Is my horse happy? Panicking a little that he may not be!

[newhorse]

I wondered if anyone can advise. As many of you now I am fairly new to horses and coming into my 3rd month of having a horse. I moved him from his old yard 3 weeks ago and am noticing some different behaviour and wondered if this is happy behaviour as my version of happy is slightly different lol

1. When I put him backin the field after tea is is reluctant to leave me for a good 20 mins, stands there yawning away, eyes half closed and loving a pat, with a rested leg.

2. He loves his new field mate a great deal, they are thick as thieves! However initially he prefers to stay with me for a while then go off to his pal

3. When he is with me, other than when he is having some hay, he keeps his head dropped down - I am a little worried that he is becoming overly submissive. I am a firm believer in very natural methods and have never given him a smack or anything so he's not scared of me but not sure if I am reading a little too much into this! Maybe he is just relaxed around me?

4. We have started going in the arena without a lunge or lead rope and after a few minutes he will follow me around like a little lamb (unless he gets distracted by something but will then catch me up)

5. Lately when I go in his field with anyone he has a tendancy to give them a nudge out of the way, not rough or aggresive as if to say 'off you pop' - does this mean he is becoming a little jealous?

Sorry to ask so many questions I just feel its so critical to make sure he is the happiest I can possibly make him and would hate to think of him as unhappy! My main worry is that he is becoming too submissive which I know isnt always a bad thing however I don't want him to feel he isn't the angel he is!

Many thanks and any views or much appreciated!

 

[Taboo1968]

I would be really happy if mine did half of what yours is doing, he sounds very very settled and it is nice that he wants to spend time with you rather than dash off to his mates!!!! I'd say he was VERY happy!!!

 

[3BayGeldings]

erm.. are you deliberatly trying to get people to say "oh no, you've got it wrong - he actually really loves you"?

 

[MrsMozart]

I think you have one happy ponio there

. He likes to be with you

. Make sure you keep him moving his feet, and that if you want to go to one of the other horses then you can.

Dizzy is protective of me, she'll buzz others off and away from me, but sometimes I choose to talk to one of the others and tell the Dizz to back off - I'm the boss, I get to choose who I talk to

.

It sounds like ned is very lucky to have you

.

 

[WeeBrown]

I'll give you a bit of advice I sometimes give the kids at school:

You can think things and, until the words come out of your mouth, no one else knows you're thinking them.

Just some of your comments on HHO have come across as quite bitchy; I'm sure you're lovely in real life.

 

[newhorse]

Honestly you dont realise how much of a relief it is to hear. Because I am so new to horses I was worried that he was a little down in the dumps, just with his head being low, looking 'tired' around me etc. I think being a dog owner/cat owner I have automatically thought then when my dogs are pleased to see me they run around mad for half an hour and I have seen people bringing their horses in and they are running about exited and thought I was doing something wrong so its been down to my lack of understanding of horse behaviour.

I have always felt that he does like me, he doesnt always do what I ask mind but that is down to his lack of schooling being an ex racing TB but he is very willing and gives it his all. I was just so worried that he was down in the dumps, just with him acting very slow around me with head low down etc. Its such a hige relief!

Thanks for your comments

 

[kellyeaton]

i just think he knows you are the leader so if he stays with you he will be safe and when he nudges people away from you he probally thinks that he is protecting you!

 

[newhorse]

I really in no way wanted people to say I was doing it wrong? I have spent the last 3 months trying to get my confidence up so would never purposely want to knock it down again I have been trying my best to get things right for him, he has had an absolute terrible time in the past and I have had many a sleepless night worrying about him so this is why I am trying to make I get it right. I suppose I am looking for reassurance that my boy is happy.

 

[WishfulThinker]

[ QUOTE ]
erm.. are you deliberatly trying to get people to say "oh no, you've got it wrong - he actually really loves you"?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you have nothing nice to say..................dont say anything.

OP - he sounds a happy ponio, but I can see where you are coming from, maybe feeling that he is clinging to you cos he was lonely or unhappy or something, but that doesn't sound like the case.

 

[3BayGeldings]

nah, 'fraid i'm a bitch in real life too

In my own, roundabout way i was trying to say that the horse sounds very happy. Perhaps if i'd put the right smiley on the end it would have come across better.

 

[chestnut cob]

I think you are worrying too much

All of those things are good and it sounds like he's just chilled out. He might just be quite a fussy horse - some horses like human company a lot and love cuddles, others less so. Just enjoy it!

 

[black_horse]

hows your back? must be hurting under the strain of carrying that heavy chip on your shoulder the whole time your on HHO.

Word of advice, being nice goes a long way on here.

ETS: sounds like a very happy and content pony you have there

well done!

 

[Sprout]

Sounds like a very happy, relaxed ponio, with a very caring owner.

 

[WeeBrown]

Lol

You'd get on with my sister...she once said "Well I don't know why people have a problem with me being bitchy, it's not like I hide the fact that I'm a bitch!"

The horse does sound happy though which I'm sure OP is glad to hear...mine just buggers off wherever there is food and only puts her head down to eat (or if I'm late to turn up and therefore depressed I'm stopping her getting out to munchies)

 

[MrsMozart]

[ QUOTE ]
Honestly you dont realise how much of a relief it is to hear. Because I am so new to horses I was worried that he was a little down in the dumps, just with his head being low, looking 'tired' around me etc. I think being a dog owner/cat owner I have automatically thought then when my dogs are pleased to see me they run around mad for half an hour and I have seen people bringing their horses in and they are running about exited and thought I was doing something wrong so its been down to my lack of understanding of horse behaviour.

I have always felt that he does like me, he doesnt always do what I ask mind but that is down to his lack of schooling being an ex racing TB but he is very willing and gives it his all. I was just so worried that he was down in the dumps, just with him acting very slow around me with head low down etc. Its such a hige relief!

Thanks for your comments

[/ QUOTE ]

Trust me, if he wasn't keen on you, you'd know about it

.

Just keep doing whatever it is you're doing, remembering all the time that you're the boss, and you'll be fine

.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

He sounds like he has settled into his new home just fine!!

Nice to hear he is happy hanging out with you - especially as I seem to remember it wasn't that long ago you didn't even want to go to the field to get him in!!

Sounds like you have both turned the corner - keep smiling!!