{"id":1005,"date":"2011-06-20T15:58:48","date_gmt":"2011-06-20T05:58:48","guid":{"rendered":"\/blog\/?p=1005"},"modified":"2025-07-31T18:57:35","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T08:57:35","slug":"finding-that-friendship-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalhorseworld.com\/stage\/finding-that-friendship-spot\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding that Friendship Spot"},"content":{"rendered":"

Becoming friends first with your horse can be achieved most easily by engaging in mutual grooming, just like horses do.
\n\u201cMutual grooming is one of the most important acts for cementing the relationship between two horses \u2026. It is an indicator of the strongest bond within an equine family \u2013 friendship.\u201d Quoted from the book, Trust Instead of Dominance by Marlitt Wendt.<\/p>\n

\"MutualGrooming\"
Mutual grooming is the best way to develop a friendship.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Every Horse is an Individual<\/h3>\n

By not riding and developing that pair bond with my horses, I have discovered how the horses are much more pleased to see me.
\nEven when I walk out with a halter, horses who once had that ‘oh no here we go again’ look on their face, or worse still \u2013 walked away, are now coming to me with ears up and sidling over for a good old scratching session.<\/p>\n

Not only that, but my horses are also able to tell me exactly where they are itchy on that day. Armero comes up and nudges me politely to ask for an itch then lines up her body alongside the place to scratch. Her daughter Amy has learned to do this too by watching and copies the nudge every now and then or rests her head on my shoulder.<\/p>\n

Jack sidles over, stretching out, and lifts his hind leg to indicate he wants his sheath area cleaned and Glory presents her tummy to me for a good rub underneath, or bites the spot she’s itchy to show me where to start. Fantasy positions her backside towards me because her itchy spot is around the tail.<\/p>\n

Start with scratching<\/h3>\n

I love the look of pure enjoyment and bliss when I give them their daily ‘grooming’ and have been able to teach them various little things like backing up from behind and coming sideways to me by using the itch as a reward.<\/p>\n

I see this as the perfect place to start the relationship \u2013 you are offering the horse something they want and in return, they look forward to your company and give you a little of what you would like as an understanding develops.
\nThis video shows how Glory asks for her itch and how Fantasy takes her first steps in learning to back up to me \u2013 a very useful tool for backing out of tight spaces or the horse trailer.<\/p>\n

\"YouTube