How to overcome head shyness?

[Beatrice5]

My little New Forest is ready to be started. He loves it when we do stuff, I can do most things to him including just about getting the bridle on but he HATES his forelock being touched and his ears being touched. As I said I can do it but anyone else absolutely no way Hose !!

How do I persuade him it's okay and no-one is going to hurt him?

I have tried the gentle gently little and often and he is trusting me but I'd love to make him really relaxed about the whole process. We may well have to sell him next year as my field and finances won't cope with 3 horses and I need him to be a happy easy pony so I can comfortably let him go giving him the best chance in life.

Has anyone else had a headshy horse and how did you overcome it?

 

[hunteress]

we had one like this and hung some strips of the plastic feed bags or anything simular in the stable and they get acustomed to them tickling there ears it worked for us

 

[Beatrice5]

This is a very good idea only I don't have a stable but I may try and borrow one from over the road for shorts spells of desensitisation for him.

Thank you

 

[Silver]

maybe some spook busting ideas would work eg. feather duster. rub over body. If happy with this then the head. If he stays still reward by removing it. and repeat. if does not stand still stand as still as pos and try to keep in position as soon as still remove. ( depends how head shy though of course and i do not know the extent.)

 

[attheponies]

I had a little rescue pony who hated her face/ears being touched and was terrified of a rope anywhere near her. It took a long time but basically everyday I would give her a few cut up apples or carrots and while she ate I would fuss her, brush her, talking to her all the while and gradually built up to rubbing her gently on the face , under her mane etc. I always let her wander off when she wanted so she didn't feel restrained. (When I had to catch her for feet, vet etc I had to lure her into the field shelter as she would let me put her head collar on if she was in a small secure area). Eventually I started to be able to slip her head collar on in the field, always giving her a treat for being so brave and finally was even able to let the rope dangle onto the ground or lie over her neck. It took several months with just lots and lots of quiet, consistent handling (and treats!) others might have managed it quicker, but I was in no rush and didn't want to risk any setbacks. It also helped that friends passing her field stopped to make a fuss and I think she generally learnt that perhaps people aren't always bad.

 

[FanyDuChamp]

When we got Captain he was incredibly head shy hated anywhere on his face, but especially around his ears, so much so that it could take 20 minutes to get his bridle on. What I did was stand and stroke him on his shoulder and gradually move my hand up his neck until he started to object, then I would move it back down and start again. It took quite a lot of time but now he can be completely tacked up in a normal amount of time.

To be honest the only remedy is patience and perserverance, Cappy was headshy because of his past experiences, so you have to try to overcome their past experiences and feel secure enough to trust you around their face.

Good luck, it will be worth it in the end.