable (from the rear door) to tack him up and get him ready for riding.

One occasion a lady who was a regular rider at the stables but has always hired another horse, decided to take Blizzard instead. He wasn't tacked up or anything and was tied to the rails and about to be groomed ready for a class later on that morning.

This lady knew he was a biter but for whatever reason continued to tack him up herself. Saddling was fine, but when it came to the bridle, he went for her. Caught her on the side of the face and bit her very badly.

I was in the yard at the time and I went over to the horse, from behind, stroking his side to calm him down as I went, go a hold onto his bridle and just held him to calm him down. The lady had screamed when he bit her and that spooked him.

I took him away from that area of the yard while the paramedics etc were called and I lunged him in the school for a while, just to keep him out of the way really.

Anyway, a couple weeks or so went by and a letter appeared at the stables. The lady was suing the stable owner for having a dangerous horse. The case went to court and despite the fact there were notices saying not to approach from the front etc, the owner was forced to destroy Blizzard.

Now I know biting is bad, but if someone ignores a warning about a horse that has a biting problem and then gets bitten, I find it really annoying that the horse pays the ultimate price for someone else's stupidity.

Ninja · 10-25-2007, 12:27 PM

Quote:

if someone ignores a warning about a horse that has a biting problem and then gets bitten, I find it really annoying that the horse pays the ultimate price for someone else's stupidity. __________________

Agreed

And you see this so often. We teach lessons and sometimes take out hacks and the people who are the worst riders are the ones who know the least and tell you they know the most

Ally · 10-25-2007, 12:32 PM

No-one ever did find out why Blizzard was the way he was, he was a rescue horse from a local horse sanctuary. He had the best temperment you could ever wish for, the children loved that horse but they knew not to go near his head. This 'adult' decided she knew best and took the chance....only trouble was that the horse, not her, paid the price.

Ninja · 10-25-2007, 12:34 PM

I wonder if he was ever hit in the face or something pre owning him....

There is also a horse where I ride... best manners in the world but he is just a little toad and will try and bite you to be a pest if he can get you. Not because he is mean.

Ally · 10-25-2007, 12:47 PM

Blizzard went to the stables when he was a 5 year old from a sanctuary. There was very little 'history' that came with him, but something or someone had upset him enough that no-one could be infront of his face...to the side, fine, but never directly infront. Passing under his head would spark him off too, but that was more of a nip than a full on bite.