My horse bites my foot?

Question

I went to a training thing with trainer Jean Cox. (sp?)

He taught us about "flections". I think thats how you spell them. Like, one type is when you turn your horse's head to the right all the way, and when he shows movement, let go. But ever since I've been doing this, when I want to turn my horse, he just doesnt the flection thing. Or he bites my foot! He turns his head, and tries to bite my foot! Well one time he bit my foot really hard. Somebody help?

And also, sometimes when I kick his sides to make him go, he moves back and starts throwing his head up and down.

And last, he never likes to pull his head up when I tug him because he's eating grass.

And how can I get him to stop going fast when horses pass him?

Answer 1

Are you kicking him??

He is obviously confused don't keep repeating the same gesture work to find a way to get the message across to your horse so he can figure out what you want from him!

1) your horse may be a little playful!

2) could be angry and feels smart enough to find where the "kick" comes from that makes him go and is fighting back. Reinforce the correct behavior you want to see with praise and bad behavior with a whack with the crop or if he does not respond a gentle but noticeable tap on the nose when he goes to bite. Horses can do this when your kicking is insessant so reinforce you leg by using a crop at the same time.

Answer 2

my horse did this for a while, and its good that you realized this was a horrible, unacceptable habit. To cure this, everytime my horse bit at my foot (it happened whenever i asked him to A) collect or B) transition into a canter or faster gait) i carried a crop with me and gave him a warning tap on the shoulder and if he attemped again i smacked his shoulder. After about the third smack, he got the point and hasn't tried it again. But be careful, i only took this step after i check to make sure nothing I was doing was the problem. Do you ride with spurs? Are your stirrup leathers twisted? Does your saddle fit him/her properly? check these things first then take the crop or bat and try that. Good luck!

Answer 3

I can't say it enough.....Ground Work.......Lounge him...Make him listen to you since you are the boss.  Once you get his respect on the ground...then you can get it in the saddle.    Lots and lots of ground work.  He has just lost respect for you and he's showing you that hes the boss now...Take control..

Answer 4

you could go buy hard shoes that when it bites you , you don't feel anything. good luck, kiddo.

Answer 5

Well you must be doing it wrong or have not worked on the ground enough doing it

it is called neutral rein or indirect rein and you much be pulling to hard or have not learnt it properly for your horse to be biting you

Answer 6

Jamie Martin Says Hi.....

To the Horse of corse

Answer 7

I would start riding with draw reins, or before you ride, "stretch" out your horse's neck by showing him a treat and put it where you want your horse's head to be. If he will not reach for it, try and move it closer to him where he can reach it and try to work with him on stretching out farther and farther each time you groom/tack up. If he tries to bite your foot, buy some "no bite" vet wrap and wrap it over the toe of your shoe.

Some horses take different signals as different meanings. His old owner might have kicked him when he was bad, or he just might not like it. Try to just apply pressure and squeeze instead of kick. One thing I just found out about my horse, is if I smack him on the but when he misbehaves he will buck, but if I back him up, he will work like an angel. So keep in mind, one signal top you might be something different to another.

One thing you might want to try is to back him up. He might think he is just backing up, but then you can pull him forward. If he will not respond, GENTLY, tap him on his behind with a crop, and if he is like my horse, when he sees the crop he will get moving!

For the going fast part of the question, I would have to say that my horse does the same thing. What your horse is doing is not focusing on the work and would rather "race" the horse next to him. Give him a few reminders that your still the boss while riding, so he will not worry about his surronding horses. If you see another horse coming up, you can try either slowing down, speeding up, or cutting across the arena. If you are showing though, you will have to work with him on it by stopping him when he goes faster than you say, or else the judge might mark you down points for "cutting corners". Oh, and don't stop your horse in a show, just do it at home and he may decide that he will just have to slow down if he tries to go faster.

Hope that helps and sorry its long!

-HJB

Answer 8

Bite it back

Answer 9

Hahaha! My horse used to do this, but only playfully. I don't think it was a respect issue at all. No clue, really.

As for the passing problem, have a friend practice passing you in the arena, and repeat until your horse doesn't really care about the passing horse.

Answer 10

I have no opinion...yeah i know a horse person with no opinion..unheard of! anyway i spoke to my friend and apparently she had a horse that did that, she put cayenne pepper on her boot and when the horse bit it, he burn his tongue, and he never did it again.

Answer 11

he taught you about flexion.. making a horse flex his neck and back.    If your horse is resisting you he is stiff.. and I bet he only does it on one side,  while he bites your toe on the other.   dont bend him as far.. ask him to flex slowly while your on the ground with a reward of a carrot or something small like a slice of apple in your hand.

If he throws his head when you kick him.  Make sure you've let go  of his mouth first.  No pressure on his bit.  Dont Kick.  Squeeze with your lower leg to as him to move forwards

... as for the not taking his head out of grass.  Pull on ONE rein only. and get a anti grazing check rein for when you ride so he CANT put it down there in the first place.

If he races when another is passing him turn him in a circle and make him circle till he is under control again.  Use One rein if you have to but make him turn.

Answer 12

kiddpain is a horse whisperer