Horses being protective over their humans?

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doodle

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They just know don't they. Robin is taking his support job seriously. To the point that tonight I told someone what happened. I was in my stable with robin with both of us standing at his door. She came and gave me a hug. He was not impressed, he actually barred her path and pushed her away. Hugging me is HIS job.
 
my boy is also very protective of me. the other people on the yard can say hello to him if I am not around. if I am near him he puts his ears back and steps his bum towards them. he hates me talking to other people and gets very jealous - he will get very fidgety and constantly talks to me if I am having a conversation with someone else. when we go out, if I leave him in the trailer when I come back he screams at me - very much separation anxiety - he will jump up and down in the trailer if I then walk away again. He is alright in the trailer if I am driving the car with the trailer attached, he travels like an angel. however, I have on occasions had to follow behind - he is an absolute nightmare - he constantly turns round, neighing at me - you would think he was being kidnapped.
 
My mare couldn't care less. She's very much her own horse, keeps herself to herself. The only time she's fussed for me is when we're away from home, she'll acknowledge my presence when I open the trailer or come back from picking up numbers etc. Would she protect me, I doubt it, she'll protect herself first and foremost! I still adore her.
 
Mine is similiar.

If other horse's are in the field and I've gone into the field to catch him, if he thinks they are too close he'll herd them away or take himself away from them so I'm out of danger.

He doesn't like too many people around me & he hates it if he's tied up and chatting to other people.

When I fell off him out one day, he stood over me trying to get me up and wouldn't let my friend close and let me use him to sit/stand until I caught my breath and found my feet.

He's a merry thug and chancer 99% of the time but if I'm ever unwell he's so, so gentle.

A few people have commented on the bond/partnership we have - he's not hugely a 'people' horse (unless they have treats :D ) and is pretty independent, so it's rather sweet I think.
 
I know exactly what you mean. My boy is protective of me as well. He won't allow others near me when in the field if I go into fetch him. He has on one occasion protected me from getting hurt. It took me a while to understand what was occurring. Within his field we have a few of the larger type horses, which when they have a moment can be pretty scary, on this occasion they where getting too close for comfort, and my boy positioned himself next to me, keeping me with one side against the fence and one side against his body, if at any time they got to close he would chase them away and then come back to the same position, he had no head collar on so in theory he could leave at any point. I was bringing him in for a groom and dinner. He is no way a cuddly horse, but every now and again he shows he cares, and I love him for that.
 
If I'm in his stable and the tractor goes past, he'll normally hide behind me. (He's 16.3hh. I'm 5'1". It's not very successful hiding.) VERY occasionally, if he's feeling unusually courageous, he'll deliberately move between me and the tractor, with wide eyes and tense muscles. "I may die to protect you," he says, "but it's my calling as a Noble Steed."

A previous loan horse - cob mare - did genuinely save me from getting hurt. I'd just turned her out when the other horses in the field decided to have a gallop. Big yearling heading straight for me, and she cantered back over to me and barged the yearling out the way, then escorted me the gate, with ears back and arse swung to the yearling when he threatened to get too close.

Considering she was happier dumping me than letting me ride her, and once threw the dentist over the stable door, it was unusual but very welcome behaviour!
 
Mine doesn't have an issue with people near me, but in the field he will herd the other horses away from me. I would like to think he's protecting me from danger, but I have a sneaking suspicion he doesn't want anyone else getting one of the minty treats I give as a reward for waiting politely after I've removed his headcollar when turning out, or for coming to call when I catch him in. He doesn't get treats from the hand very often at all otherwise, so turnout and catch in times are special for him. He is very food motivated, or should that be greedy...
 
My old lad emphatically sees off all the others if I'm in the field with HIS treats. However, the other day I took my neighbours son into the field - he is only 8 and has had major brain surgery recently and still lacks some coordination. All 5 of the horses in the field were incredibly careful with him and obviously realised that he needed extra care and attention, stepping round him carefully, nuzzling very gently and not getting into any minor scuffles with each other. It was lovely to be there and really made the little boys day. I was very proud of them all!
 
On my first trip to the yard following major back surgery, I popped into the field to see my boy. I was about one quarter of the way across the field and one of the other ponies saw me first and came trotting over. I was a bit worried as I still wasn't walking well and wouldn't have been able to move fast enough to get away. My boy suddenly realised what was happening and cantered straight at him and pushed him away, he then escorted me back to the gate, very solicitously nudging me between the shoulders to get me where he wanted me to go. How he knew I was not up to par, I don't know, but I did get a warm fuzzy feeling.

I then walked back to the yard, fell down the drain and cut my leg to ribbons! So got banned from the yard for another two weeks!
 
He was not being nasty and I will not tell him off. He sees it as his job to comfort me and put his head and neck between me and other person. There was no agression. He was looking after me and I'm. It telling him off for that.
 
He is not normally like how he was. He is perfectly happy for people to talk to me normally and is one of the most friendly horses in the yard. My dad has died in difficult situation and he knows there is something wrong. I strongly believe he is trying to comfort me and I am sorry but I am going to hold on to that. He was blocking this person from hugging me.

I wonder why anyone continues to post on Thai forum as without fail someone always has something nasty to say.
 
Kamikaze said:
He is not normally like how he was. He is perfectly happy for people to talk to me normally and is one of the most friendly horses in the yard. My dad has died in difficult situation and he knows there is something wrong. I strongly believe he is trying to comfort me and I am sorry but I am going to hold on to that. He was blocking this person from hugging me.

I wonder why anyone continues to post on Thai forum as without fail someone always has something nasty to say.
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No-one is being nasty Kamikaze. I'm sorry you're having a tough time at the moment, and I'm glad you're finding comfort from your horse.
 
My thoroughbreds see me as very much theirs - to the extent that they will follow and keep an eye but they would never separate me from other humans. They know better than that.

'My' work horses get very jealous and neighing, nicker and bang doors if they see me tacking up another horse so all of mine have to live in seperate parts of the yard for peace and quiet.
 
PaddyMonty said:
So you never feed your horse? It's not about that instant, more where the food normally comes form.
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The cob mare I mentioned on the previous page? Nope. Never. Grazing was good enough that she didn't even need hay over winter.

I'm not saying she saved me from serious injury because of some deep bond - tbh, we didn't especially like each other - but it wasn't food-related.
 
he isn't dominant over me or horrible to deal with. he just really isn't interested in anyone except his mum. he is beautifully behaved for anyone who actually has to do something with him. once they are in the stable with him and in his space he is angelic but he would rather just have me. when we are out and about people always remark about how lovely he is, he will stand and be held by anyone - he just always looks for me. he just doesn't want them around his stable door or when he is tied up and I am about. at some point as a youngster someone must have hit him and his behaviour is a response to that - he is a very loving horse but he is anxious and doesn't actually trust many people.
 
PaddyMonty said:
Horses that seem protective are just doing what is natural - protecting their food supply.
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I don't agree that's always the case, PM. They are often protective of sick, weak or pregnant people who never feed them.

Several of the stories above are about grass fed animals in a grass field.

I'm also not convinced that a horse which is out on a hack who looks after a fallen rider is connecting protecting that person with being fed when back on the yard.

Kamikaze, I thought your story was lovely and it made me smile.
 
I used to keep my horses on a yard where children and adults with special needs came to ride / groom / generally be around horses. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that most horses have a 6th sense that some humans need extra special care.

I've posted photos before with my Ardennes on them - he's had small children bash wheelchairs into him, adults with ADHD run into his stable and not moved a muscle. I saw another horse stop dead during a lead rein session and refuse to move. The rider had an epileptic fit 15 minutes later. None of those people had food and nor were the horses trained to do their jobs with food.

I used to think it took a certain kind of horse to do those jobs, but I've seen just off the track TBs stand stock still while a disabled adult patted them. I've seen them 'join up' and follow kids around the arena, without any of that natural horsemanship chasing them round in circles stuff either.

Its not always food that drives behaviour [although my mare would probably disagree!!].

Kamikaze - your post made me smile too :-)
 
My tb will do if allowed, he knows he's overstepping so he is subtle but he is using his body and position to put people where he wants them. He is more likely to do it with men than woman

Examples

I was in his stable talking to my male sharer, I was in the stable doing something, sharer standing just inside the door. Frankie is meandering around the stable in a studied casual way. He wandered between me and sharer as if heading for his haynet but as he passed moved his shoulder in such a way, that he bumped the sharer who took a step back and found himself standing outside.

Another time yard owner was fixing a light bulb in the stable and something on the yard caught our attention and we went to look out the door, Frankie came to see but positioned himself between us to look out even though it was not the easiest route.

My younger tb tries to push him around so then he positions himself behind me, knowing full the younger one wouldn't dare go through me to get to him. If I'm walking along the field, both will try to manoeuvre themelves so they are between me and the other. Both are generally well mannered and respectful but will still subtly try and get what they want.
 
SEL said:
I used to keep my horses on a yard where children and adults with special needs came to ride / groom / generally be around horses. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that most horses have a 6th sense that some humans need extra special care.

I've posted photos before with my Ardennes on them - he's had small children bash wheelchairs into him, adults with ADHD run into his stable and not moved a muscle. I saw another horse stop dead during a lead rein session and refuse to move. The rider had an epileptic fit 15 minutes later. None of those people had food and nor were the horses trained to do their jobs with food.

I used to think it took a certain kind of horse to do those jobs, but I've seen just off the track TBs stand stock still while a disabled adult patted them. I've seen them 'join up' and follow kids around the arena, without any of that natural horsemanship chasing them round in circles stuff either.

Its not always food that drives behaviour [although my mare would probably disagree!!].

Kamikaze - your post made me smile too :-)
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My friend hosts an RDA group at her riding school, and the ponies are always unfailingly perfect no matter what spooky stuff we put in the arena, and never go a step faster than asked..

Same ponies can on occasion be wee skitters in lessons with kids who can ride lol....

Fiona
 
Fiona said:
My friend hosts an RDA group at her riding school, and the ponies are always unfailingly perfect no matter what spooky stuff we put in the arena, and never go a step faster than asked..

Same ponies can on occasion be wee skitters in lessons with kids who can ride lol....

Fiona
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Haha! Yes - I had to pop on a 12h welshie once that was being a devil in a lesson and nearly got bucked off for my efforts. Same pony did the 'butter wouldn't melt' act 20 mins later with an RDA client.
 
I was out on a hack with my traditional pony Moses, we were cutting back across a field. The track was very badly maintained and I had come off the track about a foot because it was so rutted. I heard this sound behind and could see a tractor. I ignored it and carried on, the tractor hurtled up behind us, with the farmer leaning out the window shouting. Moses was quite upset about the tractor and shouting and I dismounted to stand by his head. However, Moses wasn't having it and pushed me behind him and stood between me and the tractor, protecting me. At this point I believe the farmer came to his senses about exactly what he was doing, chasing a lone woman on a pony and directed me the one pace sidewards on to the rutted track and drove off again , while moses aimed dragon snorts at him. I've always knew that my pony was a brave soul and he showed it that day. That same character made him a super kids pony and now the pony of a novice rider. He really takes care of his rider and seems to enjoy his work and the character company of people. The same pony will also stop if your foot slips out the strirrup and alerts his rider to bikes if they come up behind. He is a super lad:)
 
When i first got mine 9yrs back he absolutely hated people with a passion yet he has always adored kids and adults with special needs. He's never shown an ounce of aggression towards either. He now likes most people and has become the gentle kind soul that looks after me. I currently have a serious back issue and he stood watching me limp towards him today. Normally he's at the gate waiting and walks at lightning speed to get into his haynet but today he walked like an 80yr old man plodding in along side me walking at snails pace or rather limping at it lol. However around a certain type of person he still becomes that agressive horse with the i will get you first attitude.
 
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