Horse biting

[RLouise654]

Hi I've got a cob that ever since she has been stabled 24/7 for quite some time due to no fault of her own or mine its yard rules we didn't know it was like this other wise we wouldn't have moved her there but ever since she has been Trying to bit me whilst being led when I try to get her to trot but then she doesn't trot.
Does anyone know why she would do this and how I can stop it.

 

[carthorse]

She's almost certainly unhappy at being stabled all the time, so make trying to find somewhere with turnout your priority. Is she at least getting plenty of ridden or in hand exercise? It could also be that she's stiff and sore in her muscles from not moving around enough, particularly if she's an older mare, and biting is her way of saying she doesn't want to do something because she hurts.

What to do? It depends on why she's doing it and you know yourself the real answer is to move yard. Try doing a lot more walk before asking for trot in hand, and get her out as much as you possibly can. Lead her in a bridle, keep her head turned slightly away from you and pay attention when you're leading her so you can push her face away if she tries to turn to you to bite (though ideally with a bridle you'll be on the ball enough to keep her from turning her head to you). Watch where you are before asking for trot, no point making yourself an easy target. You could try a flash/drop/grackle on her bridle so she can't open her mouth wide enough to bite, though she may still get small nips in.

She sounds unhappy though, and that's what you need to address.

 

[RLouise654]

She's almost certainly unhappy at being stabled all the time, so make trying to find somewhere with turnout your priority. Is she at least getting plenty of ridden or in hand exercise? It could also be that she's stiff and sore in her muscles from not moving around enough, particularly if she's an older mare, and biting is her way of saying she doesn't want to do something because she hurts.

What to do? It depends on why she's doing it and you know yourself the real answer is to move yard. Try doing a lot more walk before asking for trot in hand, and get her out as much as you possibly can. Lead her in a bridle, keep her head turned slightly away from you and pay attention when you're leading her so you can push her face away if she tries to turn to you to bite (though ideally with a bridle you'll be on the ball enough to keep her from turning her head to you). Watch where you are before asking for trot, no point making yourself an easy target. You could try a flash/drop/grackle on her bridle so she can't open her mouth wide enough to bite, though she may still get small nips in.

She sounds unhappy though, and that's what you need to address.

Yard owner finally let them be turned out about 2 week ago and I'm hoping to move yards before she has to be brought back in again. I'm doing lots of walking before asking her to trot then she'll go to bite me then she won't trot even if she has her bridle on she still does it she hasn't managed to get me yet but she's been very close

 

[carthorse]

How does she look in trot and the transition to trot on the lunge? Do you see her trot in the field and if so how does she look? How about when you ride?

 

[RLouise654]

How does she look in trot and the transition to trot on the lunge? Do you see her trot in the field and if so how does she look? How about when you ride?

She trots alright on the lunge and in field its just in hand I haven't ridden her for quite a bit I backed her lightly last year and not done much ridden work with her. I just don't know what to do with her anymore

 

[carthorse]

So she's a young mare? If she's now getting turnout I'd be inclined to leave her alone apart from a daily catch, check over and groom. Give her a chance to unwind before you bring her back into work.

 

[RLouise654]

So she's a young mare? If she's now getting turnout I'd be inclined to leave her alone apart from a daily catch, check over and groom. Give her a chance to unwind before you bring her back into work.

Yeah she's 5 this year I did leave her about a week when she went out before I started to get her out of field again and now I only get her out every other day or so

 

[Jessey]

Young horses nipping when leading is pretty common, especially at trot that energy level with other horses normally means play and they have to learn to control it, a horse doesn’t automatically know how to lead and they may need to relearn it with a change of ownership as it’s reestablishing pecking order.

First I will prevent, make sure they are engaged and focussed, quietly put their head back to centre if they get distracted, leading requires no less attention from you than riding with a young horse, you have to be actively engaged. Teach them to give their head and be relaxed with you, starting at a standstill. Reward good behaviour, lots of praise for being calm and focussed and finally I’ll let them hit their face on my elbow, I am not saying elbow them in the face at all, but if they go to nip I will put my elbow in their way to block and if they hit it and startle themselves so be it.

 

[RLouise654]

Young horses nipping when leading is pretty common, especially at trot that energy level with other horses normally means play and they have to learn to control it, a horse doesn’t automatically know how to lead and they may need to relearn it with a change of ownership as it’s reestablishing pecking order.

First I will prevent, make sure they are engaged and focussed, quietly put their head back to centre if they get distracted, leading requires no less attention from you than riding with a young horse, you have to be actively engaged. Teach them to give their head and be relaxed with you, starting at a standstill. Reward good behaviour, lots of praise for being calm and focussed and finally I’ll let them hit their face on my elbow, I am not saying elbow them in the face at all, but if they go to nip I will put my elbow in their way to block and if they hit it and startle themselves so be it.

She's never done it before this bad only this last couple month she'll put her ears back and try bite me if I do block her and tell her no she still does it

 

[Jessey]

She's never done it before this bad only this last couple month she'll put her ears back and try bite me if I do block her and tell her no she still does it

Just be consistent and she’ll get the idea

 

[Skib]

This sounds like nipping as resistance, My old share was a biter and I am afraid that I deal with it in an instinctive, animal way. First, I make myself look bigger by raising both arms in the air and I make a noise, a growl. The first time, I swore at the horse which got me banned from the yard for a couple of weeks. With Ella I just put my arms up and shouted No.

But one shouldnt isolate the nipping from other behaviour and compliance in general. You dont need a round pen or much space, There is a Kelly Marks (Intelligent Horsemanship) booklet showing how one can win compliance inside the box.

Ask yourself how you put the horse back in its stable. Do you circle round outside the horse and turn to close the door? I think that is BHS way. I now do that because it involves my coming between the horse and its food. But it has to be done with conviction and with a horse which you have already taught to comply in leading outside the box.

It is hard to explain this writing a post on a forum. I learned by watching lots of clinics. Body language, speed (or slowness) when leading and ones history with that particuar horse all come into it. But Rashid who was my great teacher had one fundamental question for clients. Do you want him to do that? If the answer was yes, then it was OKay. If the answer was No, one had to show the horse it was not OK. Yu need to do something when there is an intended nip. For me that means putting the horse at inconvenience by backing it up and or circling. Maxwell does very similar.

Rashid appears to have moved on from that. He commented that all he had done was teach horses to circle. And it all took a lot of time. My view is that it worked for me, it still works and, as an elderly rider, I have all the time in the world and want to avoid physical conflict. I also need to avoid Ella dragging me as we walk from the hitching rail back to her box where she knows a hay net is waiting. One rides in smooth soled boots and I have fallen twice in the yard recently though not when leading. I dont want to fall when leading. So I probably looks as if the whole thing is problem free, It isnt, For almost everyone it is Problem solving.

 

[RLouise654]

This sounds like nipping as resistance, My old share was a biter and I am afraid that I deal with it in an instinctive, animal way. First, I make myself look bigger by raising both arms in the air and I make a noise, a growl. The first time, I swore at the horse which got me banned from the yard for a couple of weeks. With Ella I just put my arms up and shouted No.

But one shouldnt isolate the nipping from other behaviour and compliance in general. You dont need a round pen or much space, There is a Kelly Marks (Intelligent Horsemanship) booklet showing how one can win compliance inside the box.

Ask yourself how you put the horse back in its stable. Do you circle round outside the horse and turn to close the door? I think that is BHS way. I now do that because it involves my coming between the horse and its food. But it has to be done with conviction and with a horse which you have already taught to comply in leading outside the box.

It is hard to explain this writing a post on a forum. I learned by watching lots of clinics. Body language, speed (or slowness) when leading and ones history with that particuar horse all come into it. But Rashid who was my great teacher had one fundamental question for clients. Do you want him to do that? If the answer was yes, then it was OKay. If the answer was No, one had to show the horse it was not OK. Yu need to do something when there is an intended nip. For me that means putting the horse at inconvenience by backing it up and or circling. Maxwell does very similar.

Rashid appears to have moved on from that. He commented that all he had done was teach horses to circle. And it all took a lot of time. My view is that it worked for me, it still works and, as an elderly rider, I have all the time in the world and want to avoid physical conflict. I also need to avoid Ella dragging me as we walk from the hitching rail back to her box where she knows a hay net is waiting. One rides in smooth soled boots and I have fallen twice in the yard recently though not when leading. I dont want to fall when leading. So I probably looks as if the whole thing is problem free, It isnt, For almost everyone it is Problem solving.

Thank you I will try that. Yeah I do circle around the outside of stable and close the door. I will have to have a look at Kelly mark.