Working around horses that bite can not only be annoying but very dangerous. Horses are large animals with powerful jaws. If you are not careful a horse can easily leave a scar, take a chunk of skin, muscle, or even remove a finger. Not all is lost if your horse does bite. There are ways to convince your horse that maybe biting is not a good idea!
First you must consider the age of your horse. Is he a young horse that is trying to play?.. In which case a firm consistent reminder will teach him over time that you are the boss, not a play thing. Or if you have an older horse that has learned through experience that he can get away with this negative behavior - a more assertive approach is needed.
Most horses will put their ears back and give a little nip when someone is doing up their girth. This is nothing to worry about, just be aware and try to stay out of the way. If someone is holding the horse for you, give them a heads up so they can move to a safe position or grab hold of the nose band to deter the horse from turning his head.
Usually a strong slap or fist to the mouth will stop a horse from biting. It is what horses naturally do to each other to assert dominance. Do not consider this abuse to your horse (unless you hit too hard) because your horse is much bigger than you and in order for both of you to be safe YOU need to be in control. Remember not to make a big deal of the situation, if you are walking or grooming at the time when your horse bites, just react with a good whack and carry on as if nothing happened.
If the biting is persisting, you might want to look deeper into other areas. Perhaps your horse is in pain. Have him checked for any back, hip or shoulder problems. Have a vet check your horses mouth for sharp pointed teeth or ulcers. You cannot get mad at your horse for biting if he is uncomfortable physically, that is the most direct way for him to tell you there is a problem.
If even after you have forked out the money to have a vet look your horse over and (he gets a clean bill of health) if the biting continues, I would recommend talking to a local trainer who you trust to give you her advise. Every horse is unique and sometimes you need to get to know the animal before you can figure out why it is he is biting and how best to change the behaviour.
Horse people understand the bond that can grow between a horse and a human. Anyone who has the capacity to love can grow attached a horse or any animal. The bond can be as strong as having a human best friend. You create trust and confidence the more time you spend with horses and when that is taken away from you it can be devastating.
Even if you are not the owner of the deceased horse it can still be emotional. The best thing to do is take the time to grieve. Holding in feelings or hiding them from people who say "get over it, it was just a horse" are dead wrong. No pun intended. Do what works for you, cry, talk to someone who will listen, or perhaps you can write an obituary and share it with people who knew the horse.
If you are the owner of the deceased horse you need to take the time to grieve as well, but you also have the responsibility of clearing the body. You have a few choices. If you have property and are able to bury the body than that could be the best way. These days it is more likely that you are boarding at a larger stable. In that case you can get a hold of your local large animal hospital and see if they have the capacity to cremate your horse. Also, there are people with land that have set aside land for a pet cemetery. It will cost some amount of money, but it can give you some closure and a place to visit.
No matter what you decide to do after your horse is gone, remember that it is normal and natural to feel a hole inside. There are lots of horse people going through the same thing and you are not alone. It will get easier with time.
I'd like to share my first impressions using the Natural Horsemanship technique of horse training. When I was first introduced to Natural Horsemanship, I was in my early teens and working with a woman who had taken me under her wings. This woman taught me how truly sensitive horses are and how important it is to gain their respect and trust.
When I purchased my first horse, the only handling he had was negative and it was very difficult to undue his conditioning. The previous owner had tried to speed along his training so fast that it back fired on her. When I started to work with this horse, we spent weeks in the round pen "joining up". This means we pushed each others buttons until we found a rhythm we could both live with.
Starting with ground work is essential to getting the respect of the horse, which can weight up to 1000+ pounds. Every move you make is noticed and logged by your horse. Horse's language is all about subtle movements, a flick of the tail, a bent hip and even a raised head can mean discomfort or irritation.
When working with horses, you must remember that they are flight animals and would rather run away than fight. They are the hunted and we are the hunters, so we must come down to their level. What you are looking to achieve with natural horsemanship is a symbiotic relationship where you and your horse understand your place and can work as one.
There are a few different options when deciding on what type boarding situation is best for your horse or pony. Of course, if you already live in a rural area and have the facilities, you can just keep your horse at home on your property. However, most people don't have this luxury and need to find arrangements elsewhere. Some good places to look may be your local stables, who typically have the most amenities included in the boarding price. You can also find plenty of good horse boarding stables through private owners who have extra stalls and rent out the additional space.
Pasture Board - If money is tight pasture board may be a good option. In this scenario, your horse stays outside all year and supplied with feed and water. You may think a horse staying outdoors all year round is hazardous or unsafe, but these animals are naturally herd animals who live in the wild - of course they can stay outdoors! Pasture board situations often include what's called a 'run-in'. This is where your horse would go doing storms for shelter. A 'run-in' can be described as something of a carport. It's a loose shelter with a roof sometimes closed on three sides and sometimes on two.
Self Board - Self board or as it's sometimes called Semi board is an indoor situation where you get a stall and paddock. It's called self board because it's you're responsibility to do the rest. You have to supply the grain, hay, feed, turnout, and clean your own stall everyday. This is usually half the price of full board and can be a good choice if you have the time to properly care for your animal. Consider this option if you live a reasonable driving distance to the stable.
Full Board - This is the best choice for horse owners who cannot make it to the stable everyday and excellent for children as they can spend their time at the stable in lessons. Full board can be considered a complete solution including: daily turnout, feeding, and cleaning of stall and paddocks. Stable hands that work at the facilities manage the daily routine of caring for your horse and your responsibility are only for things such as calls to a vet, special feeds, blanketing, etc.
Take a visit to your local stables, commercial or private, before making any arrangements to find the right one for you and your horse. There are many options and not all stables are created equal. Some have extra facilities which may be assets such as indoor arenas and round pens, while other may have different trainers and clinicians who offer specialized training. All these things should play a role in your final decision on where to board your horse.
Akhal teke is a small horse, between 14.2 to 15.2 hands, They are hardy with tons of stamina. Body features include a small compact head with long ears, long thin neck, a long slender body, fine legs, sloping shoulder, and thin main and tail. The Akhal teke have a metallic look to their coats and they range from bay, chestnut, grey, or gold with black points.
Despite their small frame, this breed has a big attitude. They're bold, stubborn and spirited from being originally ridden into battle during war - this Russian horse has the perfect mind frame to face any challenge. Today, the Akhal teke is used in horse competitions such as endurance and racing. A good horse for trails when guided with a firm gentle hand.
The best advise I can give any parent thinking about buying a horse or pony for their child is "Do your research!" It's crucial to find the right match for your family. Not every horse or pony will meet your child's needs, financial budget and the family's time schedule.
When looking for a horse or pony parents need to consider whether to buy, lease, or half lease. When buying a horse or pony, parents (not children) are taking full responsibility. The first issue is shelter. Where is the horse or pony going to live? Is there adequate space on the property, is there time to feed twice a day, muck out stalls, turnout and bring the horse or pony in at night? If you decide to lease or half lease a horse, the parents don't own the horse and therefore are bound by the terms and conditions of the contract between parents and the owner. These conditions can vary greatly depending on how much involvement is required by either party.
No matter if the parents decide to buy or lease they need to look for a horse or pony that is safe and respectful of the child. Cool-horses like Quarter Horses and Appaloosas are known for their mellow demeanor and quiet temperament. They can be used for most disciplines in the equestrian world and the child will not out grow a horse like they would with a pony. When looking for a pony be aware of any nasty habits. Because of the small size of a pony, they don't always have proper training under saddle. Even though ponies may be wonderful in hand, they often could have vices when ridden.
The last major thing for parents to consider when buying a horse or pony for their child is - time and money. Can the family commit as many hours that is needed to take care of a horse or pony. Along with riding, there has to be time for feeding, tack cleaning, turn out, mucking stalls and the list goes on! Horses and ponies are expensive! Be prepared to set aside about $1200 a month for a year. If you can afford this and prepared to commit to the many factors involved in owning a horse, your family is ready for a horse or pony.
