So, I've noticed something that my friend's horses do with her. Whenever she is around her horses, they always rub their heads up and down on her, pushing very hard. Now I've heard some people say that this is a sign of disrespect and horses shouldn't do that. She says it's them just loving on her. Which is true?

I think it can be some of each depending on the horses and people involved.  It can also be dangerous.  I know it was a totally freak thing, but I watched my friend's gelding's full-cheek bit get caught on her belt loop when he was rubbing on her.  She was lifted off her feet, and thrown into the arena wall when he understandably spooked.  I know it's a one in a billion chance, but I won't let a horse rub on me after seeing that!

Suzanne

Well, I don't know. Everyone has different views on it. Whenever my horse is done working he likes to have me scratch his ears and forehead. He usually rubs on me, and if I just hold my hand on his head he'll go up and down, rubbing his head on my hand. I do it so he knows he was a good boy. It's only after he's done working that he does it, so I figure he does it to say that he was a good boy for his mom today.

When you let a horse invade your space for ANY reason it sets a bad precedent. Rubs and scratches should be GIVEN by you, not TAKEN by your horse. I know lots of people think it's cute and conjure up anthropomorphic reasons to make it acceptable. But your horse is only regarding you as a soft tree or post to scratch on and it IS disrespectful behavior. ~FH 

that is an obnoxious habit. it devalues the respect your horse should have for your personal space. i never let my horses rub their heads on me, if they have an itch that fence post over there is just as effective and less likely to fall over if they push too hard.

See, you do get many opinions on the subject!

Mine is that boundaries are set by me.  When I don't like a behavior that I feel could encroach to much on my limits, I correct it.  My approach to the whole rubbing thing is to hold my arm out and allow them to rub their face on that and use my hands to give a good scratch. They don't rub on my body because it's too easy for them to get too enthusiastic and knock me on my bum.  If you're using tack that might snag, take it off first.  I don't agree that this behavior means you're "just a scratching post".  IMHO it's the kind of thing horses do for each other, it gives you both a touch contact, not much different than giving your SO a back rub, except you have to remember the weight and power difference.

If you don't like it, don't allow it - if it doesn't bother you, then be sure you are the one setting the limits and scratch away.

My horse was taugh, before I got her, to respect peoples space when leading and even in the pasture.  She was trained with parelli.  However when we are in the pasture she will sometimes walk up to me and rest her head on my chest, sometimes wiht slight rubbing.  To me there is nothing wrong with that.  However is the horse sees you as a scratching post, that is wrong b/c they are acting as though you are below them (your scratching post sure won't boss you around).  It is also dangerous especially with a halter or bridle on.  Trust me I have experianced it!  Bascially loving can be done without rubbing.  Hehe I like that!

Alrighty. Thanks guys for giving me an answer! I thought that it wasn't a smart thing to be your horse's scratch post. But now I know for sure. :)

I don't know that it is a sign of disrespect as much as just something the horse enjoys doing because it feels good. That said, it is a bad habit to encourage as it can result in severe injury to the horseperson. There have been documented incidents of broken bones - one notable incident in which the horse's head slid up and hit a guy in the jaw, breaking it. It is best to teach your horses to respect your personal space to prevent getting stepped on or otherwise injured. I use a soft brush upon returning from rides and removing the bridle when my horses seem to crave having their heads rubbed, standing at arm's length for safety to give them a thorough rubbing. Some would say they trust their horses and that their horses would never injure them. I  would normally say that too, but you NEVER know. A horse I have raised and trained and put a great degree of trust in spooked backward totally unexpectedly last week and caused me to fall against a metal object, leaving a giant nasty bruise. It pays with horses to be prepared for any reaction and never take their docile natures for granted. They are still 1000 pound animals!

FH said it short and sweet and to the point...

When I am done with my horse, I will scratch him on the forehead, take his bridle, hackamore, or ropehalter (or whatever I was riding with, off) and then give him permission to scratch on a scratching post-the goat pen fence. I don't allow him to scratch on me, however...he's 1100 pounds...I am 165...big difference in size...no way I am letting him have a good itch on me, no matter how 'kind' he is about it!!Lol!!!!

pygmysong:

FH said it short and sweet and to the point...

When I am done with my horse, I will scratch him on the forehead, take his bridle, hackamore, or ropehalter (or whatever I was riding with, off) and then give him permission to scratch on a scratching post-the goat pen fence. I don't allow him to scratch on me, however...he's 1100 pounds...I am 165...big difference in size...no way I am letting him have a good itch on me, no matter how 'kind' he is about it!!Lol!!!!

But your signature says "When your horse follows you without being asked, when he rubs his head on yours, and when you look at him and feel a tingle down your spine you know you are loved."

I'm confused....do you let him rub his head on you or not?????

Briahna's Mom:

But your signature says "When your horse follows you without being asked, when he rubs his head on yours, and when you look at him and feel a tingle down your spine you know you are loved."

I'm confused....do you let him rub his head on you or not?????

 My siggy is a quote I found online...I should have edited it but chose not to,mainly because I didn't know who wrote it, and didn't want them to become offended if they discovered that someone had rewritten it!

 I do hold my horse's head close to my chest, yes, and hug his face, and kiss his soft velvety nose,  but I don't let him rub on me...he's an awfully large animal, and I am quite small compared to him...

I remember watching a Pat Parelli DVD and his wife Linda's horse was rubbing his big head on her and she said, I was told I shouldn't let him do this, but I let Pat rub on me, so why not my horse?  LOL!!!!!!

My pony does this a lot and I hate it. When I dismount I can't stand anywhere near her head or she will rub on me. this is despite a lot of training to try and prevent it. If I want to undo any of her bridle kit I have to do it at arm's length. Very very annoying and persistant habit. I think it is because she was brought up in a riding school and over handled as a foal by young kids.

However, I have noticed some things that can cause it to happen more than usual with other horses as well as my own.

> flash nosebands... epsecially if the horse has been sweating or salivating they rub to get the flash off after work.

> Hot horses that are itchy under their bridles. Especially if the tack isn't as clean as it should be and the horse has a bit of a winter coat on.