Re: Horses that groom you back post

[noblesteed]

This post got me thinking as I am currently having a similar dilemma with my gelding. During grooming he will position himself so I hit the right spot, he will also turn round and gesture with his head to show me his itchy spot so I can scratch him. I am happy to do this ONLY during grooming sessions, but should I do it at all?
He often tries to nuzzle my hair and I don't like this is case he nips my ear - he never has done but you never know... In this case if I were a horse and he approached me with unwelcome grooming, should I as the dominant horse push him away?
Also he likes to greet me as horses do each other, muzzle to muzzle and sniffing breath. As the 'dominant horse', how should I behave when he does this? Currently I allow him a sniff then I turn away.
He is not aggressive in any way, and just incredibly friendly. I do have to be very careful not to allow him to dominate as he can be VERY bolshy if allowed! He does not receive titbits so he's not after food.
Any ideas?

 

[stilltrying]

I have nothing to add other than you have described my horse to a T! It all started when he got a bacterial skin infection in the autumn and was incredibly itchy, he learnt he could show me where to scratch and while the infection has gone, each morning he now asks for a scratch. For some reason he likes to groom my head/eyes!!!!

The same as you i am slightly concerned as he is quite dominant and is always testing his boundaries...but so far no teeth have been involved.....and it is very cute!

 

[AmyMay]

<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>I am happy to do this ONLY during grooming sessions, but should I do it at all? </pre><hr />

My little mare used to do this all the time - and it was part of our nightly ritual. I must admit I loved the 'dialogue' we had - and was very happy to accomodate her.

 

[251libby]

I went to view a horse who turned his bum on me but he wasn't being aggressive he was gesturing for me to scratch his a$$. The lady thought it was very cute but I thought it was rude as if he was saying "you slave scratch me!"

If you're happy for him to do it then fine but just be careful it doesn't get worse and become like the horse I've just described

When he greets you muzzle to muzzle I think you should just be the first to turn away so he knows you're the dominant one.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

my mare also loves it but she never nips, and we limit it to when I am happy to do it. And this rule works ok, even tho she is a Haflinger (by nature pushy to see what they can get away with). She also adores her lady bits being cleaned, which is a nice change from sheath cleaning Himself who is a stroppy git!

 

[Marchtime]

I've never thought of it in a dominant way. Jesper constantly asks to be scratched and grooms back but in the seven years we've had him he has never bitten so I don't worry. I think it's quite affectionate and I love having such a bond with him.
Oh and he loves when you blow raspberrys on his nose!

 

[JenHunt]

Ron won't groom you back, Ever.... he'll make all the right faces, but just stands there enjoying it!

Tom, on the other hand loves the attention, and will try to scratch himself on anything (he's perfectly healthy, just a little ADHD) including a hosepipe hanging on the wall the other day!

He will give you a big sloppy kiss on the face/ear/head/arm/butt, anywhere he can reach really, and if you scratch him he will wibble you back until you've been fully exfoliated!

He even tries to do it when you're clipping him, especially round his ears and face...

he is weird though, and is the only horse i've ever met who genuinely WANTS his face and ears to be clipped and tries to put his face on the clippers whilst you're busy doing the rest of him! Like I said, Weird.

 

[MegaBeast]

Just be careful that it doesn't progress into thinking you are a horse and wanting to play with you!!!!

 

[LittleSoph]

Aw my cob does this... he likes to sniff all over my face, head and neck, he also tries to groom me back but I'm careful he doesn't get too rough, and I love that he does all this!! I've never even considered it to be a dominant thing. He definitely knows his place as he follows me around like a lap dog in school and has fantastic manners on the yard and in his stable... I'm pretty sure he's simply just being affectionate/interested towards me.

He likes it when I blow down his nostrils too. He's the most loving horse I've ever met and will stand 'chatting' and cuddling for hours. I absolutely adore this about him!