Thanks for this reminder, I will try this as we work on “graduating” out of muzzle. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it, I have tried smacking with my hand, but he is way too fast & finds my efforts too entertaining. Children …
Tom Dorrence hs a video addressing this particular issue.
I have a young boy and had the same issue. What finally worked for me was that when he’d make a move to be mouthy, I would rub his mouth/nose on both sides until he lost interest in me and turned away. I saw this on a natural horsemanship website and thought “no way will this work” but I tried and after a few times it did. The theory was that he was attention seeking and once he got A LOT of it, he didn’t really want it any longer. Id typically stand like i was going to bridle him in order to be in control and it would give him an opportunity to do it and for me to rub safely. It wasn’t a hard/correction rub. It was just soft pressure and on both sides of his face. During this time, I also spent more time lunging him and if he kicked out or didn’t listen I’d get after him until he was doing exactly what I wanted, then lots of petting. I make sure and keep objects out of his reach (like a toddler), just while this training is going on initially and then introduce them back and when he went to get something, I was ready and corrected it exactly when I could tell he’s thinking about it. I also do “walking work”. in his halter after I ride him. He should walk when I walk, slow when I slow, trot when I jog and stop when I stop WITHOUT putting his face in my space. Lots of petting when done well also. I think it’s a leadership/obedience issue. I’d work on correcting the package. Likely not “just” the mouth. Really has worked wonders all around! Good luck!
I’m not a voice of deep experience here. I had a TB who was like OPs, loved to pick and hold things in his mouth.
He was not a biter, just liked things in his mouth, especially soft things.
I ended up rubbing, lightly, my fingers across his gums (between lips and front teeth), not as a punishment but to scratch an itch.
I figure it’s like you get an itchy nose and only rubbing it hard will make that sensation go away.
I tried a rubber covered bit once and he ate chunks of it, so he was always in a big snaffle.
Ive judiciously tried it on other horses who were mouthy but biters.
Just wanted to come back to say THANK YOU to @EventerAJ for the crop trick!! I tried it yesterday to see if it would allow us to skip the Muzzle Which Works But We All Dislike It.
The crop worked great! Baby Monster was heinously offended at my newfound ability to actually reach him, of course. I informed him that I was happy not to offend him if he made better choices. He still decided to get 5 or 6 pops on the nose (more sound than anything else), but that was HUGE progress for an hour trail ride!
It did not bother my trusty pony horse at all. I got free entertainment from youngster flouncing & bouncing in a huff bc he wanted to nip that neck soooo badly, but mean ol’ mom ruined it with her tricksy tricks, hahaha.
He did not have any issues with the whip otherwise or afterwards, as punishment was only when he truly deserved it & we both knew it.
THANK YOUUUUU for this wonderful tool!
Le sigh. I put said obnoxious youngster out in the grown up field and someone bit the crap out of him – required stitches and an emergency vet visit over the weekend. So much more having the other horses teach him to keep his teeth to himself. :no:
Oh dear - the consequences of being obnoxious can definitely be expensive. I hope he will heal well!
