Horse Nibbling how dangerous?

It can be VERY dangerous. Have you ever seen someone picked up off the ground by a horse and thrown? Not fun.

However there is a difference between a light nip showing misguided affection and a bite from aggression or challenge. For an aggressive nip I put a horseshoe nail between my fingers and jab the horse in the nose when it bites. Usually it only takes once for them to get the message. Don't be afraid to draw blood.

For an affectionate lipping I still rap a gelding on the nose but just use my fist. For a mare usually a slap to the neck will do. (Males are naturally more mouthy than mares and more likely to challenge so the behavior must be stopped quicker).

As for as the possessiveness goes.... I would be discouraging this. It can become dangerous to be in the middle of. I have been kicked this way before. Again, not fun.

The way I discourage this is to let out a bellow each time a horse so much as lays its ears back at another horse as long as I am anywhere in the vicinity. If a horse tries to wedge itself between me and another horse without being invited over I run it off and pop it on the rump to hurry it on its way (don't try this with any horse that is the least bit likely to kick, and keep to the side)

Stop this behaviour now. Affection can quickly turn into a painful bite, and trust me when a horse bites it really hurts - I know some one who lost a finger from a horse bite and the size of cuts and bruises you can receive from a horse bite are ridiculous.

Don't let him nibble anyone, correct it and sort it.

When he's being rude by nudging you etc, he is infact being very disrespectful - it won't hurt him for you to shoo him off when he's like this. Don't let him barge at you like that, it's a sign that he thinks he's your leader and you should be doing what he thinks fit - you need to teach him respect and manners, or you or some one else will end up getting hurt.

I would discourage the nibbling. It could turn into biting as he will belive that since he can nibble a little bit, why no get you attention more by biting you arm. Some horses can become VERY possessive, if he starts behaving this way, tie him up to the fence or put him away, you might get hurt if he accidentally knocks you over. Carry a small swich or a small riding wip, if he starts getting to roudy. Just be carefull not to get hurt.

Horses are way too strong to be allowed to nibble on you period. That should be off limits--even if it is affectionately--horses groom each other on the neck and back with their teeth--and even it seems sweet, remember some day at some point, other people will have to handle your horse (like your farrier who at some point will be facing with his tempting backside to your "nibbly" horse) and the horse'll think it's acceptable to put his teeth on them like any other horse of equal or lesser status, which means it's also o.k. to bite them.

But you are not a horse and even if you were, you (and all parts of you, clothing, etc.) should be as off limits to his teeth and feet as any number one boss mare would be. It's a matter of respecting your personal space and the safety of all people who may have to handle him.

As far as jealousy of the mare, you could not give her attention when you and they are loose together, or carry a dressage whip and give him a tap to back off when he gets in your space.

Hope this helps!

The nibbling isn't anything more than a dominant behavior. You can put all the cute labels on it that you want, but you're seeing it as a human would...see it as your horse really does:

He may be bored and is playing = meaning he just wants to play and be curious...BUT....he does not know that you can't handle a severe bite as another horse can. He doesn't know that your skin is 7 times less thick than his. He doesn't know he can hurt you badly.

So, even if it's playing, stop it now. Tell him to back up and don't allow him to crowd you or to come in toward you unless you ask, rub his face a lot to give him the attention he wants (but only when you want to, not when he demands it).

If it's not play, then it's dominance. He's simply treating you as he would a submissive horse and trying to get you to move your feet. The lead horse moves the other horse's feet. So, in this case, you tell him to move his feet and just like I mentioned before, don't accept his coming in near you unless you asked him to, and give him attention only when you want, not when he demands.

As for the possessive, jealousy...that's a human trait, not a horse trait. Horses don't get jealous. They can't. Their brains aren't as complex as ours to be able to feel that complex emotion.

He's simply being DOMINANT. He's demanding attention. Again, tell him to back off (don't push on him. Take a short crop or whip with you and simply tap him on the chest or shoulder to tell him to stay out of your space, out of your way).

You really need to stop thinking of him as a big friendly dog. He's not. He's a horse that can and will get you hurt if you let this dominant behavior continue.

If you think he's "throwing tantrums" now, wait until you push his buttons even more, that's when you may find out what a horse can really be capable of.

Stop the behavior now. Be a LEADER, not a follower or a submissive person.

It is very dangerous to allow a horse to nibble on you as this is a sign of dominance over you. Do not allow it ever. He is possessive and jealous and will eventually run the mare away completely. Start putting him in his place, don't allow him to get away with anything, you have to be more dominant than he is.

When you say nibbling do you mean biting with his teeth or just his lips?

As for the jealously thing. Horses actually DO get jealous. They are always trying to establish themselves as a higher rank in the herd. When they pair up with horses/people who are more dominant they become more dominant. So when he sees you with the other horse he wants to make sure she doesn't take his place. He wants to be "buddies" with you because you are dominant and he wants to be that way...just his instinct. So he doesn't want anyone taking his place.

Horses are very intelligent and plan everything they do. He seems jealous for sure. You need to nip the nipping in the bud before it gets out of hand. I still have a dark scar on my behind from my arab's little nibble after 12 years. He never stopped doing it because we didn't get to the problem in time. I found that his daugter stopped it with a little snappy flick to the nose each time she did it. It worked. If he doesn't cooperate, make loud noise and flick at the same time. They don't like the noise and it startles them. If you can relate the startling noise and flick to the nipping, you will win the battle.

Good luck and hope you win! with no scars!

This horse has no appreciate for people in any respect, which isn't good for sure! If her vendors are first time horse people they could desire to no longer be spoiling her! Or this might worsen and that they're going to reck her, she would be able to in all possibility purely worsen because of the fact the years bypass on! If she does improve with the instructor, yet is going decrease back to previous conduct, i might quite much advise that they could desire to sell her to an extremely experienced horse guy or woman who will save her in line! My horse is my first horse, and he's green broke, and he grew to become into beginning as much as walk throughout me, in spite of the incontrovertible fact that it wasn't almost that undesirable! I spoiled him! Then I have been given one in all my horsey acquaintances to assist me, her step dad is a horse coach and has taught her each thing, i be attentive to not often supply him treats and he's extremely respectful of me and my area, and in straight forward terms gets treats after he did nicely on a 2 hour path holiday or if I taught him something new and that i'm very overjoyed of what he has finished. those are the only time he gets treats, and he does not get nippy for treats anymore, and stopped pawing the floor. He additionally threaten to kick me as quickly as I picked up his decrease back ft, and now he does not even try in any respect! as quickly as I do holiday him each each now and then he will swing his head around yet its getting extra effectual. So it extremely is going to purely time for this horse to appreciate people, yet its a choose be! And her vendors could desire to discipline her and end giving her such lots of treats and spoiling her, or she would be able to proceed being a bitter horse!

This question is confusing for me too