A sign of disrespect?

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Silverspring

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I s ahorse putting it's head over the top of your head a sign of disrespect?

I have never ever owned a horse that did it, my 17.2hh WB came with the habit (as a 4 year old) and quickly learned it most definitely was not on, I'm only 5'4" so technically he barely had to lift his head to move over me but to me it was the princple, if he wanted to the other side he made the effort and moved his body.

We have a fair few liveries who happily put their head right over you, while rugging, putting halters on, moving around gates. It really, really bugs me and I feel there is a link between them doing this then being absolute sods to handle in other ways.

Rant over...opinions please
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my horse is an angel to handle at all times, but does sometimes put his head on mine if i'm doing something. he also rests his head on the farrier.

i've never thought of it as disrespectful with him, as he's so good to handle. i always presume he's too lazy to hold his head up. and, actually, thinking about it, i kind of encourage it.

gawd, maybe i'll stop....


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I have only heared that them nudging you with their heads is a sign of disrespect but didn't think them putting their heads above yours was a sign of disrespect
 

Yes it is if they are youngsters, they are trying to domineer you, the same as they do with each other (young stock will do it with each other) colts and young males tend to do this with people, basically they are testing the boundaries and if they don't put a stop to it you'll end up horse that thinks he can walk all over you, you get nutted in the face and have no respect for your personal space.

Then there is the other type, just resting their weiry head on you when in a relaxed state, totally different thing though.
 
I don't know if it's a sign of disrespect, will be very interested to hear what people think, but it really bugs me!!! Even though I am 5 foot nothing, Rusky does manage to clobber me when he does it, so he soon found out it was a reall no-no!!
 
FB knows that nudging me gets him a telling off and he doesn't often do it these days. He will rest his head on the farrier and appears to go into a snooze. As a rule he always walks with his head level with my shoulder (Im 5ft 2") when being led and only puts his head right up if he hears or sees something that alerts him. He will rest his head briefly on my shoulder if I stand yakking to someone for too long, but never puts it on my head. Hopefully this means he respects me then!
 
mine does this say if im brushing his legs, but i dont see it as disresoect, he just likes to rest his head/ nibble my back... but with youngsters or horses that do it when standing there then yes, i think so.
 
Sorry I should have been a bit more specific, I mean the actual act of moving from one side of you to the other by lifting their head right over yours (often smacking you on the head on the way by as they 'misjudge' you height...ok I don't think they misjudge it I think they do it on purpose!) I find some horse's do it insecantly, as soon as they move one way they want back and just move right over you.

I know you horses tend to do it but like biting I always assumed it was something you taught them not to do? But maybe I'm just getting grumpy in my old age
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my pony used to rest his head on my head, but that's cos his head was really heavy and his neck was clearly not designed to support it
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[ QUOTE ]
Sorry I should have been a bit more specific, I mean the actual act of moving from one side of you to the other by lifting their head right over yours (often smacking you on the head on the way by as they 'misjudge' you height...ok I don't think they misjudge it I think they do it on purpose!) I find some horse's do it insecantly, as soon as they move one way they want back and just move right over you.


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This is exactly what I understood! Rusky used to do it when he was younger and I had a feeling it was 'on purpose' which is why it annoyed me so much (it was also painful because he smacked me every time!). It's completely different from him resting his head on me in a relaxed manner!
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yes I'd say it's disrespectful! I get thwacked by my mares head all the time and it drives me mad - she definitely does it on purpose as she's a big girl and could easily not hit me! She always gets a smack and is told off for doing it but it doesn't make a scrap of difference...she's very thick skinned
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ohh I understand now! Thought you meant a horse just standing with their head over you lol thought that's odd, horse was 17.2hh what's he going to do, bend down to eye level
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yes moving their head over and smacking you in the process is very rude if that's what you mean! Definetly not well mannered.
 
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...she's very thick skinned
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LOL it's funny how some horse almost seem to enjoy getting a whack! I hear a plastic curry comb to the face sometimes puts them off doing it (if you know when and where they are going to do it!) my WB got me a few crackers when he was young, I nearly passed out one time and the other made my ear bleed (from the earing being crushed against my skull...I know jewellery and horse's don't mix but I thought my ears were safe!)
 
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I s ahorse putting it's head over the top of your head a sign of disrespect?

I have never ever owned a horse that did it, my 17.2hh WB came with the habit (as a 4 year old) and quickly learned it most definitely was not on, I'm only 5'4" so technically he barely had to lift his head to move over me but to me it was the princple, if he wanted to the other side he made the effort and moved his body.

We have a fair few liveries who happily put their head right over you, while rugging, putting halters on, moving around gates. It really, really bugs me and I feel there is a link between them doing this then being absolute sods to handle in other ways.

Rant over...opinions please
smile.gif


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I have not yet read the other replies to this but im going to stick my neck out and say I think you are being a bit dramatic-sorry
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Im pretty sure horses dont think like that
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A bargy horse is a different story-but merely putting his head over yours?? nah
 
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...she's very thick skinned
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LOL it's funny how some horse almost seem to enjoy getting a whack! I hear a plastic curry comb to the face sometimes puts them off doing it

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Blimey, I must be a pushover then.
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Yes absolutely.
When mine was entire he used to try to wrap me up in his head an neck to knock me off my feet. Mucho disrespectful, mucho large smack.
Now gelded, still thinks he's the big I am.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sorry I should have been a bit more specific, I mean the actual act of moving from one side of you to the other by lifting their head right over yours (often smacking you on the head on the way by as they 'misjudge' you height...ok I don't think they misjudge it I think they do it on purpose!) I find some horse's do it insecantly, as soon as they move one way they want back and just move right over you.

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I think it can be a sign of a lack of manners, and can most commonly be seen in youngsters. But I also think horses that are unsure of what the person in the stable with them wants can also be prone.........
 
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