At 02:14:02 on 07.10.11, CeceG wrote:
I've always loved ponies with character, but when Im not on his back, my pony isn't very nice to be around. He likes to bite when someone walks infront of him, and if he's left alone for more than 2 minutes he 'dances' around on the cross-ties. Also, he has a habit of chewing on the cross-tie clip (and sometimes escaping). And if Im not holding onto his reins when I grab his halter to untack he turns away, and starts nosing through the treats on other horses stalls Help?

At 20:47:58 on 09.10.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
Some horses don't like cross ties so i would try him on a single rope just to see what he is like and maybe give him a lick or haynet to keep him quiet. As for the biting, is it a nasty bite or a investigative bite as horses investigate things with their mouth, my horse often chews my coat/jumper etc to investgate but if he catches skin i say 'ah' quickly and step toward him with purpose so he backs up a step to give me space, my personal space is the space he can come into when he is invited, if it is nasty biting then you need to show more leadership tell him no and mean it, that doesn't mean hitting him just use pressure and body language to warn him you mean business. And nosing through treats isn't naughty it is natural, my horse is at the point where i can leave him on the yard tell him to stay and come back and he will still be there because i have practiced manners for years but when i first got him i put my arm through the reins so i always have a hold of him while getting anything i needed so he didn't wander off. Good luck

At 06:22:16 on 10.01.12, noneotherthan01 wrote:
I'd hobble him. For the biting thing? Unsure there, as I've never dealt with biters... Jess has a good point. Look him in the eye when you come at him... it's a threatening gesture, and unless he threatens back (which i doubt he'd do... he doesn't sound mean, just a little green and oblivious to horsey rules :)) but I'm a firm believer in hobbles on a fidgety horse, it'll also keep him still, even if he happens to chew out of a tie. I think that might be your best bet. For him running off while not holding on, tie your halter on his neck before you take off his bridle... LOOSE! and tie that up to a firm spot he couldn't pull off (hitching post/cross tie/etc) if he tries to pull away he won't be able to go far, the halter will slide up to his poll and put pressure on it, like if it were tied up to his head. Not comfortable doing that? keep his halter on under his bridle and either unclip the lead or tie it around his neck loose. that way when you get off all you have to do is tie him up and take off your tack in any fashion you do, whilst still having him tied up. Best of luck!

At 17:53:39 on 07.02.12, OffTheTrack wrote:
With the biting, I've worked with a few ex racehorses that have that habit and it can be irritating and can hurt a lot! The best method I've found is one I heard from a few trainers. When you see him move to bite, stick your elbow up. The idea is not to ram him in the face with your elbow, the idea is that his nose will bump into your elbow, so he feels a bit of pain but it's his fault. You didn't hit him, he bashed you. So you're not being aggressive or scary. Soon he'll learn that he can't bite without hitting a bony bit, so he'll stop. It sounds crazy but it's very effective, and the horse will never think you're going to bash him, he thinks it's his fault ;) x