At 02:55:58 on 07.10.10, Chevy Girl wrote:
Hello, I have a gelding that throw his head when you bridle him. I have tried the pressure points at the top of his head but that doesn't work. I can't push or squeeze hard enough to teach him to drop his head. I had practiced with him using only a halter, and it seemed to be ok, for the first few times. Then he started to throw his head again. He has done this from the day after I brought him home from the auction. I was wondering if maybe he had gotten smacked on the one ear (the one that he has problems with you touching/rubbing) I'm not sure of how to fix this problem with him. Also my mare Dee, does the same thing as soon as you start moving your hand up to her ears she will throw up her head, but I was told by my friend who has Dee's sister that the lady we got them from had used a stud chain on her horses. Do any one have a suggestion on how I maybe can break this bad and dangerous habit?

At 21:38:33 on 07.10.10, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
Head shy horses can be a bit frustrating. I would join up firstly and then try to touch your horses ears, if they resist chase your horse around again until you join up again and then try again until you succeed. Practice touching your horses ears until they are totally comfortable with you touching them. Then i would practice with a head collar and bit coated in honey (as in the head collars that have clip on bits) so you can put the head collar on then the bit. Now i would get a bit just on a single strap to go around the ears (browband, noseband, reins and throatlash removed) and lace the bit in honey or something nice tasteing and practice with this. Build up what you do day by day from the start of touching the ears to fully bridling your horse just take it slow.

At 23:58:31 on 07.10.10, ToriSilverson wrote:
i agree with jess, you might also want to get a vet to check him to see if he has any head injuries...sometime if a horse has a head injury the shake their head and resist pressure

At 01:01:41 on 08.10.10, kibby wrote:
I personally wouldn't chase away when he doesn't let you, mainly cause i am asking for trust and the horse could get confused. but before you start definitely.. Playing the freindly game (first of the 7 parelli games) could really help you.. just be patient rub up to the point where he starts to get tense. release the pressure (possibly reward if he is not a horse that will get nippy) then start again trying to get a little closer even if its half a centimeter. do it a lot of times a day but in short intervals. Only for 5 or so minutes.. So you could do it before you feed him in the morning, before you ride before he gets fed at night. before feeding will make him want to succeed at this game because he will get feed after.. Good luck..

At 20:57:19 on 09.10.10, ToriSilverson wrote:
i think the idea is that you join up...and by joining up with you the horse says he trusts you...when he doesnt let you touch his ears...he is saying he doesnt trust you to touch him...so you send him away again carrying out join up...and so it goes on. he can either stay with you and have his ears touched or be sent round the ring without his ears being touched...his choice. i have used similar with charlie when he messed about with getting his mane pulled

At 16:20:01 on 17.10.10, plodalong wrote:
try approach and retreat, rub your horse and softly approach his ear but only as far as he wants you to touch him then move your hand away, repeat until your horse gives you permission to touch his ear .its the release of pressure that teaches,the pressure being your soft hand approaching a sensitive spot which is his ear.worth a try.

At 10:13:02 on 18.10.10, LadyJennivieve wrote:
That's funny. Horse Hero released a video just this week on this topic.
http://www.horsehero.com/54931

At 10:45:52 on 18.10.10, Flicka wrote:
Once you have eliminated any pain issues then you can work on the trust. But if there is pain why should he trust you. So I think it's a good idea to do your checks first- get a good equine dentist to check his teeth. I would also get an equine body worker to look at his poll to try and ease the pain there and around the ear. I find that a lot of people put horses in bridles that are too tight and are pulling on the back of the ears. Do you think this is the case? I had a horse that was difficult to bridle and it was down to teeth causing poll problems. But as well as sorting that he got a bigger browband so the headpiece wasn't pushing against the back of his ears and when the bridle is put on the bit is lowered a few holes so that the headpiece slips over more easily. I also recommend you look at an all in one padded headpiece. Then I would do the approach and retreat plodalong suggest because even when the pain issue has been sorted it takes a long time for a horse to realise that it has gone. Anyway hope that might help. Good luck :)

At 14:27:09 on 20.10.10, bazz94 wrote:
I agree with Flicka, get it physically checked first. I agree with the approach and retreat but don't retreat if he doesn't let you near the ears. As soon as he stops shaking, nodding, looking away THEN retreat. If he reacts with you putting your hand up suddenly, like you're going to 'hit' him then work on this first so he realises you won't hit him. Then touch him everywhere but the ears and show him you will retreat if he stands still, then apply the same principle by running your hand up his neck until he starts getting fidgety to a certain point and work on that until he's completely comfortable then move up until you get to the ears. Hope this helps. My horse also didn't like having his ears touched when I first got him but now he likes a good scratch at the bottom of his ears =D

At 10:47:18 on 28.10.10, j_hollingmode wrote:
Hiya, right first there is a headshy problem here which i think has already been outlined further up the fourm. All i can say here is massage the head in the "T" zone. Between the eyes and down the nose. Then move onto the poll. Always do this to the side so the horse can see what you're doing. This should work over tine, But dont use any quick movveements around this horse. When ptting on the bridle put a rope round his neck to keep his head down in a way becasue he thinks that there is something there already. Then just talk to him throughout the whole process to relax him. Stand to the side and put the bridle on backwards, put the bit in first and ease it up. If possible, loosen your cheek pieces so you have a longer bridle and is therefore easier to get over the ears. Let me know if this helps, if not i can get a video up for you to explain this as i have a mare exactly like this and loosening the bridle worked a treat.
http://www.jhollingmodesequestrian.webs.com