training me

Question
i have a one month old filly, arabrian/morgan.  when i go into pasture and walk away she follows me with ears flat back, i turn to face her which helps...  she starting to  want to bite me, today she acturally snapped her teeth.. she is halter broke, but not broke to tie.  i can brush her and handle her somewhat without halter, but have to watch that she dont try to bite me.  today when i lead her out of pasture she tried everything in a vicious way,to get back to pasture, before this she lead down the road quite nicely. her mother is not a caring mother,  nips and bites hard atfilly but tolerates nursing..the mother nips at me and other too, but not vicious,
thank you for any advice about her changed attitude.
dlm

Answer
Hi Deborah!

Yikes!!!  One month is too young to be tying.  Horses need to learn how to give to pressure, how to lead and be comfortable with flags, tarps, and other stuff in order to tie well and not break their necks.  I also start all my horses on the highline.  That way they can never get an angle on the rope and pull back, all they can do is yield their hindquarters.  If you dont have a highline, find a way to tie your horses from as high a point as possible and do your ground work so they know what to do with their feet other than pulling back.  

Your work with solving the biting problem starts with your mare!  The mare is the boss of EVERYONE and she knows it.  She is treating you like the lowest member of the herd and so is her baby.  You need to become the leader of the herd.  Someone that your mare and her baby can believe in, trust and follow.  ANY horse that bites or snaps at you is a HUGE risk.  What is a teaching nip to another horse can really hurt a human, get this changed now.

Don't act submissive around your mare.  BE the BOSS but you must be clear and fair or your mare will challenge you and that could get really scary.  You must approach your mare with a plan in mind and the presence in your body to back it up.  

Look at the way mare and baby approach you!!!  Ears pinned, nose curled up, neck snaking out...every fiber of their bodies is saying GET OUT OF MY WAY NOW!!!  You need to adopt this same attitude.  This is so cool to do I LOVE IT.  My horses will move with just a look from me.  They know the difference between snuggle time and better move your feet.  

In a round pen with a good rope halter and a 12' tree line lead, start hooking your mare on.  Baby can be in on the deal too.  Take the halter off and send her out at a good trot.  If she snarles at you, pins her ears, does anything but head out at a respectful trot, TURN the HEAT UP.  Make her work.  Don't get mad, don't pick at her tell her with your body language, MOVE IT!  If she won't and I'm guessing she won't, you will have to prove it to her by giving her a nip with the tail end of your lead rope.  Spin the rope over hand, get good and accurate about this, and nip her on the shoulder or bumm.  I don't want you just whacking at her, do it once, make it count, then quit.  Get in, get a change and get out, period.  Keep this pattern up until you can send your mare soft and quiet both ways in the pen.  If her mind is not on you in a respectful manner, put her to work.  When her mind comes back to you, get soft and quiet take a few steps back to draw her in and then rub her on the forehead.  Rub her and make her feel good.  Let her know when she is soft and respectful good things will come her way.

Baby will be watching this.  If he approaches you with pinned ears and a snarl, send him away.  If he needs a nip to send him out get it done.  Only do what it takes to get a change and then no more.  Do as little as it takes to get a change, but get the change.


Do not punish your horses after they have bitten, kicked, run over you.  It is too late.  Take care of what happens before what happens, happens.  If your force a horse they only learn more resistance.  Always set things up so that you are not getting kicked or bit.

Try this Deborah, and then let me know what is happening and how things are going.  There is so much FEEL involved in this but if your timing is good the changes in your horses will amaze you.  I don't do a lot with my babies.  They learn so much just watching their mothers.  When you get this issue turned around it will make starting your baby so much more productive and fun.  Wait until weaning to do a bunch of stuff and then only do what you must.  I do very little with the young ones they are just so fragile and learnig comes so much easier when they are two and three year olds.  Less is more with babies.

Remember you are building an equine partner for the next 20 years, so take your time and do everything with quality.

Smiles and Miles-Horseback of Course! Denise

Hi Deborah!  Did you get this answer?  How are things going?  Let me know!  Denise