So why does my horse bite? A question that has been asked by many horse handlers over the years. It’s not simply a question of being naughty, there are many reasons your horse may bite.
Biting is a form of communication between you and your horse. That doesn’t make it a fun communication, but your horse is trying to tell you something. Biting doesn’t always mean your horse is being naughty, there are far more likely reasons. All you have to do is work out the reason why.
No-one likes a horse that bites. It’s painful and dangerous. There are many reasons your horse may bite, read on to find out why your horse may be biting.
Why Does My Horse Bite – 10 Reasons
The following list is not exhaustive, but may help you narrow down the reasons your horse may be nipping or full on biting:
- Frustration/Stress: If your horse has recently had a stressful event – moving yards or a new companion, he may show his stress by biting you or other horses. If he is frustrated by a lack of stimulation – if he is stabled for long times, or just left in the paddock, he may start to take his frustration out on you.
- Playing: Some horses, especially younger ones may simply not realise that you are not a horse and that biting is not appropriate.
- Bad Manners: If ground rules and good manners haven’t been established, or have been allowed to slide, then biting to get their own way is a natural progression.
- Pain: Your horse may be indicating that he is in pain. A horse with ulcers for example, may only bite when they are touched on the girth or stomach area. If your horse has not had a history of biting, and only bites when certain areas are touched, then there is likely to be a pain connection.
- Boredom: Like frustration, can lead to biting which is simply a form of your horse showing you that he is not happy with how his current circumstances are.
- Protection: Some horses bite when other horses are taken out of the field, especially is they are particularly close and bonded. They may simply be trying to protect the other horse by biting to keep you away and removing the other horse.
- Aggression: Although unlikely, some horses are aggressive by nature. They don’t know how to communicate with you in any other way than to show aggression.
- Resource Guarding: Those horses that have had a poor upbringing, or recently spent a while where food was scarce may guard their food; biting to keep you (or other horses) away.
- Exploring: Young horses often bite without really meaning to. They bite when playing with other youngsters in the field and haven’t learnt that with people, biting is frowned upon.
- Irritants: Is it you that the horse is trying to bite? Or have you simply got in the way of a pesky fly or other irritant?
There are so many reasons that your horse may bite that it’s worth making a checklist of when and where, and what you were doing when your horse tried to bite you.
Signs Your Horse Will Bite
Your horse will bite or kick as a last resort. If you learn to watch out for these initial signs of discomfort/distress, you will find it easier to identify and treat the cause:
- Swishing tail
- Moving away
- Laid back ears
- Stomping legs
- Pawing at the ground
Your horse may show other signs, so spending time with your horse to identify his moods early on will pay dividends in the future.
How To Stop Your Horse From Biting?
The top 10 reasons for answering Why Does My Horse Bite as shown above can all be resolved with a little effort. Below outlines some of the most common methods:
- Frustration/Stress: Recent stressful event – Time to get used to the new surroundings will normally work, just try to keep to a routine so that gradually his stress levels will reduce. That doesn’t mean not reacting to being bitten, a reminder of ground manners will be necessary, but a new yard, or a new field companion can often up-skittle the most laid back of horses, and most need a little time to adjust. If frustration, try to allow your horse more time in the field. If this isn’t possible, try to extend your riding time, or take the opportunity to try some groundwork (poles, tricks, liberty) to keep your horse’s mind active. If your horse needs to remain in the stable then try to make the stable a more interesting place. See Box Rest Ideas For Horses.
- Playing: Some horses, especially younger ones may simply not realise that you are not a horse and that biting is not appropriate.
- Bad Manners: If ground rules and good manners haven’t been established, or have been allowed to slide, then going back to basics and re-establishing control are needed. If you’ve been feeding treats by hand, stop doing so, and only give treats in a bowl so that your horse doesn’t bite your hand in anticipation.
- Pain: Depending upon the location of the pain, call the relevant professional to help you understand what the problem may be and how to treat it. For example, if you notice that your horse only bites when he sees the saddle, the book the saddle fitter. It may be that once the problem is resolved the biting will continue. This could be because of pain memory. It should resolve with patience, but if not, a professional horse behaviourist may be needed for a little guidance.
- Boredom: Like frustration, can lead to biting which is simply a form of your horse showing you that he is not happy with how his current circumstances are. Increase your horse’s workload and/or variety of work. Alternatively, hide treats in the field for him to spend time finding. Horses are foragers and it’s in their genes to look for food, even when it’s in plentiful supply.
- Protection: Find out what your horse is trying to protect and work on a plan to show your horse that you are not a threat, and that your presence is something to be welcomed. If biting is because your horse is buddy sour, then multiple short stints removing the other horse for longer and longer periods may work. Only ever go at your horse’s pace, return the other horse before your horse shows signs of stress and gradually increase the time away as much as possible.
- Aggression: Seek guidance from a horse behaviourist if you believe that your horse is simply aggressive and has no reason. You may have overlooked something that a professional may not.
- Resource Guarding: Depending upon whether you know the reason for the resource guarding you should separate the horse whilst eating, not only to reduce the likelihood of injury to others, but also to reduce the stress levels of your horse. If possible try to give more but smaller feeds throughout the day and gradually allow a trusted horse to be nearby whilst he is eating. You could then feed together, with the other horse having less food at this point so that there is no reason for the original horse to try to steal or barge the other horse away to get to their feed. Once they are happily eating together and your horse is no longer biting during food time it may be possible to resume your normal feed regime.
- Exploring: Young horses need groundwork and manners. If you are handling a young horse then regular and consistent groundwork is incredibly important.
- Irritants: Fly spray, mite treatment, and/or a sweetitch rug might be needed to keep your horse from scratching, rubbing, and biting.
Do’s & Don’ts
Regardless of the reason that your horse bites, there are some things you definitely should and shouldn’t do:
- DON’T – beat your horse if he bites. A sharp vocal reprimand, and if absolutely necessary a smart tap, should be quite sufficient to stop your horse in it’s tracks. Timing though is everything. Horses live in the moment, and if your scolding is even a couple of seconds too late, your horse will not link your behaviour to his biting.
- DO – Be consistent. Seek help when necessary.
Conclusion
A biting horse is not always a naughty horse. Either through a lack of manners, or pain, your horse has learnt that biting is an effective tool to use against you to stop you doing something that it isn’t happy with. Finding out the reason why your horse is biting is the first step to understanding your horse and ensuring that you can retrain your horse/remedy the cause of the biting.
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