I hope this is not "Off topic" but this board is the only one I have found to have CONSISTANT knowledgeable answers to hundreds of questions.
We have a young stallion who we have worked to overcome all of his childish habits, (with help from this board-- some never get started) except one. He is 2 yrs old and we have been very steady in our handleing methods. He is beautifly behaved around mares, and other horses, and does not try to be a full time stud, screaming, jumping, and trying to approach every other horse as a potential mate. We plan on showing the horse and I know his behavior now is critical for a well mannered horse on the show circuit.
BUT, he tries to bite the halter when we put it on him. It is not malicious but I know it is a bad habit and I was hoping I could find what has worked for others in this forum.
He is not trying to bite us, he stands BACK in his stall when we feed or otherwise open the door and he stands very still while we try to halter him. It's just that he will not keep his mouth shut as the noseband approaches and it more often than not winds up in his mouth, it ususally takes 3 or 4 tries to get it out of his mouth and on over his ears. (We use a leather halter with a cheek snap.) I didn't want to start smacking him on the nose (well I did want to but thought the better of it) as I was concerned about making him head shy.
I know this has become a game to him but I want to stop it, I understand he could have a lot worse habits, I have seen and presently own some horses that do, but this is almost like a small win for him, and I think he enjoys it more and more every day.
Any Ideas?
Thank you
AMR (207.177.53.79)
Posted on Wednesday, June 12, 2002 - 10:52 am:
When our young horses start chewing on things, like lead ropes, I soak them with some tabasco sauce. You might try putting some hot sauce on his halter where he grabs it and it will most likely stop the problem. It may take a time or two and be sure and add more hot sauce the next day until he no longer goes for the halter.
My own 17.3 hand 1500 pound TB stallion does the very same thing, grabs for the halter when we try to put it on him. Never malicious, just irritating really... until I figured out how to keep his mouth occupied by giving him a small piece of carrot first then slipping the halter on... Bingo... problem solved happy horse, happy handler.
my cold did the same thing, I tapped him on the nose with the crown piece ONCE and said ah-ah-ah and he stood there with big eyes and let me put it on him. Then he got rubbed and loved on. I had to snap him on the nose with it again maybe in a week or so, probably a total of 4 times in a month and he quit. THey tend to do 2 things, they outgrow it and just need a little reprimand, or they get worse when they are teething. So if he is having a hard time eating his grain, he will be worse for a couple of days. WHen we tried the treat trick it made things altogether worse with mouthing, but each horse is different. Z
TX, Breeder Posted From: 199.3.209.56
Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 05:21 pm:
From the stand point of handling stallions as well as young colts, I agree with Lori; hand feeding for whatever reason is not a good idea. The horse only understands that your hand should produce food. That increases the urge to nip and nipping can lead to come very dangerous behavior. You might want to have a spray bottle handy instead of soaking your tack. A spray of mouth freshener can stop that behavior.A few spritzes of that into an open mouth will make him think that it is not such a good idea!!
The easiest & quickest "cure" I've found for nipping or biting is to have Binaca, Sweet Breath or any other brand breath spray handy & ready, & at the first indication of nipping or mouthing, give a quick blast right to the mouth. Horses seem to not like the taste or sensation & it won't harm them. It usually only takes a couple of lessons before they decide it's best to keep their lips closed *smile* & it doesn't cause secondary problems (such as headshyness). I would try this method with your colt if he were mine.
As for hand-feeding treats, I may well be in the minority, but I give all of my horses carrots & peppermints by hand, including my stallions, & not one of them is mouthy. They all know better. ;)
TX Breeder Posted From: 199.3.209.184
Posted on Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 03:22 pm:
Vicky- As with my horses who have had a blast of mouth spray at any uninvited mouthing, they know the difference between being "offered" something and trying to "take" something. So many people do not establish this foundation and end up with problems.I encourage the average owner to offer treats in a bucket.As you said about your horses, "they all know better"
Eagle View Arabians Posted From: 205.188.116.13
Posted on Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 03:58 pm:
I think I may have a weird stallion on my hands! He also does the biting at the halter and I have tried the breath spray, he likes it!!! What I have found that works with him is to bring the halter up to his mouth and when he bites at it, I take it away. I keep doing this until he stands quietly and will let me put his halter on. He has learned that he doesn't get turned out (or brought in) until he lets me put his halter on. It's slow going but has worked, since the breath spray didn't work! I haven't tried the carrot technique yet, maybe I'll try that next.
Tx Breeder Posted From: 199.3.209.209
Posted on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 08:03 pm:
You never know when a hot looking mare might come along!! A guys gotta have an edge!
Try spraying him up his nose, really... if he likes that, then I agree, his is a weirdo!
Eagle View Arabians Posted From: 64.12.116.13
Posted on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 10:02 pm:
I have to say I've never tried spraying it up his nose, just in his mouth. I'll give it a shot next time. He's very mouthy in general, not aggressively but very annoying.
My stallion does the same thing, he is very childish and gapes like a shark when he sees his halter coming. I wait until he has closed his mouth and put the noseband over or take away the halter until he complies. He will walk into his stable holding the end of his leadrope in his mouth. He never chews only sucks the rope. I end up letting him do this one thing but I will try the breath spray and let you know the result!
My stallion does the same thing. It drives me crazy. I too stood there forever taking the halter away and walking away even. THis worked for a month, and then he started again. Repeated the process It didn't work. Note He ONLY does this during breed season no other time. We breed about 6-10 mares a year. After season is done he doesnt' do it. I too did the banaca.. He liked it and shoot him in the nose he just sneezes and turns up his lip and tries again. Carrots work fine, and he too loves to suck the lead rope. I let him do it, because it works>
I had the same problem with mine. All the answers are in the Horse behavior course, and the new level 1 and 2~ dvd's by Pat and Linda Parelli. I now have a great relationship with my horses. Some other ideas here are a bit alarming! Honest after watching and learning you will never look back and you wil agree that this is the best advise you've had so far. Good luck
Please note that opinions, product information, advice or suggestions posted on this bulletin board are not necessarily those of the management at Equine-Reproduction.com nor does the maintenance of the post position indicate an implicit or any endorsement of that information, opinion or product.
Further, although we have the greatest respect for the posters offering assistance here, you are advised to seek a consultation with your veterinarian prior to using information obtained from this board if it is of a veterinary nature.Proud to be sponsored and supported by:
I haven't tried the carrot technique yet, maybe I'll try that next.
