What does head rubbing against you mean in gelding language?

My new gelding, the lovely Alfie, insists on rubbing his head against me if I am stood near him. I'm not really sure if it's a sign of affection or him trying to dominate me....it can be a little strong sometimes! It's just over the stable door - not after we've ridden as only had him for five days and it's been too darn cold to ride him!
Any animal behaviourists out there with ideas?!
 
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MissDeMeena

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Perhaps that he has an itch, and you're the nearest thing that looks comfey to itch on
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only a thought!
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I would be interested to know this as well as my gelding tries to do it to me all the time - I put it down to being itchy
 
it means he's got a bit of an itch and you're convenient, and just the right mixture of soft and hard for him to scratch on...
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some of mine do this, and i make sure i use my hands to scratch them, rather than them using me as a scratching post, as this can be a very hard habit to break, and a bit painful at times...!
 
my mare does this to me all the time! particularly if i was brushing her face beforehand! I think its sweet, till she nearly knocks me over and gets slobber all over me!
 
Merlin will never rub on me as I find it a bit rude, but after a ride he will hover his head near my hands and if I put one each side of his mouth he loves to rub his lips against my gloves... ahhh

Or if I scratch his withers he curls his head round and lip wiggles on my back and shoulders... double ahhh

Perhaps your horses previous owner didnt mind being used as a scratching post and he has got into the habit..... or has lice!!!
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You are a tree, and I have an itch!

My arab gelding used to do this after work, I didn't move fast enough once whilst untacking after hunting and he knocked me out. How embarrassing.
 
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It means he has no more respect for you than he would a fence or gatepost.

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Yes and no. My horse is basically very respectful but I always give her a rub under her forelock as praise after schooling rather than giving treats, so it could be said that I have encouraged the head rubbing habit. In our case I actually think my mare is asking for praise as she does it at no other time.
 
if he did it all the time then i would think it is a dominance thing - if it was now and again then i would be more inclined to think he had an inch or wanted some attention.

Whenever i take Frankie's bridle off i give his muzzle and face a rub, but when he starts to get a bit rough with it i tend to stop!
 
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