Grumpy horse / 1st time owner

For everyone saying it will get worse. Chances are it won't unless you can't just leave them alone. I have one grump in the stable. I ignore her behaviour. However, if someone is worried, looking at her while pointing and saying no is all it takes. I brush her, pull her mane, she will be lulled to sleep when you do anything with her tail and on and on. I do all of this with no head collar. She just hates to be annoyed or stared at in stable. Outside, she whinnies when I see her and is the first to come up to me for attention.

Thing is I have 5. They are all different and each horse is treated as so. They do not have to be perfect as well as cuddle bunnies. These are horses. I treat them as horses.

It would never put me off buying one like this. Would probably like them better. My favorite horses are always the one that don't tolerate a bunch of BS.

Terri
 
Bodger said:
I'm like your friend, will (hopefully/eventually) be a first time horse owner looking for a been there done that all rounder. And I wouldn't buy him, do you know why? Because when I finally do get my horse I want to be able to stand at stare at him all day! And groom him for hours and generally make up for lost time being around horses. So for me it would be a no....I think its different if you get to be around horses all the time, perhaps the novelty wears off, or you don't have the time to just stand and stare. But that's what I'm jolly well going to do so would need a neddy that would put up with it! :o

Good luck with whatever you and your friend decide.

bodger
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And IME that is the best way to deal with a grumpy horse who doesn't like to have company while he's eating. We bought one who ws VERY proud of her food, both bucket feed and hay, because she had been kept short of food and had to fight for it in a previous home. She was actually our 3rd horse but we were lucky that there was a walkway at the back of the boxes, with a grille to the horses. We used to put all her hay and her bucket into the stable before fetching her from the field, then we stood behind the grille while she ate, she pulled dreadful faces at us at first but gradually became less worried because we never took the food from her. In summer we stood and held a bucket feed for her over the wall, so again she couldn't hurt us if she tried and she got to know that WE brought the bucket for her. Eventually she would bring her 1st hay of the winter to the stable door to show me, not sure how she thought it got there!
 
Yes I would and have

A stall guard works wonders for a stable grump I find as it stops them feeling trapped. But tbh, if it's just feeding time then leave him till he's finished after all, it's only minutes in a whole 24hrs and if he's a safe confidence giver.....?
 
Depends whether you want a pet, or a horse. I personally have no interest in "bonding" or messing about with a horse, IME experience most horses would rather you left them alone. Those that follow you about are usually spoiled, pushy and often (not always) not the most reliable under saddle.
 
Cortez said:
Depends whether you want a pet, or a horse. I personally have no interest in "bonding" or messing about with a horse, IME experience most horses would rather you left them alone. Those that follow you about are usually spoiled, pushy and often (not always) not the most reliable under saddle.
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This is a bit of a sweeping statement. Just because someone likes to fuss over their horse, it does not mean that they are a 'pet', or will become pushy and unreliable under saddle.

I think it's sad that you have no interest in bonding with the animals that you ride. I think it's important to have a relationship with them. They should trust you, and you should trust them.
 
Cortez said:
Depends whether you want a pet, or a horse. I personally have no interest in "bonding" or messing about with a horse, IME experience most horses would rather you left them alone. Those that follow you about are usually spoiled, pushy and often (not always) not the most reliable under saddle.
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Is it really impossible for a horse to be both? I'm not suggesting for one minute that everyone wants a horse they can mess about with, but it seems to me that there are lots of people on here who have both a fantastic horse that they can achieve their riding dreams with but also a best friend for life.
 
I do trust them, as they do me - we have a demanding job that requires absolute trust and co-ordination; our horses are film and stunt horses, they joust and work with gunfire, swords, etc. and believe me they have to trust you to do that! But I feel no need to mess about with them, they are not pets.
 
Bodger said:
Is it really impossible for a horse to be both? I'm not suggesting for one minute that everyone wants a horse they can mess about with, but it seems to me that there are lots of people on here who have both a fantastic horse that they can achieve their riding dreams with but also a best friend for life.
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....and an awful lot who don't have that, who have extreme problems with control, trust, safety and ultimately simple enjoyment of horse owning. A lot of 1st time owners seem to end up afraid of their horses (or with messed up horses), which is such a shame.
 
hollybear said:
Agree with Bodger and CobsGalore, some of the most magical time I spend with my lad is when we are just chilling together, wouldn't like a horse who made it feel like he didn't enjoy my company. Have also seen how things can escalate with grumpy horses and would be worried about a first timer having to cope with that. Good luck.
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^^this^^
 
Cortez said:
....and an awful lot who don't have that, who have extreme problems with control, trust, safety and ultimately simple enjoyment of horse owning. A lot of 1st time owners seem to end up afraid of their horses (or with messed up horses), which is such a shame.
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Just because a horse is grumpy doesn't mean there are problems of control, trust or safety. Just because my horse doesn't like cuddles doesn't mean I don't spend lots of time with her or that I don't worship the ground she walks on - she is probably my favourite ever - above my husband's cuddley one!

A lot of first time owners land up with these problems because they are too novice.. Not because their horses aren't cuddly. First time owners can be very experienced - hence why a lot of people are asking if the OP's friend is confident about the horse's face behaviour. If you take out the grumps, the horse sounds a fantastic horse.
 
No, I would never buy a grumpy horse. I don't mind dealing with other people's though so long as they are not dangerously grumpy. In fact, they seem to really chill out here and no longer act grumpy after they have been her a week or two. But personally, if I was buying for myself, then a grumpy horse is a big turn off.
 
Cortez said:
....and an awful lot who don't have that, who have extreme problems with control, trust, safety and ultimately simple enjoyment of horse owning. A lot of 1st time owners seem to end up afraid of their horses (or with messed up horses), which is such a shame.
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And that is exactly why someone like myself, a first time potential owner who will be correspondingly a bit nervous about this massive commitment, shouldn't take on a horse who is potentially a bit grumpy!

I do think that your situation, where horses are your livelihood in a very specific profession, is a world away from my potential mother-daughter happy hacking/pop the odd jump or dressage test horse one! ;)

Bodger
 
Personally I wouldn't buy as I believe the first horse experience is so important in terms of providing the basis for the rest of your riding life. I had so many years of joy with my boy who was the perfect gent in the field , stable and ridden. He was sadly pts the other month after a sudden and traumatic illness at 30 something. In my heart he has left his hoofprint for ever and I was privilleged to know him for all his gentle courage.

I looked at some other horses a couple of months after he passed away and rejected one as it was very nasty in the stable - he may have been another dream horse but also could have been a nightmare. I went with my gut as my horses are horses and are respected as such but they are also my family and my life.

All the best to your friend and I wish her that same special connection very soon.
 
SHIVVY. So sorry to hear that:(

Your right about the owner and their horses relationship. It should be a joy, be it as a professional one or purely as a leisure pursuit. They have their place in your life whatever that may be.
 
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Bodger said:
I'm like your friend, will (hopefully/eventually) be a first time horse owner looking for a been there done that all rounder. And I wouldn't buy him, do you know why? Because when I finally do get my horse I want to be able to stand at stare at him all day! And groom him for hours and generally make up for lost time being around horses. So for me it would be a no....I think its different if you get to be around horses all the time, perhaps the novelty wears off, or you don't have the time to just stand and stare. But that's what I'm jolly well going to do so would need a neddy that would put up with it! :o

Good luck with whatever you and your friend decide.

bodger
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Big like button needed.
 
I own a pony club schoolmaster who has taught several novice adults and children to ride. He is totally safe in any situation and a novice can hunt him BUT he bites and suffers froma seperation anxiety and would mow you over coming out of a stable. I bought this pony from a friend and knew most of his kinks.
When you are a novice when you get on board you basically are not really in control, noboby can ride the horse for you, if you have a problem there is no point in geting someone else to sort it as you will be back to square one as soon as you get back on board. A handling issue can usually be shared and sometimes avoided, our pony used to bully my daughter when handling him until she was a bit older and could stand up to him.
There is no such thing as a perfect animal and when you buy you an animal to ride that the piority, horses are not pets they have the right to be horses and their welfare should be a primary concern not some human looking a 'bonding experience'. Just the thought of someone wanting to groom me all day would make me want to bite, Remember in the herd grooming is mutual and doesn't go on for that long,eating is far more important.
 
I don't mind a horse that can be grumpy but I do like to feel they don't mind me being around and even enjoy my company sometimes. I used to have to deal with a very bolshy gelding who would charge at you and was very aggressive when food was involved, that was a bit much but he was good to ride and that's what his owner wanted.

To be honest I'm not really competitive so would pick a friendly horse that is pleasant to be around over talent any day!

I do quite like a 'one person horse' though. It is nice to be the favourite, sad though that is!
 
lhamm said:
He really is a smasher, but he is a grump in the stable
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My horse was 'grumpy' when I bought him. He'd been one of a large string and had several people tending to him during the day, because the yard was busy he didn't get much one-on-one attention.

When I bought him, I could afford to spend ages staring at him, or in the stable petting him. At first it freaked him out, but after a bit he started to like it, and now he doesn't turn a hair at me standing in his stable admiring him, brushing him, petting him etc, even when he's eating.

But, as others have said, some horses are just like that and don't want human company.
 
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