> My filly pinches me all the time. I love to watch > her but I > do not want to work with her. Sylvia
I'd say she's trying to establish her dominance over you. So what if you are making a pest of yourself? -- as the herd boss, that is your right. I have a young colt that has put his teeth on me a couple times, and he's been quickly slapped a couple times too (it hasn't escalated, but I stay alert -- so far he hasn't even made a bruise and I want to keep it that way!). Unfortunately I haven't been in the right position to bite him back (or pinch, which is almost as effective), but every time I've returned a bite with a bite (a colt who left his nose close to my face when he nipped my arm resting on the stall door; a mare that bit my butt when I was cleaning a front hoof -- I hung onto the hoof and bit her shoulder) the issue has been decided in my favor right there. Sounds weird, but that's how a boss mare or gelding would deal with pesky herd members. Lynn Kinsky, Santa Ynez, CA ranch: http://www.silcom.com/~lkinsky/
