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Posted by Sammi Jo
on 3/28/2009, 6:24 pm, in reply to "Re: "Zebras bite and don't let go!" source"
173.97.5.193
I know I am going to catch it from a few people for this one, but I wrestle with Charlie. He runs up to me in the pasture with his head down and I know he wants to play. He asks very politely, and if I say no, he immediately changes his mind. If I accept, I show him by turning my butt into his shoulder and keep my legs away. He reaches around trying to grab my legs while I reach out and grab the backs of his knees. He will usually buckle his knees and end up laying on the ground...me along with him. Anyway. I will often let him grab me, either my legs or my hands with his mouth. He is very gentle and never exerts even enough pressure to leave a red mark. Letting him "catch" me often helps make him gentle and he is only as rough as I am with him. I have played with the horses this way and several of the stallions will "carry" my hand between their teeth with no danger of harm.
Of course this isn't something I would reccomend doing and it may come back to bite me...ha ha. I think it improves the relationship with Charlie and my other horses. The only way I am able to do this safely is because I know my animals very well. Bite inhibition is very important to know. Basically, that means that the must know their own strength and be able to control it. They also must know boundaries and when I say to stop, it means immediately. If I say no, it means no and I am not changing my mind.
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