Biting? got any ideas on how to stop it?

[Hunter123]

Well ive got a pony who is only 2 and still a stallion... he could bite you all day ... walking past the stable and leading him! so at shows i come home with bruises all over my hand and arms. He does it whilst in the ring just walking round.. and does it when trotting out for the judge, even when just stood there waiting for the others to finish. It does get really anoyying... but need some tips on how to try and stop him.

Thanks

[Top Secret IV]

We had a pony that used to bite, Monty Roberts told us to knock his shins when he does.

If you hit his mouth this reenforces the area and the action, so if he thinks if i bite my leg hurts he should stop.

[Hunter123]

Thanks will try it

[crimson]

Nov 16, 2008 15:37:58 GMT Top Secret IV said:

We had a pony that used to bite, Monty Roberts told us to knock his shins when he does.

If you hit his mouth this reenforces the area and the action, so if he thinks if i bite my leg hurts he should stop.

With what?

[thecremellosociety]

probably a thin stick maybe, wouldnt be a fan of knocking legs but can see the distraction technique, i was always told but never did it to put a hot potato wrapped in foil in my pocket and let the sod bit the hot potato !!!!

Personally i think a pinch or a whisker pull when it is biting at the right time can work as well as a tap on the shin, not a fan of slapping though have done when caught off guard !!!! Little monsters !!!!! (Not mine) as can make head shy but a good old tug on whiskers or a real good pinch, make it unplesent for them

but this will never work if you tit bit anything !!! Dont titbit from your hand ever.

[Hunter123]

well i do nip him but he just bits me again so i dont think that works ... and he only seems to bite my arm or hand when im leading him .. but when hes over the stable door its whatever he can grab .

[shy talk]

When one of mine was entire and nippy, I was told to give him a blast of canned air up his nose when he nipped, make sure he can't see you do it (hide it behind your back and blast when he is busy biting you), it makes a loud noise so you don't have to aim it too accurately, just be prepared to hold tight in case he does one!
Never tried it on mine as he was gelded which stopped the nipping.
The stuff I was told to use is available from computer stores, used for blasting dust of circuit boards, it isn't an aerosol and just pure air compressed, totally harmless.

[Hunter123]

have tryed hurting his legs when bites but it just makes him scared and he just goes to bite you again .. so i dont think that works. Any more ideas??

[tesstkat]

lemon in a squeeze bottle is fab they hate it just squirt the nostril so they get a good wiff or just as the jaws open straight in the mouth but dont let them see the little yellow bottle as they learn that when you havent got it they can bite
hope this helps x

[duster]

Padded arms and gloves! Soaked in Cribbox or similar. Yuk, might be messy but worth a try???

[dsmum]

I have always used a hard bristle hairbrush - when Im handling the youngster - I put the brush into his mouth when he goes to bite and when he threatens - they rearely do it again but timing is vital!

[Hunter123]

will try them all ... need as many idea as i can at this stage. Thanks

[bronco]

my stallion who is nearly 20 has always bitten! I've tried everything over the years to no avail. I used to show him in stallion tack just to prevent him from biting me. But I came to realise that it's an instinct with an entire. As soon as he's bitten me he pulls back because he knows he shouldn't, but really can't stop himself. He doesn't come at me with teeth barred, but is so quick that there really isn't time to stop him. I don't say all stallions do it, I have another stallion aged 22 who has never bitten!

[gladys]

bronco, i have one the same at 16 he has always done it tried everything,
have 3 colts this year to show, they are worse in the ring than at home, could be a stress thing or excitment, daughters hand all bruised today, have tried most things, so would be intrested in any ideas to

[Hunter123]

yes this is what he is like.. really fast so carnt dodge him! But over the stable door he actually means to do it .. ears back and just goes for you have to remember hes there when you are walking past. Have tryed things what people have said on here and nothing is working.... so need MORE MORE MORE ideas.... PLEASE ...

[pp]

He, He, someone should maybe invent a pony collar....similar to those electric shock ones for dogs.....So everytime he bites you[you press a button] he gets an electric shock.....mmmmmm....wonder if it would work with ponies.....[only kiddin]
Good Luck with all the sensible ideas posted above mine hun...

[Hunter123]

If this was invented .. for some reason i dont think it would work as he runs under our electric fence and doesnt feel a thing ;D x

[ponymum]

My darty does the same!!! immune to electric fencing...

[tamrik]

keep a wooden spoon handy that is coated in cribox. everytime you handle him take the spoon with you and offer it as he tries to bite. it usually only takes a few days for them to stop.

[cyflawn]

My stallion used to run at the stable door at other horses and we filled a squirty bottle with water and if he went to do it a squirted him but made sure he couldnt see, he started to associate running at the door with getting wet and no longer does it, we did the same thing to a stallion that used to run and bite at you in the stable and it stopped him.

[elorac]

When my colts start as babies, sorry but I pull whiskas under chin straight away along with the sound of ar ar you dare loudly, in a gruff voice, now my soon to be 4 yr old colt, I only have to say ar ar you dare and he dosnt. I will soon be doing the same to my A colt.
As a 2 year old good luck.

[Ziggy]

Been reading all the replies on bititing to get some ideas, might try cribox on a spoon. Our new lead rein pony bites me in the stable. have not yet let children in stable, too scared for thier safety. Could be a stress thing with him as he is on his own at present (Hopefully getting friend soon). I think in the past may have been tapped on his nose as he is a bit head shy so don't really want to do that. Have noticed people have all written about stallions and colts, anysuggestions for geldings? guess it would be the same ideas really

[Trot-on]

Dont no if it will work on horse, try horseradish sause, ribbed into your hands, that would have an awful taste and might put him off?? Although a little smelly and messy possiably worth a try!

[myhorselizzie]

pull his whiskers.. it works and they dont get headshy!
x

[Emma_X]

I agreee use the wiskers thing, ive just got a little colt and hes started biting, everytime he tries he gets, 'dont you dare' in a gruff voice and he will not try it again!! x wish you the best of luck x

[hunter]

at a show is NOT the time to stop a youngster bitting ! he is more likely bitting through nerves or excitement . At home is where to stop it and start whilst in the stable tie him up whilst grooming if he tries to bite you a firm loud no !!(in a deep voice ,dont squeel at him he will just think ur a mare !) followed very quickly with a sharp slap (behind the girth area ,because you dont want him pulling or running backwards !) . once he has mastered not bitting you whilst grooming him then you can use the same deep no followed by sharp slap ( behind girth area because you definatly dont want him running backwards now !!) by the time you can lead him around at home without him eating you he will be ready to show . At shows he will probably still try to nip you but by now just the deep NO will stop him from contacting with his teeth . by the way when i say slap i mean a real clout dont just tickle him or he will think its a game !!! remember how ever hard you belt him it could never be as hard as a kick from another horse repremanding him !! And if he he is lunging over the stable door then put up a grid up a very close friend of mine lost her left ear too a two year old colt !!!!!!

[poop]

Nursey you could try a water pistol - the shock alone from a well timed squirt tends to work! backed up with a stern 'NO!'
Do you know his history - was he gelded late or been a working stallion? He might just be feeling insecure and testing the boundaries - if hes a show pony perhaps hes a little more highly strung than a chilled m&m. (maybe that problem will soon be solved ;-)

As for the OP my stallion was at his worst as a 2 year old - he mouthed and bit at shows as he was quite a hyper character. He was always made to behave & never made a nuisence of himself - other than to me! I always had to have my wits about me though and respond very quickly. I would often stick the end of my cane in his mouth to occupy him or scratch his back if he was bored standing in the line up. Giving him nupafeed helped as his anxiety caused much of the biting. He is much more chilled these days, but i dont really show him now as he did find it stressful and would still walk around a showground calling like a yearling, even at the last show he did aged 5!

[Ziggy]

Thanks all and thanks wensleystud for your advice. Will give whiskers thing a go if he tries to bite again. He seems to be settling, think he was just a little stressed with new enviorment and no friends. (Hopefully will have lovely chilled M&M friend soon!)

[Deleted]

I find this question crops up a lot with people who aren't used to handling boys, to start with keep your hands away from his mouth, None of my boys bite or nibble ever!! if I get one in to sort out; I nip HARD on the soft part at the side if their mouth with finger nails- don't let them become established nippers as it then takes some stopping! no titbits! Don't treat them like babies they are animals.
If you need a chat- ring me- my number is on my website.
I would put a stretch of electric fence over his door and attach a fence unit, you will then find you can carry a piece of tape and he will respect that; I have gelded working stallions of all ages and they have gone on to make super childrens ponies- no biteing!