[i_luv_wildfire]

Originally Posted by alana529

He didn't just "suddenly" bite. You missed the warning signs. Maybe he pinned his ears, turned his head, then bit.

Or, maybe he didn't. Maybe he pinned his ears and bit at the same time. We would LIKE horses to show us a progression of signs all the time but they don't necessarily. I've seen horses kick out with no warning if you're doing something as simple as trying to lift a back hoof to clean it out. No injuries in the area or anything. No pinning back ears, then shifting weight, then waiting ten seconds, then kicking. It's just BAM, lightning fast. It happens sometimes.

[Jess!]

A horse can be standing still one second, and then attack you the next second. Sometimes, they do not give us warning signs.

[Launa]

I want to add that when training a horse and using pressure you should be able to read your horse and tell if they are being disrespectful, defiant or are they confused. If a horse is confused as to what you are asking.... too much pressure could cause fear and then they aren't going to get it. Learning to read your horse and their body language is important.

[HJ_lilbit]

speaking on the kicking because of cleaning a backhoof, my friend currently has a black eye from that.

[Launa]

Originally Posted by alana529

He didn't just "suddenly" bite. You missed the warning signs. Maybe he pinned his ears, turned his head, then bit. If you caught it when it was just a thought, you could have done something to prevent it. That said, if my horse bit me I'd kill him. But I'd keep it in the back of my mind to do better next time. Maybe he needs a respect lesson.

And...you have to get to know your horse. When Tucker gets irritated he narrows his eyes first.....than puts his ears back. He has never bit me but when I first got him he was cinchy. He would narrow his eyes, pin his ears and then swing his head and "lip" my sleeve. Well I didn't let him get by with that. Because his next step would have been teeth. So when he lipped my shirt I popped him on the shoulder and growled. Now if I see his ears even pin at me I growl and say, "You better not!" He doesn't understand the words but he does the growl.

[i_luv_wildfire]

Originally Posted by Launa

And...you have to get to know your horse. When Tucker gets irritated he narrows his eyes first.....than puts his ears back. He has never bit me but when I first got him he was cinchy. He would narrow his eyes, pin his ears and then swing his head and "lip" my sleeve. Well I didn't let him get by with that. Because his next step would have been teeth. So when he lipped my shirt I popped him on the shoulder and growled. Now if I see his ears even pin at me I growl and say, "You better not!" He doesn't understand the words but he does the growl.

Yes, and a lot of times it happens like that. But there ARE times when you have NO warning whatsoever.

[Serendipity Zip]

None of my horses bit me, I was just creating a situation. HOWEVER, I have seen with my own two eyes a horse suddenly bite its owner. The horse actually took a chunk out. The horse gave the warning signs AS it bit the lady.

[Launa]

Originally Posted by i_luv_wildfire

Yes, and a lot of times it happens like that. But there ARE times when you have NO warning whatsoever.

Or the warning sign is so fast it comes with the bite or kick. I won't argue with that. When my old mare Buns was eating one time I came up and just rubbed on her hip. Don't know why but she cow kicked at me fast..... She did swish her tail at the same time. LOL! She got slapped on the hip and growled at. You have to always be somewhat alert. No matter how good of buddies you are they are still animals.

[i_luv_wildfire]

Originally Posted by Launa

Or the warning sign is so fast it comes with the bite or kick. I won't argue with that. When my old mare Buns was eating one time I came up and just rubbed on her hip. Don't know why but she cow kicked at me fast..... She did swish her tail at the same time. LOL! She got slapped on the hip and growled at. You have to always be somewhat alert. No matter how good of buddies you are they are still animals.

YES YES YES!!! I wish everyone in this world could remember that. That is another thing I don't like about some NH followers...they act like if you follow their methods you can be best friends with your horse. Um...a horse is not a human. I just try to remember that no matter how much a horse may respect me as the alpha horse, he is NEVER going to try to rescue me from a burning building. That's what seperates horses from humans. Horses will save their own skin. Horses don't love, persay. Things will startle and scare them and they ALWAYS have that flight instinct. You can't get rid of it completely.

[HJ_lilbit]

Are there any strong NH people who would like to come and back up their methods?