nippy pony!

[sned]

My wee Gus is 2 1/2 now and getting his big boy teeth in, we had all his biting stopped and I could trust him completely to be gentle even around my face but now he chews everything and tries to bite me at every opportunity, he comes at me with his mouth open, tries to get my face sometimes and leading him is a night mare I usually end up holding the side of his head collar so i can keep him away but this drives him nuts and he throws a Little strop tossing his head. I have had his teeth rasped twice and all the sharp edges are gone and I give him a turnip now and again so he has something he can really bite on my problem is I dont want to just let it go as he will just carry on biting thinking its ok but is it fair to expect him not to bite as its purely because his teeth are hurting? I feel that as we should always eliminate pain before trying to deal with behavior it would be unfair to keep on at him for it (its like trying to stop a horse bucking while he has a sore back or his saddle doesn't fit)
Also would anyone recommend giving him something to chew like a hard rubber dog toy or something??

[sned]

pweeze?

[SarahW]

Hi Sned,

although your pony's teeth may be changing they shouldn't be hurting lots. I think it's a good idea to give him plenty of hay and perhaps swede (although that might be a bit hard) to chew on while you are not there - but to ask him not to bite you or your things when you are there. After all, he has twenty to twenty two hours a day or thereabouts in which to do what he wants.

The behaviour you describe sounds to me as if he is using his mouth to move you around, to stop you and to take control of situations. I think horses tend to use their mouth like an opposing thumb to say things like hey, wait a minute or let's go over here or are you my mother, girlfriend, or enemy and you need to find a way to say that's not acceptable. Make sure that whatever you are asking him to do is fair and then, if he goes to bite, use very big body language and perhaps even a rattle bottle to send him away from you - and make sure that he does go away at least three steps.

If in doubt, please get an RA out. The lessons he learns now are important.

[Deleted]

Although he has a reason for it, he does still need to learn that it's not acceptable to chew you! I think finding something you can safely allow him to chew is a good idea to allow him to vent his frustrations, but I'd choose carefully. You can buy stable toys which are like a ball with a handle for them to pick up. My boy has a snack ball and when all the nuts have gone he likes to chew on that for some weird reason! I let him because the toy is his and he doesn't then chew me or other things.

I think when he tries to bite you, you need to just gently push his nose away. Difficult as it is you need to try to react as little as possible because youngsters can start to see it as a game. I would also work on teaching him to stay out of your personal space - that way you won't be within biting range.

whoops cross posted with Sarah!

[Furiey]

I gave Bailey a log, various footballs and then a jolly ball but at that age everything went in his mouth and the more fuss I made over it the worse he got. I got very good at blocking with an arm, but both a shaken tin and a tap on the foot were both taken as invitations to play rather than distracting him from biting. These things do work to distract others though so may be worth trying. I stayed patient but at 2 1/2 he was at his worst. He did grow out of it though!

[anastasia55555]

Get his teeth checked just incase, but personally i would go for the bottle with pebbles in and a firm 'NO!' when he goes to bite. Be firm and mean it! lol!

[sned]

thanx everyone he has had his teeth done he got them done in two visits just so he didn't get too upset about it and they are all smooth now and he does get swede but demolishes them very quickly lol I had thought about drilling through it and hanging it up to make it last longer and santa has a lickit for him I will have an RA out at some time and as much as I would love to have Sarah Weston a girl at the yard (Lucy) has just passed everything to become an RA apparently, I just need to speak to her Iv never had the chance but that would be great!
He is a fab little pony he is very clever, confident and responds well to everything I attempt to teach him he picks things up within a few tries but he tries his best if we use clicker training and I can de-sensitise him to anything but is less enthusiastic if Im trying to motivate him or back him up away from me (he backs up perfectly in the dually when im beside him) I could shake the line till my arm falls off and he stands his ground so what Sarah is saying makes perfect sense but I dont take it personally as he constantly pushes the boundaries with horses in the field too even an older mare who takes no nonsense gets pushed to the limit.