My 3 yr old filly has recently bitten a young girl who entered the pasture. The first time I think w…

[Michele Galer]

My 3 yr old filly has recently bitten a young girl who entered the pasture. The first time I think was an accident I think she was trying to bite the horse the girl was getting. The second time was about 2 weeks later and she bit the girl as she entered the pasture. afterwards I went out to get the girl's horse and then went out to get the filly. She allowed me to put her halter on then tried to bite me with intent, she didn't get me, I kept her under control and took her in the barn. Any suggestions? This filly has been handled since birth but has always been an in your face pet me, what about me type of horse. She stands still as stone to be groomed, has her feet trimmed regularily but is difficult to lunge -won't stay out on the circle wants to be right on top of you.

[Robyn Brown]

I love how the parelli people always contradict themselves " On one hand it's a compliment that your horse wants to play with you," and than "Horses Only Bite People They Don't Like, Don't Respect Or Don't Trust"

Wait I thought my horse liked me cuz he was biting me? Huh well thanks for clearing that up.

The best way to deal with a horse like this IS to smack her back, think about in a real herd horse more so at the 2 year old/yearling age start to get pushy. They are being little teenagers and acting out so what do the other horses do? Do they play games with them no they bite and kick and make sure those teenyboppers know they're place in the herd. Now I'm not saying go out and slap your horse around I'm saying when she comes out up to you all teeth and pinned ears, chase her away! Don't take that crap, if your leading her and she bites you well than bite back, smack her. It's only really need to happen a few times before she goes "o well maybe I should pick a fight with her cuz I'm going to get my but kicked well hmmm " and she'll stop. I only had to smack my one filly once for being nippy and she never did it again. Shes always been respectful because I don't give her any other choice and guess what shes usually the first one at the gate calling to me to come get her as she knows I'm her CONSTANT herd leader.

[Michele Galer]

I fully realize that ths behaviour is not acceptable and neither is turning her butt towards us that's why i'm trying to do domething about it. Just thougt I'd see what some outside eyes would have to say, to see if there's anything I havn't thought of. This isn't the first horse I've trained and i have spoken to a trainer as well. This horse is at the bottom of the pecking order in a herd of 5, except for one older mare who she bullies, evryone ele is above her and I think she's just trying to see if she can test us for leadership. Especially since the person she went after initially was an 11yr old..it worked twice so she thought she'd try it with me..it didn't work that time and she hasn't done it agin so far. The last horse I trained was at the bottom of his herd too and he was also difficult to lunge and train so I don't know if the dressage riders theory works for every bottom of the herd horse. As long as I can get on top of this inappropriate behaviour I think this mare is destined to be an awsome one because she has an attitude, but definitely not for a new rider or first time trainer. thanks again for all the advice it has been helpful

[Hank]

Just thought I'd put my two cents in...I think you're getting some good advice but I also totally disagree that horses always are just biting to express their desire to play. There are many different reasons they bite and if you watch them in a herd setting you'll see that. My horse is the boss of his herd and he usually bites other horses when he wants them to get out of his way and there's really nothing playful about it. He's not mean to them but they respect him and he usually just has to look at them and they'll move. You can tell if your horse is being playful by her facial expression. If her ears are pinned back when she bites, then she's not playing. Also, if she is playing, you have to teach her that this is not acceptable behavior. I'm not suggesting you hit her in the face or anything but horses in a herd do not put up with that kind of thing from an inferior and neither should you because it will become dangerous. People get caught up in trying to be nice to their horses but I'm afraid to say that sometimes they need a good swift kick in the a%#! That's what their herd leader would do and if you do it right, you won't have to do it again. I often smack a horse across the rump with the end of my Parelli lead rope when they try something like that. You do have to make sure you have the other end and they can't turn away from you and take a flying kick at you when you do it but it works wonders. It also teaches them not to turn their butts towards you which my horses are never allowed to do.

You could have a tough job ahead because mares can be more difficult than geldings and they often think up funny things to do to test you. Especially if they're hormonal. But I find they like to know where the boundaries are and feel much more comfortable when they are clear and not wishy washy. And, by the way (in case you think I'm a bad person) I never discipline a horse out of anger. I would definitely lunge your mare a lot. Lunging is a great way to teach a horse respect and if your horse is bad on the lunge, it would be worth it for you to get someone who really knows what they're doing to help you.

I once read an article about a top dressage rider who selected her horse because he was the saddest looking, most beat up thing she had ever seen. He turned out to be very easy to train and that's because he was the lowest horse in the pecking order. He was a part of a large herd and the other horses where not gentle with him when they were teaching him that he was subordinate to them. She said she would never choose to ride another dominant mare because they test their riders so much more (not to say that there aren't a lot of really amazing mares out there). Good luck!

[Jennifer Lamm]

I think you sound totally on the right track. When we have a horse that is misbehaving I find it so much more comforting to have someone HELP me, than criticize me..... while he is being bad, it does not help me to have to listen to the opinion of someone in my ear and manage my horse..... I think your separation idea is good. The only other horse I have in my herd is my horse Toby... he's my first horse and by now he's probably about 27.... he has helped me alot with Oliver.... the baby, but sometimes girl, I just gotta let Toby be alone where Oliver can't nip and pick... I watched them together though, in my hang out time I told you about, and I realized that Toby never kickes him.... Oliver hasn't ever even been kicked.... so I don't kick him, but I kick his butt and make him be good.... I also learned from Chris Irwin, his dominance level.... Chris was talking about it... and then I asked my trainer about Olivers level of dominance. I guess he's about a 5.... if you can get him to back down right away, he gets all pitiful... but if you don't know what the heck you are doing, or you get scared, or you get big and fierce, he is downright scary...... I had to actually sequester him before people were coming over so that we could practice socializing him.... in other words, not just letting any old tom dick or harry around him when he was young.. did it work, not 100%, but we still have to work on it.... he is all feisty around children, because their energy is just so huge for him and he wants to play.. and that is d a n g e r o u s.... he's not allowed around strangers and vice versa and me and my trainer, we have a huge amount of socialization to do with him around people and horses.... Oliver is an attention seeker as in, can I push you around??? are you the one I get to boss? because between me, my trainer, my other horse, he is like low man... he has to watch himself all the time and he wants to let loose on the new kid.... it's a problem... but hey girl... you have a 3 year old. who said that wasn't gonna be a ton of work, huh????? me too. I have an orphan, mustang, 4 year old huge gelding.... who thinks life is a big fat joke, he's the boss of it and he gets to push everyone around.... once you tell him he isn't all that, he is good again, and I mean a dowright pleasure of a horse... .... right now, it is so huge to be aware of who is around your filly. To Me, it is them, not her.... and we have to protect the horses from negative stimulation. I wouldn't let anyone walk into my pasture with my horse if they did not know how to stand their ground and turn him away, around, to the rail, whatever... he needs that. :)

I tried alot of things with my mouthy horse.... though I do think some of it is from his headache... I learn that now that he is having treatments, he isn't so pushy with his head... however, I made a huge amount of mistakes with that, I must admit.... once I watched Chris Irwin's video though, I learned how to not manage Olivers head in a way that made him a bully.... I learned to block his head more... then, when he stands still and doesn't put his mouth on me, I scratch him all around his neck but I do not touch his head.... if he tries again, I block his head.. wait for him to move it over and then give him a response again that is positive.. he is the kind of horse that needs that too. he likes being good, but you have to really know how to show him..... I was bopping him in the face and stuff and totally screwing that up, my bad.... :)

[Michele Galer]

Thanks for the comments, they have reassured me that I am on the right track. There are so many opinions out there and sometimes you wonder if the ones you disagree with are right. the description of a nippy horse describes my filly to a T, in your face overly friendly and sometimes pushy. i have been asking her to back up when she is approached to teach her to give people space, driving her away doesn't always work becuse sometimes she will kick so asking her to back up seems safer and easier to do. i also agree that some of her problem is boredom and just trying to test things out to see what works. I have a lot of training in canine behaviour and know that responding aggressively to aggression usually results in more aggression.My horses are outside in the summer 24/7 so I've also started bringing her back into the barn for a couple of hours each day, where she wil hopefully learn that no amount af jumping around and misbaving will get her results...we ignore her in the barn and once she is calm she is taken back outside. She is very much an attention seeker so she needs to learn that attention has to be earned with good behaviour and respect, not bullying and acting out. that' what I'd do with an aggressive dog take away privloges and give them back for good behaviour. Anyway if anyne has any more suggestions i'd appriciate them. by the way so far my actions are working she has remained calm in the pasture, respected our space and hasn't threatened to bite or kick anyone even when we're getting the one horse she can bully..she's stayed at a respectful distance as asked.

[Jennifer Lamm]

It kind of bugs me that Pat Parelli talks in a language that you can't play if you don't get the rulebook..... but hay... I'm sorry your horse bit someone.... it's disheartening isn't it...... my horse does not bite but he is very mouthy..... I play the no matter what you do if I don't like you have to run around game...... some people play it with a whip, some people play it with a rope, I have to play it with a whip with a bag on the end because my horse is pretty much on me... anyway, he has taken to charging people out of the pasture which is just as fretful for me as him biting someone..... I had to ask him not to even come up to anyone if he wasn't coming respectfully and to be honest, he cannot always be trusted... he is 4... your filly, to Me, is at that age... of testing the hierarchy.... I bossed my Oliver around for about 5 months... I didn't even pet him or anything.... now he is really nice to me, but he is still pushy to other people.... I also learned that he had an injury that caused headaches and he just doesn't want strangers around him I guess, cuz he's cool with me, mean to strangers.... when the play with each other they can cause physical injury.. maybe she doesn't feel good.

Jen

[Linda Mascola]

Michele, I pulled this off of a section on the web. My trainer has a mare who is dominant and demanding as well. The same things happen with her because she doesn't get enough time with her owner. It is also stabling, and other issues which are complicated, but can be corrected. I hope this is helpful, as unless it is corrected you will continue to have problems with her biting any person smaller than your filly in particular, and the other horses.

While watching horses play with each other, you'll notice they do things like push their bodies, rear up, strike and kick, and BITE. Of course it's all in fun and grabbing a bit of skin in their teeth is no big deal, unless the recipient is a human. It hurts !A horse that wants to bite you is usually expressing his desire to play, but he doesn't know that human skin is not quite as tough as a horse's. On one hand it's a compliment that your horse wants to play with you, on the other hand, it's a clear sign that he doesn't see you as the alpha.

Horses Never Bite Their Alpha !

Do you know how to recognise the alpha in a herd?

He or she is the one without the bite marks ! Horse's don't bite their alpha. In the game of dominance, those who 'bite best' win. When horses play and nip each other they are basically developing their dominance skills and rehearsing takeover strategies.

People Turn Playful Horses Into More Aggressive Biters

Most people smack a horse for biting, which doesn't work because prey animals don't understand punishment. They think you are biting back and now the interchange becomes all about who will 'win' the dominance game. In horse land the bravest, smartest and quickest horse wins. The alpha horse is calm, self confident and totally unemotional. He's also ready to do whatever it takes to maintain the alpha position. So when a horse goes to bite and you try to smack him, the horse just gets better at the game, he gets quicker at taking a nip and dodging the slap.

As time goes on the nip turns into bites because the horse gets more serious about dominating you. Also, when a horse can evoke an emotional reaction from you, surprise, anger, fear, he knows you have no chance of being alpha. You obviously aren't calm, smart or brave enough !

Prevention Is Better Then Cure

What does Pat Parelli do when he gets bitten ?

"I say "ow" and rub it until it stops hurting ! What else are you going to do? Slapping the horse doesn't work and it definitely doesn't improve the relationship. If you got bitten it's your fault for not thinking, being and behaving more like a horse!

Satisfy The Play Game

Many biters live in very restrictive environments, like stables and pens, and are isolated from other horses. Of course they're going to feel pent up and lonely as their need for social interaction increases. The you may be all they have!

The Parelli Seven Games teach you how to interact with your horse in a constructive and playful way and at the same time allow you to exert your leadership in ways that horses understand. Dominant horses move other horses around and that's what the Seven Games teach you do to.

The game is "who moves who". If your horse can make you move your feet, he knows it's just a matter of time before he can knock you off your perch. Horses are persistent in their quest for dominance and they are not in a hurry!

When playing the Seven Games, use them creatively as opposed to playing the games the same way every time. Always playing them the same way turns the Seven Games into Seven Jobs, and bored horses start to get pretty inventive! Try playing the games with an obstacle where the horse has to do lots of different things, from jumping the obstacle, to stepping on it, to straddling it, going sideways over it, backing up on it etc. The only limit for you and your horse is your imagination!

Indulge The Talent

A horse who is mouthy and nippy is also showing his need for oral interaction. Play with his mouth a lot, and do more then he really wants. Rub vigorously with your hands, pull his lips around (playfully of course !), rub his tongue and even teach him to lead by the tongue (very advanced). Teach him to pick up your cap or a stick or a bucket, put this obvious talent to good use!

Stay Out Of The Nip Zone

Most horse nip because they are to close to you. Learn to move your horse out of your personal space with rhythmic driving actions, use your elbows and even do jumping jacks ! Horses with a tendency to nip also tend to crowd you, they are over friendly, pushy and self confident. Simply asking the horse to stay at a respectful distance can make a big change to his nipping behaviour. Remember, if they can't reach you, they can't bite you !

Don't Smack Em Back !

If you feel a nip coming on, back your horse up quickly and intentionally. This changes their mind because it's a dominant move on your part. Give up smacking. It doesn't work, and it can actually turn a nice horse nasty. Put more backing into your daily interaction with the horse and, above all, don't let him barge into your space.

Horses Only Bite People They Don't Like, Don't Respect Or Don't Trust

Remember, horses are prey animals. They are most concerned about safety. Some horses bite because they are scared or unconfident, others bite because they are trying to dominate. In both cases, improving the relationship works. Just like people, horses need to feel liked and respected. Success with horses relies on knowing how to develop and maintain friendship and respect. It's a balancing act. You can't make a horse respect you by punishing him, in fact, it does the opposite. Aggressive people may successfully cause a horse to stop biting but they don't win the horse's heart.

Become The Kind Of Person A Horse Likes, Respects And Trusts

Play a lot of friendly games. Get your horse to like you and have positive thoughts when he sees you. Bring him apples and carrots (as gifts, not bribes!). Understand life from his perspective, understand how he develops respect, and consider his needs.

Develop your leadership skills. Teach your horse to move around you, not the other way round! Remember, horses need an alpha, or they will assume the role.

Prove to your horse you are not a predator, and that he can trust you no matter what. There's a delicate balance between getting your horse to do as you ask and preserving his confidence.

Samantha writes articles on several subjects including horse health issues, horse riding tips and horse rescue stories. To read more articles please visit our Horse Riding website

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