My first thought is: his girth area hurts.
I've heard of horses having a rib out of alignment, thus causing pain.
Perhaps have a chiropractor look at it.
My second thought is (based on a positive outcome of
the first thought, that is...he doesn't have anything mechanically wrong with
him): act like an alpha mare...bite him back. I had a horse that was
trying me by nipping my right upper arm while I was leading him. The first
2-3 times, I stopped and scolded in a very withering voice. The next
time he tried that, I bit him back, on the side of the neck, using my finger
tips like a beak. My reaction was instantaneous. He was
startled. He nipped again and I bit him again, only harder. He
never bit me again. It's known as respect for the alpha mare, and you
are the alpha mare.
I'm new to
ridecamp but I'm loving the discussions on here. They are very enlightning. I
was wondering if anyone could help me, I have a big thoroughbred gelding
called Red and he has always had a problem with his girth (i think you call it
a cinch?) being done up. Everytime he feels it tightening he tries to bite.
When i first got him he used to be really vicious about it but he has
progressed lots and only tries to nip now and then (thats on a good day) but
recently he's being trying to bite me just while im brushing him. He usually
does it when I brush his back and stomach, and when i feel him just about to
do it I turn and he swings his head away like nothing happened. Sometimes he
gets me, buts its never hard enough to hurt it just gives me a fright. Can you
suggest ways to get him to stop, I usually growl at him and sometimes i'll
slap him on the neck but its really not that effective. I would really
appreciate it.
