So, I was kind of wondering pet vs pat.
I never pat my horse - I pet, so I was wondering about those who do.
When some people physically praise their horse by patting, does their horse actually like that? I mean, it doesn't really seem as "normal" (I know, everything we do with horses isn't "normal") compared to petting (or stroking or scratching).
I know that some sensitive horses don't really like it, and that others can become desensitized/ignore/tolerate it, but do they actually learn to like/enjoy it over petting as physical praise? If so, how can you tell they actually like it rather than simply being "used to it"?
I also know that some horses simply don't like any physical praise, so that's not really what I asking.
I never pat my horse - I pet, so I was wondering about those who do.
When some people physically praise their horse by patting, does their horse actually like that? I mean, it doesn't really seem as "normal" (I know, everything we do with horses isn't "normal") compared to petting (or stroking or scratching).
I know that some sensitive horses don't really like it, and that others can become desensitized/ignore/tolerate it, but do they actually learn to like/enjoy it over petting as physical praise? If so, how can you tell they actually like it rather than simply being "used to it"?
I also know that some horses simply don't like any physical praise, so that's not really what I asking.