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| So, Dakota has these 'problems'. They're not really bad, but kind of annoying. xD Ok, so firstly. He licks people ALL THE TIME! If you go to pet his head he'll lift his head really high until he's able to lick your hands. Or if you're standing by him he'll just randomly start licking you, your pants, your coat, your boots, anything. He's never ever bit anyone, but I'm afraid if he continues to lick all the time it'll eventually turn into biting. =/
It's not a bad diet thing or anything either (In case that's what you're thinking). He has 24/7 access to a salt block and water. He's perfectly healthy...he just...does it for fun I guess.
I don't know if there's anything I can really do. But it's annoying as heck. His other 'problem'... is when he gets nervous or put in a semi stressful situation, he wants to hold something in his mouth.
Like for instance; when he's put in the cross ties he gets kind of nervous and starts fidgeting, but if I let him hold onto his lead rope, he's fine. He doesn't try to eat it or anything like that, he just holds it in between his teeth. And he only gets nervous in cross ties, regular tying he's fine. Which is why I normally just tie him that way instead of using the cross ties.
But it happens in other situations too. If we're walking and he gets kind of nervous he wants to hold something in his mouth. He doesn't try to run, flight, or anything he'll just reach for the lead-rope. And then there was a time where we trailered him to our friends house just to kind of get him used to traveling and going other places, and when we got there I tied him up to the trailer next to another horse to groom him, and the other horse was making him nervous so he grabbed one of my brushes out of my grooming tote and held it in his mouth. And again, relaxed completely.
He gets really nervous with the farrier too. He'll get really panicky and move around a lot unless he's holding something. So I normally just let him hold onto the rope to save the farrier trouble. 'Cause when I let him hold it; he stands perfectly fine.
I don't know if I should try breaking him of this or....? It doesn't exactly bother me that bad. I mean, I'd rather have him want to hold onto something then to try taking off or anything. But....idk. So what do you guys think? Should I try to correct these? And if so, how the heck do I go about doing it?
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Killian & Hannah
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Last Login: 12/15/2010 4:38:52 PM
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goodness...
yea my friends horse had a licking situation but not as bad. anyways i wouldnt let him lick you. i dont really see anything wrong with it but if its really that anoying then just dont let him !
and for his need to hold something in his mouth situation if it doesnt bother you then i would just let him.
hope this was helpful. lol.
Callie
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The licking problem can be easily fixed. Simply hold a thumbtack between your fingers, and when he starts to lick, poke him in the muzzle with the tack. I know a lot of people freak out because "it's not nice!", but believe me, it's much nicer than popping him with your hand. You also have the option of a horsey E-Collar. These methods are much kinder than letting him get to the point where he starts to bite, which I have seen happen.
His wanting to hold things habit is like a pacifier to a baby. I'm not sure how to stop this behavior other than some natural horsemanship training, but I do advise you do some research on this behavior.
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As long as he's not biting the licking problem isn't a major issue. He could just be really affectionate and it might not ever develope into a biting proble but I'm not sure exactly what he's is like.
As far as holding things in his mouth it's just his security blanket and if it calms him down that's great however you have to show him he can lean on you when he is nervouse or stressed and not things in his mouth. You can do these with natural horsemanship techniques such as leading him over 'scary' objects and stuff on the ground. This will show him you would never lead him into a bad situation and he can trust you. I did it with George and it worked great.
sorry for the novel but I hope it helped :)
.:Kara and George:. 
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Woody constantly has to have something in his moth too, and I haven't done much to correct it. It hasn't harmed anything, but does Dakota crib or chew? I'm wondering if that might have anything to do with it.
✦ Doro ✦  "The worst of them sense our fears and take advantage of us. The best of them sense our dreams and take us there." ~ Jimmy Wofford Previously JumperMorgan
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