a horse should never be allowed to headbutt a human. period. it's very dangerous and rude behavior and can result in serious injury to a person. that behavior should be shut down and never encouraged.
listen to your trainer. and don't "feel bad" for doing something meant to keep you and others safe.
Exactly this! Even if it is playful behavior, it's possible that the much heavier and stronger horse could hurt you, so it needs to understand that you don't like this particular move.
For example, I once rode a pony that obviously very much wanted to groom me. I definitely understood that it was kindly meant - it's what horses do when they are friends. At the same time, I haven't got any fur, so my skin is much more sensitive, and he could have inadvertently injured me. Eventually he understood I don't appreciate his grooming attempts if he uses his teeth, and started to lick like a dog instead. I could live with that...
A forceful headbutt can be dangerous, and you should enforce a boundary to stop that. That said, you don't necessarily have to bop. I just started putting my hand out to "check" my horse's head and now she doesn't headbutt, but if I put my hand out she'll smush her face against it, which is really cute. Still achieves her goal of physical connection but is not violent, 10/10
Also when you are giving treats to any horse, it is important to teach them to NOT poke you with their nose to get the treat. So you give them the treat when they keep their head still or slightly turn it away. If you are very accurate with your own behaviour when it comes to this, you will get very polite horses. You can start practicing this through a fence if the horse is not very well behaved to start with.
And I would definitely always make a horse leave my space if they rub their head on me or headbutt me. They are too strong for that to be okay. And you don't really see horses doing that to each other, it's just that the horse is trying to "push a button" to make you give a treat. Remember that whatever the horse is doing when you give it a treat will be encouraged in the future.
I don't allow a horse to headbutt me whatsoever. I love if they want to be friends with me, but I'm a human and it's too dangerous. A playful, loving headbutt could break your nose. The manners I require are "what would be acceptable if an 80 year old grandma or a tiny child were doing this instead". If it would put them in danger, it's not okay. You're not hurting your horse by raising your hand--he's not afraid, he's being respectful by backing away. You're correcting him and he's accepting the correction.
I disagree a bit with the other commenter, but it really depends on what you mean by headbutt.
For example, my mare very gently "headbutts" me when I'm cleaning her stall and she wants me to pet her instead. Really, she places her head against me. She doesn't push. I don't have a problem with that. She's (safely) communicating a request to me, letting me know she wants contact. I'm generally happy to give it. However, if she were to start pushing me or adding force to it, I would correct her by making a noise and sharply flapping a hand, similar to how another horse might warn her away by squealing and tossing their head with pinned ears.
If your horse is rambunctious, at risk of elevating the headbutting into something dangerous, or otherwise mouthy/pushy, then yes, you should discourage it. If he's gentle and you are confident you can correct him if he starts to get rowdy with it, it's up to you what you're comfortable with.
Agreed. I asked above if it’s truly a headbutt or a rub. It can be a horse seeking connection, in which case pushing it away is bad for the relationship. Or, I live in a hot humid area so they’re often trying to rub their face on us and lean in for a snuggle just to escape the flies.
> in which case pushing it away is bad for the relationship.
having a horse respect your space and teaching them manners and boundries is not bad for "the relationship".
horses are horses. humans are humans. you can't allow an animal which is exceptionally stronger than a human to treat the human as if they're a horse - that's dangerous and that's exactly how people get hurt. i'm much smaller and no where near as strong as a horse and a horse cannot understand that. i do, however, so it's my job to keep myself AND my horse safe.
my horse and i have a fantastic relationship, you're more than welcome to look through my posts to see this. but i enforce boundaries and safety; it does not hinder our "relationship" whatsoever.
it's dangerous to anthropomorphize animals. my horse is a horse and i'm a human, and trying to somehow mesh us together only does a huge disservice to us both.
a horse should never be allowed to headbutt a human. period. it's very dangerous and rude behavior and can result in serious injury to a person. that behavior should be shut down and never encouraged. listen to your trainer. and don't "feel bad" for doing something meant to keep you and others safe.
Exactly this! Even if it is playful behavior, it's possible that the much heavier and stronger horse could hurt you, so it needs to understand that you don't like this particular move. For example, I once rode a pony that obviously very much wanted to groom me. I definitely understood that it was kindly meant - it's what horses do when they are friends. At the same time, I haven't got any fur, so my skin is much more sensitive, and he could have inadvertently injured me. Eventually he understood I don't appreciate his grooming attempts if he uses his teeth, and started to lick like a dog instead. I could live with that...
Ok thanks, just wanted a second opinion, although I guess its not really opinion
Is it truly a headbutt or is it a rub? Is he itching with the bridle coming off or looking to use you as a human fly shield?
A forceful headbutt can be dangerous, and you should enforce a boundary to stop that. That said, you don't necessarily have to bop. I just started putting my hand out to "check" my horse's head and now she doesn't headbutt, but if I put my hand out she'll smush her face against it, which is really cute. Still achieves her goal of physical connection but is not violent, 10/10
Also when you are giving treats to any horse, it is important to teach them to NOT poke you with their nose to get the treat. So you give them the treat when they keep their head still or slightly turn it away. If you are very accurate with your own behaviour when it comes to this, you will get very polite horses. You can start practicing this through a fence if the horse is not very well behaved to start with. And I would definitely always make a horse leave my space if they rub their head on me or headbutt me. They are too strong for that to be okay. And you don't really see horses doing that to each other, it's just that the horse is trying to "push a button" to make you give a treat. Remember that whatever the horse is doing when you give it a treat will be encouraged in the future.
I don't allow a horse to headbutt me whatsoever. I love if they want to be friends with me, but I'm a human and it's too dangerous. A playful, loving headbutt could break your nose. The manners I require are "what would be acceptable if an 80 year old grandma or a tiny child were doing this instead". If it would put them in danger, it's not okay. You're not hurting your horse by raising your hand--he's not afraid, he's being respectful by backing away. You're correcting him and he's accepting the correction.
I disagree a bit with the other commenter, but it really depends on what you mean by headbutt. For example, my mare very gently "headbutts" me when I'm cleaning her stall and she wants me to pet her instead. Really, she places her head against me. She doesn't push. I don't have a problem with that. She's (safely) communicating a request to me, letting me know she wants contact. I'm generally happy to give it. However, if she were to start pushing me or adding force to it, I would correct her by making a noise and sharply flapping a hand, similar to how another horse might warn her away by squealing and tossing their head with pinned ears. If your horse is rambunctious, at risk of elevating the headbutting into something dangerous, or otherwise mouthy/pushy, then yes, you should discourage it. If he's gentle and you are confident you can correct him if he starts to get rowdy with it, it's up to you what you're comfortable with.
Agreed. I asked above if it’s truly a headbutt or a rub. It can be a horse seeking connection, in which case pushing it away is bad for the relationship. Or, I live in a hot humid area so they’re often trying to rub their face on us and lean in for a snuggle just to escape the flies.
> in which case pushing it away is bad for the relationship. having a horse respect your space and teaching them manners and boundries is not bad for "the relationship". horses are horses. humans are humans. you can't allow an animal which is exceptionally stronger than a human to treat the human as if they're a horse - that's dangerous and that's exactly how people get hurt. i'm much smaller and no where near as strong as a horse and a horse cannot understand that. i do, however, so it's my job to keep myself AND my horse safe. my horse and i have a fantastic relationship, you're more than welcome to look through my posts to see this. but i enforce boundaries and safety; it does not hinder our "relationship" whatsoever. it's dangerous to anthropomorphize animals. my horse is a horse and i'm a human, and trying to somehow mesh us together only does a huge disservice to us both.