My colt (that will be 2 in april) has a really bad habit of biting now,and even if I tell him no in a gentle/firm manner or tap his mouth he still goes back for more. What should I do to keep this under control?

Biting seems to be one of those vices that crops up with monotonous regularity - or more simply - all the time. Biting is such a normal way for a horse to check things out and interact with other horses. The trouble is that we humans tend to bruise a lot easier than a fence post or a field companion. And unless a horse is taught that biting humans is forbidden, the horse simply won't know any better.

A horse will bite out of fear or fright to protect himself. Also it is a way of testing or enforcing the herd heirarchy. These are common sense and most people know about these ideas already. So I would like to introduce you to a lesser known third reason that horses bite, which is ....

...playfullness, especially in young ones.

Yep, young horses like to nip and bite for the fun of it, to get a reaction. Just like children in the back seat of the car who will poke and slap each other the whole journey, it's childish fun. Horseplay, in fact!

So what can you do? As you know, joining in will only encourage them. A slap for a bite is all part of the game - thinks the foal. It can be a tough one to sort out.

Avoiding the possibility of a game is the best strategy. Always tie him up short and hold him firmly out of reach on the lead. Then it's time for creativity. What can you do that will not encourage a tit-for-tat game but will get the message across that biting is not allowed?

About the Author

Phil Tragear
http://www.HorseTrainingSuccess.com
All the questions you've asked, answered.

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Phil is author of the comprehensive book 'Horse Training Success', full of answers to the most asked horse training questions.