subject: Horse Training Tips: How To Prevent Biting [print this page] It is normal for horses to bite each otherIt is normal for horses to bite each other. They do it while at play, while grooming each other, or when they are fighting. The thing your horse needs to know is that it is not okay to bite people! Horses are herd animals. What you need to do is establish that you are the lead mare, who sets the rules in the herd. The basic horse training tip here is that you set the rules when it comes to biting, and the rule is simple: NO BITING!
1. If you are raising a foal, its best to establish no nibbling or nuzzling from the start. Nuzzling and nibbling lead to biting, and although its adorable in a foal who is toothless, it could turn into a bad habit. Discourage them by giving your foal a nudge. You dont have to be rough, but be consistent.
2. Try not to feed horses treats from your hand. This may be contrary to what you are used to, but again, feeding from the hand leads to nuzzling, which leads to nipping, which leads to you-know-what.
3. If you are around a horse that is a known biter, the best horse training tip to employ is to be alert.
4. If the horse lunges at you with intention to bite, hit him immediately, and hit him hard. Dont use your hand; this will hurt you more than it hurts him. Use a rope, or other object that preferably delivers a smacking sound as well.
5. Hit the horse within a few seconds of the attempt, any longer than that and he will be confused as to what you are punishing him for.
6. Do not hit the eye or ear area, but anywhere else is ok. Be serious when you do it. Otherwise he may think you are just playing a game, and you could end up validating the bad habit.
