Biting and chewing everything

Question
QUESTION: I have a 22 month old yearling colt (gelded at approx one year).  I rescued him at 10 months old so don't know when he was weaned or how he was weaned.  He was tethered by himself, was very thin, covered in lice and spiritually dead. He was rescued from the travelling community, and therefore I believe he is a Standardbred Trotter type.  
Good food, worming, grazing and the company of other horses in a group of geldings, has seen him turn into a shiny, handsome 14.3hh hanful.  He is out during the day, in at night in the winter and out 24/7 in the summer.  I have tried a bit successfully, just in the mouth not to lead from, and he wears a saddle happily.  He will trot over trotting poles and isn't scared of much at all.  Not bothered about umbrellas, plastic bags, fireworks or anything of that nature.  The trouble is he is always trying to bite something.  He has properly bitten me a handful of times, but most usually he just wants to chew something; lead rein, stable door, wall, rugs,coats, really anything he can get in his mouth.  He is my first horse and I admit I took on more than I ever realised, however, I feel we have made some huge strides in other areas.  He lifts his feet and lets me groom him all over.  I spend hours bonding with him, but lately I feel as though I am constantly smacking him and telling him off.  It's hard to find things to praise when he is ever after me with his mouth, or rather teeth!  Please help.  I don't really like the idea of smacking, and feel there must be another way, but more experienced people on the yard say a 'good booting' is the answer, but it feels wrong to me?  Another friend on the yard says he is teething, while someone else says I should start lungeing him to work off excess energy.  What is the right thing to do???

ANSWER: Hi Joanne!

This is a common problem with rescues....they get better and start acting like a real horse.  It just shocks everyone!  LOL!!

He is a surly, pushy teenager who cares nothing for the fact you saved his life and love him dearly.  He only understands horse/herd interaction and is talking to you like he would to a lateral horse.  He thinks you are him.  Just another low to middling herd member that he can play around with...because you have made him equal to you through all your actions.

Not your fault, you almost couldn't avoid it.  But, when the time came, the moment happened that you had to swiftly and completely show your total dominance....you missed it.  You didn't see it at all but, he did.  And he saw you as not dominant and therefore now treats you as an equal.  And occasionally lower herd member if he thinks he can get away with it.

What to do?  Slowly and consistently re-establish your dominance.  He is no longer the poor orphan you found.  Time to treat him today as he presents himself today.

I can not list all the ways to dominate him...and I do not mean hitting or beating.  Google Monty Roberts "Join Up" method.  His explanations are a good start.  Concentrate on obedient, perfect ground manners.  Buy a leadline with a stud chain and put the chain over his nose.  The smallest infraction and he gets a sharp shank and a firm "NO!"  Pin your ears, whirl on him and stamp your hoof.  You are the Boss Mare and he must learn it.  Done.

As for biting, ignore....ignore....ignore.  Buy a small canister of Bianca breath spray.  Secret it in your hand and lure him to bite that hand.  Spray it right up his nose while you do the Boss Mare whirl and stamp.  Then, walk away as if nothing ever happened.  All nonchalant and stuff.

Be firm, be consistent and be patient.  You must undo in his mind your equal/lower herd status.  Boss Mares do not explain or ask for obedience.  They just expect it.  This is doing him the biggest favor.  A well trained and respectful horse lives a good, long life.  And once you have established that respect and trust, it can after a while turn into what we humans call love.

Good luck and remember to always wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet!

Solange

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks again Solange, (Separate feedback sent)  I just wondered why it's common in rescues...if you have any ideas.  Is it due to an attachment issue (lack of with the Mare as a foal?.  Thank you, Jo

ANSWER: Hi Joanne!

I should have been clearer on that.  I did not mean specifically biting is common in rescues....I meant that people getting waylaid by caring so much that they are shocked when the horse acts out.  Biting, kicking, rearing all of these are common things babies do to test authority and find their place in the herd.  But, when rescues do this most owners are shocked.

"But he was so weak and I saved his life and now I can't get near him!!  What happened?!?"  Is often the thing I hear.  People simply forget to treat him like a horse and not an invalid...or worse a human.  LOL!!

Once they get their strength back, they can be hell on wheels.  YEA!!  This was the goal....BUT....now it's time to move on and treat him like a real horse.  The transition is difficult for some women who are more "caregivers" than "Boss Mares".

You actually caught this pretty early and have an excellent chance of turning things around in good order.

Thanks for your feedback ~

Solange

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Solange,
Just one more question and then I promise I will get on with it!  He's responding well to the Boss mare stuff, however he has now taken to chewing most of the other horses tails in the group.  We are both mighty unpopular with the other owners. Because of this the yard owner has segregated him with the yard bully horse.  This is supposed to be to 'break the cycle'and for him to learn that he can't chew tails.  Will this work?  He just seems to be getting chased around alot and he has lost his friends.  Because he was tethered by himself so long as a yearling, he didn't get chance to socialise properly, and now he is taken from the herd again.  When will he stop chewing?  Is there a better way to deal with things?  I can't stand in the field all day waiting for him to do it.  There is very little grass left in the field at the moment, I don't know if this is contributing.   He gets plenty of feed and hay though.  Any advice again would be so helpful.  Thank you,  Joanne

Answer
Hi Joanne!

Unfortunately, you cannot train out "horse on horse" behavior.  It is common to put a difficult horse out with a good old Boss Mare to have her teach him what's right or wrong.  You did not say if he was out with a Boss Mare.... but, that's how is should be.  Boss Mare, him and a few other very submissive mares or geldings so he can be friends with them.  If he is out with just a mean gelding or two, he will get picked on and really learn nothing.

Herd dynamics are difficult at best and do change constantly, so they must be watched.  Little grass can make things worse too.  Try throwing flakes of hay around the paddock, far from each other so the horses won't fight over them.  I also like a toy like a Pasture Pal.  These dispense treats for horses and can be ordered over the Internet from the larger tack shops.  I know it is worrisome but, he will learn and his best teachers are other horses...but, again he should be out in the proper group as I stated above.

Solange