Biting Baby

[Gypzywingz]

OK I am having a problem with my little PMU foal, Diablo. He will be one year old at the end of May. We got him towards the end of November and with the cold months haven’t gotten out much to work with him. He is a sweet boy but he is a nipper/bitter. Actually he tries to nip at your shirt or my hand when I am trying to lead him. We have always corrected him by a swift swat when he does this. But the swats aren’t working and he keeps biting. I have read different things about swatting a horse for biting. Some say do it and others say don’t that it doesn’t work. I am sure he is doing this to get attention and also because he is testing his boundaries with us as we haven’t been able to spend a lot of time with him.

He also does this biting to Breezy, my 4 year old mare. Yesterday she was tied up while the farrier was working on her and Diablo came up a bite Breezy on the cheek. Breezy reared up and broke the snap on her halter. To say the least this was horrible and put my husband who was at Breezy’s head and the farrier in a dangerous situation. Any ideas of what I can do about this now before he gets any older or bigger. Now that the days are longer and it is warming up I have more time to work with him.

[blackhorses]

I'm assuming he hasn't been gelded yet? That might be an idea as they soon calm down after that and it's the right time of year. He sounds like he's being a bolshy colt with raging hormones!! When he bites you as you are leading him try turning and facing him and making him back up, he should get the idea. Are you keeping him with your mare? As that will boost his ego. It sounds like he needs to be put in his place by other horses, one of my colts was the same before I turned him out with all the other boys, who are all bigger than him and he is now bottom rank and he is a different horse and nice to be around - he just doesn't have such a big ego!!:D

[Gypzywingz]

Well there is only the two of them and yes I do keep him with the mare. My husbands parents also have 2 little guys, one just got gelded this week and the other one who was actually well over a year old before he got gelded and he was with the mares but also with the geldings as well so maybe he is trying to establish some dominance over somthing. I have made him walk and stop next to me and he seems to have picked up a bit on the walk command but like I said I haven't worked with him to much.

I did run him in the round pen once but stopped as I don't think the round pen is big enough to run/walk him in as it would be to tough on his developing legs but I will definatley start walking him atleast in there and try to get him use to my commands, he actually did pretty good for the first and only time I did it.

I guess I am going to have to breakdown and geld him, these are the times when I wished I lived in MO, my husbands sister only has to pay $65 for getting them gelded :eek:

[elise]

We've been trying to pinch our horses if they bite or nip, which seems to work well with most of them especially if you can pinch them quickly as they bite or try to bite.

[blackhorses]

I would deffinitly take the mare out as he is sexually mature and can get her in foal, he would need to be away from her for at least 6 weeks after gelding. It will certainly be boosting his ego especially if none of the others or the mare are putting him in his place!:D Sound like he is starting to listen to you though - it just takes time!

[Nanook]

my little guy was a nipper. silly thing:rolleyes: the main thing to do is expect it all the time! keep your focus on it and just wait until he makes a move. Don't swat him as that will make him face shy. He won't understand that he is being repromanded for that. everything is games with colts to him its probably nip than duck the swat. if he Nips you flick his nose or make like your going to bite his nose with your fingers. Nipps will turn into bites and that can be harder to fix. get on his case and let him know you mean buisness! he nips you you turn around and get his attention by usuing your alpha or leader voice. tell him no than force him backwards out of your space. hes not to enter your space unless you allow it. You can go into his space but he isn't to enter yours. The main thing is don't give him the oppertunity, findways to block his move and use it against him.

I do agree that you shouldn't have the mare with him, she could get into foal, and his hormones could make him a cranky studdy guy. You want him to focus on you, not what his mare is doing. The best way to teach youngsters manners is to stick him in with the 'big boys or girls' they will knock him down a peg and his manners should improve.

best of luck!