horse chewing lead rope

Question
hello ma'am, we have a 3 year old baby thoroughbred racehorse in our stable. he returned to the barn after a trot. groom told me to put on the halter/head collar, then lead rope and told me to catch hold of the horse so that he would sponge off the horse body. when he went to get the sponge, this horse started chewing the lead rope. i threw the lead rope up as a warning not to do it again. when i waiting for the groom looking at him, this horse started chewing off the lead rope again. i kept quiet and observed while he was grooming with the wet sponge. horse got so frustated, he was shaking his head with ears flapped back, again started chewing the lead rope.

is this a vice ma'am? what is the problem with the horse? why horses chew the lead rope like this? how to correct his behavior?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpcGOLNKHAc

Answer
This horse is just high-strung and nervous. It was probbaly difficult for him to stand and be still, and then also to be getting  sponged off.

Horses have so much nervous energy, especially Thoroughbred race horses. The best thing would be to be able to waalk him down and calm him down, but he had to be still.

It would do no good to try to correct him....he is "in the moment" and does not realize that he is performing an undesired action. It is better for him to chew the rope than rear or pull. The best you can do is to try to soothe him as much as you can.Keep removing the rope from his mouth, or simply keep it out of his reach.

He is being trained to run as fast as he can......and he is not turned out.....it is only natural that these horses are nervous and develop 'vices".