Biting, a pain reaction?

[chickflick1066]

Hmm...Stumpy went to bite me today, I only didn't feel because I had a 'big up beefy jacket on' as it was so cold. I was doing up her t/out rug and she'd already lifted her back legs as a threat when I was doing her leg straps up but her lunge still took me by surprise.

Now tell me...is this swing round to bite a pain reaction - she has tender withers, could the rug be pulling down and putting pressure on them causing her to react violently...or is she just being a grump?

Also, how should I act when she bites me. My initial reaction was to pinch a fold of skin, tug firmly on her lead rope and growl 'NO' at her? Did I handle this correctly? Was I too nasty? Do I punish both leg lifting and biting?

I appreciate responses :)

[domane]

How did she react to your "punishment"? Did she seem "bovered" or not? ;) (soz - just watched Catherine Tate :p ) - I think you need to gauge whether she is going to do it again and if so use the elbow (a la Mark Rashid) or the "push her head away". Like you say though, odd behaviour out of nowhere! Perhaps she doesn't like wearing her rug. She may be feeling grumpy because it's "returned" and she is realising it's back for a while.... I know Chez prefers naked.... but she isn't clipped.....

[sheryl]

Wouldn't it be nice to really have eyes in the back of your head?!

Your horse sounds just like mine:rolleyes:
He can be a complete angel one day, and an absolute monster another:eek:

Sometimes I get told off if I groom him a bit too hard (with a soft body brush:rolleyes: ) Other times I think he is just in a bad mood, and trying it on.

I think its just a matter of knowing your own horse. If its out of character maybe he has got a problem. I'd just keep a close eye on him, and see how he goes. Just watch your back!!

How long have you had him? What type is he? Could he just be hungry?

Good luck x

[chickflick1066]

Jane, she's never been a fan of her rug. She was as happy as larry in our first winter together when she was completly au naturel - because I couldn't ride her she was so naughty!

The previous winter (05) she was rugged and this year she will be rugged and she's never happy to see it.

I was just wondering, is there a gentlier way I can place the rug on her back at all? Instead of the usual flinging?

Sheryl, Stumpy is 10 years old (roughly), 14.1hh and a dales x cob so she is probably hungry - she always is!!

[jovi_y2k2]

if you fold the rug in half them you can gently place it across her withers and then fold it back over her bum before doing up all the buckles

[martini55]

if you fold the rug in half them you can gently place it across her withers and then fold it back over her bum before doing up all the buckles

That's what I do,except I do up the front buckles before I fold it out over the bum so it pulls back into the right place :)