Biting/Nipping - help please

[Roo]

It isn't malicious, but more playful - when he was being shod the other day, (because he is quite flexable he can turn his head right to his side) he trys to nibble my farrier, so I have to hold his head at certain points of being shod, to which Cokey has recently descided this is a fun game to try and bite me.
I normally grab some skin in his neck and twist it (another horse would bite back, and I've been taught that and slapping his shoulder are the two things you can do, the slap gives alot more sound than pain, and pinching is what another horses bite would be - well as close as I can do it humainly) I know everyone has different ideas
but because the farrier was doing his back leg at this point I didn't want to cause Cokey to kick the farrier, so I held my index finger up and said a sharp 'SHHHHHT'
And then when he persisted a sharp 'NO'. He stopped for very few minuets. By the end I was spending most of my time doing this.
He has caught me leaving a tiney red bruse.
And when being shod he likes to bite the leadrope?

I do not want to escalate, and in any other situation he doesn't bother - the closest is when: doing up his saddle he pushes his muzzle against me, and tries to nibble baggy clothes and bracelets.

Any help and suggestions would be great I don't want to be harsh or a pushover, but I want to handle and stop this the right way.

[BEX101]

remind us how old he is? Do you give him titbits?

[Roo]

Turned 7 in March.
It vairies, sometimes I do oftern and other times he rarley gets anything more than a pat because I forgot to buy polos or there are no carrots etc.
- He never snatches and is gentle taking things from my hand occasionally gets bargy when he is impatiant while I am unwrapping the polo's, and can be a ****** for unzipping pockets!

[BEX101]

I'd imagin it is because you treat him. Youngsters can be nippy but he's of an age where he should know not to do it.
There is also a chance that he's responding to some sort of pain when having to hold his legs up for any length of time.

[Roo]

He did stretch his neck out and tilt his head 90 degrees sideways a few times but this is new and only happend the other day when being shod - when he was doing it I thought he was being silly/stroppy because it took 1 hour 30 minuets and in the last 10 minuets we were soaking because it was very heavy rain and we were stood outisde, we stood in a shed for his last shoe to go on and he kept trying to kick the farrier with his back right leg.
I was thinking this was impatience. and the farrier didn't think/say anything about him being in pain.
- this is all very recent, but I have been worrying as he is a very fast learner, that he may be learning this nipping stuff.

[Rolo2010]

Was the kicking more when the farrier lifted his leg or when he stretched it out and what sort of work is he doing the nipping could just be him been playful/ naughty my 7 yr old started this after people where constantly feeding him in the end he left a nasty mark he did it one day and i smacked his nose pretty hard as he done it and he has never attempted to bite since but i would say if your going to do it make sure its instants as he bites you the kicking out sounds pain related though have his back checked

[gallopinggelding]

if horse is nipping/biting never give any treats if you arnt giving titbits find out who is ,i can tell pretty quick if someones giving mine treats as he gets nippy and paws the ground and bites.Ask and see if anyone else is !
I tap his nose quickly every time and shout no,after a afew days week it stops
as for the blacksmith and kicking- it could be a sign of pain possibly i would reccommend good back man before vet, i paid £100 for vet who couldnt find anything wrong and chirpractor said pelvis hes fine now

[Burnie]

Maybe somebody in the past has fed him titbits while he is being shod to distract him from the farrier and he's come to expect this?