Bad behavior?

Question
Sometimes I like to just sit in the horse corral under the shelter and relax. My gelding always comes over to me whenever I sit down and i pet his nose. He usually starts licking my hand like a dog ( probably because skin tastes a little salty ecpecially if your sweating) I have no problem with him doing that but after a few seconds he tries to take a bite out of my hand. He definitely is not nipping at me. If it was a nip then I would smack his mouth. It's more like a bite like when they take a chunk off a flake of hay. But he doesn't bite hard at all. I don't know if I should smack him for that, so I just calmly push his head out of the way. So here are my questions. Should i let him lick me but slap him if he bites. Or should I expect him to try to take a bite of my hand and just let it go?  Because if they taste that your hand is nice and salty, then you can't really expect them not to try and eat it. Or is licking in general bad behavior? Should I not let him lick my hand? My last question: if the answer to my main question is "yes, you can't expect him to lick you, tasting the salt, and not try to take a bite so don't smack him" will that teach him That if it's ok to eat the hand then I can nip at him if As well?

Answer
Hello Benny,

I appreciate that you enjoy the serenity and good energy that people can have while just spending time with their horses. But there are several behaviors on YOUR part that need to be changed to make you safe and to be consistent with your horse handling.

To start with, you are putting yourself in a bit of a precarious position sitting on the ground with your horse at liberty in the same area. Remember "horses are horses", and if he gets startled, irritated for whatever reason, or at any time resents where you are, you may not be able to prevent getting stepped on or even kicked.I also really like to spend quiet time with horses, but always be aware of your personal safety.

If you have invited your horse into your personal "space", it is all right for him to be fairly close to you, but again not in a sitting position. The answer for the biting problem is to not allow him to lick you in the first place. Horses can not be expected to recognize certain barriers when they are, in effect, "at liberty".  If your horse was licking another horse and decided to give him a bit of a nip it would not be a big deal...they are large animals and indulge in back and forth "horse play". Your relationship with your horse needs to be on a different level.

I will bring my head close to a horse's nose at times when I need to "click" with them and "bond". But he is not allowed to go into "my" space for this, and I am very careful.
Your horse cannot be expected to understand the barrier that is necessary so that you do not get hurt. You allow the licking, and then to slap him when he tries to include a small nip would only confuse him.If you invite him into your space then you can be close to him.But if he begins to "take liberties", i.e. lick you, just push him away sharply with your knuckles, then go back to your original position.
   
It is important to be as consistent as possible when working with a horse. If you allow him the opportunity to lick you and then when he takes  a nip you slap him, that will only confuse him in the trusting relationship that you have established.

Feel free to write again.

Mitzi Summers
Summersdressage@aol.com