I was fortunate enough to recently become the owner of a 5-year old Spotted Draft who came from a PMU farm. His first owner got him when he was about 17 months old, and as much as she loved him, she owned a very large show barn, so couldn't spend a lot of time with him. He is rideable, and very sweet, but......he is really mouthy! She claimed that it was because he's a PMU baby - is that valid?

He doesn't have a mean bone in his body, but the mouthiness/nipping is driving me crazy. Does anyone have any ideas how to stop this behaviour? Thanks!

Hello I read your post about your adopted PMU Rescue; which we all appreciate; and how he "nips"...Reading the Animal I would say:

"The Horse seeks more physical-attention such as attention to "his toenails(Hoooves) his tail; mane; legs; nose area; both eyes and his forehead...including his ears. Each nip tells you.."Hey have you checked my Hooves lately; etc.?" So what you want to do is start paying more attention to the Horses whole body to distract him from the mouthiness. Brush his tail often...condition it with natural oils.

Also when he is mouthy offer him this treat:

A handful of Dried Pepperming Leaves; and see if he like them; could be he's just "playful"; put some safe Horse "toys" in his yard. Anne.

Hi,
Mouthiness is a really pesky problem and needs to be dealt with in a clear, fair way the horse can understand. Some horses are just mouthier than others...your guy sounds like a smart, kind horse who adores you.
If you haven't, I strongly urge you to become familiar with natural horsemanship clinicians like John Lyons, Pat Parelli, etc. They teach the horse's owner to establish their own pecking order with the horse (a herd of two, where you are the lead horse). Your horse, even as sweet as he is, is showing you by being so mouthy that need to feel more awe of/respect for you.
I too have a somewhat mouthy, sweet and friendly PMU draft cross. I do suspect that he was a late baby and was weaned too early. Sometimes I wonder if this is part of the mouthiness, too.
With my youngster (now 4), I NEVER feed him out of my hands, only a bucket (no treats from your hands) or on the ground. I have taught him what "no" means and often simply push him away and say "no!" when he mouths me.
Also, I do lots of touchwork (see TTEAM work by Linda Tellington-Jones) in his mouth. You can run your hand under his top and bottom lips, along his gums, until he relaxes. This has helped my gelding understand that there will be times his mouth and my hands touch, but only on my terms!
Good luck. Your horse sounds like a real character! Keep him busy and turned out as much as possible so that mouthiness doesn't turn into wood chewing!
Katie

Thank you both very much. He doesn't get fed by hand - just in his grain bucket. I am a bit familiar with Linda Tellington-Jones, and have used the "mouth massage" in the past with my first horse - she did love it, so I'll give it a try with the big guy!

Oh - regarding the "wood-chewing" - too late! He's a cribber....he came to me that way! So he wears a Miracle Collar 24/7.

Once again, Thanks so much! It's so great to hear from other PMU baby owners!

eliz.