How to Cure a Headshy Horse
Some horses are naturally headshy, while others have become that way due to environment. For example, horses will become headshy if they have been abused, particularly if an owner or handler has ever hit them in the face. Essentially, headshy means that the horse reacts strongly to visual or auditory stimulus by throwing his head in the air or shaking his head violently. This can be both dangerous and annoying for horse owners. Here is how to cure a horse of this behavior.
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Instructions
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Schedule a vet check for the headshy horse to ensure there isn't a physical cause for his reactions. If the horse has ear mites, sore gums or anything else that causes pain in the head or ears, his behavior might be cured simply by treating the injury or illness.
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Halter the horse as slowly and methodically as possible to avoid eliciting a negative reaction. Gradually wrap the headstall around the top of his head rather than flinging it across, and make each movement as deliberate as possible. Clip a lead rope to the halter and lead the horse to a round pen or other small enclosure.
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Place the plastic bag, saddle pad and scarf on the ground in the round pen for later use. First, you'll just want to use your hands and reassure the horse. Any additional stimuli will just make training more difficult. Holding the lead rope firmly in one hand, wait until the horse is standing calmly in the round pen.
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Stand next to the shoulder of the headshy horse and begin to her shoulder, neck and crest. Make this a pleasurable experience for the horse, moving your hand in slow circles with the grain of the hair. Patting the horse will likely startle her and doesn't actually feel good to her.
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Talk to the headshy horse as you move your hand slowly toward his head. The best way to do this is to transfer your hand as slowly and deliberately as possible to his jaw, then around to his forehead and muzzle. Continue the circling motion with your hand, backing off if he starts to throw his head up.
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Remove your hand from the horse's face, then put it back on the face without going back to the neck and shoulder. Do this several times, rewarding her with slow strokes every time she allows you to touch her without throwing her head up. When she's done this five or six times, lead her around in a circle of the round pen, stop again, and reach up to touch her. If she doesn't exhibit headshy behavior this time, she's ready to move on to the next step. If she does, continue until she behaves herself.
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Pick up the colorful scarf as slowly as possible, then hold it out in front of you about one foot away from the headshy horse's muzzle. Stand still and quiet until he reaches down to investigate the scarf, then let him touch it with his muzzle.
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Lift the scarf up next to her ear, about six inches away from her face. Do this slowly, then lower it again if she throws her head up in protest. Continue again until she allows you to raise the scarf without any protest. Then slowly move the scarf all around her head, finally draping it over her muzzle and winding it around the back of her ears.
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Repeat this process with the plastic bag. Using the bag, you should know that you're adding an extra scary stimulus, which is the sound that the bag makes when you move it. This step will probably take longer than the scarf, and you might have to try for several days before he lets you move the bag around his head without throwing it up or backing away.
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Pick up the saddle bag and hold the horse with a lunge line, giving her about four feet of play in the line. Lift your arms just like you were going to put it on a horse's back, then lower it again, letting it flap. Do this over and over again, slowly moving toward the horse's back, staying behind the shoulder at all times. By the time you finish, the headshy horse should tolerate the saddle pad being thrown up and set on her back over and over again.
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Tips & Warnings
Remember that the goal is to show your horse that touching him in the face is not going to cause pain. You're trying to gain his trust, so keep this in mind at all times.
If it's easier, have one person hold the lead rope or lunge line while another uses the bag, scarf and saddle pad.
Never flap a saddle pad directly in front of a headshy horse's face. Instead, stay behind the shoulder where he can see it clearly.
- Photo Credit sxc.hu - merlijn72
