Many new riders are concerned about horse bites, but serious bites from horses are very rare! In this article, you’ll learn more about horse bites, including how to avoid horse bites, what to expect if you get bitten by a horse, and some common reasons horses bite. But first, let’s cover the basics: What To …
Horse Behavior
Horses may be large animals, but they are also prey animals. This means they have a strong fight or flight response to fear. A horse’s natural instinct in a scary situation is to run. Some horses are more prone to following this instinct than others while being ridden. Why a Horse Might Bolt There are …
When horses go through a traumatic event while loading or riding in a trailer, it sticks with them. It can be very difficult to retrain a horse to load on the trailer after this happens. Riding in a trailer is not a natural thing for a horse to do. While there is no quick fix …
Yes, horses can experience feelings similar to depression, but the good news is that there are steps you can take that will help put the pep back in your horse’s steps. While equine depression is a hotly debated topic, with some people saying that we shouldn’t try to diagnose a horse with ‘human ailments,’ anecdotal …
Pawing horses can be more than bothersome- It’s one of those horse behaviors that can be especially frustrating! There are cases when pawing is a result of playfulness or boredom, but it may also mean your horse feels impatient, nervous, frustrated, or stressed. Understanding why your horse is pawing will help you understand how to …
It is rare for a horse to bite someone, and if they do bite, it’s usually a warning and not an act of aggression. Nonetheless, if you are unfortunate enough to experience a bite, it hurts like nothing you have ever felt before. If you have a horse that does bite, the behavior needs to …
Cleaning out a horse’s hooves is not the most fun part of grooming a horse, but it is very important that it is done regularly. Unfortunately, not all horses like having their hooves handled, and some just like to test people whenever they can. In these cases, cleaning a horse’s hooves can become what feels …
Horses that chew on fences can be a real pain! Over time, their teeth marks left on notched boards become an eyesore. Beautiful fencing and new stall fronts can be ruined when your horse decides that the wood looks like a tasty snack. Luckily, there are several easy ways to get your horse to stop …