To pat or not to pat?

[SpeedyPony]

They absolutely understand context- I was thinking about this the other day while strapping mine. I use as much force, if not more than I would when smacking them across the chest for nipping, but while they back up after getting a smack for nipping, they will lean into it while being strapped and happily stand loose in the field for me to do it.
Perhaps scratching is a more natural gesture for them, but as anyone who has had a horse try and groom them will attest, they're not gentle when they groom one another! They also don't feed one another treats, but they recognise that as a positive.

 

[SEL]

I've just been watching 2 of mine groom each other and the teeth are really going for it. I massage them all and get stuck in pounding with my fists over big muscles and they usually move in wanting more pressure.

I scratch, pat and will even lean back and give one of them a scratch just behind the saddle if we're stopped when a car goes past - there's a particular spot she knows is hang fire while the idiot zooms past.

I honestly don't think they hold the patting against me

 

[Caski]

I pat gently or rub withers. I once did a dressage test on a 4yo exracer, first time from home, outdoors. He was brilliant, so I gave him a good pat when we had finished ( read that as survived!). I had a comment on my sheet from the judge saying perhaps I could consider giving the horse a scratch rather than a pat!! This was several years ago!

Bouquet to that judge, they are clearly thinking in the right direction.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I've always been a rough scratcher, rather than a patter. When excited or elated, it's easy for a pat to become a thump/whack. I'm sure we've all been in situations when some overenthusiastic nitwit has come to pat you on the back and nearly sent you flying in a flurry of whatthefuckery.

That made me laugh. I used to work for a guy who when in a good mood would pat way too hard, often accompanied with almost yelling at the poor horse what a "GOOD LAD" he was. We would all cringe but the horse's didn't seem to care!

 

[webble]

I'm a scratcher rather than a patter but I had to be careful scratching kiki, he thought it meant he must stop moving and really rub against my hand to get the full benefit

 

[Skib]

The UK household cavalry give their horses two mighty smacks on the right shoulder before dismounting. The first apparently to prepare the horse and the second while part way through the dismount, when the officer is standing at attenton in the left stirrup.

I use the cavalry dismount and I took the mare into the sand school and tried this first pat just once a few weeks ago. I did it because I wondered, maybe a smack on the left shoulder prepares the horse to take the rider's wheight on the left side in the actual dismount?
However, I concluded that the verbal order to dismount and the smacks are more to do with having the two officers dismount at exactly the same moment.

I think someone here knows about the cavalry so perhaps they have the answer

 

[scats]

A scratch or a rub.

 

[Jenko109]

I'm a bit indifferent to it tbh.

If the worst thing that's going on in your horse's life is that he gets a pat, then he has a pretty cushy life.

I do pat personally. Very gently mind you. I pat my dogs in the same fashion.

 

[southerncomfort]

Bo doesn't think much of patting or scratching. A hand on the neck and a 'good lad' seems to be acceptable!

 

[Goldenstar]

I have to say patting is extremely low on my list of things to be judgy about .

 

[ihatework]

I have to say patting is extremely low on my list of things to be judgy about .

You and me both.

 

[DressageCob]

I do a bit of everything - patting, stroking, scratching and vocal praise. I don't smack and my horse has never acted as if it's a bad thing. I pat and scratch my yearlings as well, and they seem to like it. They just like engagement and attention though

I think giving the horse a pat or a stroke is a useful tool for the rider who gets a little tense as well. It's a way to softly release the contact which the rider can understand clearly (where softening your elbows, allowing the hand forward may not be clear to the novice rider).

 

[Cragrat]

One of mine arches his neck, grows taller and struts in response to a few pats when he has worked well

 

[humblepie]

Re the crossing your hand over to the other side to pat - in the Racing Post today there are some photos of Abbie McCain on one of their horses with the supermoon and she has her right hand over patting his left side neck. Wouldn't have thought anything of it but for this thread.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Lucinda Green who is commentating on the Blenheim 4*L XC has just said that she’s not sure whether horses like being patted.