New mustang?

Question

so i just got a mustang, this is only my second horse

what is he telling me when i come up to him he lets me rub the bridge of his nose but if i move to his left side he will back up or put his head down, sometime he lets me rub his left side but he wants to put his head on my shoulder!

someone please help me better understand him

Answer 1

this is an avoidance tactic. he's protecting his vulnerability to another living creature that he hasn't decided is a predator or not. give him time, lots of ground work and proving that you are one of the herd and not one of the animals that wants to eat him.

Answer 2

it sounds like what he's doing is to avoid looking at you, which is his way of avoiding you altogether.... its one of those "if i dont see it then its not happening" kind of things...

your touching him on the bridge of the nose doesnt really say much, because while it is a sensitive spot and a reflexive spot, its easy for the horse to get away from anything there.. he can back up, put his head up, or head down, and be away from it with little effort... when youtouch the bridge of his nose how is he looking at you? depending on how he looks at you and holds his neck says a lot of things, as well as who leaves the interaction first...

when does he try to leave when you approach his side (and does he do the same thing on the right side?)...find the comfort point where his expression and body carriage does not change, and hang there and work from that point, and decrease the distance step by step, over a long period of time, until you can approach him and hang next to him while he maintains a completely relaxed an accepting pose...watch his ears, his mouth, his eyes, his tail, how he shifts his weight, etc....mustangs are great because they are still very reflexive and have so much to show you if you listen....

Answer 3

he loves you.and he wants to stay with you.

Answer 4

I answered a question that dealt with this kind of thing for Lacey W. You can search her or go to my profile and look at my answered questions. Also, don't use the word broke. It's the wrong word and if you actually break then you don't need to be around horses. Not saying you do, alot of people say broke and they aren't thinking about what it really means. Take a look at the post please. Good luck.

Answer 5

He is not sure about you, he is still deciding if you want to eat him or not.  It is unusual that he lets you touch his head, usually when horses are scared of something the last thing they want it to do is go near their head.  Go out every day, and stroke his nose.  Then move back toward his neck.  If he moves, dont go back any further, just keep rubbing the same spot until he stands still and relaxes.  There are 6 signs of a relaxed horse.  Cocking their leg, l*****g their lips, lowering their head, letting out a big breath, blinking, or standing still for 15 seconds or more (basically until you think they aren't thinking about moving).  As soon as he shows you one of these signs, go back up by his face, and start again.  You should be able to get a little further each time.  You dont mention how he is on his right side, but you want to work over there too.  Once he is comfortable with your hands moving all over his body, then you can start groundwork and desensitising him to other things, like plastic bags and such.  

Good luck!

Answer 6

you sound like you need help. at this age you should teach him to keep out of your personal space. shoving his face in yours seems cute but isnt safe. then you can desensitize him without trouble. horses are more insecure if they dont have a leader.

Answer 7

it will probly just take time for him to trust u, just slowly everyday rub his neck and work ur way down and wen he shows he dosent like it, stop and just pet him were hes comfortable

Answer 8

hes probably been hurt or hit on that side and is scared you ll do it

Answer 9

I guess I would have to ask you where you got this Mustang. Did you get him from a previous owner, or from an adoption facility? Are you able to ride him? Has he been ridden before and by whom? It sounds like he is relatively tame because he puts his head on your shoulder. It does not sound like he is trying to hurt you, but he is giving you a signal. I would ask the previoius owner and see what they can tell you.