Does my horse even like me?

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eatonbraynat

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I have had him for more than four years, 2 of those he was turned out and for the last year i have been working hard with him, especially in the last 6 months. My probelm is he neighs at me when i arrive and he constantly whickers at me. But i just dont get the feeling that he likes me . Im sad about this, but im not sure if he has just always been like this, or whether i am just expecting to much???
 
Don't be too hard on yourself I am sure your horse likes you in their own little way :)

I have a mare on loan during the summer, and ride her at her home in the winter, and have done for about 4 years now. She wont let me catch her, she wont let me cuddle her, she doesn't call to me and she gives me the impression she hates me. However I know she doesn't that's just the way she is, and she is with everyone - even the lady who has owned her for ten years!

However my coloured horse is very attached to me, calls for me, talks to me, follows me everywhere and is always very concerned with where I am!

Some horses are more affectionate that others :)
 
It sounds like he loves the pants off you

Horses are very emotional creatures and I think they express this in different ways

Mine was castrated late so its like dealing with a stallion, he nips me constantly but he's mimicking behaviour of stallions with their herd - placing his mark on me, im family and he wants to play tit for tat 'who is better than who'...its quite endearing really but from the outside it looks like he 's attacking me
 
Sounds like he loves you lots.

Do you maybe wonder whether you really love him? I know I quite often "put" my feelings onto Frankie without realising it.
 
The fact he neighs etc is a good sign. As said some are more affectionate than others. Our mare if in the mood lol is very sweet wanting cuddles but can also be grumpy and want left alone. Our gelding is less playful but also likes his head scratched and will come to you in the field usually whereas she only will if hungry or following him.

I often thought cos he is so keen and only got him to come to you and follow you round that she doesnt love me cos she doesnt and had her 2 years but then I saw her jealous protective side cos thought he would steal her mummy. She loves him dearly but will charge him if he tries to come to me first and noy my hubby. Its hilarious and she vys for my attention now.

I am sure he does love you in his own way and if he didnt he would soon let you know!
 
Ohh Bless You...Your horse loves you.

He neighs to you, comes to you, lets you be with him why would you think he dislikes you?

Does he put his ears back, try to bite or kick you. Does he hide at the back of his stable or you can't catch him in the field?

Your his friend...and no he's not going to put a big banner with balloons up every morning saying "Hi Mummy" but he does neigh at you which is a very nice thing and his way of saying "yey, she's here".

Some days he might not be as cuddly as others but then we all like to have a bit of space sometimes.

Enjoy your horse and stop worrying about him not liking you.
 
Sedgemoor Chaos said:
Ohh Bless You...Your horse loves you.

He neighs to you, comes to you, lets you be with him why would you think he dislikes you?

Does he put his ears back, try to bite or kick you. Does he hide at the back of his stable or you can't catch him in the field?

Your his friend...and no he's not going to put a big banner with balloons up every morning saying "Hi Mummy" but he does neigh at you which is a very nice thing and his way of saying "yey, she's here".

Some days he might not be as cuddly as others but then we all like to have a bit of space sometimes.

Enjoy your horse and stop worrying about him not liking you.
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I don't want to hijack this post but having owned my horse now for nearly 5 months I now feel she likes me - I am bessotted with her, although I'm not riding her at the moment, and I had a huge wobble when I got her. Now she whickers and whinny's when she sees me, if I call her she (9times out of 10) comes to me, usually at speed (but then I have carrots in my hand!). I spend time with her in the field grooming her and she will stand quite happily for ages,; seems to work better than tying her up to groom her. But then she has evenings if I am a bit late going out to her when she wont come to me or will trot around me as if to say nah nah nah! I agree with the person who said your horse may sense it if you don't like her as I went through a phase of spending as little time as possible with Poppy so she thought why should she make the effort. It is such a lovely sound to hear her call me back when I call her!
 
One of mine is quite aloof in her demeanour, yes she will whicker when I arrive and heads straight for where I need her to be but affectionate she is not and almost pulls a look of disgust if I so much as attempt to give her some affection. Compared to the others I have had fleeting worries fly through my head now and again that she doesn't like us, isn't happy etc etc but now I have come to the conclusion that she just isn't a horse for displaying much affection but does so in other little ways. For instance, recently a group of people rode past one of our fields (around 8 or so) and she was at the far end of the field from me while I was poo picking, her head immediately came up, she had obviously not seen anything so frightening in her life, she high tailed it back down the field but not to her buddies she landed right next to me and then turned to 'figure out' the funny creatures going past. That said a lot more to me than a cuddle and I was secretly pleased.

What I am trying to say in a round about way is maybe you are mistaking the way your horse just is for not liking you. I am sure he does and probably shows it in other ways.
 
neighing and whickering to you is a sure sign of affection !

I had my hair nibbled this morning which I assume meant I was being groomed, not good for the hair, but great for the soul. Please don't worry, be proud - horses only love great mums and dads ! sm x
 
fattysmum said:
It sounds like he loves the pants off you

Horses are very emotional creatures and I think they express this in different ways

Mine was castrated late so its like dealing with a stallion, he nips me constantly but he's mimicking behaviour of stallions with their herd - placing his mark on me, im family and he wants to play tit for tat 'who is better than who'...its quite endearing really but from the outside it looks like he 's attacking me
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You know when you have an 'Eureka' moment, this was mine - thank you!!!!! Firstly I am sure your horse loves you. Anyway, this is just what my cob does and he was cut late, plus he is incredibly dominant. Also, I have a theory that our horses personalities can sometime reflect those of our partners, and other important people around us and that we choose them accordingly. For example, my horse is short, dark, very dominant and has incredible attitude - this could also accurately describe both my husband and my business partner (both male like my horse).

Dont worry, your hose does sound like he loves you to pieces. Carry on enjoying him.
 
I'm so pleased everyone said your horse loves you, I started off confused because you said he neighed and whickered at you - I sat here thinking - but isn't that a good thing???

I got quite emotional when my new horse started to neigh at me across her field when she saw me arrive. I'm still amazed at how far away I can be when she starts calling - I didn't think their eyesight was that good.

I love all the noises they make to us, I see it as a sign of affection.
 
TheoryX1 said:
You know when you have an 'Eureka' moment, this was mine - thank you!!!!! Firstly I am sure your horse loves you. Anyway, this is just what my cob does and he was cut late, plus he is incredibly dominant. Also, I have a theory that our horses personalities can sometime reflect those of our partners, and other important people around us and that we choose them accordingly. For example, my horse is short, dark, very dominant and has incredible attitude - this could also accurately describe both my husband and my business partner (both male like my horse).

Dont worry, your hose does sound like he loves you to pieces. Carry on enjoying him.
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Oh bless you, glad i could help

I think it's important not to always interpret dominant behaviour as negative, D will always be a whopping great alpha stallion in his head - the nipping is acceptance of me and horseplay, i actually love it
 
TheoryX1 said:
Also, I have a theory that our horses personalities can sometime reflect those of our partners, and other important people around us and that we choose them accordingly. For example, my horse is short, dark, very dominant and has incredible attitude - this could also accurately describe both my husband and my business partner (both male like my horse).
Click to expand...

That's an interesting theory. My mare is big, pushy and full of self importance - very similar to one of my colleagues at work whom I spend a lot of time with. My collegue however has a heart of gold, not so sure about the mare!
To go back to the original post, I'm sure your horse is fond of you, as others have said, the whickering and neighing is a good sign.
Mine is a bit like 'keep the food coming and I'll tolerate your presence!'
 
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