Getting Emotional Over Something Your Horse Does?

3Beasties

3Beasties

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Has anyone else found themselves getting emotional (in a good/happy way) when a horse does something?

I took on a horse 3 months ago (not particularly by choice) and it's been quite a journey with him through finding out is history and then trying to find him a 'forever' home. He's been lovely to handle since he arrived but due to being told he was 'dangerous' and needed shooting I hadn't done any work with him. Over time we have found out more of his history and although a bit quirky he is not 'dangerous' as such.

Last week due to a new home being on the horizon I decided to try lunging him to build up his fitness a bit before he went. He was fine with lunging so today I progressed to long reining . Although clear straight away that he knew the ropes and what was expected of him he instantly became very tense and on edge. He wasn't really naughty as such but was not as relaxed in his mouth and wouldn't stand still when asked etc. I did lots of transitions with him and changes of direction and really worked on getting him relaxed. Lots of halting and then walking again after a second or so and talking to him all the time. He was nice and forward and very brave when asked to go to places that were a bit 'scary' (which considering he was labelled as 'nappy' was a bit of a surprise).

He really listened and tried hard to please. We were working in an orchard so once we came to a more open bit I put him back on a circle, asked him for trot and off he went in the most beautiful outline with his ears pricked looking absolutely stunning as well as relaxed. Asked for canter and got the same again. No arguing, no silly-ness, no bucking. Just a horse trying his little heart out to please.

I'm not an emotional person usually but for some daft reason I got a lump in my throat whilst I watched him. I got a glimpse of the horse he could be, the horse he could be if given a chance to shine. He's not naughty, he's not nasty and he's not dangerous and I can't believe I wasted 3 months not getting to know him more. He just needs someone to listen and understand and not give up on him at the first hurdle they reach. Today, he gave me hope.

So am I just in a stupid emotional mood or do you get emotional over really little things your horse has done?
 
I know what you mean - I feel like it all the time with my boy still! It took almost 2 years to be able to tie him up and him not run off - if you so much as looked at him the wrong way he panicked and pulled back then ran off and you couldn't catch him. The first time he pulled back but didn't run made me almost cry, then pulling back not breaking free and now he stands like a donkey (aside from very occasionally but its not due to fear anymore - he learnt a naughty little habit). Loads of other stuff like grooming me back, coming to call in a herd (used to take 3 to corner and catch him on his own) etc all cause those type of reactions over the last couple of years :)
 
I know how you feel. I cryed so many times at things other people would find stupid when I first got Lucy.
Like the first time she let me touch her, The first time I put tack on her and i'm doing it all again with herbie.

It was abit embaresing when at our first show we got pulled in second place and when the judge handed me my rosette I burst into tears :o She gave me such a strange look at first. Probably wondering what on earth could be the matter. I composed myself and told her about Herbies history. Then she understood :)
 
My wee horse apparantly watches for me when she knows im around, i know she whickers everytime she sees me, bit when im out of sight she seemingly watches till i come back. She also has this habit of resting her chin on me when im in her space. I love how she watches for me.
One of my other horses i was told to get rid of as he was a dangerous horse, turns out he was in pain with djd. When im skipping out he plays with the fork and nibbles on my hair bobble and pulls at my collar wanting me to play with him, he also makes a camel face when getting his wither scratched as he lays his head on my shoulder, big sappy beggar
 
I have! on my last pony he was a little 13.2 and I cried when I saw he has come joint 4th with the most beautiful horse in dressage and qualified for the PetPlan Festival Finals :)

My current mare a 16.2 we did a hunter trial, first one for the both of us and everyone at the yard came to watch, from the point she went clear at the water to flying over the last hedge I held it together but as soon as we finished I dropped my reins and gave her the hug of a lifetime, teary eyed thinking about how proud of her I was. It wasnt a small course. Have the below pic blown up on my wall at home :) my face is the definition of FEAR! xxx

http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplyequinephotography/6815735302/in/photostream

(no cc please ex sjers apparently dont do going through the brush lol!)
 
i get over excited easily, which the boys have now sussed out its nothing to be afraid off when they do things right it actually means its a good thing!

but i think the main thing that got me was last month, ruin was a pain to catch in the field almost impossible, and dante decided to take it apon him self to gallop after him and grab his rug so he couldnt get away! None the less helping me catch him! Madness really never thought horses would do that :eek::D

most things they do either suprise me, or get me welled up or, get me over excited to the point i squeel as i cant keep it in any more lol! so either way they have sussed out their mum is an absolute nutcase which is all good hehe x
 
My old mare is on her last summer and the younger mare I have kept with her for ten years finally stuck up for her in the field this week after ten years of being looked after by her. I got a bit emotional.
 
I love my girl as she always makes me laugh. I think we have the same sense of humour. It's great to have her so relaxed and easy around me and it's so unlike the sad little mare she was 3 years ago when she wouldn't even look at me.

I love the fact that she'll shut the stable door on me just as I head in with a full super barrow just so that she can rob the contents and that she'll stand in quite happily with me without any other horses around. I love that she'll follow and play in the menage, that she'll jump several jumps loose when I send her and that she'll gallop around in a huge circle farting and bucking, to then come back to me and ask to do it again like a big dog fetching a stick.

I guess seeing her happy with her life and with us makes me emotional all of the time.:rolleyes::D
 
thank god some people can experience this level of emotion to see the horse in its beauty. Honestly, if you arent moved by the original message - get out of horses!! Well done you and long may it last
 
Oh goodness I get all soppy and emotional all the time with mine! It doesn't take much lol. I have been known to sniffle down a little tear of pride and happiness fairly often :).
 
Lawdy yes! OP I so like your post, I could really feel what you felt.

The first time my previously unhandled and feral Exmoor long lined properly, ears pricked back and forth listening to me, so responsive. Such a good little boy, cue tears.

Being able to pick my filly's hooves for the first time after many weeks of battles and frustration on both our parts, yep, tears.

Our old mare coming through a long and complicated colic operation, after the vets's opinion of 'there's no hope but dammit we'll try anyway'. Copious blubbing all round.
 
I get a little lump in my throat every time my boy tries to do something. He is such a star and now he's 20 he finds some things harder than he used to but he always, always tries! We used to sail round the 3ft XC which for a 14.3Hh Traditional Cob ain't bad going but now when we trot round the 2'3" just because he loves it he makes me havea little lump in my throat. Despite being an older boy he always tries his best and loves his work! Makes me emotional every time! :D

murphysmummy
xx
 
this old horse i used to ride had a heart of gold, i remember when he turned around and nibbled my boot when we were waiting for our turn at a showjumping course, he gave me so much confidence i loved him to bits and still do now though i have no idea where he is, after i left the yard he was at to get a horse of my own he moved, but id kill just to see him again :(
 
Ned nearly brings me to tears all the time.
When he went round an XC course without a lead horse, when he lead the ride for a 1hr30min hack, when he went in a stable, when he let me plait his tail (badly lol) without kicking and various other little things ^^ I do love that ponio!
 
I've had my boy since he was a foal but he had been harshly treated before I got him and had loads of issues. By the time he was 5, I was nearly at the end of my tether and I was terrified of my wee cob. I was on the New Rider forum at this point and a couple of the girls there took me under their wing and got me to go for a hack with them.

I trailered him over to meet 2 people I had only met a couple of times with strange horses and off we went. When I got back in the car I phoned my hubby and I couldnt speak for tears. He was trying to calm me down saying that it was okay, I could call it quits and we could keep him as a pet and I was trying to tell him that our boy had been a star and I had cantered in an open field with other horses and hacked through heavy traffic and not put a hoof out of line! Happy tears galore :o

That was such a big turning point.

Thanks Lucyad and Brightbay (they are on here too now so may see this!) :D
 
Grace has been just what the doctor ordered for me, she is idle, stubborn and pigheaded just like me so we are a match made in heaven.... I think it makes us understand oneanother easier lol x
What I love about her is how much she makes me laugh... This afternoon when getting ready for our lesson I was running early so we had a scratching session in the stable i scratching her bum and she was really enjoying herself to the extent her whole back end gave way and she hit the deck... Stupid stupid horse but I do dearly love her :o
Every moment I spend with Grace is progress and I enjoy every single second of it... from a quiet snuggle moment to a new movement mastered under saddle we spend the whole time with big smiles on our faces and if thats not what owning a horse is all about then I don't know what is.... Sorry for going on there got my rant pants on tonight lol x
 
It is so nice to hear such lovely stories, my boy is an emotionless git. Hates fuss, is a loner and would prefer it if you left him alone at all times. It breaks my heart because I can't help but think he secretly hates me, so when I was talking to a fellow livery a few days ago with my back turned and he rested his head on my shoulder, I actually went home and cried my eyes out to my mum lol
It is nothing compared to some of theses amazing stories but it was just totally unlike him and it was just so nice :)
 
Endless times...

The first time we managed to hack out solo again with no issue after about a year of napping on his own and occasionally with others...
The first time (and only one of a few times :o) when he went down on the bit and used his back end properly in trot and it felt amazing
When we came 6th out of 6th with 4 faults in only our second jumping class...it was just 1'9" but we got a rosette...and I was so proud of us both. We had to hack several miles there and several miles back as had no transport.
When he almost loaded himself into the horsebox coming back from riding club camp as he wanted to get home to some grass :D
The first ever dressage test I did at a fun dressage test day at the yard where the woman judging said he was a very genuine pony :)

Today is the anniversary of the day I very first tried him 8 years ago so I've felt quite emotional all day :D
 
SavingGrace said:
Grace has been just what the doctor ordered for me, she is idle, stubborn and pigheaded just like me so we are a match made in heaven.... I think it makes us understand oneanother easier lol x
What I love about her is how much she makes me laugh... This afternoon when getting ready for our lesson I was running early so we had a scratching session in the stable i scratching her bum and she was really enjoying herself to the extent her whole back end gave way and she hit the deck... Stupid stupid horse but I do dearly love her :o
Every moment I spend with Grace is progress and I enjoy every single second of it... from a quiet snuggle moment to a new movement mastered under saddle we spend the whole time with big smiles on our faces and if thats not what owning a horse is all about then I don't know what is.... Sorry for going on there got my rant pants on tonight lol x
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Not sure why, but this ^^^ brought a lump to my throat....she sounds perfect.

My little youngster makes me emotional every time I see her. She was my saviour after I lost Rebel in October. I never wanted something that wasn't a TB, I never wanted a coloured and I definitely didnt' want a youngster (cue buying 13.2hh New Forest X 2 year old - skewbald!)

The first time I took her to a friend who does breaking and schooling who taught her how to lunge (and me how to make her do it properly), the first time I took her on the roads in hand and she barely batted an eyelid and then I took her out with a friend a couple of weeks ago with two lunge lines and within five minutes she was long reining along the roads like a pro - all these brought smiles to my face.
Every time she looks over her door her mouth twitches like she's smiling. There's nothing better in the morning.

As for my older TB mare, each time I look at her I feel so proud - so proud that she has been through so much invasive treatment, but still trusts and allows vets to do anything to her, and if I can ever ever get on her again, it will be a very emotional day.
 
When my pony came 5th in a county level class full of producers and beautiful ponies, I was so proud I nearly cried. It's been a difficult journey with him, he has been through so much, and it was a real proud moment for him and me.
 
Holly Hocks said:
Not sure why, but this ^^^ brought a lump to my throat....she sounds perfect.

My little youngster makes me emotional every time I see her. She was my saviour after I lost Rebel in October. I never wanted something that wasn't a TB, I never wanted a coloured and I definitely didnt' want a youngster (cue buying 13.2hh New Forest X 2 year old - skewbald!)

The first time I took her to a friend who does breaking and schooling who taught her how to lunge (and me how to make her do it properly), the first time I took her on the roads in hand and she barely batted an eyelid and then I took her out with a friend a couple of weeks ago with two lunge lines and within five minutes she was long reining along the roads like a pro - all these brought smiles to my face.
Every time she looks over her door her mouth twitches like she's smiling. There's nothing better in the morning.

As for my older TB mare, each time I look at her I feel so proud - so proud that she has been through so much invasive treatment, but still trusts and allows vets to do anything to her, and if I can ever ever get on her again, it will be a very emotional day.
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Awe, thank you! She is an awesome little horse, just a little baby at 4yr old but after such a mismatch with my previous youngster she has been a breath of fresh air. I will never EVER buy a horse on looks alone again... There is so much more to a pretty face although Grace with her very workmanlike slightly roman head is slowly growing on me. xx
 
What lovely stories! I had this yesterday, I've been struggling with my new horse a bit as amongst other things he's become really anxious when out on his own. He's had a lot of change and is a sensitive soul who unfortunately hasn't read the book about ISH being brave and fearless. Yesterday we had our lesson in the indoor school and with no distractions he relaxed and did the most lovely work. He even coped with hacking down to the lesson drapped in his rainsheet blowing in the wind. I was so proud of him and it gave me a glimpse of why I bought him in the first place! He had massive hugs from me and the instructor and I was close to tears as we hacked back, both with smiles on our faces
 
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