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 Midget Lover
     
Location: Kentucky | My colt just turned 8 months. First colt I've kept that long :) He mouthy and pins his ears when he doesn't get his way. He was ticked last night when my farrier was trimming him and got a few spankings for pinning ears/nipping. Any suggestions to combat this? He was gelded at 4 months. I've heard not to smack in the face as this creates a head shy issue, but it's instinct to do so! |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | Flame suit on..........
I had a colt that bit me once, I punched him square in the mouth. He stopped after that, and wasn't head shy. He sure learned his lesson. Other than that....no help from me lol.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1162
Location: White Mountains of AZ | I had a lady who would grab their whiskers and yank them out. I was never that talented though. Usually a couple of "bites" back and they learn their lesson with me anyways...Sorry I'm not very helpful! |
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | He's never been quick enough, or lucky enough I guess, to actually bite. He is mouthy and pins his ears. I usually yell "NO" while smacking him in the mouth. Was wondering if there is a more efficient way, or that's the 'go to' way to discipline a young one. |
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Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | It's just a phase for him, Did you get him sold?
I normally would say no and gently pop or poke them in the mouth if he was nippy......punch if he actually bit me because the colt I had did that and drew blood on me. Maybe you can put him to work when he acts like that, lunge him and make him realize when he does something bad...he has to work.
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | hoofs_in_motion - 2016-01-13 10:55 AM It's just a phase for him, Did you get him sold?
I normally would say no and gently pop or poke them in the mouth if he was nippy......punch if he actually bit me because the colt I had did that and drew blood on me. Maybe you can put him to work when he acts like that, lunge him and make him realize when he does something bad...he has to work.
No, he didn't sell so I'm going to keep for now. He's very sweet and good when he gets to do the things he wants. My farrier also mentioned it's a phase. It's like a kid who is suddenly a brat... what happened to my sweet boy?? LOL.
This was the second time he was trimmed, but he's been picking his feet up for months. He was just a big pouty pants turd last night. I don't want to end up with a 1,000 pound brat. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| Any time I have a colt pin their ears at me or act aggressive I make them move out of my space right quick. Mouthy get a good nose pinch or punch to the nose depending on if they're persistent about it! If they keep doing it I'd aggressively MOVE them out of my space. I am not a big person and could easily get smushed by a horse so I've learned to demand my space and respect! :) |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | hoofs_in_motion - 2016-01-13 8:47 AM Flame suit on..........
I had a colt that bit me once, I punched him square in the mouth. He stopped after that, and wasn't head shy. He sure learned his lesson. Other than that....no help from me lol.
I am a bit of tough love too on this. When we bought our stud Vegas he tried it once. My husband waited for him the next time and he socked him in the nose. In the 12 yrs we owned him he ever ever even thought about biting.
I have a filly this yr that is a pet just naturally. I have had some trouble with her bucking and playing around me and one day she put her head on my hat as I was coming through her gate (she stands right in the way) and she tried to bite my hat. I swung the bucket at her for it and she got ****y and ran off bucking and kicking and then kind of ran towards me. I tossed the bucket, grain and all, right at her. She has a whole new level of respect for me. We are getting along just peachy now. |
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Expert
Posts: 2122
Location: The Great Northwest | These little guys need to learn to respect us. It can be a game for them trying to play with them punching, ect. Let them know you are not to play with right from the begining, "now". You need to get a halter on them and put them to work. Teach them to repsect your space. They are not allowed to stand over you or on your toes. They only come into your space when asked. Put them to work by teaching back-up and gentle lunging too. You can go on to teach them to move in a reverse ark away from you. These little ones with a lot of energy need space to move 24/7 and other horses help to teach manners. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 899
Location: Idaho | Continuously popping a horse in the mouth, or beating them in the head will make them headshy. If you pop him quickly, and in a timely manner and then leave it alone they won't be headshy. My colt has never been mouthy, I have popped my colt a few times, not for biting but for other things.. like when he goes to turn his head and literally head butts me to do it. Lol He is no where near headshy. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2161
Location: NW. Florida | If he hasn't been castrated yet do it. It took care of mine that was like that. |
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | Carbon Copy - 2016-01-13 1:35 PM If he hasn't been castrated yet do it. It took care of mine that was like that.
Yep, my OP mentioned he was gelded at 4 months. |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| wyoming barrel racer - 2016-01-13 10:50 AM hoofs_in_motion - 2016-01-13 8:47 AM Flame suit on..........
I had a colt that bit me once, I punched him square in the mouth. He stopped after that, and wasn't head shy. He sure learned his lesson. Other than that....no help from me lol.
I am a bit of tough love too on this. When we bought our stud Vegas he tried it once. My husband waited for him the next time and he socked him in the nose. In the 12 yrs we owned him he ever ever even thought about biting.
I have a filly this yr that is a pet just naturally. I have had some trouble with her bucking and playing around me and one day she put her head on my hat as I was coming through her gate (she stands right in the way) and she tried to bite my hat. I swung the bucket at her for it and she got ****y and ran off bucking and kicking and then kind of ran towards me. I tossed the bucket, grain and all, right at her. She has a whole new level of respect for me. We are getting along just peachy now.
I have had to put an elbow or fist into one or two along the years. But mostly I take it to horse communications and let them think I'm going to kill them without actually doing anything much. Buckets are also my weapon of choice. If I have one who wants to 'boss' me through the fence at feed time I will smack them with a bucket, and if that doesn't get a respectful move out of my space (it's a 6' circle with or without a fence there) then I will bombard with empties, or fulls, and lots of loud and negatory voice. I've also had to do a fast climb to press my point once or twice.
Anyone who knows me and my stallions knows they are anything but fearful of me, but they are also the last horse at the show that you'd think is a stallion.
Mare's, on the other hand, are a finer line than colts or stallions. I have a good business relationship with the rocket mare, but we aren't much of friends. That's OK - I'll take respect over friendship from my barrel racing partners.
Even my very sensitive boys have never held the whap against me, and I've never had a colt who didn't try at least tasting. I do try to keep it a fast elbow into the mouth, and never let loose near eyes or ears - that's what will product head shyness. In my experience anyway. |
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 Peat and Repeat
Posts: 2773
Location: IN MY OWN LITTLE WORLD AT LEAST THEY KNOW ME HERE | Lol I have punched a couple n the nose.
I have had more luck grabbing their bottom lip n twisting n holding then release.
And I have chunked a bucket or 2 when I wasn't quick enough.
If on a lead I will lip grab twist then run em backwards. |
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | Thanks all! Of course last night while brushing and picking up feet he was a doll. Go figure. He must hate my farrier :) |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | Murphy - 2016-01-14 6:42 AM Thanks all! Of course last night while brushing and picking up feet he was a doll. Go figure. He must hate my farrier :)
Mine can be picky about who he listens too. I have NEVER had a problem with him other than green horse stuff.
However, when my less experienced friend held him for the shoer... he was slamming her into walls I guess.. but the next time my friend who is also a trainer (she is very experienced with colts) held him, and he was reprimanded once and then an angel. So yeah... maybe he hated the shoer! lol
Mine is not yet gelded. I will probably wait for springtime. |
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 The Color Specialist
Posts: 7530
Location: Washington. (The DRY side.) | It's his age. Most colts turn into "teenaged brats" their first winter. They often start acting like they are "all that" and you are NOT the boss of THEM! (It is often like it happens over night. One day you have your sweet "baby", the next day you have a jerk! LOL) Tune him up if needed and it will pass. I have smacked several over the years for mouthing or trying to bite, I have NEVER had a head shy horse. (And I've never had one that didn't stop putting their mouth on me or trying to bite either!) I discipline the body part that is being BAD. If they are biting, I smack their MOUTH. If they turn their butt to me, I smack that. Etc... |
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | RacingQH - 2016-01-14 11:59 AM It's his age. Most colts turn into "teenaged brats" their first winter. They often start acting like they are "all that" and you are NOT the boss of THEM! (It is often like it happens over night. One day you have your sweet "baby", the next day you have a jerk! LOL) Tune him up if needed and it will pass. I have smacked several over the years for mouthing or trying to bite, I have NEVER had a head shy horse. (And I've never had one that didn't stop putting their mouth on me or trying to bite either!) I discipline the body part that is being BAD. If they are biting, I smack their MOUTH. If they turn their butt to me, I smack that. Etc...
Thank you!!!! I'm sure they are just like kids... one minute they are sweet, the next sour! |
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Miss Southern Sunshine
Posts: 7427
Location: South Central Florida | Im raising my first colt. He is 20 months old and just gelded 3 weeks ago. He was born here and lots of handeling. He didnt start to get mouthy until about 18 months old. Never pinned his ears, but frequiently would open his mouth and was clearly thinking about nipping. Since the gelding he has not tried it. I guess he was just playing, but I did pull my hands or arm away. I think I may have poped him in the belly a few times. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | Good book Monty Roberts has suggests stepping hard on their coronet band to help avoid headshy possibilities or even pinching a roll on their shoulder like a mare might do. I have always spanked on their nose but I think I may try this. He describes it as a distraction like keeping them moving in older horses. I have certainly tossed a bucket or two myself as well. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| Just a funny story that this thread reminded me of.
I remember when I was working night shift and got kicked by a clients colt who was about 3 weeks old. I could've swore that stupid thing broke my elbow (right on the funny bone, and there isn't a **** thing funny about it!), he got me while my back was turned the little snake. Lucky little bastard ran back behind his mom before I could swing at him. It made my vision blur it hurt so bad, and I had to sit down for a few minutes with some ice on it, made my fingers go numb and everything. He went out to the pastures before my next shift, so I didn't have to deal with him anymore, but he was a memorable one. haha This thread just reminded me of him again. I can't even remember what mare he was out of now, I think it was one of the thoroughbreds. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | my current baby was getting this way and since shes turned out with a gentle gelding who can/will put her in her place and gets enough physical exercise I realized for her it was a mental thing. Her story is a bit weird anyway but we won't get into that now lol that's a thread all of its own.
Anyways, once we had the requisite basics down, lead half way decent, good with feet etc. I started ponying her off my gelding for a few minutes and that mental combined with physical exercise helped her out a bunch and I've gone on to teach her different things like showmanship on the ground, trailering, tying, etc. BUT the biggest thing I've done with her is use a broken lunge whip (floppy part is gone flimsy stick part left) and taught her whip cues. She 'lunges' (yes I know she's too young to actually lunge) but she has the concept of traveling around me in a circle when i have the whip behind her, changing directions etc which helps amazingly with attitude... I've also taught her to back up via whip cues aka gentle taps to the front legs to start and a few other things to develop control and get some respect without physical damage.
Bottom line with her was she was developing a mouthy/nippy attitude and acting like she wanted to kick so i taught her the move away thing with 'lunging' and i think I've only had to really smack her over the butt two or three times for her to realize posturing even from a distance to kick was a NO (usually at feeding time). She also doesn't mouth anymore because every time she tried i would cue her to back up or move her feet. Smacking her did no good but teaching her the whip cues and making sure she understood the consequences for bratty behavior did wonders for her. I kind of figure they are at that point where they either need to be turned out and left with other babies or older horses to work it out away from us or its time to start using their little pea brains for something constructive.
Just my worthless two cents don't hurt me guys lol  |
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Mouthy Colt