[ponyz]

Ok, one of our horses got headshy sum how. We dont know how, but she just turned that way. WELL... she is 6 years old and is a paint. Any ideas how to make her any better?

[iridehorses]

I just traded a nice gelding that came to me head shy (the trade had nothing to do with his problem). He acquired it from his previous owner who would slap him if he did anything wrong.

What it took was a lot of time and patience. I worked with him everyday one on one for about an hour at different times during the day and especially at feed time. He was almost dangerous when he came to me. He would rear and try to flee if you moved too near his head. At first I put him on a 20' lead and when he spooked I let him go out with some resistance until he felt comfortable and started to build trust in me.

I did not move slowly around him but would just go about normal things at normal speed. When handling him I started at his hip and slowly moved up to his neck and eventually this face. I worked with him in a round pen exposing him to different things and eventually I could wave a flag in his face and although he was very aware of it, he didn't back away or tense up.

By the time he left me he could be handled safely and was improving every day. It got to the point that he would allow me to walk up to his head and rub him down without the terror in his eyes. I was VERY careful about his new owner and how he would be treated. His new owner worked with him for a week before I felt comfortable enough to allow him take the gelding.

[StarfireArizona]

My OTTB gelding is severely earshy, especially with his left ear. At the track I have heard the jockeys yank & twist an ear for more speed. I have had him 2 years and we have still not worked through it. I don't get to work on it daily, but often enough. I can kiss the ear, but not outwardly touch it. Just rubbing his forehead or poll sparks his fear & he shoots the head up. With him being 17 hh, and me being 5'4", all he has to do is shoot that head up out of reach and I have to stand on tippy toes to persist. Yesterday I made sort of a breakthrough though, I kept insisting he bring his head down & worked up to touching the lower part of his ear after working up from his poll. He actually relaxed eventually while I was still rubbing. Whew........ Now I just have to work up the ear.


Both my OTTB's were mouth shy & would not take a bit. What I did was start rubbing or petting at the neck where they were comfortable. My mare was much worse to the point that I could not touch anywhere on her face within 6 inches of her mouth....one night pulling back so hard she snapped 2 leads...so I started lower on her neck, but with my gelding I could start at just below the jawbone. Start working your way up, & slightly retreat when it is clear they are becoming uneasy. Go back to the "safe zone" for a short time & again start working your way into the "danger zone". I found talking gently & soothingly seemed to help calm them. Keep doing this as often as you can. Mine had different degrees of "don't touch me there" spots, and of course I worked on the lesser areas first. Once I fixed those spots & got to the worst part, their mouth & bitting, I used the horse apple treats. I placed the treat right under the bit so they smelled the treat & had to take the bit to get it. They both got upset the first couple of times, but then they enjoyed the initial treat, the treat once the bit was in & the treat when it came out. Now you should see them.....if they see me carrying the bridle, they both rush over trying to be the one to "wear" it. They take it willingly & the one who doesn't get it that day looks so very disappointed.

Personally what I would do is work through the lesser areas & once you start to move into the red zones, offer a small treat at at the same time you are touching there. If she pulls away, go with her petting a safe zone & just try it again. Once she sees there is something worth standing still for, she just may let you continue. If she grabs the treat & pulls away, then hold the treat way out with one hand, & when she extends her neck to get it, take the opportunity to touch her. It will take a while & lotsa patience, but it all comes down to trust.

Good luck & keep working at it

[TBfarmgirl]

my QH gelding was "cowboyed" by his previous owner and was extremely heady. first earn his trust and love on him, especialy rubbing his face and ears while he is eating or somewhere where he is comfortable. don't try to be slow around him; just go about your normal speed and he'll adapt to your consistancy. be patient with him at all costs!!

[pittmd]

My wifes paint was very head/ear shy. I have no idea why he was like that but I assume he was just being a brat. I worked on this problem like I would most any desensitizing. Find his starting point and work it until he can just stand therewhile you touch the "spot". Let them jump around and toss their head all they want, just keep at it till they let you touch the spot then back off and praise. He is very good about having his face brushed or his ears handled now. I also trained him to lower his head when I touch the top.

[lvmypnt]

Originally Posted by ponyz

Ok, one of our horses got headshy sum how. We dont know how, but she just turned that way. WELL... she is 6 years old and is a paint. Any ideas how to make her any better?

I dont think horses just become headshy out of the blue and without cause. Are you saying that you have owned this horse for a while and she was not head shy and now she is? If this is the case the first thing i would do is have her teeth checked by a dentist and have a vet give her a good once over.

[ponyz]

Well she is kept at a fairgrounds, so peolpe can comeup to see them anythime. so we dont know waht hapemed

[iridehorses]

Originally Posted by ponyz

Well she is kept at a fairgrounds, so peolpe can comeup to see them anythime. so we dont know waht hapemed

Unless you have control over their environment I can't see how it's going to improve. If you have no idea what people are doing to your horse, how can you expect to correct it? Is there any chance of moving her?

[ponyz]

Your right, we cant really. But we are trying to monater who feeds her ect... like only 5 people are aloud to feed her

[royalrox]

well I really don't see how its going to improve if who ever made her like this continues doing it...BUT

one of our horses (PMU) was really head shy and what I did with him (and some other horses) is to have a stool so they can't get out of your reach, then just rub their forehead, if they raise their head keep rubbing, if they drop it instantly stop...now the second I touch his head he drops it down for me they want you to stop so that is they're reward for behaving