Are your horses affectionate?

He has his moments. He'll always offer me a smooch but he's not what I would consider a cuddly pony although if I can get in to his stable quick enough when he's lying down, he'll let me!

Before I leave the yard, he'll come away from his haynet to squish his muzzle between the bars in the stable window to let me kiss him before I go and in the morning tolerates a lot of smooching when I arrive whilst he's straining to look over the stable door at me (short a*se!) It's so soft, I can't get enough of it!!!

He follows me around a lot, he's more like a large dog and when I'm grooming him he's like to rub his nose on my butt cheeks which is hilarious.

He's quite jealous generally also and doesn't even like me going in to other horses stables to put a headcollar on to turn out. Very much a "me first!!!" attitude!
 
Fudge likes a hug and fuss, Lady not so much, she does like a face rub though. Both whinny when I arrive though which is sweet and Lady whickers at me too.
 
I didn't think my mare was very cuddly at all at first. One day I was feeling fragile after news of a close friend's death, but went to the yard and it was business as usual. Somehow my girl knew something was up and she put her muzzle on my cheek and breathed in my ear and down my neck for ages, which is something she'd never done before.

After awhile I realised she is affectionate just in a very quiet and gentle fashion; usually just standing very close to me with her shoulder against mine, smelling me or gazing at me.
 
All of mine are affectionate and just people lovers in general :)

They amuse me most in the field - they seem to have worked out a system, Danica (lead mare) is first in line and when she deems she has had enough fuss she will move aside and Dandea has a turn, then Freyja and lastly Helen. They never fuss just seem to form an orderly queue. They never get treats just want to be scratched.
 
Mine boys are very affectionate :-) They whinney every morning when I get there and both do kisses and cuddles, follow me round the field, they'd sit on my lap given half a chance. My previous mare hated affection and refused to be fussed at all :-(
 
My horse is quite affectionate. My one horse, Billy always used to rest his chin on my shoulder and if I popped away from the stable for a minute he would be watching for me to come back, not anxiously but still waiting and searching the horizon for me.

I truly did love this horse and I feel he loved me. When I lost him it was very sudden and unexpected (he dropped down with a heart attack and died when I wasn't there). Years later I spoke to a horse whisperer as by this stage had lost four horses in short succession and was paranoid I'd lose my new one. She did a reading on my current horse and said Billy had to leave me suddenly and he had been very sorry he didn't get to say goodbye to me, he had a tightening in his chest and had to go.

I found it so reassuring that my precious boy had come back to say the farewell that he had been denied at the time.
 
My old boy will be 27 this year and is less affectionate than he used to be. He has always been a little aloof but used to come over and have a quiet cuddle for say ten mins or so but now prefers to come over, have a quick two minute scratch and cuddle then mosey off to continue sleeping. He is like this with everyone except my dad who he has a proper boy crush on and for him its all whinnies, licks and kisses! My youngster is very affectionate and follows me everywhere. You can give him a proper snog and he loves it lol! He is very much like a big dog, he will even lie down and roll over for kids to scratch his belly!
 
He is certainly nosey and people-oriented, but that doesn't necessarily translate to affectionate. Sometimes he really wants a fuss (like yesterday in the field), but sometimes he just wants to know what you are doing/holding in your hand/looking at, etc. Either way, he will always, always, always come to call (or sometimes just come over), have his head over the door if there are people about, come over if you are in the field, etc.

P
 
Archie loves a cuddle but hates being brushed, clipped, trimmed or generally being fiddled with. He'll tolerate having the base of his ears rubbed if he's certain you're not going to produce a brush any minute but the cuddles have to be just cuddles, no scratching or grooming. Monty is much less affectionate but lets you do anything to him, he's almost a bit robotic. The only time he'll have a cwtch is when he's been hanging around on the trailer for a bit at a show and he's bored.
 
yes.....mare too...

if your stood in the stable your fair game....back scratch, head all over me nuzzling me - quite sweet except she normally chooses to do it when im in a rush or ive just washed my hair!! :D
 
Old Mare wasn't, she'd put up with fuss, but wouldn't seek it out unless she was ill. It was a sure sign something wasn't right if she came up to you and nudged you.

Nugz on the other hand literally places himself in situ for affection. Even does the dog thing of trying to nudge his head under your hand :D

Not a fan of bum scratching and kisses as ime they tend to be big horses in small stables that present either their bums to you, or you see a hinking great muzzle heading towards your face which is a bit scary if you don't know the horse!
 
It depends on what mood she's in, generally she likes to keep to herself, I often question whether she even likes the company of other horses, she comes in during the day through choice...

Having said that she can be really sweet, gives kisses and likes a good scratch.

She thinks my mum is the most amazing person in the world (although she usually always brings treats...) but she can and does take an instant dislike to some people for no apparent reason what so ever. She usually always comes over in the field, and is also quite protective over me, I'm her human... She is starting to get more affectionate towards me the more she gets to know me, I've only had her 6/7 months.
 
My boy is really aloof. He normally wants to know me when I have a treat in my pocket. But occasionally he will put his head into my arm for a snuggle. On the other hand he adores my 11 year old son and will constantly be in his face for strokes and cuddles! He is a 16'2 German Warmblood and can be spooky at the best of times, but when My son is around he acts like a donkey. My son leads him in from the field and walks under his belly to get things from the grooming box rather than going round him, all the time with two brown eyes following him religiously.
 
I thought all mine were affectionate, which they are, in the ordinary way of things. This despite never being caught for anything but work, and never given treats.

However, I now have a couple of 3yo colts, which we took on as foals. These things are 300kg teddy bears. You can't go near the field without being met for a snuggle. Head on your shoulder, blowing into your ear, nuzzling your nose - the works. If they're lying down in the field, you can lay down with them, or indeed on them, and they'll stretch out with their head on the ground grunting with contentment.

We just backed them, and one reacted to being sat on for the first time by moving in to cuddle his leader (me) - not bargy at all, but resting his head on my shoulder and breathing into my neck.

We haven't done anything different with these two. It's just their nature. They're quiet and very trusting. Should be house pets really :)
 
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