Handling a Mouthy/ Biting Horse

Mouthy horses are quite common, especially young horses, and especially young geldings. How to handle or correct a mouthy horse is one of the most frequent questions that I am asked. Biting or "mouthy" behavior can stem from a variety of causes. It can be natural playfulness in a youngster, a warning or display of agression, a sign of frustration, or a learned habit for stopping some activity that the horse does not like (such as tightening a girth). This past week, as I was spending several days on the island of Molokai, Hawaii, I had the opportunity to work with a young horse named Jelly Bean who was a great example of mouthy behavior. There are numerous different techniques for correcting mouthy horses, but I feel it mostly boils down to this: Avoid getting bit Make biting uncomfortable for the horse Make it clear to the horse that biting won't get him anywhere - no release of pressure, no opportunities to snatch food or play the "tag, you're it" game Stay calm and don't take it personally In this week's video, you can watch how I actually use several of the above tips while working with Jelly Bean. Enjoy! Find more riding and training videos at www.CRKtrainingblog.com