Horse Hunter Forum / HORSES / Horse Problems

How to stop nipping/biting?

Missjobloggs — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:21:54 GMT

Just need some advise on how to stop Alfie from nipping/biting? Not sure if its a meanful bite or a playful nip ? It happens when i'm leading him , he will just out of the blue just quickly nip you on the arm as your walking and then puts his head up high to the side. i have tried to ignore him when he has done this "as he's a bit head shy anyway" But last night we came out the field , turn him around at the gate ,so i could shut it and as i did this he caught me on the chest Just sort of lunged at me ? It's a bit like when horses are play fighting a quick nip then dodge your head? The thing is i need to "nip:P" this in the bud! It did surprise/shocked me when he did it, as this was the same side that i had my breast cancer on (which i think was caused from a bite in the first place, Doc's said cannot prove it though, if this was the case)

Alfie is a rising 7 a bit green, he is very playful in the field so much that i had to separate him from Cherry as he just would not stop! and Cherry became so up tight with it ! so im at the moment not sure if it's a nasty nipping/bite or just that he thinks im a play mate for him ? He does sometimes leans in to you when leading , also i lead him in a chifney as i have to cross a small but fast lane in front of my house ,to the field, I don't think he like 's the chifney as he pulls faces? the sort of face? when a horse is first bitted, if you know what i mean? But he still nips when leading in just a head collar, although it's not all the time? He is pretty good in other areas no probs there or in the stable ? it's just when you lead him and like i said not all the time? Im looking to get a dually halter, thought i would try this rather than the chifney for leading? So would be really grateful for any advise on how to deal with nipping/biting when leading:thumbs: also up to date with dentist and back and saddle fitting.

Tip needed for headshy horse

mrsbear — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 11:50:30 GMT

Well Daphne is a sweet little thing, very curious and has no problem nuzzling you and taking carrots from your hand but she wont let me so much as tickle her chin (she does give me kisses though). She was snoozing standing next to me the other day and even had a lie down :D

I don't want to push her, she hasn't been handled very much and I don't want to terrify her but I would like to get the farrier out as she has a chunk missing from one of her hooves and I'm worried it will crack or split :( plus I want to get the headcollar off her (which I imagine was put on her ages ago and left there!)

If anyone has any ideas that would help, I'd be very interested (or else I'll kidnap monty roberts tomorrow!)

you guys are good at solving things

Faberge — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 23:42:13 GMT

first we have done back,saddle, teeth and a women doing recky (cant spell )
well molly has been bad as most of you know molly has overy issues but they are now sorted but behavoiur is just going worse and worse.
she now wont go on left leg at all doing mini rears bucks bunny hops and trerathen to go up properly. mom treatend today to "put a bullet in her " because she was dangerous and if not pts she is going to school of hard knocks and if its not sorted out i may not have a molly :(
i dont know what to do we have tryed everything she is on good as gold regemate and one other calmer i cant remeber the name of
HELP!!

What is she doing?

MelsToyBoy — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:02:08 GMT

Mika whilst hacking is doing the most irritating headshaking/boingy stepping thing ever and its driving me nuts. I dont know if any of you will be able to help/advise as its very hard to explain what she's doing - you'd probably need to see it.

I know the flies bother her and she always wants to rub her face so my initial thought was that, but i dont understand the boingy stepping thing shes doing and also lastnight when we hacked out there were no flies. She will hack along normally, then she'll start to toss her head up and down and at the same time kind of does funny high legged trot with her front end, her head and the steps kind of go in rhythm lol. I know it sounds ridiculous but the best way i can think of to describe it is like a horse doing Piaffe, forget the back end just the front end, the piaffe move and the head nodding in sync with the legs!! Lastnight i asked her forward into trot to see if she'd stop it but she didnt, she just started doing it in trot, anyone ANY idea what shes doing and why?

Loading

HurveyBai — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:40:28 GMT

We picked up my new horse 2 months ago, he was perfect to load absolutely no fuss - straight on. However on the way back he got his headcollar stuck and almost suffocated! So, understandably, he is now VERY hesitant to load! It clear he associates the two things now.
He will load perfect if another horse goes on first, however he refuses point blank when on his own. He has loaded 3 times on his own, last time was on the way to xc training.....took us 3 hours to load on the way back!!!

He doesn't do anything naughty, just stands there! He will quite happily sniff the ramp and put his front feet on it but that's as far as we get.

Any ideas on how to get him back to how he was?

I was wondering if we keep taking him out with another and doing fun, exciting things, and then try him on his own - would this work?

He's a VERY stubborn horse who likes everything to go his way or no way ;)

difficult to catch

Faberge — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:06:22 GMT

we have a 3 yr old that is difficult to catch i cant go out with food as the others in the field are evil when food is around
when you go to catch bobby he canters off and i usually try do a verson of join up and it works but usually takes 30mins and its everytime i catch him :(
any tips?

how to reduce old swelling on knee

Freddy_frog — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 19:37:56 GMT

Hi Guys

I am in need of some real help from you experts.

I have a yearling (rising 2yrs) old show hunter. He got a knock on the knee some months ago that was not addressed as soon as it happened (long story, don;t ask). The knock is pretty much thick skin, completely cosmetic. It was scanned by vet who said there is no damage at all. However as a showhunter it is a biug NoNo to have any bumps. The bump is very small & not that noticable except in the conformation section of the show ring:-(

My question is do you have suggestions of how to reduce the bump?

Currently i am trying goose fat which I was told may help.

I was all recommended to use 10% idione to burn off the thick skin. I have been told it is like red & blue blister which was used 20 or 30 years ago (now off hte market). Sounds h**** but maybe worth a try if nothing else works cos he is no good to me if I cannot show him. what are your thoughts on this as an option?

Thoughts? Comments? help?

Thanks