Calm down dear, It's just your reflection.

[LauraWheeler]

Herbs has lost a chunk off his hoof and as his field is currently mainly mud i desided to bring him into his stable and turn him out in the school during the day to be on the safe side.
There is a mirror up one end of the school. Herbs normaly ignores it and just munches on the grass round the edge of the school.
Today for some reason he went over to the mirror. Stared at it for a while, then rested his head agaist it.
Suddenly all hell broke loose and he started screaming, striking out and headbutting the mirror
He must have thought it was another horse (This is why he has to live in a field on his own)
Luckly no harm was done to him or the mirror but Tommorrow I'm going to block the mirrors off so he can't get near them just to be safe incase he does it again.
He's such an antisocial pony.

 

[fjordhorsefan]

I shouldn't laugh, but Bless him!

Mine loves staring at himself in a mirror, he's vain!

 

[*hic*]

My big mare loathes mirrors or any reflection of herself and will attack them with her teeth. I've learnt not to keep the lorry too clean as it has bite marks where she attacked her reflection after it had been polished

 

[FreddiesGal]

Maybe you need to do the exact opposite and let him see the mirrors as much as possible so he can get used to them, same with being with other horses? Just a suggestion

 

[fburton]

This one always makes me smile to watch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIQKiQKzkSw

 

[Wagtail]

This one always makes me smile to watch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIQKiQKzkSw

Aw, that's delightful.

 

[Sprout]

Wish you had got a vid of that Laura!

 

[cundlegreen]

My stallion was away at a yard for an overnight stay, and his box had a mirror. He spent ages chatting himself up, complete with squeals and front leg waving. I've never laughed so hard!!

 

[Achinghips]

Herbs has lost a chunk off his hoof and as his field is currently mainly mud i desided to bring him into his stable and turn him out in the school during the day to be on the safe side.
There is a mirror up one end of the school. Herbs normaly ignores it and just munches on the grass round the edge of the school.
Today for some reason he went over to the mirror. Stared at it for a while, then rested his head agaist it.
Suddenly all hell broke loose and he started screaming, striking out and headbutting the mirror
He must have thought it was another horse (This is why he has to live in a field on his own)
Luckly no harm was done to him or the mirror but Tommorrow I'm going to block the mirrors off so he can't get near them just to be safe incase he does it again.
He's such an antisocial pony.

My cockatiel did EXACTLY the same thing, but on a more serious note, some do say that mirrors are supposed to reduce separation anxiety. Guess sometimes seeing yourself is not a pretty sight lol

 

[Ladyinred]

Poor boy lol. Maybe his reflection said something rude to him?

 

[Big Ben]

LOL, love the video

 

[LauraWheeler]

FreddiesGal thanks for the suggestion but Herbs is just to agressive to go in with other horses. When I first got him we put him in with a dartmoor and he attacked it then picked it up by it's crest and ran round the field carrying it Merryn once got through the electric fence that seperated them and Herbs layed into him to The only horse he has lived happily with was a mare and then he just spent the whole time mounting her When I hack him out in company we have to stay at the back away from others as he will just randomly go for the other horses without warning He's just one of those horses who would rather be on his own. Infact he doesn't let any other living thing except for me in his field. He even trys to stamp on the rabbits

fjordhorsefan Merryn thinks the other horse in the mirror is his friend

Dee O'Dorant glad it's not just Herbs. But if I ever get a lorry i'll remember not to keep it to clean

fburton Awwww that's how Merryn would be.

Sprout So do I

cundlegreen LOL

Achinghips Herbs has no problem with separation angxiety

Ladyinred Seeing as it was HIS reflection it probably did.

 

[RayJaguarStorm]

I took my new boy for a lesson where their indoor had mirrors, my instructor over dramatised by saying 'Be careful with the mirrors, he's never seen mirrors before and he could rear, strike out and kill himself'

As it turned out he wasn't at all bothered but after when I rode my instructors stallion he was mental! rearing and trying to charge the mirrors He also spooked every time he caught his own reflection Did I mention he's ridden in there nearly every day?

 

[mandwhy]

They do a 'mirror test' in self awareness tests on animal intelligence, not that many animals actually know it's them although most horses seem to be at the 'another horse! Where'd it go? There it is!' Stage! My cat doesn't even acknowledge it and I thought he was clever

I love the dolphins!

BBC Report Dolphins see themselves in mirror [mymovie.WS] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5oOOLr0vXc&sns=tw via @youtube