Horses that are 'easy to like?'....is yours?!

[Twiglet]

Am celebrating five years with Twiglet tomorrow

and during our lesson today, got thinking about what a lovely boy he is...
I obviously think so (99% of the time anyway), but he is generally a well liked and popular boy. My instructor was raving about what a 'nice person' he is, and how lucky I am to have him - and he is generally liked by all that know him. Every instructor, show judge and person I've known handle or ride him has taken to him.
He's not a world beater, and he's not the easiest or most fabulous horse in the world, but he is 'nice'.
Yesterday my friend's 1 year old boy was sitting on his back (and attempting to pull his mane out

), and today I was sitting on the floor of his stable (rolling bandages!) whilst he blew in my hair and rested his head on my shoulder.
He can be a fiery thing (he's a Trak x TB), and hacking him is often an extreme sport, but he's never nasty or mean, and he is generally a pleasure to have around.

This isn't a post purely to sing Twiglet's praises (

), I just got thinking about horses that are easy to like! Is yours?!

 

[JoBo]

Totally! Bodey (the coloured cob) seems to make people take a second look because he actually moves really well for a coblet. He is just a genuine, all-round easy horse. A real trier. Of course I’m am biased but then we have so much fun together.

Badger (the Fjord) is just cute and laid back, so everyone loves Badger because he is Badger, he, he!

 

[Weezy]

Porridge can join that gang too - in fact my boys and most of the yard are no longer speaking to me as she is off to fantastic new pastures, but I am sure she will be as loved there as she has always been here for the last 2 years

 

[dwi]

No, Daisy is a horse that its easy to underestimate/misunderstand when you first meet her. People that know her really well understand how very special she is but you don't see it at first glance.

 

[Ziggy_]

Hmmm... I'm not sure about mine.

Everyone who sees her ridden, likes her. She's good hacking company as she leads the way happily, without napping/spooking/whatever. She's lovely in the school and to jump - she just has a sort of fun, sunny personality under saddle and seems to love everything she does - if that makes sense.

On the other hand, she can be a baggage to handle - I've spent so long instilling manners in her, but if a new person handles her she immediately pushes her luck to see what she can get away with. She's been known to wreak havoc in the field when bored with breakouts and escape attempts

and instructors tend not to like her as she argues with everything they suggest - and then there's the old chestnut mare stereotype as well.

She's certainly a character - whether she's a likeable one or not I'm not sure

 

[3BayGeldings]

Apart from needing to take out life insurance to go competing, mine's a very lovely boy! He's just very cute because he's half dales half TB, so he's got the height of a TB but with pony eyes and a bushy mane and tail. He's very good to handle on the ground and has expressive eyebrows so people tend to love him!
He's a real tirer when ridden as well, so instructors etc have always liked him. Not a bad bone in his body is their usual comment!

Til they see him away from home!! ;-)

 

[Natalie_H]

No!!! My mum's horse is - everyone loves him, a real trier, placid temperament, kind, looks after you - He is a 9-y-o TB. My horse is also a 9-y-o TB - but is extremely challenging. He is a one person horse, and you can only truly appreciate his temperament by getting to know him in a one on one relationship. I love him to pieces - but most others (although they agree he is quite talented) find him an unco-operative & deliberately awkward little beastie who doesn't particularly like most people!!! I think you have to earn his appreciation which is probably my fault as I did not instill enough discipline in him when I first got him.....!!!

 

[summertoots]

My boy is a dream to be around too. He loves people and is very gentle. He is by no way perfect to ride, and he to can be a b*gger to hack, but he has gentle soul and everyone he meets falls for him. I could be in a huge busy show field and he will stand like a rock when I ask him too, and when my daughter was a little person he would walk and trot around the School like he had the crown jewels on his back...he is a 16.2 TB, wouldn't swap him for the world.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

Yes, most people love my mare, she is a star really
When i loaned her out, they cried when she left, these were all university students i might add, at the first loan place.

The second loan place was the same, they did not want to give her back to me! And they said they would have her back any time, she was always fully booked out and apparently in the top 2 most popular horses at the yard out of 50, and i know why, she is one in a million, even though i am not talking to her just now after her out of character misdemeanor last weekend

 

[moodymare1987]

Yes mine is, dont know anyone that has taken a dislike to him, he has a cheeky personality and gets everyone in fits the things he does.
Today He tried to sweep up for me, obv wasnt doing a good enough job and you could just see my brush swinging side to side lol

He also likes to put his head over the wall of his stable and nosey into stable next door haha.

 

[tabithakat64]

The little ginger one is an angel to handle even by inexperienced people and small children, she is a gem on the lead-rein, shame she's not as good for someone that can ride as she is a really very fizzy and witchy kicks as she gets so over-excited and is dreadful to hack in a group

Fudge is very affectionate but can be bolshy on the ground if allowed, he's fab to hack but can be a little challenging to school.
I think both of mine are easy to like but I'm probably a bit biased.

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Sadly no. Mine (which I'm riding in my sig) was born wild, and didn't come off the moor until he was a yearling, and he's never lost that slight mistrust of people. He is fine to handle, but even after 12 years I can't just walk briskly towards him - he's off! He won't ever approach you in the field, and if you sat on the stable floor with him, he wouldn't pay you any attention. He does see me as 'his' though, for example another horse came over when I was giving Harl a scratch in the field, and he drove her off jealously, he does the same with the dogs! And we have a very good relationship on the ground and ridden, he just remains to be convinced that humans are really okay.

Ellie though (the spotty in my sig) is easy to adore - loves everyone, follows you around, you can lean on her, scratch her all over, play with her mane, ears etc, and she just loves it. Ellie would prefer more visitors, so feel free to come and see her!

 

[JessPickle]

Definetly Yes! Pickle is loved by most people that handle/meet him. He can be tacked up by the smallest of children, he lowers his head for them. When I feel down I'll sit next to him in his stable and he just looks at me like what are you doing!! He has the smallest kids sit on him as well.

He actually sounds quite simular to yours, Pickle is an angel in the school/jumping etc. Like yours hacking is becoming an extreme sport on him, took him on an escort with a kiddies hack, had a real battle not to overtake all the kiddies! that would have been very embarassing.

 

[miss_c]

I have yet to meet somebody who doesn't like Genie, even people who don't like cobs! She does annoy my YO when she's breaking the fences, but she still likes her! There must be somebody out there who doesn't like her, but I have yet to meet them!

 

[itsme123]

I get mixed reactions on daughter's ponio. He's well loved, but for all the wrong reasons

YO's comment after first meeting him was "friendly chap eh?" (dripping in sarcasm), and the groom calls him "Mr Grump". Fact is, he will pin his ears back and snake his neck at you, it;s ALL faces. But once he knows you he lets you know how he feels all the time. He's easy to love, even my friends who've previously detested shetlands adore him. he;s just 'special'. I think he;s the kind of pony that not many people could own, because he's very quirky (you can't go in the stable or fieldwith him because he double barrels.., he;s afraid of brooms and things and generally isnt happy unless he's living the life of riley, he HATES living out too) but they're just results of his past, and anyone who knows him ignores those things and just loves him for being him. Teenage girls squeal with delight when they see him, grown women gush, and kiddies just flock to him. Says it all really!

 

[keri66]

Lu my arab is the sweetest who everyone loves
Verne my sheti is lovable and loved for his persnality
buy Peds my warmblood is known as a fiend from hell

 

[Theresa_F]

Both Chancer and Farra were chosen by a look - it was instant attraction, I knew they were right for us. I obviously had vetting done, rode Farra who was 4 for a quick hack and did some handling with Chancer who was a yearling.

They were friendly, cuddly, loved people and both have a very kind eye - just like Cairo had.

I have for the most part chose all my horses by a look and gut instinct, the only one I bought properly - specification, breeding etc was the one I had trouble with and did not get on with.

My horses are "nice" - I have yet to have anyone meet them and not like them. They may not be what they would want to ride, but they do find them lovely in their natures, which for me is the No 1 concern.