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to Linda, Julie and anyone else who is having
problems like these, and would like to try this:
If your horse is nudging, nipping, or rubbing on
you persistently (or at all, if you don't like it, as I don't), you probably
haven't established you alpha-hood with him, or you haven't expressed your
displeasure with this type of behavior eloquently enough. I generally try
to emulate what a dominant horse would do if an inferior one invaded its
space without permission. I list some of my options here from mildest to
most severe (use varies according to sensitivity of the horse and severity of
the behavior).
1. Move away and ignore the horse
completely.
2. Pin your ears (this takes practice) and
growl "qui-i-i-t", in a low menacing tone (I realize horses don't growl, but it
works anyway).
3. Bare your teeth, lower your head and move
threateningly toward the horse (don't do this with a tied horse, as it will
cause it to move away from you).
4. Haul off and give him a good swift kick in
the chest or belly, but watch out for the solarplexis (remember, we can't
kick near as hard as they can, but even a slight blow to the solarplexis area
will knock the wind out of somebody).
5. Do everthing in my power to try to kill
the S-O-B, but for no more than three seconds (after that, they have
forgotten what they are in trouble for anyway).
Above all, be absolutely consistent. Don't
let him rub or nuzzle you one day and then beat him the next for it, and
vice-versa. And about hitting the horse with your hands...I don't do it
unless I'm at step five simply because I don't want the horse to have any fear
of my hands whatsoever. I need to handle him too much to have him shying
away from moving hands. This is not a problem if you whop 'em with a foot,
since you don't have to use your feet for grooming, saddling, petting,
etc.
These have worked for me pretty well, and I have
never had trouble with horses trying to run all over me when I employ these
techniques (and a few others), or at least not for long. Hope it
helps!
Debbie
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