Horse shoving you with his head.

[Skippydo]

Any ideas how I can stop newish steady eddy doing this, he’s a lovely lad but he will insist on shoving you with his head when you’re walking by of giving him a love

.

Last night he nearly propelled me half way across the yard

, he seems to know he’s done wrong when he does it so I can only assume he’s been told off for it in the past. It’s not just when it’s feed time either.

Tank U

 

[Natch]

Try not to put yourself in the situation where he can do this. He needs to respect your space and only be allowed in when he respects you and behaves as you wish. If its unavoidable, try to block or redirect his movement in a different direction - hope that makes sense

- and immediately without anger back him out of your space so he can't do it again.

Its a learnt behaviour, and one to break through consistency.

 

[beckieswann]

He's learnt that by shoving he gets attention. When he turns his head away from you reward him by giving him "love" and attention. When he's shoving you with his head ignore him. He'll soon learn that he'll only get attention by not shoving you. Don't punish him for doing it as it's the only way he's been conditioned and thinks that's the only way to behave.

 

[perfect11s]

[ QUOTE ]
He's learnt that by shoving he gets attention. When he turns his head away from you reward him by giving him "love" and attention. When he's shoving you with his head ignore him. He'll soon learn that he'll only get attention by not shoving you. Don't punish him for doing it as it's the only way he's been conditioned and thinks that's the only way to behave.

[/ QUOTE ] Yes agree ... Hey I like your greg Darnell quote he's a great horseman and makes lovely bits and spurs too

 

[beckieswann]

Yeh, they're so well done! Never bought any mind, but he spends so much time making them, and making sure they're right! He's a fantastic horseman!

 

[HollyP]

gentle turn his nose away from you with the back of your hand (less aggressive)....back him out of your personal space he will learn....obviously smacking him wont work as thats what someone done in the past!

 

[Geraldine]

[ QUOTE ]
gentle turn his nose away from you with the back of your hand (less aggressive)....back him out of your personal space he will learn....obviously smacking him wont work as thats what someone done in the past!

[/ QUOTE ]

This is how I got Bob out of this habit - I find it distracts him if I rub the top of his left eye!! Strange but true - it almost puts him to sleep!