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  Just recently my 3 year old is 'testing the waters'.He , my gelding and 
the mini donkey are doing some play biting-- the donkey is fairly new and 
newly gelded too-- and my 3 yr Old has started some 'beginning biting 
behaviors" as I am working on groundwork. First he was just mouthy and alwys 
has been . He and Rascal investigate anything new by mouth, and like to 
carry and play with sticks and scoops and buckets. Scout likes to 'scrape 
things up and down on the ground to hear if they make noise...'
  Anyway.while teaching some 'Go forward cues' with a dressage whip, with 
tapping and working on leading exercises he bagan biting the whip. I 
"irritated his nose' or ignored it - but then he progrssed to "almost" 
nipping my hand. I reacted by hitting him on the neck with the whip and 
yelling, --don't intend to whip him, it was an instictive reaction (I'd do 
the same to a human--guess it's the "fight back'  when attacked gene--)
   And another time he opened his mouth  and I think by his attitude and 
slight snap he was thinking seriously about biting as I was "irrtating him" 
with my thumb to move his butt over- now he learned to do this as a 
baby(move over).
   So with him , he needs to learn not to challenge me as he is the donkey 
or my gelding.Just because he has been mellow and gentle as a baby, now he 
is trying to challenge Rascal and Eeorye. And Rascal actually kicked out at 
him one day at the barn as he plowed into him coming out of his stall at 
feeding time, almost got me--never happened before, I flung the bucket and 
yelled at both of them-- (And I have never seen Rascal kick before).(course 
Scout is about 6-8" taller than him and heavier now)
   And I also had to teach Scout not to coming running at you, you call him 
and he comes or he'll just run over if you come in the pasture to see you, 
but I had to fling up my arms and yell at him, so he learned to slow down 
and not come charging up.  But I do watch him as he is sort of in the "Big 
Lumox " stage, and hasn't had enough work (next) to really be 
respectfull.....
   But I can tell, he sort of half closes his eyes and glares at me, no 
ears back, just this "sullen 12 yr. old boy look..."

> *It's funny how they do seem to test as they mature.  My 5 year old I 
> raised
> with the mares was bottom of
> the pecking order for years and just recently started to challenge the two
> mares I have left.  Funny as she was
> always so meek and mild and I was consistent in demanding respect.
>
> Imagine my surprise when I walk out with a flake of hay the other morning
> and she starts circling me with
> her ears pinned, snaking her head.  Caught me by surprise a minute,
> actually, I am usually immediate with
> this stuff nipping it in the bud, but I had to laugh.  I said to her, "what
> have I ever done that leads you to believe
> this is okay?", as I picked up the closest large object (a tire) and heaved
> it in her direction. Ran her out to the
> perimeter of the pasture and did not let her back in to eat for 10 minutes.
>
> Much nicer the next day!!
> Karen

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