lastchancer
Well-Known Member
I'd like to watch that documentary, I don't suppose you remember the name of it do you?
Emotional horses. Just how much are they capable of?
- Thread starter Wagtail
- Start date
I'd like to watch that documentary, I don't suppose you remember the name of it do you?
FanyDuChamp
Well-Known Member
I am glad it is not just my lad! People tend to look at you strangely if you tell them he blanks you or sulks if you have been away!
FDC
chestnut cob
Well-Known Member
My horse always sulks when I've been away! Usually he threatens to nip and is stroppy for at least a few days - the longer I'm away, the worse he is! I've just come back from two weeks' holiday and a friend at the yard said he's been fed up and missed me. This time when I got back, my usually very UNaffectionate horse licked my arms and face, rubbed his face all over me then stood with his head on my shoulder for ages! And he's been very clingy ever since!
Finn
Well-Known Member
A friend of mine was out hacking one day on her own and had really bad chest pains and fell off her horse and lay unconsuios on the ground in the middle of a field. Her horse dragged her by the collar of her jacket through the field out to the road and stopped with her standing at her side while she lay on the grass until a passer by stopped to see what was going on. He then called an ambulance and after my friend was safely on way to the hospital he found out where the horse was from, because my friend had a little wallet type thing attached to her saddle with all her contact details on in case of an ememrgency, he then called them and they sent out someone from her yard came and collected her horse and took it back safely.
Tests at the hospital proved that she had had a mild stroke.
The thing is this horse was the most bolschy, moody gelding she had ever owned but she says she will never ever get sell him now as he saved her live and since this has happened he has turned into the most amazing, well behaved horse she has ever owned.
She owes her life to him!
Tests at the hospital proved that she had had a mild stroke.
The thing is this horse was the most bolschy, moody gelding she had ever owned but she says she will never ever get sell him now as he saved her live and since this has happened he has turned into the most amazing, well behaved horse she has ever owned.
She owes her life to him!
MrsHutt
Well-Known Member
I went on a hack once with another girl at our yard (I didn't know her well, but I knew the horse she was riding). The horse was unusually well behaved all the while and didn't do his usual spooking, tanking off etc. The girl commented that she had never known him so good and quiet. She later found out that she was pregnant - even though she had been told she would never have children (so a very precious baby!) - we reckon the horse knew and was taking special care of her that day 
ausipaliboi
Well-Known Member
My old boy and I knew each other inside out, could always pick each others moods, etc. There will never be another like him.
My pali boi has always been a 'special' case, highly strung to say the least. The day I fell pregnant he turned into a little lamb. It was weeks before I found out - obviously - but the entire pregnancy he was the most calm docile horse I have ever been around. I agree with the smell / hormones theory in that case.
My pali boi has always been a 'special' case, highly strung to say the least. The day I fell pregnant he turned into a little lamb. It was weeks before I found out - obviously - but the entire pregnancy he was the most calm docile horse I have ever been around. I agree with the smell / hormones theory in that case.
Ladylina83
Well-Known Member
One of the only times I have seen my horse really turn is when someone who had been bullying me was shouting at me
Natch
Well-Known Member
Some heart warming stories here 
I think people get hung up on what you can scientifically prove; science as yet does not believe animals to be capable of the things we know they are.
When I had my first horse pts we went to see yo afterwards. Hrr normally hyper jack russel curled up on my lap and lay quiet as a mouse, she was a real comfort. I havr had the pleasure of several horses seeking me out and comforting me when I was upset, and my first horse made a conscious and very demonstrable effort to look after riders who needed a bit of extra looking after.
I think people get hung up on what you can scientifically prove; science as yet does not believe animals to be capable of the things we know they are.When I had my first horse pts we went to see yo afterwards. Hrr normally hyper jack russel curled up on my lap and lay quiet as a mouse, she was a real comfort. I havr had the pleasure of several horses seeking me out and comforting me when I was upset, and my first horse made a conscious and very demonstrable effort to look after riders who needed a bit of extra looking after.
Damnation
Well-Known Member
With my little horse its silly little things that show me that after a year we have formed a bond.
One week my neck went into spazm, couldn't lift my right arm above my head (I am right handed) and she lowered her head to let me put the headcollar on and she nromally lifts her head so I have to stand on my tippy toes!
And now walking through the field it is REALLy muddy and she stands and waits for me, walks very slowly to let me waddle on after her and she is normaly a powermarcher!!
She knows when my back is sore, when I feel down, she always looks after me!
One week my neck went into spazm, couldn't lift my right arm above my head (I am right handed) and she lowered her head to let me put the headcollar on and she nromally lifts her head so I have to stand on my tippy toes!
And now walking through the field it is REALLy muddy and she stands and waits for me, walks very slowly to let me waddle on after her and she is normaly a powermarcher!!
She knows when my back is sore, when I feel down, she always looks after me!
Tonty Tont
Well-Known Member
These are all lovely to read
Tont gets stupidly jealous if I give any attention to any of the others - he chases them away from me
If the youngsters are being silly, I know I can stand by Tont and he won't let them hurt me
Tont gets stupidly jealous if I give any attention to any of the others - he chases them away from me
If the youngsters are being silly, I know I can stand by Tont and he won't let them hurt me
EstherYoung
Well-Known Member
What a beautiful thread.
I think the thing to remember is that horses have horse emotions not human ones. That's not to do their feelings down, far from it. In many respects their sense of perception and awareness of both each other and the world around them is far more advanced than ours will ever be. They are so so so intuitive. And that's what makes the whole horse/human thing so much more incredible. We have so much to learn.
I think the thing to remember is that horses have horse emotions not human ones. That's not to do their feelings down, far from it. In many respects their sense of perception and awareness of both each other and the world around them is far more advanced than ours will ever be. They are so so so intuitive. And that's what makes the whole horse/human thing so much more incredible. We have so much to learn.
MerrySherryRider
Well-Known Member
This is so true.
SusannaF
Well-Known Member
Does anyone read Melanie Reid's column in the Times?
She's a writer/journalist who was paralysed after a cross-country fall the other year, and sometimes she writes about horses she's known and does it beautifully. The other week she was describing a retired police horse they were looking after.
One day he cast himself in the field - lay down with his legs uphill (if that makes sense). Her OH was panicking and wondering what the hell to do, when her other horse walked over to the police horse, seized him by the ear and dragged him round 90 degrees with the big horse squealing away. Then he let go, and the police horse could get up. And they just walked away together, grazing.
Incredible.
She's a writer/journalist who was paralysed after a cross-country fall the other year, and sometimes she writes about horses she's known and does it beautifully. The other week she was describing a retired police horse they were looking after.
One day he cast himself in the field - lay down with his legs uphill (if that makes sense). Her OH was panicking and wondering what the hell to do, when her other horse walked over to the police horse, seized him by the ear and dragged him round 90 degrees with the big horse squealing away. Then he let go, and the police horse could get up. And they just walked away together, grazing.
Incredible.
Wagtail
Horse servant
These are lovely stories. A friend of mine told me of how she had to give up her mare due to a financial problems in her early twenties. She was devastated as they had a really strong bond. Ten years passed and one day she was travelling between offices and came across a field of horses. She was immediately struck by the horse at the far end of the field. So much so that she pulled her car over and went over to the gate. The horse was around 200 metres away but looked the spitting image of her old mare so she called her name. Immediately the horse raised its head, whinnied and galloped over to her. My friend broke down in tears as she realised it really was her old friend and she remembered her as though not a day of that ten years had passed. My friend was pleased to see she was in a field with several others with plenty of grazing and looked well cared for. She decided not to knock on the door of the nearby house as she found it all too painful and never went back there again. She now has a new mare that has a forever home with her and has had for 12 years now. But it just shows how good horse's memories are.
Wagtail
Horse servant
Amazing. I think they are aware of far more than we give them credit for.
fburton
Well-Known Member
Despite being a bit curmudgeonly about (over)interpreting animal emotions, I agree with every sentence you wrote.
Katikins
Well-Known Member
Most definitely aware of our feelings!! My old boy would instantly know if I was upset and would stand and blow down my neck and nuzzle me. I miss that about him the most.
My sister was showjumping Tucker and he got an awful stride into a fence, so stopped and then pinged over it. When he stopped my sis went over the fence first, followed by Tucker. We were in the viewing gallery less than 5 meters away and Tucker's front hooves were coming down on my sister's head!! He looked at where he was going and literally twisted in mid air. He ended up landing on her thigh, but it was definitely a conscious effort on his part that prevented him possibly killing her!
My sister was showjumping Tucker and he got an awful stride into a fence, so stopped and then pinged over it. When he stopped my sis went over the fence first, followed by Tucker. We were in the viewing gallery less than 5 meters away and Tucker's front hooves were coming down on my sister's head!! He looked at where he was going and literally twisted in mid air. He ended up landing on her thigh, but it was definitely a conscious effort on his part that prevented him possibly killing her!
Megibo
Well-Known Member
skimmed through replies but i posted a thread similar called something like do you think horses have feelings and it's true i agree with whoever said they have more complex emotions than humans which is why we bond with them so well..
when i had a broken ankle i rode my horse and normally she stomps about and marches off when you get on. well i was scrambling up getting on her she stood ROCK still it was like getting on a stone. i crossed my stirrups over her neck and off we went, she ambled around the fields past all her 'spooky spots' without so much as batting an eyelid. And she stood rock still as i got off too. soon as my cast was off she was back to normal!
and she definitely gets jealous, if i haven't seen her for a day or see to another horse before her she gets very jealous!!
when i had a broken ankle i rode my horse and normally she stomps about and marches off when you get on. well i was scrambling up getting on her she stood ROCK still it was like getting on a stone. i crossed my stirrups over her neck and off we went, she ambled around the fields past all her 'spooky spots' without so much as batting an eyelid. And she stood rock still as i got off too. soon as my cast was off she was back to normal!
and she definitely gets jealous, if i haven't seen her for a day or see to another horse before her she gets very jealous!!
JavaJaneW
Well-Known Member
My first horse, Eric, had a wonderful bond with me. The short time I had him, when riding, he would take it easy with me (16.2 TB, me 5'1 short ass and not confident) for others he would step up a gear and jog and buck.((used to run a riding school and he was sometimes used)
When he was attacked by a dog and he became very poorly, he used to have an hour out to stretch his bad leg. I put him with a dopey cob and I went in to get food buckets, climbed fence and cob, greedy cob, ran over to me and the bucket, trapping me halfway over the fence.
Eric heard me yelp, trotted over and bit said cob on the neck so I could get free.
The sad day when Eric was to be pts, he was to go on lorry but this best loader planted his feet, broke free and ran into the yard where I was and stood next to me refusing to move, almost as if he knew what was happening and wanted it to be finalised with me
My daughter's young Arab became ill overnight, she was at school, Phantom was desperately ill, could tell he was not going to make it. Could not move him from field to get on lorry to take to stables, his head was low, he was weak his breathing laboured.. Daughter got home from school ran to field, Phantom looked up, seemed to perk up, she walked him all the way across the field, the road, into the lorry (giving us a bit of hope). Sadly on getting to stables (where we hoped we could give him a chance) he fell and died in her arms
On a brighter note, Magic, our wonderful coloured Newfie, will get the hump if we haven't seen her and someone else has, and whilst a friend is riding her, will constanlty look for me and do nothing other than plod. When I get on, she zooms up 5 gears, gets her confidence and friend then has a more enjoyable ride.
When he was attacked by a dog and he became very poorly, he used to have an hour out to stretch his bad leg. I put him with a dopey cob and I went in to get food buckets, climbed fence and cob, greedy cob, ran over to me and the bucket, trapping me halfway over the fence.
Eric heard me yelp, trotted over and bit said cob on the neck so I could get free.
The sad day when Eric was to be pts, he was to go on lorry but this best loader planted his feet, broke free and ran into the yard where I was and stood next to me refusing to move, almost as if he knew what was happening and wanted it to be finalised with me
My daughter's young Arab became ill overnight, she was at school, Phantom was desperately ill, could tell he was not going to make it. Could not move him from field to get on lorry to take to stables, his head was low, he was weak his breathing laboured.. Daughter got home from school ran to field, Phantom looked up, seemed to perk up, she walked him all the way across the field, the road, into the lorry (giving us a bit of hope). Sadly on getting to stables (where we hoped we could give him a chance) he fell and died in her arms
On a brighter note, Magic, our wonderful coloured Newfie, will get the hump if we haven't seen her and someone else has, and whilst a friend is riding her, will constanlty look for me and do nothing other than plod. When I get on, she zooms up 5 gears, gets her confidence and friend then has a more enjoyable ride.
angrovestud
Well-Known Member
This year I had to put to sleep my mare and her foal, my mares best friend our broodmare Angel was looking after my mares daughter and her own yearling daughter when the deed was done, they were looking on Angel came over to the fence where the foal was lying down before he was PTS she dropped her head sniffed his nose and stepped back the vet then pts the foal, as soon as the vet went to get his scope Angel came forward sniffed the foal nose and then bowned her head on the floor she then went to the two youngsters and stayed with them till my mare was pts as well.
we buried them both two months ago now and every month on the aniversary I go and see then both and have a chat, what amazed me was all the horses were in a different field andeating there supper the next thing I see is Angel walking over to me and came right next to the grave dropped her head as if to say our friends are there then she cuddled me for 10 minutes I had already been in tears but then I sobbed with Angel she and I will miss our friend.
My old gelding saved my life also when a stallion broke into my field many years ago he positioned himself so that the stallion could not come at me I owe him my life I managed to get the mare away from the stallion then get the stallion in to a stable all with the help of my gelding
we buried them both two months ago now and every month on the aniversary I go and see then both and have a chat, what amazed me was all the horses were in a different field andeating there supper the next thing I see is Angel walking over to me and came right next to the grave dropped her head as if to say our friends are there then she cuddled me for 10 minutes I had already been in tears but then I sobbed with Angel she and I will miss our friend.
My old gelding saved my life also when a stallion broke into my field many years ago he positioned himself so that the stallion could not come at me I owe him my life I managed to get the mare away from the stallion then get the stallion in to a stable all with the help of my gelding
Pally
Well-Known Member
That's amazing!
MerrySherryRider
Well-Known Member
I read this blog by a gifted photographer and shetland pony breeder a while back. Its a bittersweet tale of the depth of grief a mare had for her lost foal.
A photo showing the green grass where its body had lain, while the mother refused to leave it for 3 days and had nibbled the grass around. It left behind an image of its tiny body, seen once she was ready for the little one to be taken away.
http://shetlandponyeverything.posterous.com/so-who-is-up-the-duff-and-a-sad-story
A photo showing the green grass where its body had lain, while the mother refused to leave it for 3 days and had nibbled the grass around. It left behind an image of its tiny body, seen once she was ready for the little one to be taken away.
http://shetlandponyeverything.posterous.com/so-who-is-up-the-duff-and-a-sad-story
Pearlsasinger
Up in the clouds
Almost 40 years ago,so before the days of hi-viz/reflective clothing but we always took torches, our driving cob gelding, who was very traffic wise, was being led down the road, about 500 yds to his stable yard on a dark Sunday evening. My friend's pre-school daughter came to 'help' with this job every week. On this occasion, I was leading him on his halter but the little girl was also holding the rope. She was walking between me and the horse. A car came up the hill towards us, the horse lent down, got hold of the little girl's hood, which was up, and gently pulled her in front of him. He obviously didn't trust me to protect her from the traffic!
Much more recently we acquired a ewe and 2 lambs to share the grazing with our horses. Our piebald cob ex-broodmare was very interested in them and spent quite a lot of time with them. About 5 years later the ewe was taken ill. The sheep were all brought in and the ewe was treated but in vain. When we let the 2 'lambs' out, they ran bleating to the cob mare, just as if teling her what had happened.
Some years later one of the 'lambs' died suddenly in the field, I found her one morning with her sister close by. We went out to remove the body, the mare came over nudged the sheep and led her away. She also made sure when we introduced Sasha (16.3 IDx) to the herd, that she took the one remaining sheep with her and screamed at Sasha as they went through the gate. Sasha took a step back and was always very careful around the sheep.
Much more recently we acquired a ewe and 2 lambs to share the grazing with our horses. Our piebald cob ex-broodmare was very interested in them and spent quite a lot of time with them. About 5 years later the ewe was taken ill. The sheep were all brought in and the ewe was treated but in vain. When we let the 2 'lambs' out, they ran bleating to the cob mare, just as if teling her what had happened.
Some years later one of the 'lambs' died suddenly in the field, I found her one morning with her sister close by. We went out to remove the body, the mare came over nudged the sheep and led her away. She also made sure when we introduced Sasha (16.3 IDx) to the herd, that she took the one remaining sheep with her and screamed at Sasha as they went through the gate. Sasha took a step back and was always very careful around the sheep.
Chavhorse
Well-Known Member
Oh so many;
My old horse Martini after I had just been bitten on the chest (very very very painful) by his paddock mate flying over running the other horse off and putting him in a corner for a good duffing up. He then came back to me and gently sniffed at where I had been bitten and put his head against mine. Other horse never ever went near me again.
Last year I suffered a nervous breakdown, my OH was doing the daily looking after Vardi for a while and I was going to visit him a couple of times a week, when I went to the field he would walk away from his friends and walk the fence line till he got to me, he would then wrap his head around me for as long as I wanted, all the while he would be nuzzling my hair, face and hands with his lips, if I was wearing a hat and gloves he would pull them off so he could get to my hair and skin. After a few minutes he started to yawn uncontrollably when I was ready to go he would walk the fence line back with me till I got the the yard gate and then stand looking till I turned the corner only then would he join his friends again.
The strange thing is that when he was so ill following his accident I used to spend hours in his stable stroking him and I would always after a while start to yawn uncontrollably.
My friend who is a Reiki Master says the yawning was a case of both of us taking on board the negative stuff from the other and getting rid of it by yawning. She thinks he was returning the favor when I was ill.
Vardi also has a special greeting just for me a sort of very low vibrating whicker, my friend who is looking after him for me in the UK says she always knows when my car is coming up the lane when I come to visit as he will put his head over his box door and let out this low vibrating whicker, which he does at no other time.
My old horse Martini after I had just been bitten on the chest (very very very painful) by his paddock mate flying over running the other horse off and putting him in a corner for a good duffing up. He then came back to me and gently sniffed at where I had been bitten and put his head against mine. Other horse never ever went near me again.
Last year I suffered a nervous breakdown, my OH was doing the daily looking after Vardi for a while and I was going to visit him a couple of times a week, when I went to the field he would walk away from his friends and walk the fence line till he got to me, he would then wrap his head around me for as long as I wanted, all the while he would be nuzzling my hair, face and hands with his lips, if I was wearing a hat and gloves he would pull them off so he could get to my hair and skin. After a few minutes he started to yawn uncontrollably when I was ready to go he would walk the fence line back with me till I got the the yard gate and then stand looking till I turned the corner only then would he join his friends again.
The strange thing is that when he was so ill following his accident I used to spend hours in his stable stroking him and I would always after a while start to yawn uncontrollably.
My friend who is a Reiki Master says the yawning was a case of both of us taking on board the negative stuff from the other and getting rid of it by yawning. She thinks he was returning the favor when I was ill.
Vardi also has a special greeting just for me a sort of very low vibrating whicker, my friend who is looking after him for me in the UK says she always knows when my car is coming up the lane when I come to visit as he will put his head over his box door and let out this low vibrating whicker, which he does at no other time.
GingerTrotter
Well-Known Member
I love this thread!!
My horse is a very nervous, hyper sensitive soul. I've always had a special bond with him as I rescued his from abusive first owners.
Once at a SJ compitition he refused to jump (something he never ever does, as he'll tell you "baby i was born to jump!") I didnt feel ill but maybe a bit lethargic, Many people in the collecting ring told me to kick him on and not let him get away with it, however I knew something was up. I took him home and didnt ride the class. Half an hour on our return home I got struck down with the worse migrane ever! I couldnt see/walk/lift my head, I hardly ever get a headache! Coincidence?? - i'm glad i listened to him and got home before it hit.
Also the same horse who is usually fizzy to lead in and out and to ride with a experienced rider on, namely me, will potter around like a lamb with a child on his back (even in high winds, we found this out as I had agreed to give a friends little girl pony rides for her birthday, sods law on her birthday it was soooo windy but you cant say no to a little girl on her birthday. The horse was perfect! not one hoof wrong or one spook! so proud)
The people that see him out with me at RC events wouldnt believe it was the same horse
My foster brother had leukimia (bad spelling sorry) and I used to give him riding lessons, he used to canter round the school off the lead rein and if he started slipping out the side door the horse used to slow up and move underneath him again, completely voice controlled by me - now when its just me and him in the school or around the yard he has VERY selective hearing!!
He knows that he was fragile and reacted accordingly.
I believe my horse knows me better than I do and vice versa - we are a true team in every sense of the word as he is an extension of me and I of him! now that is true love!!
PS, another cute story was the first time I took him to a friends house to use her school, just for a change of scenery. It was the first time he'd been away from home and not at a show or training event, I popped him in one of her stables and when back to the car to get his tack, I didnt think anything of it really, when i got back he was freaking out, sweating and box walking - i recon he thought he's been sold! poor soul!!
My horse is a very nervous, hyper sensitive soul. I've always had a special bond with him as I rescued his from abusive first owners.
Once at a SJ compitition he refused to jump (something he never ever does, as he'll tell you "baby i was born to jump!") I didnt feel ill but maybe a bit lethargic, Many people in the collecting ring told me to kick him on and not let him get away with it, however I knew something was up. I took him home and didnt ride the class. Half an hour on our return home I got struck down with the worse migrane ever! I couldnt see/walk/lift my head, I hardly ever get a headache! Coincidence?? - i'm glad i listened to him and got home before it hit.
Also the same horse who is usually fizzy to lead in and out and to ride with a experienced rider on, namely me, will potter around like a lamb with a child on his back (even in high winds, we found this out as I had agreed to give a friends little girl pony rides for her birthday, sods law on her birthday it was soooo windy but you cant say no to a little girl on her birthday. The horse was perfect! not one hoof wrong or one spook! so proud)
The people that see him out with me at RC events wouldnt believe it was the same horse
My foster brother had leukimia (bad spelling sorry) and I used to give him riding lessons, he used to canter round the school off the lead rein and if he started slipping out the side door the horse used to slow up and move underneath him again, completely voice controlled by me - now when its just me and him in the school or around the yard he has VERY selective hearing!!
He knows that he was fragile and reacted accordingly.
I believe my horse knows me better than I do and vice versa - we are a true team in every sense of the word as he is an extension of me and I of him! now that is true love!!
PS, another cute story was the first time I took him to a friends house to use her school, just for a change of scenery. It was the first time he'd been away from home and not at a show or training event, I popped him in one of her stables and when back to the car to get his tack, I didnt think anything of it really, when i got back he was freaking out, sweating and box walking - i recon he thought he's been sold! poor soul!!
LaurenBay
Well-Known Member
Some of these stories have made me well up 
I took my young cousin to the yard with me, She has downsyndrome and doesn't really understand when I say to her be gentle and slow with the Horses. Because of this I am always very careful when I take her to see the Horses. I took her to what I thought would be the best Horse for her to stroke. Completly bombproof and child proof. She wanted nothing to do with this Horse. She kept pointing to the Horse opposite, this is the last Horse I wanted her to go near. Horse was a 15hh Welsh dxarab Mare. Very unpredictable, could be stroppy and very very spooky. Not good considering my cousin was so excited she was screaming and flinging her arms around everywhere. Horse stood like a rock. Let my cousing wrap her arms around her neck (have never seen anyone be bale to do this) and give her a kiss. Was totally gobsmacked. Never seen the Horse so gentle and calm since.
My other cousin is currently having lessons at an RS, but before she went there, I gave her the odd lesson on my old share mare. She was fine in walk and trot. But when cantering my cousin gripped with the legs, making her unbalanced. Horse was straight away go to a walk. Without me even telling her or cousin doing anything. Nelly always looks after any rider in the school.
This didn't happen to me, but someone that was at my old yard. We had the police come round to all the local yards. Telling us not to ride alone anymore as there had been a string of rapes. Girls being dragged of their Horses and then assulted. The woman rode out alone (not sure if she had heard the warning or not) a man jumped out the bush and grabbed the Horses reins, he then drug the woman of her Horse and tried to undress her. Horse bit the man and pratically threw him away from his owner. Horse then charged the man. Man run off and the woman re mounted and came home. If it wasn't for her Horse I dread to think what probably would have happened.
I took my young cousin to the yard with me, She has downsyndrome and doesn't really understand when I say to her be gentle and slow with the Horses. Because of this I am always very careful when I take her to see the Horses. I took her to what I thought would be the best Horse for her to stroke. Completly bombproof and child proof. She wanted nothing to do with this Horse. She kept pointing to the Horse opposite, this is the last Horse I wanted her to go near. Horse was a 15hh Welsh dxarab Mare. Very unpredictable, could be stroppy and very very spooky. Not good considering my cousin was so excited she was screaming and flinging her arms around everywhere. Horse stood like a rock. Let my cousing wrap her arms around her neck (have never seen anyone be bale to do this) and give her a kiss. Was totally gobsmacked. Never seen the Horse so gentle and calm since.
My other cousin is currently having lessons at an RS, but before she went there, I gave her the odd lesson on my old share mare. She was fine in walk and trot. But when cantering my cousin gripped with the legs, making her unbalanced. Horse was straight away go to a walk. Without me even telling her or cousin doing anything. Nelly always looks after any rider in the school.
This didn't happen to me, but someone that was at my old yard. We had the police come round to all the local yards. Telling us not to ride alone anymore as there had been a string of rapes. Girls being dragged of their Horses and then assulted. The woman rode out alone (not sure if she had heard the warning or not) a man jumped out the bush and grabbed the Horses reins, he then drug the woman of her Horse and tried to undress her. Horse bit the man and pratically threw him away from his owner. Horse then charged the man. Man run off and the woman re mounted and came home. If it wasn't for her Horse I dread to think what probably would have happened.
Wagtail
Horse servant
I am just amazed at how many horses will actually protect their owners. I have seen it happen a few times with mares in particular protecting others from the herd bully but to go one step further and protect a human is just incredible. More on a par with stories you occasionally hear about dogs. I think it shows that horses are capable of quickly understanding situations that involve danger and will risk themselves in order to protect those they have bonded with. Amazing.
Megibo
Well-Known Member
is that really true ? amazing if so.
sometimes i think it's a mutual thing, you protect your horse and your horse looks after you...
a few weeks ago i was poo picking and my mare was grazing by the fence. i have no idea what it was that scared her but she charged right at me and circled so she was stood with me inbetween her and the thing that spooked her. she was quite worried and snorting, put her nose out to me and blew through it. i rubbed her nose and gave her a pat and after a few minutes she relaxed and went back to where she had been eating.
has similar happened to anyone else ?
Wagtail
Horse servant
Oh yes, countless times! I can't ever see my mare protecting me. She's a real scardycat. In fact she would knock me over to get away from something scary
I still love her to peices though.fatpiggy
Well-Known Member
My horse shows remarkable empathy to others. Instead of chasing off newcomers she will always go over and greet them nicely. She adopts the small, young and elderly and gives them her special attention. Anyone she things might be vulnerable gets her company, on one occasion observing a horse that peculiarly she really didn't like from the moment he came to the yard, being bullied and so spent the afternoon grazing beside him so that the bully would stay away. She was herd leader and when the horses were all walked back to the yard, she would stand at the yard gate until the ones at the back had caught up, then lead off again. Even if she sees others playfighting in the next field she will walk to the fence and watch closely in case she needs to do anything.
The day her buddy was put down, she went and stood on the spot where I used to feed her friend and looked very down, but perked up again the next day as though she knew what had happened and accepted it. Her friend was extremely old and I think animals can recognise that and that it was her time.
When I'm poo picking she sees it as the ideal opportunity to be scratched. If I try to ignore her, she puts herself between me and the barrow. She's a clever old thing!
The day her buddy was put down, she went and stood on the spot where I used to feed her friend and looked very down, but perked up again the next day as though she knew what had happened and accepted it. Her friend was extremely old and I think animals can recognise that and that it was her time.
When I'm poo picking she sees it as the ideal opportunity to be scratched. If I try to ignore her, she puts herself between me and the barrow. She's a clever old thing!