Long story short, I work once a week with a Shetland yearling who's quite the trouble-maker. He knows absolutely no respect and bites all the time. I've noticed that in some situations - like if I make a sudden movement with my arms if I lose my balance - he'll flinch and quickly move away from me, bringing his head up and away. In other words, he's on his way to becoming badly head-shy. This makes me suspect he's being hit in the face when he bites, which may discourage the biting but is a breach of trust on another level. I've worked with a few head-shy horses in my life and it's always been a long, long way back when the nervousness has gotten well settled. Has anybody got any advice on how to handle this problem before it becomes worse? When he has one of his reactions I just speak sweetly to him and pat his neck, trying to reassure him and make him understand that I'm not going for his face, but does anybody have any good advice? Just to be clear, I never hit a horse in the face, it's one of my fundamental rules in the stable. So this isn't my work ....
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com Thanks!
Well, if you're not the one disciplining him for biting then you'll have to find out who is and show them another way to prevent him from biting. When I have a horse who bites, especially when I groom and they reach around to nip, I'll hold out my elbow and they'll hit themself on my elbow. I do not make any move to elbow them, it's just their fault. Also, when he bites, I slap their nose and without taking my hand off, rub his nose in the same movement. This way he gets that biting is bad, but you're not trying to hurt him. Ignoring his biting will make it get worse, especially since he's young and trying to assert his own dominance. Since he's being really aggressive in regard to the lead rope, take it away from him and if he pins his ears, make him move his feet quickly in a tight circle around you for several laps at the trot. This asserts that he can't have the lead rope and he is not allowed to be aggressive towards you cause you are the dominate one.
You'll have to desensitize him to movements around his head. Clinton Anderson has great exercises for this, especially if you can get ahold of a Horse & Rider magazine. What I would do is to stand with him and make motions as if you were to slap him (but don't really) keep the movements regular and even if he moves away continue doing them. As soon as he relaxes, drops his head and/or sighs, approach him and pet him all over. Do this on both sides. Another way of doing it is to pretend you're flicking water in his eye.
My pony always use to bite ... or try to.=/Never really fixed him though, he did by himself. I got luck! LOL!
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com It's a habit. When he starts to grab the lead, turn around and make him back up and work. Lunge him for about 5 minutes cantering so he gets the idea that biting=work. I would try to gain his trust for YOU so at least he can trust you even though he can't trust anybody else.
-Fresh - Paint-
your going to have to find out who has been hitting him and have a word before you can do anything to reduce the problem your going to have to make sure it's stopped. Small ponies always tend to have big attitudes.
Just work on gaining his trust if you browse the interenet it will give you lots of ideas, your not going to see a difference over night its obviously going to take time.
