Most horses do not like to be pet on their underbelly, legs or near their tail. Depending on the horse, they may not like to be petted on their face.
Be sure to stay away from the sensitive areas of the horse like the eyes, ears, muzzle, and belly of the horse. While some horses might be OK with you petting these areas, many are sensitive and won't like to be touched there.
Start at the Neck
You can also try scratching the horse. Most horses have a couple of favorite spots where they like to be scratched, typically along the top of their neck where their mane starts, on their chest, under their jaw, and their withers (the raised area where their neck connects to their back).
If a horse is grazing in a field and they come towards you when you are around you can be sure they like you. Horses that follow your movements in their presence show they are focused on and give you 100% of their attention. If your horse follows you around when they see you, they consider you as a friend.
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.
What is labelled disrespect usually involves things the horse does that the person does not like: crowding space, ignoring cues, barging over the person, standing too close, biting, kicking, pinning ears, rubbing his head on the person, not standing still, turning hindquarters towards the person, spooking and not ...
Most horses do not like having their head or face touched. Many people want to scratch the horse near an ear, but you'll make a better impression if you gently stroke their neck instead. ... They Breathe on Your Face If a horse comes up and takes a breath on your face, it is a sign of respect and trust.
Apples and carrots are traditional favorites. You can safely offer your horse raisins, grapes, bananas, strawberries, cantaloupe or other melons, celery, pumpkin, and snow peas. Most horses will chew these treats before swallowing, but horses that gulp large pieces of a fruit or vegetable have a risk of choking.
He may nibble at your shoulders or head, lay his head on your shoulders, or nudge you in the back, like a mini “back massage.” When a horse shows you respect, that also indicates that he likes you. They will accept you as their leader and do what they are told, while not running over or cramping you.
In some cases, such as with a fearful horse, they may stare at you to try and assess whether you will hurt them or if you are a predator that will eat them. A horse that's being defensive may turn their face to you, raise their head, and stare at you to try and intimidate you.
There are a few different ways that horses can deliver a nudge. One is by using their nose to push on you. This can be a way of showing affection or a sign that the horse is impatient and wants you to move out of the way.
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. He may have a sore mouth and doesn't want his mouth handled.
Researchers have found that horses react more to yellow, white, black, and blue floors, as compared to floors that are green, red, brown, or gray. Horses don't seem to mind these “less favorite” colors on walls rather than floors.
Wolves and mountain lions (also known as cougars or pumas) pose the biggest threat, but packs of coyotes, feral dogs, or even alligators have been known to attack young or injured horses. Still, if you live in an area where large predators are present, take precautions to protect your horses and other pets.
Common Displayed Behaviors:
dragging you to a patch of grass in order to graze. refusing to walk any faster when being led. jerking their head up when you ask them to lower it. not picking up their feet when asked.
Horses may behave aggressively towards people if they feel threatened, or if they are trying to escape or avoid doing what the person wants them to do. They may also behave aggressively as a result of previous experience.
Fortunately for us, horses don't stand around the water cooler and decide which humans they like and dislike, or who did what to whom. They live in the present moment and they react to your actions (good or bad). They learn to trust you—or not—based on your actions, not whether they like you.
Give Him a Scratch
Show him you are his new best friend by giving him a nice scratch. They aren't the kind of animals who much enjoy soft strokes; this probably tickles them more than anything. A good scratch on the horse's neck will make him very happy.
One of the best ways to say thanks to your horse is to give him a nice, long grooming session. Think lots of currying and finding those itchy spots! During your grooming session, condition your horse's coat and tail; it's never too early to start thinking about the next competition season.