Does your horse like you?

Fii

Fii

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If you answer yes to this question, how does he/she show that he does like you?

Conversely, do you feel that your horse doesnt like you?
 
I hope he does! :) I have had him for 12 years now and every time i go to get him from the field he wickers at me and comes running, hes very affectionate and nuzzles my hair etc when i groom him, never tries to bite or kick and always loves his cuddles..
 
'Like' might be too strong a word, she's a mare who is and always has been quite aloof. She definitely 'tolerates' me and I think that's probably as good as it will ever get!
 
I think my cob likes me - or at least me feeding him... my baby mare worships the ground I walk on - its a bit embarrassing. I got my trainer (who is brilliant) in the other day to do some ground work with her and she was a B***H... (the horse not the trainer)... she then handed her back to me and she was good as gold -- definitely going to be a one horse girl I'm afraid... If I walk on the yard she gallops to gate... if I wander down the field on a ragwort hunt she follows me everywhere - she's like a devoted spaniel... and I've only had her 8 weeks!
 
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I think so - he greets me when he sees me, wherever he is (field, stable, yard). He always leaves his horse friends to b with me. And he gives me big hugs and kisses even when I am not bearing food!! He does his utmost to please me at all times.
 
All apart from one that I have had over the years I would say yes!

The one mare that I would said doesn't like me, whom I still have, is one that I didn't breed myself.
 
Hmmmm, he likes me because I am The Bringer of Food. When I first got him, he was a nightmare to catch and was generally a grumpy horrible old sod. Now, when I call him, his head shoots up and he will even canter over to me (sometimes).

I would say he respects me and understands most of what I ask him to do. Eg he will stand still if I ask him to, he will follow me or will walk on when I tell him to (from the ground, I mean). Not sure if he likes me though ;)
 
Ish but neither of us are particularly demonstrative. She seems more fond of my friend's husband that she is of me but we do look after each other and have lots of fun (me and the horse not me and my friend's husband!).
 
I'm not sure, I'd like to think that mine do.
One of them is a bit funny about other people touching her- she allows it but seems quite tense (never been badly treated in the 7 years that I've had her).
I always get whinnies in the morning when I come to feed/ turn out- but that may be because I'm food lady.
I think they both really try their best for me when I'm riding, they take the piss out of other people- or maybe that's because they've just given up with me!
If they don't like me I do believe they respect me, of course I love them both unconditionally and it is very rare that they can do any wrong in my eyes! But yes, I would like to believe that they like me (you've got me paranoid now! going to go down the yard and bribe with polos!)
 
I'm not sure like is an appropriate word to use in reference to horses. For humans its a conscious decision if we like some one or not. For horses it's a response to satisfying their basic need be it food, companionship or security. Yes the horses I am involved with exhibit behaviour that we as humans interpret as liking us but for each of them I am providing at least one of their 3 essentials.
 
PaddyMonty said:
I'm not sure like is an appropriate word to use in reference to horses. For humans its a conscious decision if we like some one or not. For horses it's a response to satisfying their basic need be it food, companionship or security. Yes the horses I am involved with exhibit behaviour that we as humans interpret as liking us but for each of them I am providing at least one of their 3 essentials.
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well said! totally agree!
 
He likes me because I have pockets which sometimes have nice things in them, because I know all his favourite scratch places, and because I feed him and give him hay.

Does he like me enough that he wouldn't leave me in a bleeding heap somewhere if something happened out hacking? I doubt it.

Does he like me enough to leave the long grass when I've just moved the electric fence? Sometimes...

I love him enough for two though, so I'm fine with his selective, food related demonstrations of "like"
 
PaddyMonty said:
I'm not sure like is an appropriate word to use in reference to horses. For humans its a conscious decision if we like some one or not. For horses it's a response to satisfying their basic need be it food, companionship or security. Yes the horses I am involved with exhibit behaviour that we as humans interpret as liking us but for each of them I am providing at least one of their 3 essentials.
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This.

My horse "likes" me but then again he mostly "likes" everyone. He can be a bit suspicious of men, but otherwise he likes to be with people. He likes to be stroked and fussed, he appears to enjoy spending time with people, he always says hello when you go to the field (neighs or whinnies). He doesn't bite or kick, he isn't aloof. He would happily spend all day being stroked with his head on your shoulder. But I don't believe it is specific to me; he is like it with most people and also most horses. He is just a sociable horse.
 
I would say for the most part she does, but some days she tolerates me... I have her on full livery so if I haven't been down for a few days I know about it. Some days I get lots of cuddles and love, other days it is almost 'speak to the hoof' and I can feel she is grouchy at me!

She usually waits, ears pricked in field or stable when she hears my car coming. She also very much 'babysits' me, in ways that she doesn't necessarily when I have seen others ride her. She at least definitely knows who her owner is.

She definitely LOVES me when it is feed or polo time :D
 
Yes, I think she does. The other day I went to bring her in and the herd went cantering off, she looked towards them then looked at me and stayed put. I had no food on me, nor does she get fed when she comes in, she normally lives out so comes in for work etc. But she chose to stay with me rather than her herd. From a native pony that lived feral that's a pretty big commitment in my book.
 
My horses seem to enjoy being around me. They are all pretty affectionate and not for any edible reasons as I never treat and I never carry edible goodies in my pockets. I'm not greatly pushy with my horses when they are lazing around their fields. I tend to get on with doing whatever needs doing and they tend to follow me around and watch what I'm doing; a couple of the younger ones like to 'help'. Some of my mares are incredibly gently tactile with me though; they definitely like to touch me and breathe over me and I in return will cuddle them and say nice things to them.
 
Yes, they seem to. My gelding runs to greet me in the field and has on a few occasions put himself in danger to protect me from another horse. Once when I had fallen over, he stood stock still over me and swung his bum out to protect me from the hooves of a galloping herd. He's also commanded a very naughty filly to stand still when I was poo picking, he acted as my bodyguard, escorted me to the gate and did not permit the filly to move one hoof until I had gone.

My mare was very disturbed and fearful when I first got her. She trusted no one but now, 4 years later, she is a lamb. If I go away, the YO's always say that she misses me and on my return she comes over and greets me with a soft nicker, which for Little Miss Independent, is a rare expression of affection.
 
I would like to think that they like me. I got a neigh or whinney from all of them when I got home from a 3 day holiday and my 2 tbs will always neigh at me morning and evening but I do think that's food orientated. I get much more affection from Jeff than I do the others,he'll rest his head on me, nuzzle me, nicker at me as best he can without his voicebox and generally be very sweet but he will equally tell me to sod off when he has had enough. I feel as though I have more of a connection with him as I held his head whilst he stood dying in front of me.

It's not a case of like, as said before, we humans inflict our own emotions on animals that essentially only want to live with food and safety.
 
Another who doesn't think horses do "like" I'd like to think my horses have a relationship with me, are respectful and trusting of me. They all whicker when I go into the stables but they associate me with being fed, they will be caught and one horse in particular can be a bit tricky with other people, i don't think any of them would deliberately step on me or knock me over but it has happened when something has startled them and they've gone into "flight" mode. My newest horse (had him 7 weeks) is the most sociable with people but I think that's just his personality. TBH I think it's better not to attribute human characteristics to horses because sometimes people think horses don't like them because they misbehave when it's just a case of the horse misunderstanding or not having clear enough boundaries.
 
I think mine feels secure around me, for example, she'll leave the safety of the herd to come and see me, and I rarely put her leadrope on when bringing her in out of the field before we get to the gate as she seems happy to walk with me.

And she knows that I'm her source of food and warmth, so she'll nine times out of ten come when I call her, or if she happens to spot me on the path she'll walk to the gate to meet me.

There are certain people on the yard she doesn't "like" though, and I think these are people who've shouted at her or frightened her in some way - she was very nervous when I got her, and my handling has always been quiet and firm, but some folk think that you need to be loud and even aggressive to "show them who's boss", something which will never work with mine in a million years!
 
PaddyMonty said:
I'm not sure like is an appropriate word to use in reference to horses. For humans its a conscious decision if we like some one or not. For horses it's a response to satisfying their basic need be it food, companionship or security. Yes the horses I am involved with exhibit behaviour that we as humans interpret as liking us but for each of them I am providing at least one of their 3 essentials.
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well put :) I am the one who feeds them and scratches the itchy spots, therefore i am useful. as long as they had food and water i really don't think they would miss me if they didn't see me for a month!
 
Interesting that some people feel horses are incapable of liking and only display preferences to people who feed and care for them. There's a difference between anthropomorphism and acknowledging the emotions of animals. Horse's think like horses but that doesn't make their feelings less valid.
 
Of horses only like their human because they're the bringer of food how then do we explain friendships or animosity that horses display to other horses ? I like people who are kind to be and don't abuse me does that devalue my emotion?
 
MerrySherryRider said:
Interesting that some people feel horses are incapable of liking and only display preferences to people who feed and care for them. There's a difference between anthropomorphism and acknowledging the emotions of animals. Horse's think like horses but that doesn't make their feelings less valid.
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I agree with you. The relationship a horse has with a human who does not feed them, nor appear outwardly to offer the horse anything other than perhaps grooming, would be akin to the relationship they'd have with another horse in the field I suspect. I also believe that horses are capable of differentiating between things/people/horses they like and those they dislike. No different to my dogs tbh, in that some people are most definitely liked by my dogs and some people they simply do not like for whatever reason.
 
Horses 'like' things and don't 'like' things for example my horse likes his usual feed (slobbermash) and dislikes 'safe and sound'... he likes having his back scratched and hates a dandy brush... it's not anthropomorphism to think a horse likes and dislikes things... just cos they are animals doesn't mean they don't have preferences...
 
I believe that horses are quite capable of having emotions and feelings as is any sentient being. Why would anyone think otherwise - has there been any scientific study done that shows they are incapable of this?
 
MerrySherryRider said:
Interesting that some people feel horses are incapable of liking and only display preferences to people who feed and care for them. There's a difference between anthropomorphism and acknowledging the emotions of animals. Horse's think like horses but that doesn't make their feelings less valid.
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Exactly - and horses are quite capable of showing dislike of people who regularly feed them. It's not all about the food, although the food can help. Babies form instant attachments with their parents driven by hormones... they don't form instant attachments with their grandparents on the same basis, but will form strong bonds with them based on proximity, shared experiences, food (my granny was a mean cook!), security, play...

I'm not my horse's mummy :D I do spend a lot of time looking after him, rewarding him for behaving the way I want, I bring him buckets of feed, I play games that he enjoys, I scratch his itchy bits, I try to bring him relief when he is in pain or injured. Which one of those lead to him feeling positive emotions when he sees me? Just the feed? I don't think so - I think it's one part of a greater whole.

Does he like me? He acts as though he does - he greets me when I arrive at the field, he comes to join me. IF I'm in the field and go out of sight for a minute, then reappear, he will neigh again - it's not just about feed time. He will leave grazing and grass to do things with me without need for leads or headcollars. He will do things that probably aren't very enjoyable for him and put up with things that are uncomfortable or painful without protest (fly spray, dressing wounds, getting injections). He will walk away from his herd with me - not just towards the feeding area, but in any direction I invite him to go. If I'm doing nothing, he'll graze around me. If I'm there and he wants to sleep, he'll walk over and lie down near me. These are things he does with his preferred herd mates, and he doesn't do them with all his herd mates.

Anthropomorphism is attributing human emotions to other animals. That doesn't imply that other animals don't have emotions, simply that they aren't necessarily the same ones that humans have... My horse is clearly experiencing a positive emotion when he sees me and I'm delighted to say it's reciprocated :D Call it liking, call it the warm fuzzies, whatever it is, it feels nice!
 
Yep, I think Ned likes me. He's not the type to show affection or be friendly to someone he doesn't like...that said, all things considered I think he's a very friendly horse :)
 
Yes - they're geldings, they like everyone. They show it by cantering up to me in the field (even when they know there's no food on offer), trying to snog me every chance they get (highlands only) and generally being big soft lumps!
 
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