Where should you pet a horse?

4- Many horses like to be rubbed on the neck, shoulder, hip, or on the chest. Some horses enjoy having their heads and ears rubbed. Horses often groom each other on the whither, so this would be a good place to try too. 6- If your horse does not want to be pet or moves away, do not be upset.
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Where is the best place to pat a horse?

As tempting as it is, don't pet the horse's head. Continue to face his shoulder from the side, petting the neck. Most horses enjoy a scratch on the neck just behind the ear or on the withers at the highest point of the shoulder. Discontinue petting if the horse backs away or shows disinterest.
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Where can you touch a horse?

The nose, lips, mouth, and possibly the ears are the most sensitive areas to touch. Although hooves do not respond to touching, various parts of the hoof are able to feel touch. Understanding the degree to which horses are sensitive to touch can be valuable to the trainer.
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Do horses like being touched on the nose?

Horses prefer to be rubbed and stroked over being tickled or slapped, and they often don't want rubbing on sensitive areas like the flank, girth, belly, nose, ears, and legs.
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What side should you approach a horse?

Always approach a horse from the left and from the front, if possible. Speak softly when approaching, especially from behind, to let it know of your presence. Always approach at an angle, never directly from the rear.
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Horsemanship 101 373 How to pet a horse. Seriously?



Do horses like their faces touched?

Give Him a Scratch

A good scratch on the horse's neck will make him very happy. Some horses like their faces, ears, and even the area at the top behind their front legs (think horse armpits) scratched. Some really do not want you to touch them in these places.
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How do you tell if a horse doesn't like you?

Common Displayed Behaviors:
  1. dragging you to a patch of grass in order to graze.
  2. refusing to walk any faster when being led.
  3. jerking their head up when you ask them to lower it.
  4. not picking up their feet when asked.
  5. refusing to go forward.
  6. pulling back on the lead rope when tied.
  7. refusing to move over as you groom them.
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Do horses like being patted on the neck?

4- Many horses like to be rubbed on the neck, shoulder, hip, or on the chest. Some horses enjoy having their heads and ears rubbed.
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How do you tell if a horse likes you?

Here are 8 Signs a Horse Likes and Trusts You
  1. They Come Up to Greet You. ...
  2. They Nicker or Whinny For You. ...
  3. They Rest Their Head on You. ...
  4. They Nudge You. ...
  5. They Are Relaxed Around You. ...
  6. They Groom You Back. ...
  7. They Show You Respect. ...
  8. They Breathe on Your Face.
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Do horses like to be pet on the face?

Most horses do not like to be petted near their eyes. Some horses love a good ear scratch as well and some like to be rubbed on their forehead. Whenever you pet a horse's face, be sure to be gentle since it is more sensitive than most other parts of their body.
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Do horses like to be hugged?

Since horses don't have hands to hold or arms to give hugs, gentle leans and even “neck hugs” express their love.
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Do horses like their belly rubbed?

Tummy scratches for all!

Tummy rubs are the best, but when an itch comes up and there's no human around to scratch it, sad times. Sometimes a horse has got to do what a horse has got to do, from getting resourceful in the pasture…
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Why do horses nudge you?

Horses can nudge you with their nose for a variety of reasons. The key reasons are likely to be: pushing you out of the way, encouraging you to give them treats, rudeness, itching, and affection. Sometimes it just genuinely means they want to play.
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Why do horses rub head on you?

This behavior is a way horses naturally groom each other. When your horse tries rubbing its head on your body, it may be attempting to “groom” you as a show of affection. Even though some horses rub their head on humans as a way to show affection, it's a behavior that should be discouraged due to the risk of injury.
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Do horses like being ridden?

However, many horses enjoy being ridden. For one thing, it breaks up boredom for them. The horse and rider work together to make the experience enjoyable. That is an important sentence because many of the horses that don't like being ridden have good reasons.
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Do horses like to be slapped?

The study was filmed and the horses' behavioural responses were noted. Patting resulted in little behavioural reaction. However, wither scratching seemed to be much more effective as a reward to the horse.
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Do horses like to be brushed?

The bottom line from this study is that most horses don't like to be groomed, and most handlers have no idea what's going on with the horse they are grooming.
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How do you get a horse to respect you?

So how do you get your horse's respect? A horse's respect is earned by moving his feet forward, backward, left, and right, and always rewarding the slightest try. Think about respect from your horse's point of view. When horses are thrown together out in a pasture, it's natural for them to establish a pecking order.
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How long do horses remember you?

Horses also understand words better than expected, according to the research, and possess "excellent memories," allowing horses to not only recall their human friends after periods of separation, but also to remember complex, problem-solving strategies for ten years or more.
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Why do horses turn their backs to you?

Fear and Aggression as reasons for turning hindquarters toward you can be pain related so rule that out. Keep a halter and lead on the horse whenever you are working with the horse and practice disengaging the hindquarters. This will teach the horse to move away from you and face you.
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Why does my horse yawn when I pet him?

Horses May Yawn as a Sign of Tension Release

The massage works to loosen up their muscles and any stress or tension that may have developed throughout their bodies. Other signs that your horse is releasing tension is chewing, stretching, sighing, and even farting!
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Do horses like affection?

They are always together, away from the rest of the herd. So romantic. Horses show affection and relationship towards one another by hanging out with the horses they like. Even pasture horses tend to break off into small herds of horses that get along well together and those who don't.
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