do other people see a different horse to you?

Bowen4Horses

Bowen4Horses

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do any of you find that other people have a completely different view of your horse than you do?

an example... today vet came out to Raff. whilst there said he'd rasp a sharp bit of tooth away. i'm stood holding Raff, thinking how lucky i am to have such a lovely, well behaved horse... when the vet starts talking about sedating him... :confused: the vet said he was like a bomb about to explode...

another time, a friend of mine was holding onto Raff as i mounted. the next thing i knew she was shouting at him, and said he'd tried to kick her... i completely didn't believe it.

and, another time, another friend said Raff reminded her of her horse... her horse bites and kicks...!

i look at Raff and i don't think for a second that he'd ever bite/kick/hurt anything. i let my 2yr old loose around him (under supervision... :) ) yet other people seem to look at him and think he's the devil... he really isn't!

now, i know i'm scared to death of riding him... but i wouldn't ever question that he is the nicest natured horse i've ever met.

perhaps i view him through rose tinted glasses?

does anyone else have a different view of their horse than other people?
 
I think we have a tendency to see our own horses through rose tinted spectacles, but not to the extent that you describe!!

For example - I worship the ground my horse walks on, but am not so blind that I cannot see what a pig he can be. He is a one person horse, so I get a slightly easier time than others. He is not pure evil, but is not as nice natured as my Mum's horse. what you describe compared to others is chalk & cheese though! :D
 
Everyone thinks Lucy is a compleate angel and is very easy to do. But in truth she is not she can be quite naughty and difficult at times (although it is getting less) I just make her look easy
 
this is a 2yr old feeding him carrots...

juneraffbarney.jpg
 
Yes - that is bizarre! He looks like an angel. Very odd what you describe others as seeing / experiencing. He looks to have a very kind eye to me. Thank god these people haven't met my gelding - that's all I can say! :p
 
Everyone seems to see a short, fat, hairy cobby type with no oomph of drive forwards...

She is (in my biased opinion) just perfect and jumps for the stars without even really being asked! (I can even see her ribs if I look carefully, she is just like me... wide bottomed!!)
 
i think this discrepancy is really common, and easily understood - i'm usually more wary of other people's horses than my own because i don't know them, i don't know what they might do. with mine i know how they will behave, more or less, in most situations, i know their characters...
however, Raff is v good tempered and hasn't ever looked like a devil horse to me!
 
I don't have a horse but people definatly have different views. There's a horse on working livery at my riding school. Her owner thinks she's a marvelous, if not very quirky horse yet my friend who had to ride her for the last 3 weeks hates her. If you try and bring her into an outline she throws her head up lunges forward and bombs off, she also rears up runs backwards and spins (not ridden her yet but she seems fun :) ). However she is almost perfect with her owner (still rears and spins but not as bad)
 
kerilli said:
i think this discrepancy is really common, and easily understood - i'm usually more wary of other people's horses than my own because i don't know them,
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this is a good point. the vet today must deal with hundreds of horses... and to him, a bit of snorting could escalate... whereas i know that raff snorts, but wouldn't act on it...

now... to apply this trust i have of him on the ground into my riding... hmmm...

x
 
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I had a horse that the farrier wanted sedating after the first time he shod her - admittedly, she was very, very tense, but allowed all 4 feet to be done without an argument and hardly moved! Weren't overly fond of said farrier anyway, so we just never called him out again...

I often see my horse the opposite way around - I see how much of a little sh*t he can be, whereas everyone else seems to think he's lovely! hmmmm.... I do agree, most of the time :p
 
I think to an extent I have a different view of my horse to the other people at my yard, as Im the only person who does her every day, rides her, and knows her. I have stood and watched her jump the gate from a standstill, I have swung from her side as she does an exaggerated spook at a shadow cast from a trotting pole, I have seen her stamp her feet in anger and have tidied up the aftermath of one of her more 'investigative' moods. Ive been dragged backwards when she feigns horror at her own gateway, Ive clawed my way back into the saddle after a 180 spin as she's clocked the mounting block that we've passed hundreds of times in the past without incident, Ive swung gaily from a rein as she waves her feet over my head because Ive got off to retrieve a dropped phone and am facing the 'scary' way up a track she doesn't much care for.

Everyone else sees a sweet, innocent glimpse of her, they see her smiling sweetly over the door, grazing quietly in the field or working nicely in the school. I know the truth. :)
 
EthelRumpington said:
I think to an extent I have a different view of my horse to the other people at my yard, as Im the only person who does her every day, rides her, and knows her. I have stood and watched her jump the gate from a standstill, I have swung from her side as she does an exaggerated spook at a shadow cast from a trotting pole, I have seen her stamp her feet in anger and have tidied up the aftermath of one of her more 'investigative' moods. Ive been dragged backwards when she feigns horror at her own gateway, Ive clawed my way back into the saddle after a 180 spin as she's clocked the mounting block that we've passed hundreds of times in the past without incident, Ive swung gaily from a rein as she waves her feet over my head because Ive got off to retrieve a dropped phone and am facing the 'scary' way up a track she doesn't much care for.

Everyone else sees a sweet, innocent glimpse of her, they see her smiling sweetly over the door, grazing quietly in the field or working nicely in the school. I know the truth. :)
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ha! :D the opposite of me then... i see a darling little innocent horse... everyone else sees a fire breathing dragon... :)
 
I can completely understand where your coming from in the OP.

On my last yard mine was the "devil horse and "evil" whereas I never saw that in her and started to believe it....to the point I'm scared riding her!! (Funny how folk can do that to you) My 14 year old rides her no problem, she's a complete baby to ride. She makes the most horrendous (sp?) faces but that's about it.

There are some horses on the yard I take to instantly and others I'm very wary of though. We used to have one girl on the yard who swore her horse as an angel but it was a complete pig at feeding times, in the field etc, so yeah I agree some owners do look at them through rose tinted specs
 
I used to have a chestnut tb gelding who to be fair was a bit highly strung, but everyone on my yard used to say he needed an ASBO stuck on his stable and that he was a complete nutter etc, etc, I never saw him as a nutter just misunderstood.
 
Everyone seems to think my horse is a sweetheart who doesnt ever put a foot wrong! I totally agree he can be an angel but the other side of him is a bolshy, bargy and face pulling little monster who would get away with murder if he could!!

The only reason he can behave is through all the hours of worK i have put in to build up a relationship with him and learn him to work with me! I bet if one of the people who thought he was 'push button' got on him they would have a shock!
 
clipcloppop said:
this is a good point. the vet today must deal with hundreds of horses... and to him, a bit of snorting could escalate... whereas i know that raff snorts, but wouldn't act on it...
x
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Exactly. a really really excellent horse vet who i've known for donkey's years, and trusted implicitly with my horses, got kicked really really badly on the hand (badly enough to lose the top of a finger).
i can see why vets are slightly wary...

another problem is that with a LOT of horses, girls/women own them, care for them daily, feed them, fuss them, ride them... and when a man comes along, it is usually the farrier, vet, or equine dentist, who requires the horse to stand still, behave, put up with a bit of discomfort perhaps. so, lots of horses learn to be a bit wary of men, and to assume the worst when one walks into the stable... and, in some cases, be a bit hyper-reactive around them.
:( :( :(
 
I don't normally handle other peoples horses much anymore but did a stretch course yesterday and I was much more wary of the reactions of the horses we used then I would be my own. instructor added it would probably be easier on our own too because we know their reactions.

and yup, Frank can be a bit suspicious of men ..... welsh oggling stylee! :grin:
 
I think we see their potential and underneath personality. Others see something else, maybe a bit of reality. Cappy is such a gorgeous personality, he is intelligent, funny and a cuddle on legs. But he can be moody and snappy with people he does not trust. He doesn't always behave towards others the same way he behaves with us. He lets people know exactly what he thinks of them good or bad, hence he has a rep. as a bit difficult!

Fany is a really opinionated mare, she is clever, lazy and has very definate opinions. But other people think she is a big softie because she is so quiet and gentle. Yes she is like that, but she is also a much stronger character than others think, certainly she is not the "dope on a rope" that people think she is!

So overall I think we know our horses best.
 
Yes some people at my yard said that to own a welshxcob would be boring, yet he hacks out anywhere alone with me to places we've never been before, loves to jump and gallop and the odd buck with excitement. Saying that though the people who say it about my horse never hack, even in company and do nothing but ride in the school which is fine but stop slagging off my boy!!!!!!. Can you guess Im having a mini rant? Grrrr....
 
Everyone see's horses differently.

A while back a good friend of mine went to live in New Zealand. She kept her horse on a full livery yard while in this country and he had earned himself a bit of a reputation for being miserable and needing special attention when handling.
My friend entrusted her horse to me for a year while she was away, and although he isn't my cup of tea and I don't have any particular affectionate feelings for him, I can honestly say he was so easy and polite to have around.

When she came back and put him back on full livery I dropped him off on the yard for her. The first bloody thing the YO went on about was how difficult he was and you had to be careful he didn't kick etc .... I was like, 'Erm? Are we talking about the same horse'

It's really odd how different people percieve different horses, I'm sure I'm as guilty as anyone.
 
I tend to assess other peoples horses and not willing to take their words so readily when they are safe, as have been caught out badly in the past, that said it normally doesnt take long to assess each horse. I totally love my vet as he is never in a rush, takes his time, waits as long as something takes has been here for over 4 hours and still the bill is just call out and consultation under £70.00, he even waits to make sure the horse comes out of sedation properly (supplied by lots of cups of tea), he is a one man band not from a big practice where time is money, but I would have him any day over large practice vets, plus he knows each and every horse on my yard individually, not having a different vet every time you call them out that doesnt know each horses history.

My horses (especially Tich) with how he can be to someone else could be deemed totally dangerous, I just know his habits and am prepared for them, to a stranger it would not suprise me if they dropped his leadrope and walked away (that has happened in the past), but to me he is all hot air and no trousers.

As for Raff, he is one of the most honest horses I have seen for a long time, he is a sweetheart, so honest and straightforward worth his weight in gold.

So when are you next coming over???
 
I think we all look through rose-tinted glasses to some extent. However, sometimes it can be about something different.

Zoom is soooooo easy to handle. She really is such a good girl and everyone at the field thinks this..............except one lady.

She tells me Zoom is 'bargy and silly'. I have come to realise that Zoom IS bargy and silly with this woman. It is because, the woman is nervous and shouty and Zoom gets upset and worried. Perhaps this is the case with your boy, if people give off nervous vibes horses can act very strangely.
 
I have just posted about something a bit like this in CR! I have one either way - my little arab everyone thinks is soooo easy and push button! Has taken me many years to get him like that I can assure you! Youngster however, he came to us pretty laid back and easy, everyone on yard and who knows him well (farrier instructor) love him and are happy with how he is coming along - however he turns into a bit of a git for visiting professionals! Ie saddler, vet, chiro. Now I know him, and I don't think he is being agressive I think he gets into a genuine panic and paws the ground, spins etc because he is scared, so I don't mind hanging on to him to an extent - he never bites, does kick out ut not AT anyone just in a panic, however being 16.2 I can't actually stop him....so for time being we are just going to have to hope he grows out of that extreme a reaction!
But these visiting pros thing he is a bargey stroppy dominant horse and even say things to me like 'you need to get him under control' etc....he IS! Except when they are there! He handles like a 14 year old not a 4 year old most of time! Luckily I know its not just me kidding myself abuot him as instructor and others on the yard agree that he is fine the rest of the time, but it is a bit depressing!
 
I think I am most critical of my horse than anyone else. Everyone on the yard loves him though as he is about the only one that actually has manners. Even when he is being naughty people think he is being good! I am also more critical of his weight/condition as I see him every day so can comment better on it.

There is one lady on my yard who thinks her pony is an angel, it could do no wrong, when everybody else on the yard hates it as it bites/kicks/cribs/bolts etc. Another lady thinks her horse is stunning and I dont like it. It just shows that people percieve horses differently and I know my horse better than others so I can tell when he is misbehaving before they can.
 
LOL! H was the devil incarnate! ;)
She was a true chestnut mare but everyone loved her - Her vet had a soft spot for her - even though she would really try and kick out at him at times, he just knew her inside and out and knew what to do with her (ie - be VERY firm and growl! LOL!)

Having said that - she was like a lamb with me and Maxwell - so maternal it was untrue - but years prior she'd try to bite/kick/spook be a complete prat - but it was all her nature - she was such an opinionated horse! I knew it and everyone else fortunately did too! ;)

New boy is a lamb in wolf's clothing -scowls and pretends to be top dog but underneath he's a pussy cat! :)
Kate x
 
There is one person that has taken an instant dislike to my horse, and I believe he took an instant dislike to her as well.
She accused him of trying to attack her over the stable door and would try kick down the door whenever she was around, she has been around his stable when I was there and he was no different than normal so assured her the 'kicking' would have been him throwing his hay bucket around. Our mutual friend who stabled her horse next to mine agreed and said she was being silly he certainly wasn't 'out to get her'. She then bad mouthed him to another mutual friend who brought him off the walker for me, she warned her to be careful as he was 'metal and crazy' so mutual friend was a bit wary as this was the first time she had handled my horse, she opened the door to find a half asleep horse that followed her back to the stable on the end of the lead rope so hardly crazy...

The person then asked to ride him and said she was capable of handling any problem horses, I told her he is very good to ride I have had novices ride him on the lunge if he is going to be a sod he will either buck in the canter or hang to the gate.
He was very nappy and kept backing up, something he used to do A LOT when I first bought him. She was kicking and hitting him as he was going to rear, I told her just to sit still he won't rear just stop everything and relax he will stop then ask him to go forwards but kicking and slapping him will only send him back more. He went forwards and started to work well then all of a sudden went straight up in the air, came back down and threw her straight off, all within 5-10 minutes.

I have never thought he was capable of rearing, he has been put in a lot of situations where if he was a 'rearer' he would have done it (imo). I could have died I felt guilty, embarrassed, etc. However he hasn't even threatened to act like that since I believe he point blank did not like her and told her exactly what he thought of her. Now she is a good rider but she appears to be very forceful and I don't think he liked it, now he isn't a 'sensitive' horse and you are able to tell him what to do but he just didn't seem to like how she was telling him (imo). She still bad mouths him to this day a year down the line about him being 'crazy' although the ridden work probably sealed it in her mind but she classed him as being a mentalist from the first day she ever saw him.

I admit I look at him through rose tinted glasses but I do know that he can act differently with people, if he knows that they will let him walk all over them and he can get away with murder (i.e. being naughty to lead) then he will be a sod to lead. He managed to get a reputation with one person as being ill mannered, bargy and naughty because he walked all over her and got away with it. If he is corrected when he tries it on, he is no problem at all.

Thankfully 9/10 people see him as the laid back mannerly gent I see him as, no matter how other view him or what reputations he has built up with them I wouldn't swap him for the world.
 
Most people tend to see mine as something that 'will do' untill i get a proper horse *rolls eyes*

When actually im very happy with ponies and have no intention of selling her to get something bigger!!
 
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