Does your horse like their face being stroked?

[yeeharider]

my old boy was mistreated and hated being touched full stop. 10 years down the line he enjoys a daily head massage including ears, then proceeds to show you where on his body he needs scratching usually ends up on 3 legs asking for his bum cheeks rubbing ? verging on horse abuse,anything to keep him happy

 

[RainbowDash]

HI,

I don't know my lad's history but he hates having his face touched - it's reassuring to know he's not the only one....my boy is okay and more accepting once his bridle is on though.

 

[Ladydragon]

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.

I think they're a bit like people... Some are very tactile and others less so...or not at all...

My 5yr old TB will press his head into my chest so I can scratch his cheeks and up and around his ears... Pretty sure he'd stand like that all day unless he swapped it to wrap his neck and head around me so I've got one hand on his nose and the other under the neck scratching his ears and neck... He is a bit of a numpty of a cuddle bug though... He hasn't got the greatest of pasts and has been slapped about a bit - people with big arm movements or a raised, angry voice can make him very nervous...

Head shy loan pony will let you handle her ears and face now but she tolerates rather than enjoy it... Baby QH is happy being handled and groomed and likes to lean so he's just touching but he doesn't like being cuddly... Definitely no sloppy stuff...

They're all different little characters...

 

[PandorasJar]

Mine will do anything to get you to scratch hers. Nose normally ends up under your armpit while the rest of her head is thrown into you, absolutely loves it and will practically knock herself off her feet scratching it on you at speed! Loves being given a good hard scratch all round ears, face eyes etc.

She's learned that she can scratch on me with fair pressure until I take a step back, then she goes more gently or lets me do it, but knows with other people she must always give them her head and not assume!
After a face scratch she'll plonk her head on my shoulder to have ears and top of head done.

All ours will let you now, some took a while on the trust, I find that lots like their cheeks very gently scratched rather than their face.
The only way you can touch our stallion is after a cheek scratch, doesn't trust you unless you've done that first!

Pan

 

[chestnut cob]

My gelding loves to have his forehead, just where his star is, stroked and he likes having underneath his jaw scratched.

 

[Starry_eyes]

My TB won't let me brush anywhere around his ars/top of neck/cheeks without an argument. But he loves having the front of his face brushed. He won't let you near his ears too happily either but is fine to bridle (?!) He sometimes gives me cuddles but strictly on his terms. He loves rubbing his face on me, but not me rubbing his face. Other than that, he'd let me stand all day scratching his bum, or anywhere else!

 

[Chopandchips]

My Mare hates having her face stroked!

I'm jealous you live in Hayle too we come down every year, staying at Carbis Bay this time though, Camborne is where Wheal Buller riding school is isn't it? - hoping to book a a beach ride this year.

xx

 

[ShadowFlame]

My boy's not much bothered either way. He's quite partial to an ear scratch now and then, though!