[Chlover]

I recently bought a horse that, apparently, has never been fed treats from a hand. She doesn't take the treat with her lips into her mouth, she wants to bite it into pieces in my hand & it doesn't matter how small the piece. Very unsafe because she doesn't seem to realise that my fingers are in there somewhere. (and I have a fingernail bruise to prove that)

Anyone have any ideas on how to teach her to take her treats with her lips -- like my other horses have always done?

[Blistering Winds]

ok. Here's some advice. DON"T feed from your hands.

This can be a safety issue both for you and anyone who comes near your horse. If you teach a horse to eat from your hands, they will EXPECT it when you bring your hand near their face, and if they get really onry, they might accidently nail your fingers if you don't have a treat.

I never feed my horses out of my hands. It goes into a bucket. If my kids want to feed treats, they get a bucket, put it in the bucket, and feed it that way.

Horses can develop very bad habits. Nuzzling your fingers constantly, nipping at your pockets, etc. Can be damaging to your clothes and skin if you don't have anything.

I would advise NOT to feed from your hand. Put it on the ground, in a bucket, on the stall wall, etc. But not in your hand.

[harli36]

I never heard of a horse having problems taking food out of someones hand. Now the behavior problems associated with feeding a horse from your hand now that's a different story.
I have to agree with the previous post. If the horse already has problems taking food from your hand then DON'T DO IT. Their teeth are much to big to mess with. You may not believe this but I knew someone who lost most of his hand to a horse bitting it off. This only proves that they are capable of it.
Put up a sign outside of this horses pasture advising people not to give the horse treats and stick to giving the treats in a bucket.
Now that that's said. Have a vet check the horses eyes. Maybe he has poor eyesight. Horses normally can't see right in front of their nose but maybe this horse is worse. Or maybe the conformation of his eyes is causeing the problem. Maybe he just likes fingers.

[Blistering Winds]

Also, since this horse refuses to take a treat now, he's already been TRAINED not to. That's an AWESOME thing. Especially in a boarding barn. I've had my horse ruined for that and had to retrain him again because people wouldn't adhere to the basic policy, DON"T FEED OTHER PEOPLE's HORSES!! Even wouldn't read the sign. DON"T FEED THIS HORSE.

Little kids are especially dangerous with a horse who will take treats from a hand. Do you know what kids feed horses? Lets see, mine tried to feed him cat food again, shavings....shavings....poop....shavings....(she thinks shavings are edible for some reason).

And if they fed a horse who does "accidently" take too much, well, there goes their fingers and or hands.

[horselover2005]

If I were you I would love that my horse wouldn't take treats from my hand wink . I gave my horse a treat from my hand once and now when ever I see him he is searching my pockets and my hands. Even though I have nothing. flaming_

[monica-n-shiloh]

Well..I have always fed my horses treats from my hand. Visitors come over and bring carrots and apples for them and feed them by hand. They've never had a problem and neither have I. I just tell them to keep their hand extremely flat and if they get too close to your fingers (which I've rarely had happen) to just drop the treat and let them get it off the ground.

I also like to give a handful of sweetfeed after a good ride when they've worked hard and earned it. I do this as a sort of reward and a thanks to them for doing their best that day.

I've done this for 7 years with my two and never once have they horded me for treats. Ever.

So I guess it depends on the horse.

I dont really know what to advise you to do with your horse though Chlover. It does seem like your horse might have been taught to not take treats by hand or just was never taught manners when taking food from the hand.
My only advice would be to either dont feed by hand if you are going to lose your fingers to her or try to teach her to take it gently. If she snaps at your hand take it away and try to give it to her again. Keep taking ur hand away when she snaps at the food. She'll prolly get the point eventually.

Hope this helps and goodluck to you!!

[MissBandit]

I disagree, by offering her food from you hand, and then swiping it away from her if she's not gentle, then it will make her go for it even more the next time. I would not play a game like this if I were you. The best advice you were given is to not hand feed your horse.

Granted some horses have been trained to take treats gently, but your's hasn't. So if you want to keep all your fingers, then put treats in a bucket.

If you choose to ignore this advice and just go about trying to teach her manners, and she accidently bites you instead of that carrot - YOU CANNOT PUNISH HER.

<small>[ February 03, 2004, 12:08 PM: Message edited by: MissBandit ]</small>

[Crazy4QH]

Hey , I have one bit if advice n that is dont hang feed her. None of my horses are hand fed , lol and i kno wat u mean when she doesnt kno where ur fungers are.My gelding will take treats from the hand but unless i m at a show he rarly is hand fed. My brothers horse wont even think about taking a treat from the hand. If they don't get used to veing hand fed taht usally is a good thing beacuse they tend not to paw or rub when they want treats. Hope it helps!
Kris

[Sandra-A1]

You can try starting out feeding a whole carrot, letting the horse bite off a little piece at a time. Usually by the time they get to the end they take the rest of it into their mouth, (using their lips) from your hand anyway.
Also you could try smaller pieces and as soon as the horse gets it's teeth on the piece drop your hand away. After dropping it a few times they should realize that taking it with their lips on into their mouth beats missing out or having to pick it up off the ground.

Training them to take a treat is the same as any try of training. You take time, be observant, try to break it down into logical steps and practice until it is done right.
I see no harm in removing the treat and your hand if the horse does not take it correctly. If he gets grabbie or nibby then jerk on the lead rope and back him up a few steps. Then Walk him forward, say whoa let him stand there and try again.

"Horse's are as consistant as you are."
If there is a problem with giving it a treat by hand the fault is most likely that of the owner.... wink I am not pointing fingers...only repeting what I was always told..."It is never the horse's fault...it's always the humans!"

As for feeding rewards/treats, I believe it is all in how you do it and when.
I have seen trainers reward a horse (even stallions)with a treat by hand.
I have seen a Dressage Trainer/Coach walk up to a horse after a lesson and unwrap a peppermint and give it to the horse.
I have fed my horses by hand with no problems.
My horse's were not hand fed by others unless I was there and approved.

In cases like this it is the owner's decision. If you prefer that your horse doesn't recive treats from the hand the by all means speak up and do not allow it. If you prefer to be the only one feeding your horse treats make sure people know and understand why.

<small>[ February 03, 2004, 02:19 PM: Message edited by: Sandra-A1 ]</small>

[gingersnaps2002]

I always hand feed mine treats,and if they start crowding me,then I make them back off for a while.Only one horse of mine likes to play with my hands or clothes by rubbing her lips over them,but if she starts using teeth,i pinch her lip or swat at her mouth.Also,if I hold the treat way up so they have to stretch for it,they can only use their lips to get it. Mine pretty much are very easy about taking treats,and if you DO let people give treats by hand,show them how to do it first. It just depends on the horse.