Hi all I am Jennifer,

I have had horses my whole life and I am 43 LOL.. I adopted recently a Quarterhorse gelding who's history was sad and abusive .. he's actually a nice horse .. I joined here to sorta share this horses progress with you all..

Thanks
Jen

Welcome,

Glad to have you and would be happy to hear his story and progress.

Welp I have had this horse long enough to see what problems he has...one is nipping.. he is adopted so I guess these quircks are normal to see.. what I want to know is how do I stop him from biting without making him hate me...

This is what I have done with mine and had success. First I don't hand feed any of my horses at all. I believe that creates nippers, seen it happen with my inlaws horse. He was not the type of horse that was in your space when they got him, but after a year of hand feeding treats everytime they were around him. He now walks right up on top of you and searches for his treat. They think it is cute and I find it extremely dangerous. I do give mine treats but always in their buckets. Second you have to make sure that they know that they are not allowed in your space unless asked. As for what I do. I always make sure that they run into my hand or elbow so to speak. I do it in a way that makes them think that they ran into me and not me bopping them. You have to be quick on knowing what their tells are, and getting them before they make contact. None of mine hate me they still follow me everywhere when I am out there with them, and know to keep there space. You have to be consistant and it should work. good luck.

Hello P8ntCrazy,

My New boy is doing very well he is settling in and the nipping seems to be non existant.. Have never hand fed horses so it was not something I was doing he just came with some bad habits.. I had to work around them... he is gaining some good weight and I actually rode him for a while day before yesterday... as yesterday I had to finish with putting up his shelter..thank god I am done with that. when I rode him I found out how well he has been trained he was brilliant he new every leg command I gave him to a T.. he had been used as a barrel racer up till 2 years before I adopted him... anyway thats about all I have tonight for ya ;D

Glad he is doing good for you. It is hard when they come with bad habits. But once you get it fixed its normally worth it.

Hello. Glad to see you're making progress with your adopted horse. I love hearing happy stories like that. Can't wait to hear more about him.

hi, like most of the post I've read, I've got a horse that nipping. He just spent 2 weeks at the trainers. And while he was there he never once nipped at me. When I went to pick him up, he was in a round pen and had been there for 2 days, so she could make sure he was getting water. Because he wouldn't go too the pond. He didn't know what a pond was, he had never seen one. Its like while he was gone, so was the bad habits, now that he's home THEIR BACK, and its not like he only acted this way when the trainer was around. because he acted good when she was no wear in site for hours.
He started nipping before I even got him in the trailer. And now that he's home he is nipping more. Is it just the field he was in over there had more grass in it. Than the one at home. Like most post I've read I saved him. The people who had him let just wasn't feeding. 4 months later he's back up to his weight. Any help or suggestion would be great. thanks Oh I don't hand feed or give treats. If he gets treat their in with his feed.

Wookie,

It is how you carry and present yourself to them. He is challenging you and dosn't feel that you are the more dominant figure. You have to be on your game so to speak, teach the horse that you have a bubble so to speak around you and he is not welcome in that bubble unless invited. Use your arms like turn signals (on your call) Warning him that he is to close and if he comes into your space you bump him but in a way that he thinks he has ran into you. It is hard to explain, wish you were here could show you. But you need to catch him before he is in the process of nipping. Let's say that you are standing in front of him at his pen, as soon as he just slightly tips his nose at you, you bump him back. He needs to learn respect and working on his ground work (round pen) and manners (keeping space, etc.)will benefit him. It is long hard consistant work.

Good luck

If it something he is doing to YOU. He does not respect you. Since you had him @ a trainer who got along with him well, ask them. It might be something as simple as your body posture. If you stand up straight keep your head up and look him in the eye, he is more inclined to think you are dominate. If you look down, slump your shoulders, talk softly try to be his " Oh, Its ok, nothing bad is going to happen" friend he will walk all over you. If he's fed in a stall- Go in put the feed in his bucket and leave, BUT
If you go in and do just that-You think here you go buddy. He thinks- I've run her off again.
With mine I teach the word "round" When I go in the stall I tell them round they turn and face the back of the stall, I dump feed, exit shut door and aproach the next stall then use their name and ok, they can then approach the feed. If I change my mind and re-approach and use the word round they will leave the feed and face backwards.
If you can get that kind of control, you really shouldn't have other bad behaviors-Just time and patience and consistant repitition.
It doesn't have to be over food, just an example.

Okay, I get the whole thing of being the top horse so too speak. First thing I don't have a stable or a round pen. When I got this horse I had nothing and in one day we fenced off enough space for him to live. Our yard was about 3 acres. So he got about 1 1/2 acre. its not all green grass. But its something way better than where he was. And at least at my house he does get food and water everyday now. Here what I'm getting at. Before I sent him too the trainer for 2 weeks. He nipped alittle, but not very often. Mostly when hungry or when we first started riding him and he didn't want too go. He's 3 yrs. old and we where the first to ride him or even mess with him. I took him got him use too having a saddle and lunged, long drive him, I sacked him out with old feed sacks and tarps. He will usually walk on anything I ask him too. Then a friend of mine talked me into sending him tto this trainer. Because I couldn't get him too lift his feet and then nipping problem and also loading into trailer ( don't have one) so she was going too get him use too one there and I also wanted him too get use too other horses.And learn some matters around them, since he hadn't been around a horse since he was about 1 1/2 years old
'

After a week there, I went too see him ( and then almost everyday after) when I got there he was in a field by himself. He and her stallion had got into a fight ( he lost) he had a few bites and scrapes (they weren't in the same field) the fight happen over the fence. Any way I spent 2 hours with him in the field petting him and rubbing in neck and legs, trying to get him too lift is leg. He never once acted like he wanted to bite. Then at the end of the 2nd week when I went too get him. he was in a round pen waiting on me. And thats when he started nipping again. Only more aggressive, tried to ride him and he wouldn't listen, she had been riding him. He actually scared me, he tried to buck me off.
And now some personal things have come up so haven't been back on him. But I go out everyday and feed him. And make him back away from his feed ben. this weekend I'm going to try and work with him, even if I don't get on him. Sorry its so long. but I just didn't think i could go thru the hole thing in a short format. Thanks for all the insight

Welcome to the forum. Keep everyone posted on your progress.

Welcome! Goodness, we're getting a collection of Jennifers on here!lol. My gelding came out of the womb nipping, so I definitely understand! As strange and icky as it may sound, I got him under control by spitting on his nose. I had tried EVERYTHING! None of it worked, so when a friend suggested it I said,"why not?" Wonder of wonders it worked! It simulates a dominant horse snorting on them, and gets your scent in the nostrils. Now, if Jackson goes to nip I spit and he stops cold. You don't have to really let loose on them, just a little bit and it worked wonders w/Jack. Call me crazy if you like, but I was tired of my arms and legs being covered in bruises!lol

I understand this part completely. I was taking riding lessons and was practically working the horses for this lady every day. In Exchange for helping around the barn all the time i would get to 'lease' a horse. Basically, the horse was mine as long as i did chores around the barn which i happily agreed to. She even said she wouldn't let anyone else ride the horse i chose. I picked a hot headed stubborn 10 year old mare to work with. I was in my 'Monty Roberts' phase and was convinced i could turn this horse into a calm loving creature. I lunged her, worked with her almost everyday, did all the right things and really connected with her.

One day i came in ready to continue training her (i was going to start training her in western pleasure that day) when my instructor conveniently told me as i was getting on her back that she had let some other girl ride her the other day. For the next two weeks, Autumn (that was the horse's name) would not budge when i tried to ride her. she would bite at my legs, and she tried to buck me off as well. i tried everything i could to get her to trust me again but she wouldn't. i don't think i had enough time to work with her though. I ended up having to leave after those two weeks because we found out that several of the horses were being neglected. Two of them had died in a week of undernourishment and their fillies had no one to feed them now. I couldn't stand the barn anymore and i left. i reported them to animal services, but somehow they are still open.

i just wanted to say that i relate to you in a small way. I would suggest watching or reading Monty Roberts' stuff. He's excellent in those areas. It's how i got Autumn to chill out the first time and if i had had time to work with her more, im sure i would have gotten her back to the sweet horse i wanted. Hang in there, have patience, be confident, and love him no matter what.

Good luck and keep me posted!

Well, thanks to everyone for the information. I think the problem with Cashew (thats his name) is he was getting sick. When he was at the trainer his ears started running, never did that before. And when we brought him home that friday I noticed that he had like the green ( runny) poopie. (sorry). Now 3 weeks later he's gotten a snotty nose (green) mostly at night its worst. And mostly only on the left side. He also lost is apettite to eat, the first week home he wouldn't eat any hay, changed the bales, got new from a friend. Still wouldn't eat, but he was draining his water out everyday. I just thought it was due to being separeted from the other horses he was around. Now he's eating like he use too and drinking normally, but thats when the snotty nose showed up. No coughing or any other signs. Called the trainer and all her horses are fine. He did get into a fight with a stallion while he was there, and he didn't win. He came home with alot of cuts and scratches, but they all but heal up, the worst was on his neck. And its almost gone just alittle scab still there. I went ahead and started him on antibotic 6ml. but I just don't know how many times a day too give it too him. and my Vet is out of town for a week. Any thoughts, the trainer told me too start him on asafoetida and sliver clove and that should knock out any infection. Could it jus be allergies???? He in a great mood, he's wenning and storning and running around the field. So I don't know.