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How do I desensitize my horses ears?
The safest place to be as you work to desensitize your horse to having their head touched is standing right next to their shoulder. From here, they can’t hit you with their heads or try to kick you.
How do you break a horse from being shy?
Start down her neck and work your way toward her ears, if she moves or puts her head up, stay where you are giving her a gentle rub until she stops or puts her head down. Each time before and after desensitising flex left, right and down.
What causes a horse to be head shy?
Fear Response Head shy horses are, quite simply, afraid. Someone or something has hurt or frightened the horse so much that he doesn’t want it to happen again. Any horse will raise his head when he becomes nervous or frightened.
Are horses ears sensitive to touch?
Aural plaques on the inside surface of the ear are common in horses. These flaky white spots generally are regarded only as a cosmetic problem, but in some cases they may make the ear sensitive to touch. These spots are difficult to get rid of, and handling the ears to treat them may worsen the behavior problem.
How do I make my horse harder?
The secret to catching the hard-to-catch horse is to be non-reactive. Sure, you want to holler at your horse, swing the lead rope and make them run until they are tired enough to catch, but this is enforcing the bad habit of moving away from you when they should allow you to move closer.
How do you make a horse feel comfortable around you?
Make Your Horse Love You By Spending Time With Them
- Take a Walk and Explore New Areas With Your Horse.
- Stand With Your Horse As They Graze.
- Groom Your Horse.
- Take Relaxing Pleasure Rides.
- Don’t Train Your Horse When You’re Emotionally Compromised.
- Stay Calm When Training Or Riding Your Horse.
How to deal with a head shy horse?
To keep any horse from becoming head-shy, move slowly around the head (no fast motions). If you touch his head, start and end in a positive way. If you have to treat an eye or ear problem, when finished go back to something that’s positive and not upsetting to the horse so he can relax.
Why does my horse jerk his head away?
This can make them hard to halter or bridle, and they may try to jerk their head away. Horses are not born head-shy; this is a self-preservation response. The horse may have a physical issue that is causing pain, or is remembering pain or a bad experience and doesn’t trust anyone to touch his head, or certain areas of the head.
Why does my horse not like my ears?
Ear ticks may make the ears sore, and he resists having the ears handled. A head-shy problem may stem from a medical issue, in which case you need your veterinarian to check his ears, or mouth, to see what is causing the pain and resistance.
Why does my horse not want to be touched?
Horses can become ear-shy or head-shy for many reasons. Some don’t want their head touched, or just their mouth, or their eyes. Resistance may have started when the horse needed medication, and the frustrated owner had to fight with the horse to get the job accomplished.