Curious - How do you show your horse you love them?

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Horsekaren

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Morning,
I am interested in how you show your horses you love them :P
I know this sounds like a silly question :)
I have had my boy 4 months now and I am really beginning to feel the love and bond with him. He is an absolute sweetheart and I want him to feel like he is special and reward him now and again.
I don't particularly want to feed him treats as I don't want him to start niggling me for them every time he see's me. He loves a groom, a scratch and a fuss which he gets often:)
He is worked but not run ragged so he doesn't associate me with work all the time.

What do you do when you have the urge to reward your horse? Are there any other things I haven't mentioned that horses enjoy???

Thanks!!!:D
 
I don't. He doesn't know what that is.

He just knows he's sees me everyday. And he's always mighty pleased about seeing me cos he knows after we've done some exercise he's getting fed dried grass and chaff. Not why he finds that exciting but he does!
 
I kiss and hug them, but it's not for them, it's for me. I don't think they want to be loved, but they certainly want me to be pleased with them and that can look very similar. In fact it looks so similar that I sometimes wonder if there really any difference, between me raising their oxytocin levels by showing I am pleased with them and them raising mine because I love them!
 
ycbm said:
I kiss and hug them, but it's not for them, it's for me. I don't think they want to be loved, but they certainly want me to be pleased with them and that can look very similar. In fact it looks so similar that I sometimes wonder if there really any difference, between me raising their oxytocin levels by showing I am pleased with them and them raising mine because I love them!
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o I know this is mainly for me, hehe I think the title should have been how do you make your horse happy :P
 
my boy gets a good head scratch after we've worked, he gets a few treats every so often and gets to have a nice life with grass and friends.
 
They are happiest when their needs are met. Consistent, fair handling. Adequate food, water and shelter. Freedom from pain and the chance to express natural behaviours. Any concept of love or a bond, rewards, presents etc. is just us. They don't do that. You can show your new horse that you "love" them in a human sense by allowing them to be a horse.
 
If I feel like giving them a big kiss and a hug I do. I'm not sure they know exactly what I mean but they know I'm pleased with them. A scratch is far more appreciated or sometimes just having a chat with them.
 
pansymouse said:
My mare couldn't care a less and hates being fussed but a home made treat is very welcome and permission to gallop flat out on a hack keeps me in her good books.
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Same here

Mine doesnt really do cuddles or affection but I have had her years and she is the most hardworking and reliable companion I could ask for. Showing my 'love' by keeping her for life.
 
I treated his mites which stopped his legs being so sore, I had his teeth done, I had his back treated building up from a sports massage to a chiro vet adjustment as he got more able to cope with it, I always, always treat him fairly and I never fight with him, but there are boundaries. Hes never ridden in tack that doesnt fit, hes never worked beyond what he can comfortably manage. I feed him a suitable diet which soothed his inflamed stomach. i clicker trained him so he learnt that learning and working was something to be enjoyed. These are the things that are important to him.

Because of those things he adores me, comes at a trot when I pull up in the car and never takes his eyes off me. If ever a horse was able to show gratitude it would be him.

He does also love a good groom with the curry comb with the little rotating balls in it and turns into a ball of goo! :lol: And I think thats more what you were asking :)
 
Horsekaren said:
o I know this is mainly for me, hehe I think the title should have been how do you make your horse happy :P
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One of mine is made happy by being told he's a good boy and craves touch, anywhere just to be in contract. The other one seems to enjoy a big hug of his neck. One of my minis it's a back scratch but she's not that fussed, the other is shoulder or back or bum and she craves it.
 
I have had horses who prefer to be left alone and horses (like mine now) who love attention a will follow you round the field all day. I scratch him on his head and withers (like mutal grooming) he also gets a few treats but not to many. I also 'play' with him, in the field-over small logs, round barrells ect. I find out what he likes and mix that in with his work. Lots of pats and kisses. Some horses don't like that but Harry loves it. Harry loves swimming and we are lucky enough to have a lake/river which we swim in.
 
If you want love, get a dog. Horses don't do all that gooey stuff, they just need to feel secure. I respect my horses and try to ride and train them as well as I can, feed them enough, keep them worm-free, vaccinated and with comfortable teeth, make sure their tack fits and that I am fit, balanced and not too fat to ride them. That's all they want. I don't want my horses to "love" me either, I just want them to do what I ask without stress or drama.
 
I look after them to the best of my ability, I see that they have all they need. I keep them well groomed and make sure all their tack fits. I look after their health needs. When they are not working I allow them to be horses, I don't stick loads of rubbish on them in the field . I allow them to choose if they want their fly masks on ( yes they make it clear when they do and when they don't) I spend unpressured time with them , when we don't expect things from each other. I find them nice treats to eat because we all love a treat ( Kev loves a carrot , Moses likes polos and Ffin likes those long donuts with the cream) Yes I do kiss and hug my horses and they seem to like it but I do leave them alone to be horses. I respect their time just to be a horse.
I think the most important thing I try and do is listen to them and not assume that they are being naughty when things go wrong.
 
I started doing some clicker training with mine! She absolutely LOVES it. It keeps her mentally stimulated and also helps her to desensitize to "scary" things. She's only 4, so anything like this is VERY useful :D I suppose that helps to keep her happy as she's a little more sensitive than most and she's definitely becoming more confident - her brain has to work hard to calculate what she needs to do to be rewarded. I can't say all horses would enjoy this, but that's something we both enjoy doing and it's a very rewarding training exercise.

I think like everyone else has stated, as long as your horse is well cared for, they will be happy. So pleased you're enjoying your new pal - Keep at the good work. Sounds like he has a very positive owner who has his best interest at heart!

If you ever have any questions, everyone is super helpful and willing to help :D
 
as others have said, I try to meet their needs as well as I can, train them as well as I can and respect them for the creatures that they are ;)
One appears to be quite affectionate and seems to enjoy being touched - scratched/stroked/massaged so I do that with her and I enjoy it too. The other couldn't care less so I don't force it on her!

I think they know that I have their best interests at heart - they trust me, are interested in watching what I'm doing when I'm at the yard, and are willing in their work. I don't think "love" means anything to them.... though I love THEM deeply :o
 
I'm not sure horses can feel love, but I try to make them realise that I am the person who meets their needs and makes them feel safe. I think that gets me pretty high up in their books.

I admit that I go above and beyond for my horses, to the detriment of my own health and wallet at times (and sanity!) but is is how I have chosen to live my life.

I am a hugger and a kisser though, hooligan isn't that impressed, but Diva has a permanent smile on her face anyway so I don't think she minds. I tell them I love them about three million times a day, but that's for me. They probably just wish I'd stop babbling on at them.
 
SEL said:
My Ardennes has the best nose in the world - so that gets snogged. I pay his food bills in return for being allowed to kiss his nose.;)
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I love that every horses muzzle has a different smell. One thing I hugely miss is the smell of Joes muzzle, it was like nothing else in the world, it was just Joe.
I realise this makes me very odd...
 
ester said:
I take mine out for theatre and dinner at at least once a fortnight.
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OH and I joke that Kira would give her right ear to be allowed into the house and onto the sofa.
She'd never leave. Couldn't take her out in public though, she'd be the one rustling her sweet wrappers and kicking the seat in front of her at the theatre :lol:
 
Shay said:
They are happiest when their needs are met. Consistent, fair handling. Adequate food, water and shelter. Freedom from pain and the chance to express natural behaviours. Any concept of love or a bond, rewards, presents etc. is just us. They don't do that. You can show your new horse that you "love" them in a human sense by allowing them to be a horse.
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I agree totally that those basics are key.

But if you look at the horsey friendships they make, I'm sorry I don't believe that they don't feel love. And sometimes, that happens across species.......you'll never prove it but.....
 
My boy loves his kisses and cuddles - he does lots of things to get my attention or for me to come running out the house to him. The mare not so much, I cuddle him because he is like a child I never had or wanted so he gets all the affection along with his sibblings

Don't cuddle dogs and hate when they lick you or sniff you but cats different thing love to cuddle them
 
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I gave Billy a new rope the other day to play with. He was so happy he cantered off and bucked while twirling it.

I think he was pleased :p
 
Shay said:
They are happiest when their needs are met. Consistent, fair handling. Adequate food, water and shelter. Freedom from pain and the chance to express natural behaviours. Any concept of love or a bond, rewards, presents etc. is just us. They don't do that. You can show your new horse that you "love" them in a human sense by allowing them to be a horse.
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Personally I think people who think rigidly like this miss out as do their horses. It's quite possible to provide for their basic horse needs and add a further element of mutual affection. Mares show love for their foals and horses show particular affection for certain other horses over others so I don't believe they don't have any feelings in this respect.

Some horses don't particularly like people fussing but plenty do and come out of their shells because of it. I've always had horses that seem to respond by calling or whickering to me going all soppy and soft-eyed when I rub them in their favourite spot or kiss their noses. Mine loves to hang out with people having a conversation he's so nosey and loves to be admired.
 
What a lot of people are saying is their horse "loving" them would be classed as being rude, pushy and unmannerly by others. I certainly don't want Black Beauty-style nickers and whinnying, nor charging to the gate whenever I appear, and as for pushing and nudging for scratches....just awful.

I have a friend who does all this "bonding" stuff; her horses are the rudest, narkiest creatures, to the point of being dangerous. She has so far been unable to actually ride any of them (7 - 15 year old homebreds), and has twice been put in hospital by them. But she will swear blind that they love her....
 
^This! The big lad would most certainly would be rude, pushy and in your face given half a chance. I'm sure some people would describe him as affectionate, and he is, but it has to be with manners too.
 
Oh I don't know, Cortez - I have horses that know their boundaries, aren't rude or pushy, yet if the little one wants a scratch and the timing suits me I am happy to oblige - I find her desperately cute and knowing her history, it's quite touching the way she's come out of her shell.

My OH is a farrier... he sees PLENTY of rude horses and frequently remarks how he enjoys seeing to mine because they are polite and easy to handle. You don't have to rule with an iron fist. I love that mine know where the line is, and they don't overstep it, but they aren't under the thumb :wink3:
 
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