The Itchiest Horse In the World

Meet Princess L’Heureux, aka Penny, the itchiest horse I’ve ever met in my life.

The last time I went to my parents and stopped by the barn for a visit, Penny was awfully happy to see me. Mom and I were making our way down the barn aisle and checking out some of the new horses along the way. I happened to stop to talk to the horse in the stall next to Penny. She couldn’t see me, but she heard me. And started nickering. And didn’t stop until I came to her stall. I opened the door and walked in. And instead of getting a nose in my face or sniffed greeting, Penny walked away from the door and pivoted on her forehand until her side was right next to me. She about knocked me over. She was saying loud and clear, “SCRATCH ME!” When I hesitated she flexed her head around and looked at me with ears perked as if to say, “please?”

Her favorite spots are the sides of her withers, along the edges of her spine, and just above her flank (oh, and her female parts behind her belly — she lets out the funniest squeals if you use the soft rubber curry there and gets mad when you stop). If you start scratching those spots, she about falls over in utter bliss. Literally. She’s come really close a few times. She twists her head to the side, shoves out her upper lip as far as it can go, bulges her side into the scratching, and lifts her back leg. No joke. She’s even imitated the dog thing on occasion where she flexes her head around, lifts her back leg and gets it going.

If you scratch her withers and she’d rather be scratched on her flank, she takes a few steps forward until you’re scratching just the right spot. If she gets tired of that one, she’ll back up so you can get another one.

For being the itchiest horse in the world, Penny sure hates to be brushed. She pins her ears and moves around constantly when you use a hard or soft brush. But if you break out the metal shedding blade, she’s in heaven. And she never wants you stop. She’s so goofy about it that it’s always fun.

The only problem with the itchy queen is that if you oblige her and scratch, she feels like she needs to scratch you back. It’s especially dangerous if you are standing near her head while someone else is scratching her. Horse teeth are big. Very big.

Fortunately at our last visit, Penny decided to about face to have her other side scratched, and returned the favor on the wall instead.