Are horses ticklish?

Some horses are absolutely ticklish, especially on the belly - it's one of the things that can cause reluctance or aggression when being saddled or groomed. Ticklish horses have to be handled a little bit more carefully so as not to upset them.

Ticklishness is actually part of the natural reaction to shake off flies, but some horses do seem to take it to an extreme. It can be worse in the summer when the coat is thinner.