Does your horse like their face being stroked?

[Cornish on the Cob]

I don;t know if my mare just hasn't bonded with me fully yet or she had a bad experience but she doesn't like too much stroking on her face.

 

[Wagtail]

It's nothing to do with bonding. Many horses don't enjoy their face being stroked and will pull away and avoid it. Some (like my gelding) just put up with it, a very small proportion (like my mare) love it!

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

I've had one of my horses for 15 years, and he'd much prefer it if I didn't stroke and fuss him, he copes for about seven seconds and then walks away.

 

[Paris1]

My horse loves it, he loves to be screeched quite hard under his jaw.

 

[mightymammoth]

I don;t know if my mare just hasn't bonded with me fully yet or she had a bad experience but she doesn't like too much stroking on her face.

mines a moody mammoth as well, he can tolerate his face being touched (on his terms of course) but ears forget it. I put this down to them being very tickleish or a bad experience in his younger days?

Whats your horses name cornish, she looks gorgeous (and I'm so jealous you live in hayle )

 

[Irishbabygirl]

Yes agree, some love it ie my two current horses, but some just don't like the fuss, like my old mare. She was a cracker in all respects but fuss....not a chance!

 

[cambrica]

My horse loves it, he loves to be screeched quite hard under his jaw.

Same as my young boy, he stops eating to be stroked, scratched and massaged on his face, so much so I can't find the heart to walk away from him. The 5 mares - no chance unless its on their terms.

 

[Shadow-01]

Sometimes when I've just taken off his bridle or when grooming him. The rest of the time he hates it!

He was apparently badly treated as a youngster though and used to be very headshy.

 

[Cornish on the Cob]

mines a moody mammoth as well, he can tolerate his face being touched (on his terms of course) but ears forget it. I put this down to them being very tickleish or a bad experience in his younger days?

Whats your horses name cornish, she looks gorgeous (and I'm so jealous you live in hayle )

Thank you! She is a real sweetie! She is called Bridie and she is an Irish cob. Have you been to Cornwall? x

 

[meesha]

my freak of a gelding loves having whole head hugged and nose kissed (but hates being groomed esp with soft brush !) also loves a good full head rub after a hot ride - all up behind ears, under jaw, around eyes etc ! - makes him sound like a softy ! believe me he's not - have the marks to prove it !

my mare loves having face stroked and ears scratched but is appalled if you try to give her a kiss ! but loves being groomed all over

 

[Cornish on the Cob]

Im glad its not a bonding thing. Its hard to brush her cheeks and ears too when she is caked in mud because she turns her head away!

 

[SpruceRI]

I've had one of my horses for 15 years, and he'd much prefer it if I didn't stroke and fuss him, he copes for about seven seconds and then walks away.

My Shetland is like this!

Most horses are 'inter-pressure' - they lean into you when you stroke/groom them.

My shettie is 'outer-pressure' - as soon as you touch him he moves off.

If he's getting annoying, offer him a big cuddle and he legs it!!

 

[mightymammoth]

Thank you! She is a real sweetie! She is called Bridie and she is an Irish cob. Have you been to Cornwall? x

Yes love it went to hayle last year and same this year the beach is fantastic birdie is great, would love to see some more pics on here of her

 

[Cornish on the Cob]

My Shetland is like this!

Most horses are 'inter-pressure' - they lean into you when you stroke/groom them.

My shettie is 'outer-pressure' - as soon as you touch him he moves off.

If he's getting annoying, offer him a big cuddle and he legs it!!

She likes a certain spot behind her ear scratched and she is 'inter-pressure' but you have to find the exact spot!

 

[Cornish on the Cob]

Yes love it went to hayle last year and same this year the beach is fantastic birdie is great, would love to see some more pics on here of her

Did you get to St Ives? THAT is the place! Will try and upload some more pics but I'm a bit dumb with that sort of thing!

 

[Shantara]

I can give Ned's face a proper good scruff and he loves it, but like others have said, I'd come across lovely friendly horses who don't like their faces being fussed over.

 

[Paris1]

If it's any consolation I don't think mine cares who or what it is scratching him!

 

[domane]

One does, one doesn't. One will put the length of the front of his head into my chest and let me hug round his head with his face buried, tolerates kisses on his muzzle etc. The other wants to be "with" you but not touched. He'll stand beside you all day but if you touch, he'll butt your hand away!!

 

[mightymammoth]

Did you get to St Ives? THAT is the place! Will try and upload some more pics but I'm a bit dumb with that sort of thing!

Do you mean the st ives bay site in hayle? yes I did its fantastic there. I bet there is loads of great hacking around there

 

[Abz88]

My mare took a long time to allow me to stroke her face...but now she very much enjoys, especially above her eyes and adores her ears being played with (leans right in and goes all floppy jawl on me!). But it did seem to take a long time for her to let me. I still cants get close to her nose/mouth,...had a small break through as when she is eating, she will allow me to stroke her nose, but thats only within the past couple of weeks.

I dont think it's due to being ill treated, I think the face is a very sensative area and any animal protects it as much as they can, she is just particularly wary of trusting new people.

On the other hand, I loaned an ex-racer who could NOT stand her ears being touched or anywhere near, but she had been badly treated (not by the person I was loaning from!). And it took weeks and weeks before I could get a bridel on her within a 10min time span! But, she wasnt a fussy horse at all, where as,...her companion, a little fat pony LOVED as much attention as he could get away with and craved human contact.

All horses and ponies are different, take them as they are and slowly work with them to gain trust and respect. Don't feel disheartened, you'll get there :0)

 

[Silmarillion]

Pottie (pony) isn't head shy, but doesn't like having her head held onto. I can give her a quick rub but she will move away.

Frank (huge ex-racer) will shove his nose at me as soon as he sees me, and loves me wrapping my arms round his whole (rather large) face!

 

[Cornish on the Cob]

Do you mean the st ives bay site in hayle? yes I did its fantastic there. I bet there is loads of great hacking around there

No the actual place St Ives it's gorgeous! If you ever come again give me a shout! Uploaded some more pics on my profile!

 

[mightymammoth]

No the actual place St Ives it's gorgeous! If you ever come again give me a shout! Uploaded some more pics on my profile!

yes I also love the place st ives, do you keep birdie in hayle? will have a look at your profile now

 

[Cornish on the Cob]

Yes love it went to hayle last year and same this year the beach is fantastic birdie is great, would love to see some more pics on here of her

BTW Duke looks gorgeous! He looks a real sweetie!

 

[kippen64]

Stroking the front of a horse's head freaks some horse out because of the way a horse's vision works. They have blind spots and if memory serves me correctly, the front of the face is one of them. Cheers.

 

[mightymammoth]

BTW Duke looks gorgeous! He looks a real sweetie!

thankyou

 

[Cornish on the Cob]

yes I also love the place st ives, do you keep birdie in hayle? will have a look at your profile now

Bridie is kept between Hayle and Camborne. Out in the country, lovely hacking. Will try and get her on Hayle beach this summer!

 

[Cornish on the Cob]

Stroking the front of a horse's head freaks some horse out because of the way a horse's vision works. They have blind spots and if memory serves me correctly, the front of the face is one of them. Cheers.

That's interesting to know!

 

[mightymammoth]

Bridie is kept between Hayle and Camborne. Out in the country, lovely hacking. Will try and get her on Hayle beach this summer!

fantastic, i hope one day to live around there. Take some photos if you take her to the beach would love to see them

 

[Cornish on the Cob]

fantastic, i hope one day to live around there. Take some photos if you take her to the beach would love to see them

Will do. xx