Horses' reactions to different people

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ironhorse

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Inspired by a comment on one of the moody mares threads, has anyone ever experienced a horse making a dramatic reaction to them personally?
We loaned a lovely but difficult mare for 18 months and I had a complex relationship with her - she adored attention but was tricky to ride and was very difficult with my husband in particular. Reluctantly we let her go, and she eventually ended up with her owner.
A year later, her owner offered to let me show her in hand as our new horse was ill.
I walked into her stable at the show and I have never seen an animal look so shocked - she clearly recognised me, and seemed confused but not frightened. She let me catch her and tie her up in the stable, and as soon as I got my brushes out to get her ready for the class she relaxed and went completely soppy. I had a lovely time showing her - unfortunately our class had to be abandoned as another exhibitor got kicked and needed the air ambulance and it was great to renew our relationship, but a very odd experience. I haven't seen her since - she has now been sold on, but wonder if the same thing would happen if we met again.
Anyone had a similar experience?
 
not to me, but when I was in college there was a gentle giant of a horse called George who was a sweety.

He took a dislike to one girl...but he seemed scared of her...he would run to the back of his stable type scared, she couldn't do anything with him, it was really weird
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The only conclusion we came to was that as she kept ferrets he could smell them on her, yet no other horse on the yard was bothered by her...poor girl!!
 
Horses do react differently. My girl is a soppy cuddle bear with me but not with other people - she will quite happily lean her head on me and get cuddles all day long but is funny with other people even touching her head. Is quite wary till she gets to know them (but can be bribed with carrots). She will also try and take the piss with people she doesn't know but is quiet as a lamb for me and one other person.

My first pony had a real thing about men and some more than others. She hated the YO where we used to keep her, to the extent that if he was in the school when I was riding she'd start rearing rather than go near him. Yet she was OK with my Dad. She was also a nightmare for the vet!
 
My horse can often behave badly with me (be a bit pushy, can nip, etc), but with other people he's usually a saint. I think its because I'm "Mummy" and he's like a naughty teenager. He knows how to behave himself but with me he tries to push the boundaries (and gets a good wallop for it LOL)..
 
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Horses do react differently. My girl is a soppy cuddle bear with me but not with other people - she will quite happily lean her head on me and get cuddles all day long but is funny with other people even touching her head. Is quite wary till she gets to know them (but can be bribed with carrots). She will also try and take the piss with people she doesn't know but is quiet as a lamb for me and one other person.


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I think this is such a mare "thing". I had a mare on loan for a year who was lovley but it took her a good few months to get to know me and "like" me. Once she did, she literally changed from stroppy mare to a loveable, cuddly and sweet girl over night. Towards the end of the loan, I got my new boy and she really sulked. If I went to the field to catch him, she would come over and when she realised I was getting the boy, she would walk to the other end of the field and refuse to come anywhere near me for the rest of the day.

The boy on the other hand, likes cuddles from anyone if he's in the mood for them. He's isn't a very cuddly horse most of the time but that's just him, not related to particular people.
 
my mare is the same she is a loveable mare with me but if any one else goes to get her or touch her she will actually lunge at serturn people try to bite and kick them
 
Yes, one of my stallions daughters (owned by someone else) was a favourite of mine. I always wanted to buy her as we just hit it off.
Many years passed and I met her again at about 14 years old. She went berserk when she saw me, trumpeting and whickering. I was so touched.

However, if I dare to go on holiday for a week, my Pony, who I have owned for 30 years, looks at me as if to say "and you are?"
 
My old hunter Dudley was a fairly "special needs" horse but totally gorgeous if you knew his quirks. However, he just didn't like men and would run and hide from them. When my old boss owned him she would sometimes lend him to male friends to hunt. They always came back saying they'd fallen off and he refused to jump for them so they never borrowed him again. However, he and I hunted very happily for four years together and I never fell off and he very rarely put a stop in. I think he must have had a very bad experience with a man somewhere along the line!!
 
I used to have a TB who was like a big dog, very cuddly, when he was being shod would put his head on my shoulder and snore etc etc.

I had had the odd report from the YO that 'Your bloody horse went ballistic this morning on his way to the paddock' and I was always no way he thinks he's a donkey!

However one day he was due to be shod and I couldn't be there so asked my very experienced friend to be around for the Farrier visit......she called 2 hours later they had only managed to get 2 shoes on and the Farrier was wanting to put a Chifney on him!

I hotfooted it back to find my farrier looking really shaken and my friend scared......they both thought he had gone mad.....I looked at him and said 'Marti stop pissing about you arse' we got the two remaining shoes on in 15 mins flat.

Apparantly Mr laid back had taken it into his head that my friend was a not as confident with him as mum and it freaked him out.
 
I used to work at a riding school where there was a rather evil mare who everyone hated. As the new girl I was given this mare to muck out, groom and tack up, but through doing this day in day out we built up a real bond. I loved that mare! She never tried to bite or kick me but did with anyone else and when I went on holiday for two weeks I went straight in to see her on my return and she turned her back on me and sulked for days. She wasn’t suitable as a RS pony and was sold on, and I have often wondered what became of her.
 
I had it a bit with Mazzie... She was very funny with her ears due to rough handling in the past, and yet I could touch them (after months of perseverance), and never had trouble putting her bridle on. Then a friend borrowed her and I turned when they were tacking up to find that they couldn't get the bridle on her at all. I went in and she let me do it straight away.

We also had a pony at the yard I used to work at who HATED men... He was known for placing EXTREMELY well aimed kicks and sent many a male vet hobbling to their car...
 
Oh god yes.
One was hate at first sight,I was never able to catch the b*gger and he was always thretening me when I tacked up/groomed ect.
Was a lovely horse for everyone else,lol!

Another chewed the end of my pony tail first day we met,and untill I left the job would follow me around like that
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They definatly do have favorite people,and people they really dont like
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My mare is fine for other people to handle (she tolerates it but looks around for me!) but its ridden when she gets quirky for other people. She will completely evade a new rider, go right behind your leg, over bend etc. Second I get back on she goes sweetly
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I don't think anyone has actually gotten her going nicely..
 
Yes, my share horse can act differently to people. On Sunday I went out to catch her and she wouldn't even entertain the thought of coming in for dinner; my friend then had a go and she trotted up to her merilly and came in without any fuss! I was spitting lol!!!
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Definately. River will refuse to eat if I go away, other than for a few 'favouritel people', but those people even if he hasn't seen them for over a year he will call too when he sees them again!!!

Also if you put someone nervous or novice on him he acts like a lamb but someone who can ride the tantrum monster comes out!!!

Lucas on the other hand adores EVERYONE... though he particularly worships my YO on the ground. He goes better for me under saddle than he does anyone else though, the same is true of both my boys - but I think that is because they are both more used to my riding and we have that bond...
 
I always say my horse 'chose' me. He got hold of my collar as I was stood outside his stable haggling a price for another horse!

I've had him 11 years and we have an amazing bond. The problem is he is a real pain for anyone else to ride. When I was pregnant with my son I rode him until my bump got far too big, he plodded around like a beach donkey with me on his back. At the same time he got through 3 sharers ditching them right left and centre!
He is fiercely protective of me and my son. There was one occaision where he wouldn't eat his tea and stood at the gate guarding my son from his field mate!

He is such a special little horse that has done so much for me, I'm really glad that he chose me!
 
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