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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
 Posted - 10 May 2007 : 5:38:08 PM
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We have had our fair share of peculiar behaviour but I was wondering if anyone recognises this one.
Shah has slowly started to love sucking on my hand (this is a biter, he's very mouthy and needs to nibble on everything) and it's like it takes him into a different world.
You have to do it in the right way, push the flat side of your hand into his teeth while holding your fingers around his nose. He will suck for ages, sometimes dribble, or let out some snorts, and he will always close his eyes and just seem to drift away. It's something he obviously enjoys, you just have to be a bit careful as he might take a little nibble if he forgets himself.
It made us think of when you hand rear calves. They will often suck your hands afterwards with outstretched neck. Does this happen to horses too if they were hand raised? Not that I think he was as his mum is still alive but it's a bit strange and I've been wondering what it's all about?
Can anyone enlighten me Anyone with a horse that does something similar? It doesn't bother me at all - I'm just intrigued as it's something that's developed over the past few months.
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West Sussex |
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gossy
Platinum Member
England
3639 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2007 : 7:39:30 PM
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| I have known this before, One of my fillies likes to just suck in any part of you or your clothes, she dosent bite just stands there sucking and mesmerized, its quite funny to watch really, but i have no clue why they would do this. |
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2007 : 9:49:46 PM
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| Dennis doesn't suck but does send himself to sleep licking. Usually my hand but he will lick any area of bare skin and keep doing it. |
    
Hampshire |
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ashquar
Silver Member
England
281 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2007 : 10:04:44 PM
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My New Forest pony Doc he has started sticking his tongue out at me, if you play with it he nearly goes to sleep. I think this is strange because he usually tries to bite me. |
  
www.arabianrosettes.co.uk |
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tamila
Platinum Member
England
2532 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2007 : 06:36:21 AM
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| Rimmy who I hand reared from 5 hours old does this a lot especially if he is worried. He will actully ask by pushing my hand until I give it to him. He is now coming up 21 and still does it. He will only do it to me thought. |
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Tahir
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4572 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2007 : 08:57:01 AM
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My stallion used to do something similar, he liked to suck the heel of my thumb and then he would just drift away. My mum used to say that he was "away up the Nile". He did this all of his life and used to soak my sleeve in dribble, and he would only ever do it to me. He always used to have his daily "fix".
Carla, xx. |
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geegee
Platinum Member
England
3682 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2007 : 08:58:49 AM
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As my Minuette has become more affectionate since purchasing her, I also noticed that she has started to lick my hands and then she sticks her tongue out and holds it there. She will then move her lips over back and forth at the same time.
Very strange but nice  |
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katherineepea
Gold Member
England
883 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2007 : 10:26:21 AM
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mine does this and always has done its ever so sweet. my instructor said it could be because he was weaned early, so still feels the need to suck on anything- he sucks on your hair if you let him!
he did it alot more when i 1st got him i think it was an insecurity thing but he would only do it with me, no one else |
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baxter
Gold Member
England
1123 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2007 : 10:36:16 AM
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Aurran sucks and chews things for England, you can't put headcollars or leadropes near his stable as he'll suck on a leadrope until it's unrecognisable, he loves sucking hands and fingers and likes his tongue touched and his teeth and gums rubbed, he'll also rest his chin and teeth on your shoulder, something my friends TB does too, and a holistic practioner said it was a sign of weaning too early.
Aurran is 8 years old but i think refuses to believe this, and i just put it all down to him being a bit of a big baby...! |
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2007 : 1:26:30 PM
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| Freddie licks!! If my friends OH turns up and happens to stoke him Freddie licks him to death, hands, arms and continues for ages. I thought perhaps as he does a lot of manual work maybe he had a lot of salt on his skin?? Although Freddie is never interested in salt licks? |
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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2007 : 2:04:27 PM
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I'm so glad you all have perfectly normal horses that suck and lick things too That's cheered me up!
Shah is 17 this year which is why I find this 'baby' behaviour so funny - he certainly doesn't think he's middle aged LOL
Weaned early sounds like a good explanation to me and would fit the bill with my boy.
Tahir, I love the expression 'away up the Nile' that such a good description. It's the same place with Shah, base of the thumb, and it's only me he does it with - well, no one else dares to be so close to his mouth as he bites them he he |
West Sussex |
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Deboniks
Platinum Member
England
3776 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2007 : 5:42:41 PM
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Don't shoot me,but....
I wouldn't encourage it personally. It's something I would stop. Can I ask,does this behaviour lead to him pushing on you,shouldering in on you,biting and rubbing his head on you? Just out of interest |
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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2007 : 8:09:58 PM
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Debbie - I'll never shoot you - always appreciate your help And I must admit that if I put my NH hat on it kind of rings alarm bells, but I'm confused as to why because it's obviously something he enjoys.
The only thing it leads to is that he pushes on my hand. He's a biter anyway (not even Sue's methods has got the biting to stop completely, although it's much much better) and he tries to rub his head on me every now and then, which I won't let him. The shouldering in problem we only have when we do ground work with obstacles or tasks, I've nearly solved it when leading, although he will test me, or he simply forgets sometimes.
By the way, Sue has given up on us now Well, as we're training for endurance the most important thing is to keep up using the tools and methods she showed us and just keep practicing, and put lots of miles in shah's legs. But she did say she doesn't think we'll go any further with anything else... I appreciate her honesty but that kind of hurt a bit. We've made such progress since we started NH it feels odd to now be told that's it! |
West Sussex |
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Deboniks
Platinum Member
England
3776 Posts |
Posted - 14 May 2007 : 6:27:27 PM
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| Hi, That doesn't sound like Sue at all?? However you have taken her comments believe me EVERYONE improves because you are always learning. I had trouble with my colt bitng, it's normal for them to want to do so.If you ever want to chat and swop a few ideas feel free to ring me |
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gossy
Platinum Member
England
3639 Posts |
Posted - 14 May 2007 : 10:01:15 PM
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| I have just come home having been sucked to death by my funny filly, she does cannot get enough, she is so funny. |
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alethea
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1526 Posts |
Posted - 15 May 2007 : 09:45:38 AM
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My mare likes to suck on the bottom of peoples trousers!! Very odd! You have to be careful though as she sometimes thinks its funny to suddenly pull her head up while still holding on to your trouser and has sent a couple of people flying!! lol   
Alethea
Aristotle Arabians  |
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MinHe
Platinum Member
England
2927 Posts |
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Jenni5
Gold Member
England
849 Posts |
Posted - 18 May 2007 : 5:41:19 PM
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I know a horse that does exactly the same thing, but is never meant or tried to bite you. I think its quite sweet really especially if it relaxes them if they are stressed or something
Jenni |
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