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RE: Tip needed for headshy horse

twills — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:18:44 GMT

I saw something on hoofon's facebook and it linked to a really interesting video on curing head shy horses - this method makes a lot of sense to me - maybe it will help.http://t.co/wUZbtWsj

RE: Tip needed for headshy horse

kayg — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:29:35 GMT

I have discovered my new boy is head shy it never crossed my mind before but after having him with me for two weeks now we have started working on it. he hates his bridle or head coller being put on we have managed to get the headcoller on and off this week with barely an issue but the bridle is another matter.

Looby is coming tonight for a visit so she is going to help me witht he bridle issue tomorrow:D

It is strange it took me months to get cleo just how i like her and now i am starting again with alan you forget that not all horses behave the same and not all horses know the commands yours are trained to listen to.

I am used to waving a hand at cleo and she moves over with alan you have to actually physically move him over so the whole starting with the stroking of the head thing will be an adventure.

To be honest I am looking forward to it as there is no better feeling than when they come to have the head coller on cos they want to spend the time with you .

Good luck Mrs Bear i am sure that when she is ready she will let you know xxx:)

RE: Tip needed for headshy horse

Sangeeth10 — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:45:44 GMT

I have a friend who had the same experience with his horse.patient is more important in this case.You should understand the situation and try get close to the horse slowly.

RE: Tip needed for headshy horse

Bornagainhorsewoman — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:34:05 GMT

^^^ If you want to be a horse owner, you will be - one day :) Don't know how old you are Sangeeth but I bought my first horse when I was 20 and my second when I was 43! I think if you have to wait for something you appreciate it all the more once you have it! ;)

RE: Tip needed for headshy horse

Sangeeth10 — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:57:53 GMT

I'm so unlucky.While I was reading these posts I felt happy about you guys.One day I also want to be a horse owner...I love horses so much....

[url=http://www.horseshedsuperstore.com.au/]Horse Shed[/url]

RE: Tip needed for headshy horse

mrsbear — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:10:37 GMT

Well we're making excellent progress with her. Able to catch her now everytime and started being able to scratch her cheek last week and now we can rub her neck - she lets us begrudingly but luckily for her we are like vending machines!

She really is so sweet and I can't wait to groom her :D

RE: Tip needed for headshy horse

A7X Girl <3 — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:05:08 GMT

My mare is very sensitive, althought not that sensitive :) when i first got her, not only would she not tie up in the yard without freaking out, i couldn't touch her face or neck. every time she saw me with a comb or brush to go through her mane she would break lose and run down the track to her field. ive had her for almost a year now and she ties up, lets me hose her, i can comb her mane all day and she wouldnt make a fuss. (unless she's having a 'moment' ) she's always had a major problem with her ears but its taken me a year to be able to get near them!

what i found really helped was to catch her in the field and just touch her face, give her a scratch and work my way up.. she was a lot more confortable in her field than in the yard x now she walks to the gate when she sees me coming.. puts her nose down into the headcollar herself :) and puts her head in my arms for cuddles :) and she wont usually walk away when i turn her out until she gets her hug goodnight x its amazing how she's come along, but still got a lot to work on. there's plenty of time xxx

RE: Tip needed for headshy horse

mrsbear — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 15:19:52 GMT

Managed to clip the leadrope onto headcollar last night. She didn't bat an eyelid. OH had the bucket of treats and we had a nice walk around for a few mins. If I keep doing this and build it up I'll be able to move forwards with her...next - fly repellant and grooming :D

RE: Tip needed for headshy horse

mrsbear — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:50:01 GMT

Hmm, good point TH! Thanks, I don't have a stable but am getting a field shelter built which will be able to be turned into a stable if needed.

Last night she did leave me touch her muzzle though. She followed me all around the field when I was doing my checks last night so she can't be that nervous.

When she's eating out of her bucket I've started to move my hands around, like tuck my hair beind my ear or scratch my head and she jumps but I don't react and she goes back to eating. She had 6 people in the field with her at one point last night and didn't bat an eyelid...I think she may be trying to pull the wool over my eyes...:hehe:

RE: Tip needed for headshy horse

Tally Ho — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 07:40:47 GMT

Sounds like you've got a job on there then Mrs B :ermm:

If she's so bad, you might need to have her in a stable for a few days so you can get to grips with her and maybe have her a bit more reliant on you

RE: Tip needed for headshy horse

mrsbear — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:19:58 GMT

Thanks for the tips guys..but hmmmm, maybe I shoud have said she is body shy, not just head shy, lol.

She's very sweet and always moves around us with her bum away from us (although she did try to take a chunk out of my oh's foot last night!). :D

I've been moving slowly around to the side of her head/neck but she won't have it, she just moves away. Any movement with my hand spooks her even holding a treat out sometimes.

I always make sure she comes to me and to be honest I never really have to as she loves coming over for an aul nosey and she knows I have treats!

I'll keep trying but I am concerned about her little feets but if she won't let me go near her head and neck and if I did manage to catch her she'd probably freak at a farrier! :hehe:

RE: Tip needed for headshy horse

Bornagainhorsewoman — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:04:40 GMT

You've got the fact that she already likes you in your favour ;) She's not scared of YOU! As the others have said taking things slowly. Scratching rather than stroking actually seems to be better as it's a definite touch not a 'tickle'. Slow movements but distinct. Possibly consider being lower than her (if it's safe to do so) so sitting on an upturned bucket and letting her lower her head to you. Two unhandled colts I got used to handling many years ago responded well to this and I put a bucket with carrots, pony nuts, etc between my feet to encourage them to be near me. Initially I couldn't feed them or even look at them directly but it only took days before I was able to remove their too-tight head collars and not long after that before we replaced them with better fitting ones. I'm sure you'll be there in no time! ;)

RE: Tip needed for headshy horse

Ditsy Mare — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:16:18 GMT

I agree. Apache was horrifically head shy as he was cornered to have his headcollar put on. I don't know what happened really... i just stroked and cuddled and kissed, found places he enjoyed being touched. I'd make a point on touching and shifting his headcollar around on his head and loosening it if i could as i didn't want it cutting in. Eventually i took the plunge and had to change it and realised that i might just loose him in the process.

Slow and steady wins the race. She'll let you know when she's comfortable. Can you hold her feed and scratch her face or stroke her face while she's eating?

RE: Tip needed for headshy horse

Tatty — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 16:33:39 GMT

Agree fully with TH. It can take a long time, but is well worth it!

RE: Tip needed for headshy horse

Tally Ho — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 16:22:40 GMT

Do everything slowly. Start at a place she has no objections to you touching, say her neck, and just gently work your way up until you get to the area she feels uncomfortable about you touching. You mustn't be tempted to rush, just spend 10 minutes every day giving her a little scratch as near as she'll let you get to her chin - even if that's half way up her neck or the middle of her face. Eventually she'll realise you don't want to do something horrid :)

Tip needed for headshy horse

mrsbear — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 11:50:30 GMT

Well Daphne is a sweet little thing, very curious and has no problem nuzzling you and taking carrots from your hand but she wont let me so much as tickle her chin (she does give me kisses though). She was snoozing standing next to me the other day and even had a lie down :D

I don't want to push her, she hasn't been handled very much and I don't want to terrify her but I would like to get the farrier out as she has a chunk missing from one of her hooves and I'm worried it will crack or split :( plus I want to get the headcollar off her (which I imagine was put on her ages ago and left there!)

If anyone has any ideas that would help, I'd be very interested (or else I'll kidnap monty roberts tomorrow!)