Anyone else got a horse who wouldn't appreciate a sharer?

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Parkranger

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I have thought about getting someone to ride my mare a couple of times a week seeing as work is so hectic but it will probs calm down after crimbo.

Anyhow, I'm stunned at how quickly she's become attached to me. I was warned about her back end and how she is a bit of a grumpy bag but she seems to have bonded really quickly with me......

Anyway, a few people have said that she's a one person pony and is such a different character after I brought her a few weeks ago. I spent 15 mins in the field with her (without treats/feeding) and she wouldn't leae me alone....

So, do you think there are really horses/ponies out there like that or is it just our take on what they're feeling?
 
Some definitely bond with new people quicker than others and there are those that get really unsettled by a new rider, so my answer is yes. They are as individual as we are IMO!
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Nope I think there are some "one person horses" one of mine is like this - she'll not go near any strangers, blows down her nose if they try to stroke her, tanks off if they try to catch her and heaven forbid if they want to mount her, my other filly couldn't care aless who you are - anyone is fair game to her !
 
Guess so - I've had geldings since back in riding and forgotten how strong a bond you can get with a good mare.

She comes to call already (no walking up muddy fields for me!)

I guess after my last two horses I am waiting for it to go wrong! haha
 
Yes, my old mare (23/24) is a one person horse, and I was told this by her breeder when I bought her. She won't be caught if there are strangers in the field, and she likes her peace and quiet
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Lucy and i have a very strong bond. I have owned her for 11 years and the longest we have been appart in that time is the 3 and a half weeks i spent in hospital when i broke my hip last year before that the entire time we had been apart probably added up to 3 weeks! I paid meat money for her as she was dangouras due to her first two owners mistreating her and i was told to have her shot, now She always winneys to me when ever she sees me and would follow me to the ends of the earth (and probably over the edge). It is amazing to have that sort of bond with a pony and so many people ask me how i have acheaved it. I don't realy know lucy is just my best friend and i can't imagen life without her.
 
Yes, Cappy is definately a one /two person horse. I don't ride anymore, due to an old hunting injury, so Elizabeth is the only person who rides him. That is definately the way he likes it, if anyone else tries riding him he gets very anti. Elizabeth's instructor rode him once and he was an a**e he tried rearing, backing up and just about anything he could. She said he was the most "bloody minded " horse she had ever met! Elizabeth got back on and he was as good as gold. Cappy is also extremely picky about who he talks to, some people he simply will not entertain. Others he will talk to if he in the mood. Nobody but Elizabeth and I are allowed to touch his face or groom his head. If someone comes into the barn and over to his stable he will put his head in the corner and ignore them until they leave. He will gallop over for Elizabeth or me to bring him in, anyone else has to traipse across the field.

Fany is anyones for a carrot or a cuddle!
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I personally think that it is down to their personality, Cappy is outgoing, just choosy and quite happy to have a one/two to one relationship. Whereas Fany just loves to be loved and it really does notmatter who is giving the love.
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That's a lovely story Laurawheeler.

Most of the horses I have owned wouldn't mind at all. But my old mare would care a lot. Its not that she would play up for someone else, but she is such a worrier and loses confidence very easily. We know each other so well that if I give her a pat and tell her not to worry 9 times out of 10 she believes me. She wouldn't suit being shared and would just get all confused and unhappy. Silly old bat that she is but I do adore her!
 
The old Appy mare was very much a one person horse, she owned me and that was that! Would allow other members of the family to look after her, but I was hers and she was not keen on me doing anything with the other horses. She actually attacked the pony one day after she had seen me riding it
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the only time she was agressive to one of our others.
The current Appy is not quite as bad, but she does seem to believe that I belong to her, rather than to any of the others
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I do wonder sometimes if it is an appy trait?
 
It's lovely that you have such a good bond but I don't think it necessarily means that someone else won't be able to create one. My friend's mare is quite grumpy to strangers and initially only really liked her owner. I went in to skip her out one day and she kicked me in the leg just for being in her space, I hadn't even touched her. However one summer my boy was off due to lameness and I had a few weeks off work, so I rode her a few days a week to help her owner with fitness. During that time she got used to me and became surprisingly affectionate. That was 2 years ago and even though I now only ride her very rarely she still comes to me in the field and is very sweet to handle. You'd need to ifnd the right sharer though, who is prepared to put some time in to working on the relationship, and isn't put off by her grumpiness at first. And also you would need to be comfortable with someone else having that bond, and not be jealous!
 
I'm not sure that Milly would be that keen on a sharer to be honest. When i first got her she was a nightmare to catch, would just tank around the field -she comes to the gate when she sees my car now, and when i handle other horses she stand glaring at me its quite funny. She will be caught be me or my YO, or my 6 year old daughter (Milly is 16.1h but she puts her head right down for littleone to put her head collar on bless her) but no one else. I think she would adjust eventually but she is one that takes a while to buld trust in a human.
 
My tb has had 2 loan homes now, the 1st one he was in he was bargy, moody and the lady fell off of him. needless to say he came back to me. 2nd home he is an angel in all respects and i could 'tell' he liked his new owner. i really feel he had something against the 1st one
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There are plenty of horses who are distrustful or nervous of new people.

But just like with you (i.e their owner) they get used to the new sharer and bond with them too. Doesn't mean they love you any less, or they they shouldn't have a sharer.

Most horses, IME, have enjoyed the extra love and attention from someone else.
 
yeah i posted on here a while back to ask what i should look for in a sharer i have had five people out to tyr him and he has been a total Sh&t lol so no one wants him so i have to struggle all winter by myself he has thrown two of them off in the school so im just gonna keep on going myself
 
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