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Nose shy horse? Not head shy.6

7K views 9 replies 7 participants last post by  WildAtHeart 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Okay, so here is something I'm completely stuck on my six year old rescue Standardbred is nose shy. You can touch him all over his face except his nose and lips, he'll try to nip you and toss his head up high. Bridling him is near impossible because I'm finding that the only way to get the bridle on him is to completely remove the bit and reins and putting the rest of the bridle on him and over his ears then reattaching the bit on one side and having to manage to get it in his mouth. I'm saddle breaking him myself and he's been going fine under saddle.

He also recently started a habit of not allowing me to put the halter nose band over his nose and mouth and instead I have to go crownpiece first then noseband, which works wonderfully but all these methods are only avoiding the problem. I am considering that it could be a teeth issue as well. My sister did mention that he looked like he had a chipped tooth but she is a beginner with horses. The only issue with it being a teeth concern is that all the dentists have already done their yearly visits so I can't do anything about it until next year.

I have a feeling it's got something to do with when he was harness broke, perhaps from being twitched or hit on the nose. But I did rescue him from a severely abusive situation where they were hitting him with pretty much anything they could get their hands on at the time. He was also underweight and still sightly is.

I really don't want to be going to war with him everytime I bridle or halter him as it will only make him worse, he's a very senstive boy and I've had to do everything slow and gradual with him but he is a quick learner, at the moment its easier to avoid then battle. I also don't want to go to trainers so please do not suggest them, there are too many who say they'll fix your horse but ruin them completely and I'm located in Australia, trainers here rip you right off. Plus, I see no point with something I can do myself but I've never dealt with nose shy horses, just head shy. I am trying to deal with this issue the same way as a headshy horse but, just doesn't seem to be working and is only making him more agitated. I honestly can't battle with him over this he's 16hh and I'm only 5'1.

[/B]I'm going back to groundwork with him until this issue is resloved. Routine has stayed the same, nothing has changed besides it being spring.
 
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#2 ·
I would probably step back on bridling and address his nose, then come back to bridling. It sounds like he's getting worse? Have you been able to look at his mouth at all? That would be my first step, he might have a mouth ulcer.

My filly has the same issue. She's not headshy, but doesn't care for her nose being touched. She throws her head up and wiggles her nose to make me stop. What I've been doing is holding her nose until she stops, then releasing once she drops her head. She's gotten better about it.
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#7 ·
I would probably step back on bridling and address his nose, then come back to bridling. It sounds like he's getting worse? Have you been able to look at his mouth at all? That would be my first step, he might have a mouth ulcer.

My filly has the same issue. She's not headshy, but doesn't care for her nose being touched. She throws her head up and wiggles her nose to make me stop. What I've been doing is holding her nose until she stops, then releasing once she drops her head. She's gotten better about it.
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I've gone straight back to ground work and I have tried but he won't allow you to touch that part of his face at all, worming is sometimes an issue. I was for awhile considering second stage bot worms in his mouth causing ulcerations but he's completely free of worms now. I also always make sure that I smell his breath everyday as I know its a symptom of mouth issues if they have bad breath.

I have been doing that for awhile, I did it today whilst he was eating as well. He's getting better I think, he's not teeth nippy but uses his lips.
 
#3 ·
I wouldn't bother trying to battle him, either. But, I would spend as long as it takes to get him over his preference of not having his nose touched.

I'd work on that one of two ways. Either by placing my hand on an area that he tolerates. Letting it go at that a couple times (maybe in a day), and moving my hand closer to where he becomes annoyed and stopping after he gives.

Or, I'd start in an area that he tolerates and quickly and nonchalantly move my hand to the irritating spot and then go to something else. Brushing, braiding, it doesn't matter.

I might do these things while he's eating, too.

However, if a horse I worked with tried to nip, I would really get angry and either back him really far (and then to back to the handling as though nothing happened) or bellow like I was going to eat him (and then go back to handling like nothing had happened). I'd use whichever the horse disliked most.
 
#6 ·
Once the bit is in he's fine, doesn't bother him it's just a regular eggbutt snaffle. Once his halter is on he's fine also. I did today try and put his halter on the way I used to, nose first and he allowed me so whatever the issue with the halter was he's seems to be back to normal with it.

And no unfortunately not, I only have two horses and in order for the dentist to come down they need more then five.
 
#5 ·
Will he take food from your hand if you give him a treat? If he will accept food from your hand I would begin there, giving him small bits of feed or something small that when he eats it his lips will brush your hand. When he gets comfortable with his lips brushing your hand then you can try doing some target training using the halter as a target, he touches the halter with his lips he gets the treat, and just go step by step until your hand is able to linger a little longer around his muzzle. Let him get comfortable with your hands rubbing his nose, slip your finger into his mouth, touch his tongue. Make sure to reward the slightest try and do several short sessions a few times a day if possible. Once he is comfortable with your hands touching him and targeting the halter you can teach him to drop his head into the halter, and from there putting a bridle on will be easier for him as he can transfer the knowledge. There is a lot of good information on clicker and target training on youtube and some threads on her as well, but this sounds like a situation where it would be more useful, then approach and retreat.

If it is a sore tooth or pain in his mouth your going to have to get that taken care of, or it may just be a behavior he has figured out how to get away with.
 
#8 ·
He takes his food out of my hands, like his regular dinner mix and hay. He won't eat carrots either he's a tough one to work with.

I will give your suggestion a go but he seems to be fine with the halter again as I tried nose first today and he stood without any head tossing.
 
#9 ·
Does he enjoy being groomed? I've had luck using a brush first on horses who had areas they didn't like touched. Use a very soft brush since it's his nose and start at the top of head and work your way down. Once he gets used to that hold the brush so that your fingers are over the bristles and that your making contact with your hand instead of the brush. They seem to eventually figure out that your hand it not out to hurt them.
 
#10 ·
As soon as I read the title I thought he might have been twitched. That could be it.

Start petting his face and gradually work your way closer to his muzzle area. Once you get close to where he normally spooks remove your hand and praise him. Do it again and get just a touch closer to his nose. The key is to remove your hand before he freaks. Slow and steady. Start soon. By avoiding that area you are only reinforcing his "nose shy" habits.


The halter:
I have taught my mare to stick her nose through the noseband of her halter when I hold it up. It is very handy. Once he is less nose shy you could try getting him to learn this, from my experience most horses catch on pretty fast.

I pretty much start by holding the halter up to them and when they do not offer their nose I put the halter on and give them a treat as positive reinforcement. Let it sink in while they munch. Next time hold it up again and give the opportunity for them to put their nose in. Continue this until they are happy to get the halter on.

I do not always give my mare a treat when she gets her halter on but still do occasionally. I did the above (offer the halter, she does nothing, I put it on, she gets a treat) every time I went to catch my mare and after about the third time she stuck her nose in.

Just some thoughts =)
 
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