Bitting yearling colt please help.

[Bono65]

I have a what seams to be a bit of a bitting problem with my yearling colt. He is due to be snipped at the beginning of May, he is contantly lunging at me, trying to bit at every given opportunity. I have handled a lot of foals and younger horses, but never come across this. He understands no, I've pocked in nose when he has done it, pushed his nose away and reinforced it with no, he went through a faze of rearing coming down and bitting, but we got over the rearing with a anti rear head coller. We have stopped all treats so we don't incourage it. Us this just really bad coltish behavare ? have any of you got anymore tips on how to stop this. I really don't what his to be head shy, although we don't have a problem with getting the head coller on and off. Please help, I've really run out of ideas.

Thanks x

[Briony & Anakin]

Hmm, that is really quite naughty. I wouldn't suggest poking him in the nose etc as, as you say, you do risk making him head shy. If he understands the word no, and by understand I mean he stops what he is doing when you say it, I would stick with that and, if necessary, a flick on the shoulder should he need reminding!

It sounds like he does not respect your space at all, and you will need to do a lot of ground work to re-establish - does he understand cues to get out of your space? You could do excercises in the school with him say going in and out of cones while you lead him in a halter, getting him to back up etc. Coltish behaviuor generally dies down a lot after gelding but you definitely want to nip it in the bud asap! Good luck x