Mouthy gelding about to drive me insane.

My newish horse has started a new habit. He HAS to put everything in his mouth. The halter when haltering, all parts of the bridle, the lead rope when tied, the cross ties....and most annoying is his reins. He has ruined his new leather reins so now I am using rope reins. How do I get this behavior to stop? He will reach around and grab the reins while I am mounting or riding, it is so annoying.

I have tried a sharp no! And taking whatever is in his mouth away from him, but its too much like a game to him. I don't want to do anything to make him headshy, he is almost 18 HH. I do not hand feed him either.

His teeth are great, we havent changed tack (except we got a saddle that fits instead of being too narrow). I generally put him in a flash when we ride, but it is super loose (2 fingers) and he will even try to get that in his mouth. I thought about putting no chew on my rope reins and let him figure it out for himself. Any suggestions?

I've known many horses who are like that, and that's just how they are. Majority of these horse owners just get on with it.

I know it can be annoying, but your horse is just being himself.

You can try to spray that No Chew product, why not.

I would give the no-chew a shot, go ahead and put it on everything that he usually chews on, not just your reins. And you might try getting him some toys for his pen that he can chew and play with. That might help, I don't know.

Toys is a good idea, I did get him a salt lick so he finally stopped licking the walls in his stall :op He has a ball and one of those hanging treat things but I don't think he touches them. Thanks for the ideas :)

My first horse was VERY mouthy, ahah he never bit me, but he would chew on everything!! He wrecked my reins too! I wouldnt allow him to chew the reins but he would always grab the brushes out of the brush box and fling them around... it alway cheered me up when I was feeling sad

My vet sprays them with water right in the face when they start mouthing. It doesn't hurt, but off course they aren't a big fan of it. (He uses a quick spray of water to the face for a lot of things )

Thanks, smoothtrails. That's a good idea. Kind of like getting a cat off the furniture lol. Might have to try that one.

As long as it won't wreck your stuff, maybe spray some bitter yuck! Product on it. We use it to keep our cats from licking the couch (lol) and it works really well.

My gelding does the same thing. Its not that he likes to chew everything, but he wants to eat everything! :P im not sure if it will work with your guy, but spirithorse gave me the suggestion to do the opposite of what he thinks you will do, and let him chew on it. It totally worked for sonny! If he went chew on the lead rope, I would hand it to him to chew on and then it wasn't any fun anymore now that I let him. And he has really stopped him chewing on everything! If you wanted to give it a shot, maybe you could use an old lead rope or something at first, in case it didn't work that way he wouldn't chew up something nice ;)

Argh, Soda chews on everything. I'm actually really surprised he's not a cribber. Lead ropes, reins, brushes, hoof picks, etc. He'll even try chewing on the metal gate if I take Flame out, but not him... I've pulled almost a foot & a half of rope out of his mouth before. Not to mention the time that he decided that that light on the horse trailer was fair game. What horse thinks glass is going to taste good????

Anyways, I don't have any ideas, but will watch this thread for something. I don't think Sonny's idea will work though because I don't really pay attn to his chewing anymore (until I need the reins/lead rope) or if it is dangerous.