Has your horse ever taught you a valuable lesson or two ?

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Megibo

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I'm going to sort of post this alongside a very true posting that I saw on here a few weeks ago and it reminded me of my horse. Has your horse ever taught you anything?

The post is this:

When you are tense, let me teach you to relax.
When you are short tempered, let me teach you to be patient.
When you are quick to react, let me teach you to be thoughtful.
When you are angry, let me teach you to be serene.
When you feel superior, let me teach you to be respectful.
When you are self absorbed, let me teach you to think of greater things.
When you are lonely, let me be your companion.
When you are tired, let me carry the load.
When you need to learn, let me teach you. After all, I am your horse.

And a lot of the things stated here, my horse has taught me. The most notable ones are 'when you are angry let me teach you to be serene, when you feel superior let me teach you to be respectful'. This is because when I was about 13/14 years old I'd been jumping her in the menage, it was a fairly hot day and she was getting tired. She started stopping at the fences..as I said, it was hot she was tired and also I wasn't riding her into them firmly enough. So, on about the third stop in a row I lost my temper and smacked her hard a few times with my crop and also yanked her in the mouth.. twice. I forgot in my own wrapped up self that I was riding a living, feeling and thinking animal. So what did she do? When I faced her back at the fence she charged at it full pelt, started to take off then ducked out the left and sent me flying over the jump by myself. I landed hard and was winded and dazed! Her nose appeared above me and she blew on my face, waiting very patiently for me to get my breath back and get to my feet.. Understanding totally, I gave her a pat gathered up the reins and took her back to the stable.
I never did anything like that before and neither did I do it ever again, but that was the most valuable lesson my horse ever taught me.

Has your horse taught you anything about yourself ??
 
My beautiful late Vayamos taught me to always give the benefit of doubt.
Horses dont misbehave unless there is a reason. She taught me to always think outside of the box. If something isn't working don't keep banging on more aggressively in the same way but to stop think and try a different way, work with the horse not against them.
 
The other day my horse stopped at a blind corner on a hack we do daily, I thought ok, let him wait here its his decision. Then round the corner appear 4 dog walkers with 6 dogs each, most loose. So good call for my horse, and good call for me for letting him decide.
 
Yes my little welshy taught me patience, how to ask for things in different ways and a sense of humour! I miss that pony, just wish she had been a hand bigger!
 
Yes. Horses are generally willing and amiable creatures unless people have given them reason to behave otherwise.

Bad behaviour is more often than not related to pain.

But having said this they can still be little monkeys !!!
 
I remember taking Molly onto a stubble field at our farm. It's over 100 acres & she loves it. Very very forward-going horse who you cannot put your leg on or you're off! Anyway, this day we'd already warmed up so i told her to "go on then". Nothing. Little squeeze. Stopped dead. Bigger squeeze. Stood her ground. Little kick (which would result in bolting any other time!). Still stood firm. So i sat there, wondering what the hell she was doing. She wasn't looking at anything - looked quite relaxed actually. Then suddenly, POP. Her girth came completely undone on the left side. Had this have happened when we were mid-pelt across the field...ouch!
So i got off, fastened it back up, got back on and off we went. I can only assume that she knew :)
 
my horses have taught me to be patient and to forgive, i can't think of any examples at the moment as it's more a daily thing!

when i had my first child i had people breathing down my neck on how to raise him, i pointed out that i didn't need any help from them as i have always owned horses and dogs and if i could handle them then i could certainly handle a child. they scoffed at my reply but they all have to admit now that my son is a very well mannered child who respects people/animals and personal space. their kids are unruly!

so yeah i think horses have taught me so much without really realising it. :)
 
My boy has taught me to leave all my stress etc in the car when I get to the yard, think outside the box with regards to bad behaviour ( its almost always pain related), if it don't work, try another way, be very patient :) and always listen to my gut instinct telling me im right in what I'm doing for my boy even if other more experienced people are telling me the opposite or to do something more forceful. I know my horse better than they do :)
 
What lovely examples - I am sure my horses have tried to teach me a lot but I may not have listened as much as I should have done. As some of you have said I have learnt patience, lots and lots about patience.

My current horse has made it very clear that in any schooling/training is never about 'me' it is about 'us'. We work best when I listen to him as well as have him to listen to me!
 
To ask him to do something not tell or he will throw it right back at you. He has often been likened to a mare in that sense.
Talking about him makes me miss him more as hes at home and I'm at uni now :( but I get to see him today or tomorrow and hes is coming down asap.
 
OP that's a quote from a poem, I have the full length version at home and I like to read it from time to time. It certainly sums up a lots stuff my horse has taught me!

He taught me to be patient, to control my temper, to control my fear, to appear calm when I am not, to trust my own judgement in dealing with him and not to listen to unhelpful others, to listen to him when he is trying to tell me something, to know that as long as me and horse are enjoying ourselves it doesn't matter what other people think, to be able to stick up for myself, to calmly and consistently manage other adults in my workplace through 'positive persuasion' rather than merely dictating orders, how to recognise a good leader, how to go some way towards actually being a good leader, in fact if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be well on the way towards being a headteacher. He has also made me much more confident in my own abilities, knowing that we really did hit rock bottom at one point, rebuilt ourselves and haven't looked back since!
 
Tazhazzamoose said:
When you are tense, let me teach you to relax.
When you are short tempered, let me teach you to be patient.
When you are quick to react, let me teach you to be thoughtful.
When you are angry, let me teach you to be serene.
When you feel superior, let me teach you to be respectful.
When you are self absorbed, let me teach you to think of greater things.
When you are lonely, let me be your companion.
When you are tired, let me carry the load.
When you need to learn, let me teach you. After all, I am your horse.
Click to expand...

Well I did not see this post but I really like this /\/\

My horse has taught me so much, alot of the above in truth. She is my sanctuary I have to say, complete therapy for me.

*cheers* to our horses :D
 
Plenty - she has taught me to listen to her first and foremost, rather than trusting vets 100% as they have let her down 3 times in the past 6 months (quite drastically).

I'll never forget riding along the canal path one day and I turned her to the bank to get up onto the towpath and she refused to trot up one of these 'channels' (they're all along the bank) she would go anyway but forwards so I took her up the next one, and as I looked back, I saw that the channel she refused to go up had a steep drop more or less immediately at the top into the canal.

Others are....
When you're tense, let me teach you that there are lions in the woods, and we need to leave. NOW!!
When you're short tempered, let me teach you how to slog around the pasture for an hour before you catch me.
When you're short-sighted, let me teach you to figure out where, exactly, in 40 acres I'm hiding.
When you're quick to react, let me teach you that herbivores kick much faster than omnivores.
When you're worried, let me entertain you with my mystery lameness.
When you feel superior, let me teach you that mostly, you're the maid service.
When you're self-absorbed, let me teach you to pay attention!! (I told you about those lions in the woods...)
When you're arrogent, let me teach you what 1,200 pounds of yahoo-let's-go! speed event horse can do when suitably inspired.
When you're lonely, let me be your companion. Let's do lunch. Also breakfast, dinner, and snacks.
When you're tired, don't forget the 600 pounds of grain that need to be unloaded.
When you're feeling financially secure, let me teach you the meaning of "veterinary services, additional."

;)
 
China tea taught me that she knew better, so did Buzzy, but he also taught me that getting stroppy would never work, he could do it better. If you got cocky he'd put you on the floor until you learnt to work through it properly.

Bobby taught me to ride sensitively, to listen to what he was trying to say (which was generally that he'd try but he didn't understand). He gave his everything to someone who would take the time to be patient. He'd bolt and panic if you tried to force an issue.

Beanie taught me to think forwards, to be one step ahead of him to anticipate things. He taught me to sit up and to ride positively.

Ron has taught me the sheer joy of a horse who loves what he does and who really does have a sense of fun. He has taught me infinite patience and to look the other way when hes nervous. If he's spooking at something I let him stop and look, but I look at something else on the otherside of the road (as I'm not bothered by it) until he's decided it's not a tiger or a horse eating dandelion or something!
 
trust is a two way street!

my horse was only a five year old at th etime but trusted me implicitaly (sp!) would go anyywhere, jump anything I asked.

I was out on a hack which involved crossing a stream on a narrow wooden bridge with horse gates at either sde which we rode down regularly.

He wouldn'yt go near it this particular day - he bucked, reversed backwards, spun. I smacked him and told him to behave and in the end got off, very unimpressed to lead him across it. I promptly fell over on sheet Ice on the bridge!!

He knew, I swear, I dread to think what would have happened had he fell on the bridge into the icy water.

I've never doubted him since then.
 
KellysHeroes said:
Others are....
When you're tense, let me teach you that there are lions in the woods, and we need to leave. NOW!!
When you're short tempered, let me teach you how to slog around the pasture for an hour before you catch me.
When you're short-sighted, let me teach you to figure out where, exactly, in 40 acres I'm hiding.
When you're quick to react, let me teach you that herbivores kick much faster than omnivores.
When you're worried, let me entertain you with my mystery lameness.
When you feel superior, let me teach you that mostly, you're the maid service.
When you're self-absorbed, let me teach you to pay attention!! (I told you about those lions in the woods...)
When you're arrogent, let me teach you what 1,200 pounds of yahoo-let's-go! speed event horse can do when suitably inspired.
When you're lonely, let me be your companion. Let's do lunch. Also breakfast, dinner, and snacks.
When you're tired, don't forget the 600 pounds of grain that need to be unloaded.
When you're feeling financially secure, let me teach you the meaning of "veterinary services, additional."

;)
Click to expand...

I love these!
My lad has taught me there is nothing that can't be mended with patience, love and respect- he was badly abused and came to us a very stressed, quite nasty horse who the grooms who had to work with him were afraid of. Now he is an absolute gentleman and is a loving, kind and sweet boy. I have learnt the best things I know from him: give respect to get it, be patient, listen to what he has to say, don't demand,ask, and never, ever have treats in your pocket if you want him to concentrate! (pure slush I know but absolutely true!)

Fany has taught me to understand that mares really are different.
FDC
 
Last edited:
KellysHeroes said:
Plenty - she has taught me to listen to her first and foremost, rather than trusting vets 100% as they have let her down 3 times in the past 6 months (quite drastically).

I'll never forget riding along the canal path one day and I turned her to the bank to get up onto the towpath and she refused to trot up one of these 'channels' (they're all along the bank) she would go anyway but forwards so I took her up the next one, and as I looked back, I saw that the channel she refused to go up had a steep drop more or less immediately at the top into the canal.

Others are....
When you're tense, let me teach you that there are lions in the woods, and we need to leave. NOW!!
When you're short tempered, let me teach you how to slog around the pasture for an hour before you catch me.
When you're short-sighted, let me teach you to figure out where, exactly, in 40 acres I'm hiding.
When you're quick to react, let me teach you that herbivores kick much faster than omnivores.
When you're worried, let me entertain you with my mystery lameness.
When you feel superior, let me teach you that mostly, you're the maid service.
When you're self-absorbed, let me teach you to pay attention!! (I told you about those lions in the woods...)
When you're arrogent, let me teach you what 1,200 pounds of yahoo-let's-go! speed event horse can do when suitably inspired.
When you're lonely, let me be your companion. Let's do lunch. Also breakfast, dinner, and snacks.
When you're tired, don't forget the 600 pounds of grain that need to be unloaded.
When you're feeling financially secure, let me teach you the meaning of "veterinary services, additional."

;)
Click to expand...

Rofl - liking the original, and loving the additions :D

My horses have taught me that I know nothing and to keep learning everything :D
 
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