[nick47]

Hi every1,I'm new too this forum and horses..I just got a paint..My husband says she is gentle,but, when I go too reach up too pet her she jerks her head, tries too move away, am I making her nervous,,She sure is making me nervous.
I don't care too pet a 2000 lb. bull. this horse really makes me scared. Does any1 have any advice for me..I've never bn around horses.
I really want too learn, so I can enjoy riding with my family.

[BriLeigh]

Horses don't always like to have their faces pet, so they will move away from the scary hand coming at them. She could also feed off of your nervousness and get a little nervous herself. You should have someone there with you who knows a little more about horses to maybe hold her or something and you can pet brush and love on her and you will soon become friends. It just takes time getting used to but they are very sweet animals [most of the time]

[Maisie]

Hi & welcome to HGS, I'm sure you'll like it here.
To help with your question ... your horse is new & doesn't yet know if she can trust you , also if you are nervous horses sense it so they can be jumpy. Move & speak quietly around her , approach gently & let her smell your hand when she is comfortable with this very gently start to stroke just her nose , maybe give her a treat then back off. Do this often & gradually move up her face if she is ok with it , speak soothingly to her all the time & tell her she's a good girl when she allows what you want from her. Once she has trust & confidence in you she will relax & enjoy being petted.

[jhalton]

Hi there as said by others many dont like their face petted. (Funny as I was just about to answer and then ******* it someone wanted me to do some work lol!!) Welcome to forum and good luck with your horse. Your horse may be headshy because someone has been rough with its head in the past so you will have to work on your horses confidence! Just start at her neck and work up to her head. Keep at it though because it is better for you if she is not headshy, she will get better but you have to be gentle and it takes time. Good luck!

[prairienights]

They do pick up on nervousness. Not necessarily by telepathy or feeling your vibes anything (although sometimes you have to wonder) but more by reading your body language. When we feel nervous, we get tense, therefor our body motions get jumpier and quicker. Horses like fluid motion. Your horse is probably picking up on that. She's not being aggressive, she's just startled when she's moving away.

You need to make friends with this horse; she needs to get to know you like she'd get to know another horse. Horses, like dogs and people, are social animals and we all have rituals of greeting. People shake hands or pat each other on the back or hug or bow...whatever the culture. Dogs will..well, sniff each other. Horses will touch noses and breathe into each others nostrils, and horses that are friends will scratch eachothers' withers (the boney bump at their necks turn into their backs). I don't really recommend putting your face down by your horse's nose (although some people do, lol), but stand facing her at kind of an angle so you're facing her shoulder and slowly (yet confidently) place your hand a few inches away from her nostrils. Not directly under her nose, because this is a blind spot for her and may startle her if your hand suddenly comes into her view. But let her see your hand and she'll probably reach out and sniff it. Then take that hand down and with your other hand (not an open palm, loosely folded fingers), stroke her shoulder. Don't push too hard to push her away, but not too softly where she just feels a tickle. Pet along her shoulder and on her neck, use your fingernails to lightly scratch her withers. They love all that stuff.

Once you feel comfortable with her and she feels comfortable with you, try leading her. Leading is a good and easy way to establish yourself as dominant and as the "alpha mare." If she's a good beginner safe horse, this should be pretty basic for her, and she'll just walk next to you calmly. This will help you gain confidence in leading a very large animal around, you might be surprised with how gentle and willing they are to be led by us frail little humans.

[iridehorses]

My wife was not comfortable around horses but that was a package deal with me. I didn't rush her and let her take all the time she needed to become more at ease. At first I held my horse and let her approach him from the side not head on. It took quite a while and a lot of patience on my part (something I'm not really noted for!) but eventually she got more and more comfortable.

Don't rush the process. Some people take to horses like they were born to them and others have a love but fear to overcome. It'll happen and you will enjoy them as you become more comfortable. That was a lot of years ago. She has progressed only to the point of taking a small ride with me but can take over the feeding if I'm on a business trip. If that is as far as you get - that's fine. I sure hope you can learn to enjoy them the way I and others here do.

[Boudiceasmom]

Time to get to know each other in a month you'll forget she ever shied away horses are like people they have to get to know you to decide whether or not to trust. Give her time take it easy, just spend time near her stall or pasture get a chair a good book and wait. don't make fast movements talk to her and let her come to you. Horses are curious by nature if you ignore her she wonder why and come looking for attention. Be the one to feed and water her. She'll come around

[Laury]

There is a great book by Dr. Stephanie Burns, called Move Closer, Stay Longer. She describes her journey to overcome her fear of horses and relates it to all of those areas in our life where fear gets in the way. It is a very quick read, and I recommend it highly.

Fear/nerves are our body's way of keeping us safe, so never feel it is something bad, just take a good look at it and make decisions about it.

[luttrellfarms]

All good advise. Be sure to move slowly....do not come at her fast. If the horse is a little jumpy, do everything in slow motion for a while.

[morgangirl]

Does she do this with your husband also? If she does then she just may have to be desensitized. Have your husband do it since he is more comfortable around horses. Also do you go to her head on or off to the side? Always approach more to the side because they can see you better. That's what I was always told anyway. Also horses seem to like it better if you pat the sides of their head not their nose.