Following on from Tia's post... hitting horses

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vivhewe

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My neddie took off with me and deposited me on the ground before galloping home and leaving me a few fields away. It took me about 5 minutes to limp home and catch him again. He was very wary and knew he had done something naughty, although he let me catch him without any problems.

What would you have done next? Give him a hiding for taking off in the first place or done nothing because he wouldn't know what it was for?
 
No way would i have given him a hiding - he wouldnt connect what it was for! And would teach him that if he let you catch him he would be hurt - so he would be well within his rights not to let you catch him next time!!! IMO x
 
I wouldn't hit them for that. I don't agree with hitting them for running away type things anyway.

I only really hit them for quite major things, kicking, biting etc. or if they are really taking the piss when being ridden like if they won't go past stuff etc. I've got used to being quite soft at the mo though because our horses are quite well behaved but if I had a really naughty one i might think a bit differently!
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I woudn't have done anything, apart from swear and tell him he'll be at the glue factory if he does that again (joking!). I'd just be blooming thankful he didn't get onto a road and cause an accident!
 
Wouldn't do anything to tell him off, too late he'll think its for being caught, but after remounting may call him every name under the sun while working him thought it and genraly being a tad cold. Not to punish him but because I'm human and pissed off and no doubt covered in mud and late for something now.
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No way would i have given him a hiding - he wouldnt connect what it was for!

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But didn't she say that the horse was very wary and knew that he had done something wrong? Either he knows what he did was wrong or he doesn't surely? Can't have it both ways LOL!!
 
I'd jump back on the buggar and ride him hard for the next hour! If he wants to gallop then I'd let him and I'd kick him on and make him learn a lesson.
 
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But didn't she say that the horse was very wary and knew that he had done something wrong? Either he knows what he did was wrong or he doesn't surely? Can't have it both ways LOL!!

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I'd think the horse was wary because he had just galloped hom by himself and this was an usual thing to do, presumably he was frightened/wound up so this is why he was acting 'warily' not because he knew he'd done something wrong as such, just something he didn't normally do and didn't feel entirely comfortable with/he shocked himself.
 
Not hit them - however get back on, and start the ride over. If he tried to dump you at the same spot again, give him a hiding he will not soon forgot, or as we call it, giving them a good Dettori!

I do not think making them work hard for the sake of it either, they would not connect that. Most loose horses go home, it is where they know they are safe.
 
I feel better for seeing everyone's replies
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I didn't hit him, I was relieved I didn't have to try and catch the sod in 15 acres LOL!
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My reasoning was if I came off on the road anytime and had to catch him, it was better he didn't think he'd get a hiding and so let me catch him
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Had I not buggered my ankle up I'dve been back on him making him work afterwards too
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But didn't she say that the horse was very wary and knew that he had done something wrong? Either he knows what he did was wrong or he doesn't surely? Can't have it both ways LOL!!

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I'd think the horse was wary because he had just galloped hom by himself and this was an usual thing to do, presumably he was frightened/wound up so this is why he was acting 'warily' not because he knew he'd done something wrong as such, just something he didn't normally do and didn't feel entirely comfortable with/he shocked himself.

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I can see where you are coming from, but I think it shocked him that I had come off rather than that he had galloped off. He was turned out in the fields all the time and would quite happily gallop off when I went to catch him and be perfectly calm about it and just look innocent when I finally caught up with him
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I wouldn't have hit him. To be honest unless it was malicious I am unlikely to have done anything - I have had a horse spook, the rider hit the deck, the horse then freaked out at the rider coming off, and took himself home in a total panic - he was scared by the falling rider, and getting back on him and making him gallop around wouldn't have helped him at all. I think you need to judge the circumstances, but that is my likely answer.
 
Would not have hit him, as others have said, there won't be a relation to the original behaviour.

It's a little like dogs that do not "heel" when asked. When they do eventually come back to you and people start shouting BAD BOY for ignoring you they think you are telling them off for coming back to you!!

Just get back on and carry on!
 
Wouldnt hit him. Mine spooked fell down a ditch, was upset that I stayed in the bottom of the ditch and buggered off the wrong way, home would have been nearer. When I got to her, over a mile away, she was really upset but came to me so we just walked and found somewhere to get on and walked about 5 miles home.
 
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It's a little like dogs that do not "heel" when asked. When they do eventually come back to you and people start shouting BAD BOY for ignoring you they think you are telling them off for coming back to you!!

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Exactly!
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I agree, hitting him would be the worst thing possible. I also don't think working him hard is an answer either. I would just get back on and carry on as before.
 
I get back on and carry on as normal really...perhaps with some swearing under my breath and name calling thrown in!!! When my boy bronked me off in the field last summer I sat on the ground for a minute to gather my breath and let out some expletives before going to catch him...he too acted wary so there would of been no point getting mad because he would have been even more worried then and probably not let me get back on.
It is hard though I admit.
 
When Ty started to bunny hop and spin with me I got off him and whacked him with a whip - never, ever again. He reared straight up could have so easily got hit by a truck as he raced off down the road on his own.

When I finally caught him I flung my arms around him and just cried.......poor sod, if that didn't confuse him nothing will!
 
No, I wouldnt have hit him for running away, as by the time you got to him he wouldnt connect what he'd had a smack for.
I will give a sharp smack for biting and threats to kick etc etc.
 
If it was a naughty move on his part, and he knew he'd done wrong [and personally I believe animals do know if they've been naughty - you can always tell if our cats have done something bad before you even know it because they slink around and hide under the sofa] - I wouldn't hit him for it, its too late, but I'd probably growl and give him a bit of a telling off.
 
i would put him in the coal bunker for 24 hours and let him think about what he has done!!!!!! and have some very choice words to say, but theres no point hitting them when the damage has been done, just make sure he doesn't catch you out again!!!
 
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