Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: Forehead Rub or Wither scratch

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Horse Behavior and Training

Forehead Rub or Wither scratch

By:

Ella

Date:

2020-Apr-21 at 10:52AM

Hello
After gong on some Intelligent Horsemanship courses in the UK Im curious about what makes the forehead rub during join up significant, and how does it compare to a scratch on the withers?
Does one have better benefit for connecting that the other? Is one better for calming that the other?
Any thoughts would be useful please
Best wishes
Ella

JoHewittVINTA 2020-Apr-21 at 04:39PM

Hi Ella & welcome to the Uni. Scratching the withers is comforting - their mother scratched them there as a foal. Rubbing between the eyes is a trust thing. The horse can't see your hand & so by willingly letting you touch a part of their body they cannot see shows they don't fear you'll hurt them. Cheers, Jo.

Ella 2020-Apr-25 at 11:24AM

Hi Jo
Thanks for your reply! So maybe a horse who you've completed join up with may be more accepting of a rub on the forehead than a horse who was a stranger to you?
Best wishes
Ella

JoHewittVINTA 2020-Apr-25 at 05:42PM