Comments on: Do horses like pats?

By: Christine

Christine — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 16:39:40 +0000

In reply to Sheila. Wow I like and agree with all you said. I am lucky and have a fox trotter who has not needed shoes but I do mostly trails and paved roads. My appy however wears boots most of the time. I couldn't afford a new set of shoes every 8 weeks so I envested in a great set of 4 boots. No shoes for 6 years and doing great. I also ride in halter with leadrope.each to their own. But always be safe.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 13:07:25 +0000

I like to use both it always depends on the horse

By: Keith Taylor

Keith Taylor — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 11:03:22 +0000

In reply to Carolyn Mamchur.

One of the best replies so far. People don’t TALK to their animals, but just expect them to do what they want the animals to do.
Google Anna Breytenbach to see some stunning examples of animal communication. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxqKwLPnUvs

By: Keith Taylor

Keith Taylor — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 10:51:11 +0000

I am appalled by the number of “experts” who do not know the first thing about the animals they purport to know.
NO animal LIKES being patted. They tolerate it from us because they know humans are stupid and don’t know better. If you want to know what actions any animal enjoys, watch how other members of its species and group act and emulate these actions.
ALL animals love being stroked (which equates to licking) and “nibbled”. The last you do with your fingertips, “nipping” with your fingernails as they do with their teeth.
One action that animals cannot perform, but which we can is rubbing inside their ears: you can stick your fingers deep inside a horse’s or donkey’s ear canals and rub gently. They turn to jelly as a result and will always seek you out in a crowd of people because you do this for them.

By: Beatrice

Beatrice — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 23:55:53 +0000

In reply to Pam Karlsgodt Roylance.

Yes, I agree…My animals too love it and come back to for more… Bea

By: Beatrice

Beatrice — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 23:49:14 +0000

Thank you so much for your loving helpful teachings.. I totally agree. B

By: Mira Lea

Mira Lea — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 00:18:45 +0000

In reply to Margie.

Margie,
Bring in a reputable trainer to work with both of you at the same time as a unit, starting from the ground up.
It might be possible that you and the filly have trust and confidence issues that need to be resolved safely, and the best way to do that is to have a third party there who knows how to accurately read horse/human body language and who can guide you as well as the filly.
My advice is to get her out of this habit before she gets any bigger.

By: HorseTown

HorseTown — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 04:08:37 +0000

In reply to Renie. Mine seems to like true old time western and light classical.

By: HorseTown

HorseTown — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 04:04:22 +0000

In reply to Megan. Amen. After 50 plus years of all kinds of tack, and several kinds of horses, I've never seen a horse problem that wasn't started by a people.

By: Sheila

Sheila — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 15:43:17 +0000

In reply to Alex. I hate to correct you, but for thousands of years we have not known better about metal shoes! The hoof expands and contracts ever so slightly and iron/metal shoes "inhibit" this action, which assists the PUMPING of the blood and aids in bio-mechanical, anatomical necessity of circulation!