Horse

Petting a horse can be a gratifying experience, for both you and the equine receiving your attention. But you need to know how to do it properly. First, you must not pat its face. Horse's do not like a stranger coming up and patting their faces any more than you or I would. Instead, reach your hand out, palm flat and up, and allow the horse to sniff your palm.

Once the horse has extended his nose to your palm, speak softly to him and reach out the same hand to the base of his neck, down where the neck meets the withers. This is where you may pat the horse in a friendly manner.

Petting a horse is more like patting. Horses, except in winter, often do not have much hair, so you do not "pet" it in the same fashion you would a cat or a dog. Instead, you pat it gently but firmly in the area mentioned above, and then quickly transition into scratching.

Nothing pleases a horse more than when you scratch him in all his itchy places he cannot reach. So transition from your gentle pats into a firm and deliberate scratching of his back, behind his withers, and along his neck. He will love it and will often show you by stretching his body so you can reach the best areas.

Remember not to pat a horse in sensitive areas such as his flanks, rear end, legs, face, or ears. Save your pats for neck, back, withers, and the hips.

Horse

Horse

Horse

Horse