[chocchipcookie]

So if a horse pulls a face at you, do you punish for that? Assuming that is as far as they go?

I have a new horse and he is most definately boss horse amongst the three of them. Towards me he is fairly polite and hasn't tried to take my arm off or kick me, he hasn't tested me out at all really.

However, walking up to him in the paddock he will scrunch his nose up and pin his ears. He doesn't pin his ears nearly as much -if at all- when the halter or bridle is on. It is slowly decreasing as well.

I haven't told him off for the face pulling because he hasn't taken it any further. Plus he's so insecure and maybe defensive as well at the moment as he's come from the racing stables and has just been thrown out on twenty acres of bush and he's had a bit of a culture shock. But I am wondering if that is wrong of me?

Thoughts please?

[Kirsten93]

well, as far as the putting back ears-that shows he is being aggressive and that needs to be consulted. However, many of the funny faces horses pull are not on purpose and I think it is unnecessary to punish them-even unfair.

[Lopinslow]

i think it depends on the situation and the horse. My show gelding has always been a crabby and opinionated thing since day one. example, if i'm cleaning around him in his stall and ask him to move over, he will move over, but i'll sometimes get i don't WANT to - pinned ears and wrinkled face look. wtih him, for the most part i ignore it and actually laugh at him, as it's just part of who he is.
now, once when he was on stall rest for a month i was cleaning as he was eating and was standing blocking the door so i had to keep asking him to move. i kept getting "the look" until he got irritated and sort of lifted a leg at me.. which promptly got him 2 hard smacks on his rump with the flat side of the plastic pitchfork.

so, i really do just ignore the looks for the most part, but any escallation past that gets appropriate discipline.

[buck1173]

I certainly wouldn't pat him on the head for that.

Imho, a nasty expression means exactly what you think it means, nasty thought. Whether they act or not, they still have the thought, so I take expressions seriously... I personally will not feed my horses unless they are standing perfectly still with ears perked up and 'smiling' eyes.

A rude face means a rude thought, and can lead to a rude action.

However, I would not 'punish' the horse for making a rude face. When possible, politely but with authority, ask the horse to back a step when making a rude face. That is your display of 'I'm the dominant one here, rude faces won't get you anything". Simple, low key, to the point.

If he's come from a racing stable, he's probably used to making rude faces at anyone who walks by, all day long.... as you mentioned, he's got a nice new life now and will eventually realize there's nothing to think rudely about any more.

good luck

[Reitpferde]

I nice firm "HEY!" might work. When I adopted my OTTB, he made faces when I entered the stall. I know, why he reacted like that - horse handlers walking into the stall with a pitch fork at chest level...you know what I mean.

[JBandRio]

100% in agreement with Buck's post (go figure )

He hasn't acted, so there isn't really anything to "punish", not like if he bit or kicked or pretended to. But the nasty face DOES mean the thought is there, and if he regularly gets away with the thought, it's an easy step for him to test the action that goes along with that thought. THAT'S what you want to avoid.

I wouldn't let him near me with a nasty expression, so if that is "punishment", then yes, you do something about it. He doesn't approach until he's pleasant about it

[tbtrainer]

I also agree with Buck, and when my horses make rude faces, I usually tell them to "be nice"... they seem to understand and get over it quickly...

I would never feed one of mine while they have their ears pinned, that will only encourage the bad behaviour.

[Jenje!]

I shortly and swiftly drive off horses that give me rude looks. So yes, I actually punish the "thought". It's worked out well for me- my horses will not even snark at each other if they're standing with me, and I can always get happy ears and faces out of them.

[rageandglory]

other than my aphasic Abby, i take much the same position as Buck (well said, B : )

[Dancers Mom]

Originally Posted by chocchipcookie

So if a horse pulls a face at you, do you punish for that? Assuming that is as far as they go?

I have a new horse and he is most definately boss horse amongst the three of them. Towards me he is fairly polite and hasn't tried to take my arm off or kick me, he hasn't tested me out at all really.

However, walking up to him in the paddock he will scrunch his nose up and pin his ears. He doesn't pin his ears nearly as much -if at all- when the halter or bridle is on. It is slowly decreasing as well.

I haven't told him off for the face pulling because he hasn't taken it any further. Plus he's so insecure and maybe defensive as well at the moment as he's come from the racing stables and has just been thrown out on twenty acres of bush and he's had a bit of a culture shock. But I am wondering if that is wrong of me?

Thoughts please?

My mare will pin her ears back at me from time to time when I go get her out, I make her back up or move her away from me when she does this and then make her come to me instead of me going to her to put her halter on. She gets pissy like this when it has been a couple of days since she was worked. I guess she likes the life of riley and does not want to be interupped!