How cuddly are your horses?

JJS

JJS

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I don't know about anybody else, but I always find the different horsey personalities fascinating. I can stand and watch my guys over the fence all day long just to see how they interact with each other, and I always find it interesting to see how different ponies react to people too.

Mine are all very different, as I was reminded today when I tried to snap some pictures of Mary and May.

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Flower will happily stand for hours for cuddles and attention, and if you want to say hi to any of the others, you can guarantee that she'll follow behind and press her head between your shoulder blades until it's her turn again, if not squirm her way into the middle and make sure that she's included too. Taking pictures is almost impossible because she always has to be right next to you :D

Tudor is the same. He will do almost anything for attention, and will always come charging across the field to see you, or stand with his head stuck out over the stable door in the hopes that you'll notice him and go over. He's a proper cuddle bug.

Mary is much more reserved. She was essentially unhanded until she turned four, and humans were rather perplexing to her to begin with. Once she realised they gave her food, she decided she quite liked them, but she's still shy. She will never approach someone new for attention, but really quite enjoys a scratch behind the ears now. She also likes to stand with her head pressed against your tummy and have the sides of her face stroked, but once she's had her fill, she will go back to grazing.

Six couldn't really care less. He always pokes his head over the stable door before you leave so that you can kiss his nose and give him a quick rub under his forelock, but aside from that, he has no time for anyone but my little sister, and she rarely visits more than monthly now that she's the grand old age of 15. He will let you do anything with him, but he just isn't the sort to seek out human company.

So, what are all of your ponies like? Cuddle bugs or couldn't-care-less types?
 
My mini loves kisses on his muzzle and quick cuddles before he's off trying to open all your zippers and cause trouble. A bit too mischievous for very long cuddles! However he's so people orientated that he always wants to be around you and touching you somehow. My old Welshie was a snuggle monster - I've loved having such cuddly horses.
 
I kiss mine at least 4 times before I leave. She loves kisses and wants to be hugged for hours. I spent about half an hour draped round her neck in the stable once. She's also very fluffy so is basically a large teddy bear. :)
 
One of mine really loves attention anytime and is quite affectionate back he will quite happily lick your face or stick his tongue out for you to squeeze his always done it since he was a baby, it sends him into a trance like state a lot of our house guests find it hilarious.

The other one likes a good scratch but only on his terms sometimes he just doesn't want to be touched, he can be a bit nippy as well so I wouldn't advise letting his teeth near your face.
 
My little gelding is a snuggle monster, he will stand for hours with big bear hugs and he is the one who has been brought up with kids and pampered. The rest were all very much "business" animals at stud and are not very cuddly at all. The foals are not much cuddly either but then ive not been pampering them either but the filly was and still is always the first to greet you and will stand with her nose on you til you leave. Not looking food, i don't treat, but just likes sniffing you lol

The big lad never used to be cuddly but as he has settled more he became more cuddly. Hes on his best behaviour at the moment lol
 
ive only had my loan mare for a year and she is only just seeming to enjoy having a fuss , sometimes she just puts up with me and other times seeks me out for a cuddle ,, she is 19 and spent the first 18 years with her breeder so it has taken a while for her to accept me and i feel she quite likes me now, at least i hope so...
 
Chilli is not the most outwardly cuddly. She is a real sweetie though, and once you know her there are little things she does that let you know she's showing you affection. Makes it all the more special when she shows you proper love, though.

Trapper is just a big cuddly teddy bear. He loves a smooch on the nose!
 
Tiny Fuzzy absolutely adores kissing, being touched and stroked, as well as loving being groomed :)
Miniscule Fuzzy is quite shy, but likes a forehead rub.
NF prefers all touching to be kept to a minimum, and definatley no hugging or kisses, ever! She does chat to me tho, and will occasionally mutter and grunt :)
 
The Beast is a right fuss pot, she was happily licking my butt cheek this afternoon while I was taking a phone call. Cuddly or special interest? She's generally an in your face kind of horse and loves any kind of attention. Granny is the opposite and dislikes strokes and cuddles, she likes being groomed and fussed in "proper" ways befitting to a professional horse human relationship though. :lol: She will, after 7 years, accept and seems to secretly like a quick kiss on the nose or forehead from me. But only when no one is looking.
 
Pretty cuddly especially when he thinks it will result in food!
Likes hanging out with people and likes to stop out hacking to be admired and petted.
 
Absolutely love these types of threads, could read them all day! I dont have my own horse but always get to the RS early so I can spend 10 mins scratching/cuddling 'my' horse there. He pulls faces of ecstasy.
 
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Trigger loves attention, cuddles and especially scratches. He enjoys a good groom and loves having his legs washed (odd animal!). I have had to teach him not to see off others when I want to give them some attention. I hardly ever see him laid down because as soon as he realises a human is around he's up and over to see what is going on. Out hacking he wants to stop and say hello to everyone we meet (and every cow we meet too).

Sully has only recently (after nearly three years) decided he likes attention of any kind, but will now enjoy a good scratch. He'll put up with a cuddle but doesn't enjoy it. He'd much rather come up and say hello when you are doing something else, having you come over to him always makes him wonder what you are up to. He's actually the more inquisitive and playful of the two though, he's the one that will play with a stray football in the paddock - Trigger's not interested if food doesn't come out of it. Makes me wonder what he'd be like if he'd had a different background (he's a pound pony, no history on him found dumped in some woodland in town).
 
My old mare has never liked a lot of fuss, brushing always kept to a minimum of mud removal and I have had her since birth, now at 24 she has become a real cuddler. She loves being brushed now and also likes scratches and even now loves her legs being brushed. She will stand for hours completely relaxed, it's like having a different horse. She is not the friendliest with other horses either and will only tolerate my cob any where near her, any of the others are chased away if they come within 10 feet. My three minis are all cuddly, with each other, the dogs, cats and any people they come into contact with.
 
F the Connie is a cuddle addict, and very vocal in calling his human ie me over for cuddles. He also lies down a lot, so gets lots of snuggles at late check..

Sophie can take it or leave it, same as the pony.

Flo is more cuddly.

Fiona
 
My geldings have both been politely affectionate, accepting of fuss but never in your face. I sometimes ride a friend’s mare, and have literally heard her teeth clack shut behind my back as I’m grooming her. Although her ears do briefly pop forward if food is on offer.
 
BBP wants to be around you and involved in whatever you are doing, he’s extremely friendly and curious and does deep rumbley noises at me all the time, but he is not at all cuddley, he hates to be hugged or even touched, especially his head and will move away if he can. One of the connies is tolerant to hugs, the other loves them, she is all over you wanting attention all the time and will stand to be hugged all day, she is my go to girl if I’ve had an emotional day!
 
Big gelding loves cuddles and scratches - he'd wonder into the house and climb on my lap if I let him.
Punky mare loves human company and is always first to greet you in the field, but absolutely does not like cuddles and does not gladly suffer fools trying to pet her.
Connie mare was terrified of being touched when I first brought her home, but decided pretty quickly that human contact was ace, and is now a big, fluffy, horse shaped teddy bear.
 
Cortez said:
I've no idea; they're not pets - I have a whippet for that.
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Pretty sure Tudor thinks he is a dog, which is a good job considering that he's been retired since he was seven. Mine all fall firmly into the pet category, but then I fully admit to being a sentimental bunny hugger who loves the bones of them :D
 
KittenInTheTree said:
Thank flip someone else said it, I'm pretty sure that I've been snarky enough for one day already! Although I don't have a whippet - bigger dogs here, and lunatic cats :D
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I was hoping that snarky comments could be avoided, but it's H&H after all, so no chance of that! As I said, mine certainly are pets, but I respect that some people view their horses very differently. Just thought it would be a nice, lighthearted thread that wasn't too annoying for anyone who viewed them as working animals. Still, comments to the contrary at least add a bit of entertainment, and we all need some of that on a Friday night! :D
 
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My 3 year old gelding hates being groomed on his body although I am allowed to groom his mane and tail. I keep trying with different brushes - hard or soft but I think it is just his way - funnily enough he is much more receptive to fussing and cuddling when he is loose in the field rather than in his stable. I guess they are all different...
 
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