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Date Posted: 08:22:00 04/13/07 Fri
Author: Erin
Subject: Re: mean horse
In reply to: olivia 's message, "mean horse" on 17:00:11 04/11/07 Wed

Horses try to establish a pecking order, to show they are/want to be higher up than you they will act out. Biting is most common, kicking as well I suppose.

When does he kick? When you are feeding? When you are grooming?

My TB gelding use to bite BAD. I bought him when he was 5 yrs old, trained for racing, but never did, he was shipped from NY to Chicago, he asks like he is proud cut (been able to breed once and then castrated,) I believe he was a teaser at a breeding farm, and he had obvisously never been taught to repsect his handler. I was 15 at the time, and just learning the steps of owning a horse. I'll tell you what I did, and some things I've seen others do to stop.

For the first few months of owning my gelding, I tried to just not put myself in the situation of where I'd get bit, it wasn't until I was taking off his bridle after a long lesson, that he bit me in the rib cage, and left a huge bruise/blood blister on my side. From that point on I carried a small crop in my back pocket ALWAYS. Anytime he attempted to bite me I quickly gave him a tap on the neck with the crop...enough force to sting only a little. My way of 'biting back' so to say. I never hit him in the face, only the neck. He never went so far as to kick me, he did pick up his hind leg occasioanlly when I was back there picking feet or wrapping his legs. Another spanking with the crop after I made sure I was out of his reach for his leg to swing around. He was slow at it and never was too agressive with kicking. He was always just Mr. Attitrude. His attempt to biting slowed, but to this day (10 yrs later) he may still try to nibble new people. He learned within a year to maybe two years to completely stop biting me. The horse respects ME now but it was a long process, and he never did try to nibble my parents (I think he knew it was because of them that he had a home)When I was 16 or 17 I read Monty Roberts' book, and in the back is his method in round pen working. I read that, and did that to my gelding. Although, I now have my own version of that, I tried my best at what a teenager could do reading from a book, but I did after several round pen working sessions, see a difference in this gelding and his respect. I still remember the day that made a BIG difference in him, I call it his breaking point, the day I worked him for 3 hours (I intended only to work him about 30 minutes or so) and it was a hot June or July day. He was drenched in dweat, but REFUSED to show the common signs of submission. I was drenched in sweat, and was tired of working in the sand. Suddenly, a flicker of the ear and some chewing and licking. I stopped instantly and turned my body, he stopped instantly and moved in. He walked up to my shoulder while I was wheezing away. And he stood there, both of us tired and sweaty and dripping sweat and huffing and puffing. To this day, he has been a different horse. I knew that was his 'breaking point' the day he decided to drop his ranking in the pecking order of he and I. The round pen sessions for this horse and I proved invaluable. That summer we continued working with my trainer over fences, and made amazing accomplishments with each other. My horse has truly been the best teacher I could ask for, and this is why I will not sell him EVER. As I said though, this horse shows me respect, but may still try to nibble new people! I warn new people who are around him that he may try to nibble them.

I've seen people break/slow biting habits by stopping feeding treats from their hands. Always putting treats in feed buckets or pans and giving them that way. As for kicking. I've only personally dealt with horses who are foul about feed time, and legs and teeth start flying. I usually halter these horses up, and put a lead rope on them during feeding time. while I'm feeding in their stalls I hold them, I've also fed them, and held them while they've eaten. And for super-aggressive ones I do as above, but instead of letting them eat, I tie them up, and make them wait to eat. A colt I broke out in college was bad enough that he'd get tied up at feeding time at 5pm and I would go untie him at 9pm. Trying to show them that I can 'take away' their feed as easliy as I can give it. Good Luck to you!!

~E

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