Whacking a horse between the ears

["Tara Wheeler" <harpy@io.com>]

I have a horse who was sold to me by a very timid rider.

 

This horse had a whole bag of tricks intended to get you to give up and leave her alone, one of which was head shaking which would slowly escalate and work its way up to a near-rear.  It almost seemed as if she were purposly trying to whack you in the face with the back of her head.

 

She and I were 'having it out' one afternoon when I lost my temper, leaned forward and smacked her right between the ears with my cupped palm, making a loud popping noise.  I had been told to never hit a horse on the head as it makes them head-shy, which this gal already was.

 

Well, she stopped dead, thought about it and quit shaking and jigging. 

 

She'll start to do it again, and then think about it and quit.

 

Sometimes one well  placed swat will solve the problem.  Sometimes not.