Foals grooming me

[claire]

Hi,
I just bought two shetland foals. This is my first time owning a pony, so everything is new to me! I absolutely love the foals and want to do the best thing for them.
The foals are five months and 1.5 years old.
The 1.5 year old (charlie) mouths my clothes alot (just using her lips along my coat etc.) Then yesterday it actually turned into 'biting'. I told her 'No! No biting!'
I was grooming the 5 month old foal (Pixie) yesterday and she started to groom me. Should i not allow this, because it could turn into biting? Should foals learn that they do not groom humans?
What is the best way to stop this?
I would be grateful for any suggestions! Also suggestions on a book to buy / dvd to see for training foals?
Thanks!

[traviata]

Hey Claire,

I had the same "problem" with my mare, even though i find it kinda cute and nice, because she wants to groom me back!

What I did was, to just use one finger and poked her gently on the nose and lead the nose away from me. As soon as she would start biting.
When she stopped biting and was just licking/using her lips, I let her do it, but as soon as she started with biting, I did the same with the finger or just moved out of her reach.
She would be very frustrated when I forbid her to groom me, so I actually only end up to move a bit so that she cant fully groom/reach me.

After a while, she just stopped biting, guess its a matter of time
Dont forget: They dont do that because they are mean or want to harm you, its an act of love maybe