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How To Stop Your Horse
From Biting Others
Here is why your horse bites and how to stop it.
Q: I am leasing a gelding who keeps nipping and biting me while I try to tack him up. Any advice on how to stop this?
A: Biting usually is a stallion or colt vice. It is how they "teach" others to respect their space, and to control other horses. Mares with foals sometimes will do this to keep others from getting too close to their foals. Her horse is an adult gelding. When adult horses behave this way, it usually means that they are stressed (either physically or emotionally) for some reason, or have just developed bad habits. Here are some tips that I've learned to address this kind of problem in horses that boarded with us:
A: Biting usually is a stallion or colt vice. It is how they "teach" others to respect their space, and to control other horses. Mares with foals sometimes will do this to keep others from getting too close to their foals. Her horse is an adult gelding. When adult horses behave this way, it usually means that they are stressed (either physically or emotionally) for some reason, or have just developed bad habits. Here are some tips that I've learned to address this kind of problem in horses that boarded with us:
1. Check body condition score and current feed.
An equine nutritionist or other knowledgeable equine expert can help you with this. (Veterinarians can give you an accurate body condition score, but they typically don't know much about equine nutrition because that isn't emphasized in vet school.) Your local feed store can sometimes help you with this as well.
Some horses can't handle grains that are very "starchy" (high carb), and switching them to a feed that is lower in starch/carb and higher in fat often improves not only their body condition score but also their temperament.
Horse Feeding and Nutrition
1. Check body condition score and current feed.
An equine nutritionist or other knowledgeable equine expert can help you with this. (Veterinarians can give you an accurate body condition score, but they typically don't know much about equine nutrition because that isn't emphasized in vet school.) Your local feed store can sometimes help you with this as well.
Some horses can't handle grains that are very "starchy" (high carb), and switching them to a feed that is lower in starch/carb and higher in fat often improves not only their body condition score but also their temperament.
Horse Feeding and Nutrition
2. Does the horse get turned out daily?
Some boarding facilities believe turn out is optional, or that an hour a day is sufficient. it isn't. Horses are social animals whose bodies are designed to live in herds that move across large spaces. That's pretty much what they do in the wild. Boarded horses should be turned out daily in buddy groups on sufficient acreage (about 1 acre per horse). If they spend most of their waking hours in a stall, they will become sour, cranky, and hostile.
Some boarding facilities believe turn out is optional, or that an hour a day is sufficient. it isn't. Horses are social animals whose bodies are designed to live in herds that move across large spaces. That's pretty much what they do in the wild. Boarded horses should be turned out daily in buddy groups on sufficient acreage (about 1 acre per horse). If they spend most of their waking hours in a stall, they will become sour, cranky, and hostile.
3. Does this horse bite everyone or just you?
If it is everyone, he is plainly trying to tell everyone how stressed and dissatisfied he is or he is a bully (see #4 below). If it is just you, I'd recommend having a trainer watch how you handle and ride him. He may be trying to communicate that there is a problem with the way you interact with him or ride him. Some horses have a bully temperament and will try to dominate their human handlers. This has to be disciplined--but not by inducing fear because that will make him more hostile. Horses need to trust their handlers and accept their leadership.
How To Earn Your Horse's Trust and Respect
If it is everyone, he is plainly trying to tell everyone how stressed and dissatisfied he is or he is a bully (see #4 below). If it is just you, I'd recommend having a trainer watch how you handle and ride him. He may be trying to communicate that there is a problem with the way you interact with him or ride him. Some horses have a bully temperament and will try to dominate their human handlers. This has to be disciplined--but not by inducing fear because that will make him more hostile. Horses need to trust their handlers and accept their leadership.
How To Earn Your Horse's Trust and Respect
4. Does this horse bite other horses?
If so, then he is either insecure or used to bullying others just for the fun of it. This article talks more about how to manage horses who bully.
5. Sometimes riders scare or annoy their horses without even knowing it.
You may be doing things that annoy or even hurt your horse without realizing it. There are common mistakes that riders make around horses. Learn about them. Your horse will thank you! You can read about them here:
Horses Can Read Human Facial Expressions--So What is Your Face Saying?
Are You Unintentionally Scaring Your Horse?
The Top 10 Mistakes People Make When Riding Horses
Who Is The Leader of the Horse Herd--The Stallion or the Mare?
If so, then he is either insecure or used to bullying others just for the fun of it. This article talks more about how to manage horses who bully.
5. Sometimes riders scare or annoy their horses without even knowing it.
You may be doing things that annoy or even hurt your horse without realizing it. There are common mistakes that riders make around horses. Learn about them. Your horse will thank you! You can read about them here:
Horses Can Read Human Facial Expressions--So What is Your Face Saying?
Are You Unintentionally Scaring Your Horse?
The Top 10 Mistakes People Make When Riding Horses
Who Is The Leader of the Horse Herd--The Stallion or the Mare?
Happy Riding!
Copyright Denise Cummins, PhD May 25, 2018; updated June 1, 2024
The Thinking Equestrian
Copyright Denise Cummins, PhD May 25, 2018; updated June 1, 2024
The Thinking Equestrian
