Franklin Levinson's
Horse Help Center
Professional support for you and your horse!
Biting Mare
Hello Franklin,
I just bought a 14 year old Quarter horse mare. I'm new at horses and tried to find a mellow older horse to learn on. When I first visited the horse she was a sweetheart. I could halter her, lead her, groom her and even saddled her and rode her in a round pen. Thought I found the perfect starter horse. Well twice now when I enter her pen to halter her she pens her ears back and gives me the 'don't mess with me' look. I aproach her very easy and she charges me and trys to bite me, not nip but BITE me with intent to do harm. The last time she actually contacted my cheek but didn't get her teeth on me. After both incidents I don't back down and can get the halter on her she is fine after that but I don't trust her. I'm going to lunge her in the round pen do you think this will help? Her first owner was a woman and I'm a man do you think this could make a differance.
Sincerly, Chris
Hi Chris,
What you didn't buy when you bought your horse was more knowledge about horses, their behaviors and basic psychology. I strongly suggest you gain some very valuable information and knowledge about horses through the purchase of a few training DVD's. Many good ones are found in the backs of all horse magazines. I have several in my shopping corral on the website that would prove very valuable to you. No matter whose you get, please get several as they will open your eyes, mind and hopefully, heart as to the nature of horses. Also, I have written a lot on dealing with a horse that bites and related topics. Much information is easily found in the archived Q & A's in the Help Center on the site. I direct you there so I don't have to keep repeating myself responding to the same questions.
That being said, it makes no difference as to whether you are a man or a woman. What does make a big difference is your abilities to be the good and appropriate leader for the horse. Again, there is a ton of information I have already written and that is easily accessable about leadership with equines within my website. With no good leader present the horse fends for itself in any number of ways. The behavior you are experiencing is one of 'those' ways. The horse is fending for itself in the absence of a leader who has 'earned' the respect and trust of the horse over time. This is normal behavior in the absence of a leader and should be expected with any horse in the same situation. Part of being the good leader for a horse is your ability to 'appropriately' ask for movement, the horse tries to comply and then is rewarded immediately. This 'winning cycle' of request, tries at compliance and immediate reward is basic to all good training. It is described in several places within the help center and essays and articles section. Please review for your information and education.
Please read up on related topics within my website. It is free and easily accessable. Please get yourself a few DVD's. It will be a small investment for some priceless information and very valuable knowledge. It always surprises how folks will spend a lot of money for a horse, equipment and 'proper' equestrian clothes and be unwilling to spend a dime for their own education which will assure a much more successful outcome for their relationship with their horse. Please don't be one of those folks. Get educated......gain knowledge....avoid trail and error....it only takes a moment to cause a dangerous situation that can take a very long time to resolve.
Good Luck and Happy Thanksgiving!
Sincerely, Franklin