If looks could kill...

[FlyingCircus]

Anyone else have a Saint to catch, who when caught pins their ears and acts like they're going to eat you? Said pony in this case is a mare, who only does it between catching her and the field gate. After that, happy as Larry. If I turn to look at her, looks positively angelic.

She doesnt bite, or do anything really apart from pull the awful faces. Any ideas why? Anyone got one the same?

 

[FlyingCircus]

To clarify, she walks nicely next to me whilst looking like she is plotting my death. So not misbehaving as such, just giving me evils.

 

[Roxylola]

Charlie pulls faces walking behind you, and if he thinks he can he'll nip your legs, preferably in wellies, but if you turn and catch him he'll be like who what me????

 

[FlyingCircus]

Charlie pulls faces walking behind you, and if he thinks he can he'll nip your legs, preferably in wellies, but if you turn and catch him he'll be like who what me????

Same with luna with her response! Quite comical she goes from plotting my death to angelic Princess pony who would never hurt a fly

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

My TBxWelsh mare used to pull faces behind my back. She was hilarious because if I turned round she would be looking as if butter wouldn't melt. As she never followed up the face-pulling, I just used to either laugh or ignore her. Except when I kept looking round so that her ears were pinging backwards and forwards like a metronome.

 

[PurBee]

My mare pulls a face when i lead her that means either of 2 things: she’s concerned and needs re-assurance, or she’s super confident , relaxed and is giving an energetic walk alongside me. So im always trying to guess which it is, and i never can because its the same expression she has for 2 diametrically opposite ‘moods’. She has her head fairly low, ears forward, mouth and nosed fixed, breathing through nose rather rapid and forced, yet her eyes are somewhat fixed ahead and serious while occassionally looking left and right.

Its confusing because this expression is the same when she’s freaking out, all thats missing is the dragon snort. She’s not a mare to pin her ears at much at all so i cant read her from her ears.

The gelding on the other hand, is all about ear and eyebrow language so much easier to read.

Its weird your mare ear pins from field to gate, without any other overt aggression. Maybe it’s a habit from her past?

 

[Cowpony]

I've posted about my loan pony on another thread. She will pin her ears very aggressively when I go to catch her, and will snap at the air when the headcollar is put on. Her ears are flat back while leading to the gate, then about 2 metres from the gate she becomes an angel. Her ears do go back sometimes while leading up the road - usually when I'm asking her to march on a bit, but her whole attitude is nicer. In the field I think she'd happily kill me!

 

[smolmaus]

Pure guess like but could it be for the benefit of the other horses in the field rather than you? One of the little ponies at the sanctuary is similar but only if he thinks the others are going to come near him while he has to be on his manners.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I often swear rant, but in my head, at people at work, my face probably looks similar to hers.. I think it's perfectly reasonable

 

[Annagain]

I often swear rant, but in my head, at people at work, my face probably looks similar to hers.. I think it's perfectly reasonable

I've told this story before but I did a "swear rant, but in my head" when I had to reverse an acquaintance's trailer for them as we met in a lane and they couldn't reverse. I'd have had to go back 100m they had to go back 10. I saw her the next day in Tesco and she said "did you notice (son's name) was in the back seat? He said it was odd you didn't say hello." I said I didn't, we laughed and I went on my way. The problem is that was about 10 years ago and to this I don't remember if the "swear rant" really was in my head or out loud!

 

[MissTyc]

My mare is nicknamed "Face for Radio" - se always looks murderous while also loving cuddles and always being very gentle and friendly. But the face tells tales of inner plotting ...

 

[Cowpony]

Pure guess like but could it be for the benefit of the other horses in the field rather than you? One of the little ponies at the sanctuary is similar but only if he thinks the others are going to come near him while he has to be on his manners.

Not in my case. It's a big field and the horses are usually well scattered. I make sure we don't go too close to any of them on our way out.

 

[SEL]

One of my mares is fondly called T-Rex because she usually looks like she wants to eat you.

 

[Keith_Beef]

There's a gelding up at the yard where I have my lessons, who can behave in a way that can seem dangerously aggressive, to the point where younger riders have come to find me when we're tacking up to ask me for help.

But once you get a head collar on him, he changes completely and practically puts the bridle on himself, I just hold it there for him and he reaches out for the bit and it's on him in seconds.

 

[magicmoments]

My mare is fine/pleasant to catch, but will certainly go for any horses near by, prior to, during being caught or afterwards , and on many occasions will have her ears pinned back when I'm leading her trying to get me, regardless of any horse being in sight, but this all stops once out of the field, walking up to the yard, regardless of any horse leaning over the fence from other herds. It's almost as though she is trying to herd me in the field, but outside is different. I've never come across it before.

 

[Bernster]

I wonder if it’s a dominance/protective thing? Either that she’s trying to be lead horse but you’re at her side so she’s trying to herd you, or she’s being protective whilst she’s with you. Finn when he was younger would occasionally go for your calves if he was behind you, not nasty as such, but it was more like a dominance/control thing. ?‍