| Your horse has just tried to bite you! You can't | | | | A better way to stop this behaviour involves |
| understand why this animal that you love and | | | | working with the horse's psychology and being |
| care for would behave in such a way. Horses that | | | | proactive to prevent the bite. In the herd, a horse |
| bite people are displaying an aggressive, unsafe | | | | that misbehaves or shows disrespect to higher |
| behaviour that needs to be changed. | | | | ranking horses is pushed out of the herd. This is |
| The first step in changing any behaviour is to | | | | the absolutely worst punishment for any horse as |
| understand the underlying cause of it. Horses are | | | | isolation from the herd increases the vulnerability |
| prey animals that live in herds and run from | | | | to predators. The exiled horse is only allowed |
| danger. Their first instinct is to run away when | | | | back into the herd once he or she has shown |
| they feel their safety is threatened. If they are | | | | signs of respect and submission. |
| unable to run away, they will fight to defend | | | | Prevent your horse from biting by following these |
| themselves by aggressively biting, kicking or | | | | steps: |
| striking. | | | | 1) Be respectful of your horse's personal space |
| What causes a domestic horse that is being cared | | | | (head and neck area) by not sending forward |
| for and loved by humans to become aggressive | | | | energy from your body into that area. If you are |
| and bite his or her caregiver? There are 2 | | | | standing beside your horse, stand with your |
| reasons for this undesirable behaviour. | | | | weight even on both legs or resting on the leg |
| 1) The human is inadvertently causing stress to | | | | farthest from your horse's head so that your hip |
| the horse by their own behaviour and body | | | | is not aimed into your horse's head. |
| language and the horse is unable to leave. Usually | | | | 2) Ask your horse to be respectful of your |
| this is caused by the human sending forward, | | | | personal space. Picture your personal space as a |
| impulsive energy towards the horse's head and | | | | bubble around you. Block your horse from coming |
| neck area while working around the horse that is | | | | into your bubble unless you invite him or her in |
| tied up or confined in a small space such as a stall. | | | | and he or she is respectful - low head, not |
| Horses feel most vulnerable around their head and | | | | pushing, etc. |
| neck because this is where predators attack to | | | | 3) Be aware of signs that your horse is |
| kill. | | | | threatening to bite or be pushy to you and |
| 2) Young colts tend to bite because this is stallion | | | | proactively send him or her away from you with |
| behaviour. In the wild, stallions must compete with | | | | a push or a tap on the shoulder. Even if your |
| each other to win a band of mares and the right | | | | horse manages to get in a nip or a bite do not hit |
| to breed them. This is why young colts and even | | | | him or her in the face. Only ever hit you horse on |
| some older geldings play fights can look quite | | | | the body and send him or her away from you. |
| aggressive. The play is practice for potential | | | | Do not let your horse come back into your space |
| future fights. | | | | until he or she is completely calm, non-threatening |
| The traditional method of breaking the behaviour | | | | and showing signs of respect. |
| of biting people is to smack the horse in the | | | | Working with an understanding of horse |
| mouth or face. Some people even go so far as | | | | psychology as well as diagnosing the cause behind |
| biting the horse back. Neither of these tactics is | | | | behaviours is a much more effective way of |
| particularly effective in stopping the biting. Hitting | | | | working with and training horses than simply |
| the horse in the face, from the horse's | | | | focusing on the symptom (in this case, biting). You |
| perspective, is a very aggressive behaviour. It | | | | will develop a stronger bond with your horse built |
| either makes the horse head-shy and/or | | | | on mutual trust and respect. Your horse will no |
| escalates the behaviour as the horse becomes | | | | longer see you as a potential threat, but as a |
| more aggressive. In both cases, the human is | | | | benevolent leader and trusted herd mate. |
| being reactive after the horse has bitten them. | | | | |