Horse behaviour?

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Vodkagirly

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My 5yo has a habit of wanting to rest his head on other horses bums. Generally towards the end of ride he trys to do this.
I've noticed that he has started to do this to me when I walk him out in hand.
Any ideas what it means?
 
As he's young he could just be tired, or itchy, but generally, the horse with the highest placed head is the most dominant. Watch colts playing and they try to get their heads on each others backs. Mares put their heads over the backs of their foals to direct them, or calm them.

Letting a horse put his head on you is letting him be in a dominant position, not to mention that horse heads are heavy and hurt when they hit you.
 
tired? needing a bit of reassurance? affection/acceptance? lots of horses have rested their heads on me over the years but I've never seen at as a sign of dominance. I also don't think I've ever been clonked by a horse's head in this situation. My new horse did it to me after our first ride together and so far he's shown absolutely no sign of dominance or rude behaviour at all - just gets a bit worried sometimes.
 
With other horses it appears to be an affection type thing. However with me, I wasn't sure. He loves attention. He isn't at all dominant but slightly pushy and over enthusiastic.
 
It's affection and reassurance. All my horses have lay their heads gently on my shoulder, usually over the stable door, often closing their eyes and pulling me a bit nearer.
 
I don't think it's dominance either - dominant individuals make subordinates move away from them, while head resting is, in most cases, about affection, togetherness and "bonding". One specific reason for resting a head on the rump, which almost certainly doesn't apply here, is that it is a prequel to mounting.
 
I would also say dominance. A bit like a dogs paw shouldn't be on top of your hand, arm foot etc. I have only ever had one horse walk over to me, when we were viewing to buym and put its head on my shoulder. I thought it was being affectionate!! Bought horse but it turned out to be a b***ard@! I have cuddles with my boys andvthey sometimes put their heads on my shoulder but in a totally different way.
 
Surely any behaviour from a horse needs to be looked at in the context of that particular moment?
My Old Appy mare was an interesting mix of fear aggressive and caring and protective. If you were part of her herd she would have taken you with her when she legged it from the large vehicle, she would stand between you and what she perceived as threatening people. I think it is largely dependent on the ego strength of the horse and the quality and nature of the horses attachments to people and other herd members. The same appy mare would often stand with her neck bent around me, would stay down in the field and allow me to sit with her. It may in some situations, with some horses, be an issue of dominance, but I think it is up to us to work out which ones.
 
cobgoblin said:
It's affection and reassurance. All my horses have lay their heads gently on my shoulder, usually over the stable door, often closing their eyes and pulling me a bit nearer.
Click to expand...

This - the horse equivalent to a hug!! Mine does it. My old lad used to look round to make sure no-one was watching before he did it. The only time he didn't was when I was sobbing on his shoulder bcause my husband had just been diagnosed with a terminal illness!!
 
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