How to Make a Horse Quit Biting

Horses are playful animals and biting isn't always a sign of aggression. However, horses will also bite when uncomfortable or stressed. If your horse is biting you or someone else then you need to train him to stop so that no one is injured. The first step is to recognize when he is most likely to bite, the second is to communicate to him that the behavior is inappropriate.

Instructions

    • 1

      Pay attention to the situations in which your horse likes to bite. Sometimes a horse bites when he is being groomed, when you are putting a saddle on him, when he is injured or when you are dismounting him.

    • 2

      Stop your horse from biting when you are cleaning or grooming him. Prepare the things that will be needed for grooming the horse such as body brush, tail brush and a curry comb. When grooming the horse, look for his sensitive spots. When he is touched in these areas he may be ticklish and have a tendency to bite. When he bites give a loud "Stop" command and slap him on his neck firmly to stop this behavior.

    • 3

      Make your horse quit biting when you are putting the saddle on or girthing him. Saddles and girthing often cause a horse to bite. When girthing your horse, do it one hole at a time, make sure it fits properly and make sure the girth is not too tight or restrictive. Check the saddle to see if it fits properly; it shouldn't be too tight, as this can be painful. If your horse continues to bite, slap him firmly on the shoulder or back of the neck and give the "Stop" command.

    • 4

      Ensure that the leather straps don't hit your horse's eyes when bridling him. If your horse tries to bite you when fitting the straps, give him a firm tap to the shoulder or neck with a loud "Stop."

    • 5

      Hold the reins close to you when you are mounting your hourse and lead the horse to an open area before mounting. If your horse tries to bite you, give him a firm "Stop" command.