JULY 2023 THE RIDER /17 ^Between The Ears^ Why Do Horses Bite?


bored, they may resort to biting as a way of getting attention. • Pain: Horses can also bite when they are in pain or discomfort, and it is their way of expressing their discomfort. Horses suffering from painful gastric ulcers are not only in pain but also quite irritable. Many horse nip when having the cinch/girth done up. • A history of being fed treats with no boundaries or rules. To further determine the root


By Ellie Ross One of the most common unwanted behav-


iours in horses often stems from a misinterpreta- tion of ‘affection’ and/or a lack of respect resulting in unwanted behavior, such as biting. Biting is a common problem that horse owners encounter, and it can be quite dangerous, especially when dealing with young or inexperienced horses. In this


cause of this behaviour, one must look at the whole picture. A horse that is in pain, irritated or aggressive will likely have it’s ears pinned back and tail swishing. A horse that is lacking enrich- ment and hence is bored, is likely to have it’s ears forward when nipping. A horse demanding treats or is food seek- ing may have it’s ears forward or pinned but this horse is invading your space and possibly food seeking from your hands and/or clothing. Now that we understand why


article, we will explore why horses bite and how to correct that behavior. Far too often people per- ceive a horse nuzzling their clothes and being very close in the handler’s space as affection. This is not affection. It is most likely food seeking, atten- tion demanding or just plain disrespect and should not be permitted. Nuzzling turns into mouthing, mouthing turns into grabbing, grabbing becomes biting.


Why do horses bite? • Irritation: Horses that are not fed regularly or are fed insufficiently may become hungry and irrita- ble, leading to biting. Irritated horses will often re- sort to biting. • Fear: Horses can bite when they feel threatened or afraid. This can happen if they are in a new en- vironment or if they are feeling defensive. • Aggression: Sometimes horses can be aggressive and territorial, especially if they perceive other horses as a threat. • Boredom: Horses, like any other animal, need stimulation and entertainment. When they are


ORHA Results Continued from Page 16


she hopes to bring to the 2025 Futurity, and a full sibling for the year after that!


While many owners nom-


inate their foals as weanlings, you can nominate horses at any time up to their 7th year. Once nominated, show entry fees are due by August 15th of the cur- rent year to avoid penalties. Full details, including rules and forms for both nomination


and entries can be found on the website at https://ontariorein- ing.com/. Who will be our 2023


ORHA Futurity & Derby Champions? We hope to see everyone out to cheer all con- tenders on at the ORHA Grand Finale, September 15-17th at Fletcher’s Horse World!


horses bite, let us look at some ways to correct this behavior: • Correcting the underlying issue: As mentioned above, horses can bite for various reasons. Therefore, it is essen- tial to identify the root cause of the be- havior and address it. For instance, if the horse is biting because it is hungry, increasing its feed or feeding it more often can help correct the behavior. If a horse is in pain, address that issue promptly. If a horse is fearful, provide a safe environment and gain trust and confidence. • Consistency and discipline: When dealing with biting behavior, consis- tency is critical. Ensure that you are sending the right message to the horse every time it bites. While I am not an advocate of physical corrections, when it comes to biting, one must understand that another horse’s response would be to bite back or kick, which would be far


harder than anything you could inflict. It is crucial to be consistent in your re- sponse every time the horse invades your space. • Nipping when tacking up - try to slowly tighten the cinch/girth. I often give my horse a half a carrot when I am about to do up the cinch. This creates a positive association with the action. I will wait and then go up a hole, walk them and tighten as needed but I also pick up each front leg to ensure the skin is not folded under the girth/cinch. Comfort is important. • Socialization: Horses are social ani- mals and thrive in the company of other horses. If your horse is isolated or does not have sufficient socialization with other horses, it may become aggressive or resort to biting. Therefore, introduc- ing your horse to other horses can help correct this behavior. The horse may also have a social skill deficit and needs to learn from other horses. • Training: Training your horse is an es- sential aspect of correcting biting be- havior. This includes teaching your horse to obey commands, follow in- structions, and understand the conse- quences of its actions. Training can help establish a relationship between you and the horse based on trust and respect, making it less likely to bite. Personally, I have had great success with providing clear and concise instructions to my horses in making their feet move and keeping their mind engaged. A muzzle should be used when working with a horse who bites and one must be con- sistent not allowing the horse in their space. Target training and getting the horse to focus on an object is an excel- lent form of enrichment and method to keep the horse out of your space. • Positive reinforcement: Rewarding your horse for good behavior is an ef- fective way of reinforcing good behav- ior. You can reward your horse with treats and/or rest when the behaviour is good HOWEVER, you need to first teach the horse that to get the treat, he must ignore the treat. This needs to be taught behind a barrier with aggressive biters. He is not permitted to come into your space. You give the treat - the horse does not get to take the treat. This helps the horse understand that good behavior is rewarded, and it is more likely to continue behaving in the same way. Do not allow chil- dren to hand feed


Author Bio: BSc Equine Science - Vir- ginia Tech. Diploma in Doma Vaquero - Royal Stables / Spain. Former Pet Expert CTV - for 10 years. Professional Ani-


ORHA 2023 Show Dates:


Canadian Reining Classic – July 28-30 Fletcher’s Horse World, Waterford


Steel City Slide – August 18-20 Ancaster Fairgrounds, Ancaster


ORHA Grand Finale & Futurity – September 15-17


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mal Trainer - Large Exotics and Domestic Pet. 2x Provincial Champion Extreme Cowboy, Tril- lium Provincial Dressage cham- pion, Three Day Event Young Rider Champion. Behaviour As- sessment Specialist - Humane So- ciety. Former SPCA Agent.


Former FEMA Disaster Response Team. Owner/operator Circle 8 Ranch. Quarter Horse Breeder


Foundation Reining Training Centre “Better trained horses to western riders.”


Susan Dahl B.Sc. Computer, Math


Retired Certified Professional Horse Trainer Myler Bit Certified,


judge, clinics, horse sales, writer 315538 Highway 6, RR1


Williamsford, ON N0H 2V0. 519-369-4631, reinersue@hotmail.com www.reinersuehorsemanship.com


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