This sounded so odd to me-a friend told me recently that she can't use a dandy brush on her horse because it tickles. Irritation I can understand but tickling? Isn't the hair thick enough to stop that?

Some horses are more sensitive than others so the dandy brush could tickle. Using more deliberate pressure could alleviate it, as could a different type of bristle. Synthetic/natural bristles move differently and feel different when used on your skin.

This does not seem uncommon at all. If compared to a cat brush I can no longer use it might not be an exact tickle like you or I are used to, but an odd feeling that can end up similar.

Yes I guess I can see that the sensations might be different for different horses, and for different types of brush. Could this be solved simply by using a different, stiffer brush?