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Post by pdevlieg on Jul 27, 2006 11:03:35 GMT -5
I could use any tips availbable on manners for baby no-name.  He's one month and quite the spunky little guy - his current favorite game is to figure out how to bite everyone that comes near him! Ouch!  Any tips on gaining control without breaking the relationship we have? He loves his rubs and is good with picking up feet (well, now he tries to bit while he picks them up but he still picks them up)  . He does try the rear and play thing with me but just a strong verbal and tall arms sends him away. Also, give me your best tips on haltering and leading a baby. I feel like a first time mom again - well, I kind of am since I didn't have to work on leading my girls around at 1 month or avoid their kicking feet and biting mouths! ;D |
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Post by schwung on Jul 27, 2006 11:12:29 GMT -5
Here's a suggestion: Name him, then he will stop biting! This is why you start halter-breaking right away, the littler the better. The best way to teach them when they are little is with a butt-rope - the lead is attached to the halter on one side and then goes behind their butt and you can use it to keep them from going backwards and to nudge them forward (also have someone leading mom so that he wants to go forward). Halter-breaking was absolutely simple with Tessa this way - and she was a foal that had no interest in following mom even when she was 2 days old going out side for the first time! As for the nipping - well mine got a bop on the nose for that. I know some people feel that makes them headshy, but I have never had that happen (and I've done it with babies and older horses), its quick, not intended to hurt but rather to startle, and immediate. |
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Post by Just Jolene on Jul 27, 2006 11:30:22 GMT -5
Well, once he's named, you have something to yell at him. ;D
Our foal this year is not a "biter" per se...he'll get a little nippy and a slap to the base of the neck and "NO!" corrects it pretty fast. However, the filly I had last year was malicious about it, and I empathize! Do be stern, and an open-handed "pop" never hurt a foal.
I might be disagreed with on this one, but when they are "little little" I leave the halter on 24/7 until they accept it as a normal thing. Eventually, you can use it only when you need it, and they let you put it on daily without a fight. But first, I think, they have to get adjusted to the idea that yes, this thing goes on my face and it is not going to kill me. ;D If you go this route, just be sure to keep it snug so it doesn't get hung up on things.
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Post by schwung on Jul 27, 2006 11:32:53 GMT -5
Jolene - I had one of those leather foal slip halters with the 12 inch lead attached, and Tessa wore this when she was outside for the first month or so (I took it off in the stall, so that I could also practice haltering/unhaltering). It worked great, and they are very safe. Thanks for reminding me! I dug it out a while back for Viv's baby also.
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Post by diamondindykin on Jul 27, 2006 11:43:53 GMT -5
I put a halter on Whiskey when he was a few days old and left it on him for a long time. I usually NEVER EVER leave halters on my horses and it really scared me to leave one on him but he hated his halter and if I took it off I would never get it back on him. If someone knows a cure for biting....PLEASE let me know! Whiskey is a biter and I can hit him till I am blue in the face and it does no good. The weird thing is that he only bites me He bite me this morning pretty good and I decked him and he didn't do it again but I promise he will try again tomorrow. Clinton Anderson has a wonderful cure for biting and most bad habits but because of my back I can't do it  |
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Post by Just Jolene on Jul 27, 2006 11:46:26 GMT -5
I put a halter on Whiskey when he was a few days old and left it on him for a long time. I usually NEVER EVER leave halters on my horses and it really scared me to leave one on him but he hated his halter and if I took it off I would never get it back on him. If someone knows a cure for biting....PLEASE let me know! Whiskey is a biter and I can hit him till I am blue in the face and it does no good. The weird thing is that he only bites me He bite me this morning pretty good and I decked him and he didn't do it again but I promise he will try again tomorrow. Clinton Anderson has a wonderful cure for biting and most bad habits but because of my back I can't do it Does he bite you at any time, or is it when he hasn't seen you in a little while (overnight, long day, etc.)? |
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Post by horsekrazi on Jul 27, 2006 11:59:43 GMT -5
Oooohhh I want to know the cure for biting babies too! Dreamer is a 2 1/2yr old I work with and he goes out of his way to try and bite/nip/nibble people (he will stalk you like a tiger and then "pounce" and I usually end up saying "ouch"). Same as DDK's horse Whiskey, I could hit him all day long and he could care less. But he bites everyone not just me, sooooo any ideas? He is PERFECT for just about everything else, I have saddled and sat on him and rode him in the round pen even. I just have NO idea how to cure this biting thing...
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Post by pdevlieg on Jul 27, 2006 12:03:56 GMT -5
Thanks for all the tips, keep them coming. I do halter baby no name regularly, but the halter I have is too big so we just work on it going on and off over his nose all the time, haven't gotten up to the leading yet. I guess first thing I need to do is get a foal halter, duh. |
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Post by Just Jolene on Jul 27, 2006 12:07:09 GMT -5
HC- when he goes to bite, have you ever grabbed his upper lip? Held it sorta like a twitch for a little while? That *might* work, it does for *some* horses where other things haven't.
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Post by diamondindykin on Jul 27, 2006 12:07:32 GMT -5
I put a halter on Whiskey when he was a few days old and left it on him for a long time. I usually NEVER EVER leave halters on my horses and it really scared me to leave one on him but he hated his halter and if I took it off I would never get it back on him. If someone knows a cure for biting....PLEASE let me know! Whiskey is a biter and I can hit him till I am blue in the face and it does no good. The weird thing is that he only bites me He bite me this morning pretty good and I decked him and he didn't do it again but I promise he will try again tomorrow. Clinton Anderson has a wonderful cure for biting and most bad habits but because of my back I can't do it Does he bite you at any time, or is it when he hasn't seen you in a little while (overnight, long day, etc.)? Good point Jolene! My neighbor has given me three acres of his land to fence for my horses, so everyday we walk the horses over there and this is really the only time that he tries to bite me. He is fairly well mannered at our barn and in our paddocks. I think that he is mad because he wants to run down to the pasture and rear up on him mom while we are walking down there and I won't let him so he gets mad and tries almost the whole way down to bite me. I have hit him hundreds of times with no cure. Clinton Anderson recommends that if a horse bites you not to hit them but to make them move their feet..........in other words work which we all know most horses hate! Right now I cannot physically make him do that. |
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Post by Just Jolene on Jul 27, 2006 12:13:05 GMT -5
I asked this because we subscribe to TB trade mags, and recently one had an article about biting foals...apparently, if you walk into their stall, or if they haven't seen you in awhile, the "bite" means "Hey, welcome back, good to see ya!" So, according to the vet who wrote the article, it's intended to be friendly to people they like.
You always hurt the one you love, I guess!
Maybe yours just wants to go fast fast fast ;D
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Post by horsekrazi on Jul 27, 2006 12:14:33 GMT -5
HC- when he goes to bite, have you ever grabbed his upper lip? Held it sorta like a twitch for a little while? That *might* work, it does for *some* horses where other things haven't. No i never have, Ill make sure and try that next time! Thanks! |
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Post by fancyherd@gala's on Jul 27, 2006 12:18:01 GMT -5
Fin His Lordship had his 1st halter experience @ 7 days; other than just putting it on him we did nothing until 2 weeks; we employed the butt rope approach as detailed by Schwung; then he moved on to the giving to pressure with slow even progress steps and LOT & LOTS of kudos to him. He is still a nipper if he 'thinks' he can get away with it. An open handed pop never hurt a foal is so true with a vocal command @ the same time - I do this and then I move in with a couple love's and move right on to the next thing. I hold no grudges and I don't set him up for a pop. I am the same way today as I was 14 months ago and I'll be the same way tonight in the round pen. He is not allowed to mouth anything when on halter or when crossed tied. I do see improvement daily - more vocals now than a pop... again I 100% agree with Schwung - I do not have 1 head shy horse- also just place your free hand on his post and gently, gently push down- Fin lowers his head and turns his nose into his halter (sometimes with that upper lip looking more like a camel lip than a horse & he is getting ready to think about a nip - he gives himself away befor the act...) just like a grown up well mannered horse does! Most importantly have fun - they & you are so far ahead of the game if they know you are truly having a good time. Zero tolerance for biting and kicking...no reason, no excuse they can give you is acceptable. John Lyons has an excellent, over the top article on this very subject. Perfect Horse - history search it was a couple may be 3 years ago. I'll see if I still have it.
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Post by fancyherd@gala's on Jul 27, 2006 12:24:21 GMT -5
PD - PM me - I have a gazillion baby halters & on up - I'd be so pleased to ship them to you...we are never having another baby...well at least for 2 years anyway LOL
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Post by pdevlieg on Jul 27, 2006 12:37:37 GMT -5
I asked this because we subscribe to TB trade mags, and recently one had an article about biting foals...apparently, if you walk into their stall, or if they haven't seen you in awhile, the "bite" means "Hey, welcome back, good to see ya!" So, according to the vet who wrote the article, it's intended to be friendly to people they like. You always hurt the one you love, I guess! Maybe yours just wants to go fast fast fast ;D Well then, I guess I am well loved! ;D Yesterday I found an itchy spot and we had a great mutual grooming session! He is such a doll - I just wish his legs were straight.  Monday is now the big day for the trip to the vet and assessment on treatment. Send good thoughts our way! For anyone with experience with wonky legs, he goes out from the knee down, much worse on the left (his mom's bad side  ). His right side is seeming to get a little better. The odd part of this for me is that when he has been laying down and just gets up, his legs are almost straight and don't go out until after he has moved around for a bit. |
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. He does try the rear and play thing with me but just a strong verbal and tall arms sends him away. 
). His right side is seeming to get a little better. The odd part of this for me is that when he has been laying down and just gets up, his legs are almost straight and don't go out until after he has moved around for a bit.