Pat Your Horse...Gently

Everyone has seen riders slap their horses on the neck enthusiastically at the end of a showjumping round or dressage test.

It’s intended to let your horse know they performed well – but what if it delivers the opposite message? This article from Horse Nation explores whether horses like to be patted.

The U.K. group Equine Behaviourist shared a study on the subject and found that scratching around the wither area consistently lowers a horse’s heart rate. Further, the technique may be very effective for horses that finish performances with overt responsiveness.

But wait before you begin, watch this video on how to pat your horse properly (and lovingly).

Thank you, Margueritte for providing the Reader’s Choice topic.