Some horses just simply do not like their heads being touched. Other horses do not like it because they have had a bad experience, either physical abuse or a tool used to confine them so they couldn’t get away; a twitch for example used on the ear or the nose will cause head resistance. The training is the same to overcome the resistance, but if your horse does not like their head touched perhaps you could honor his/her wish and rub/reward them somewhere else on their body that they do enjoy.
These are the keys to overcoming head resistance:
1 – Use a halter and lead rope, but keep at least one foot length in your lead rope to allow your horse to move if s/he feels it’s necessary.
2 – Always ask your horse’s permission to come into their personal space.
3 – Release the pressure when your horse has their head towards you.
4 – Reduce your horse’s stress by using calming homeopathies, like Dynamite’s Relax, Bach Flower Remedies like Rescue Remedy and Star of Bethlehem, or Essential Oils like Lavender, Frankincense, Roman Chamomile and Rose during the training sessions.
Ask your horse’s permission to come into their personal space by presenting your hand palm down with shoulders softened. Read their body language to determine if you can go in and rub around the shoulder/wither area, then gradually move towards the head. Go slow and make it enjoyable. If they begin to pull away, ask them to bring their head back (use can use the lead rope) and once they do, step away from their personal space. This will release the pressure. The key is to release when they have their head near your hand or allowing your hand on their head. If you release when they have pulled their head away you’ve just taught them to pull their head away from you. If the horse has been abused or been twitched, start somewhere else on the head then that specific area. Build up the acceptance and go at your horse’s pace. Overcoming head resistance will not happen overnight, especially if it is due to past bad experiences/injuries.
KB Natural Horsemanship Listing on www.Holistic-Herd.com
Kim Baker
Foundation and Trail Training, Lessons, Energy Healing and more…
Cell: 303-981-2127 | kim@kbnaturalhorsemanship.com
KB Natural Horsemanship
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