neighing whilst being ridden

[pony&cow]

my friend and I were talking the other day about horses neighing whilst being ridden and what to do about it. we mentioned
A) short sharp nudge and say 'get on'. we only ask for an hour of their time and they can get over it and work.
B) reassure them good girl/boy praise and a stroke on the neck.
C) ignore it, as long as horse is moving forward sit quiet.
Im not talking a little whicker when leaving the yard or seeing another horse. i mean tense full on belly neighs quite often for no obvious reason.
I currently do C on my green but relatively calm 5 yr old. what does everyone else think?

 

[OpalFruits]

My horse does this- she will often call out to another horse when they are passing or to horses on the yard but I just ignore it and carry on riding normally

 

[Mrs C]

Mine only does this.occasionally while in season. I try to push her forward and do things requiring.more concentration

 

[shannonandtay]

mine did this yesterday, while I was walking with him and daughter riding, there were no other horses to be seen but as we came off the road onto the bridlepath he let out a few belly wobbling neighs. He was still going forwards and we burst out laughing as they were so shrill.

 

[LaurenBay]

Mine does it, I just ignore it and sit quietly.

 

[risky business]

I'd just ignore it, as long as their going forwards there's not an awful lot you can do it about it I guess.

 

[PollyP99]

My chopsy moo of a section d loves a good shout when out - more so alone but will happily call out to any random horse she sees even in company. She is not in the least stressed just overly talkative! I just try to ignore it - nothing else has had any effect! It does make me jump if we are out in the middle of nowhere and she randomly hollers!

 

[babymare]

I actually find it funny. the big lad would on occassion and i would feel like a jelly on top shaking as he neighed but also from laughing lol little things amuse me

 

[abitodd]

My KWPN never bothers if on a road hack,but if I ride him around the farm or try schooling in the field he produces his best 'stallion' calls. He becomes reluctant to move forward and if I push too hard he will explode. It happened today. I curtailed the explosion and made him circle then rode forwards,but I must admit my planned canter up the stubble field has been postponed!(I retreated to a small field and practiced some lateral work instead.)
I Will follow this thread with interest as I would love canter up the stubble field after a hard day at work but don't quite trust him to behave. Tips most welcome.

 

[Jill Crewe]

I think the best option is A but I guess, like with anything, it depends on horse and scenario. I'm trying to get my pink use to solo hacking again and when he whinnies it does out me on edge because it's usually accompanied by him feeling anxious and wound up. I find stroking and cooing over him increases my nerves whereas telling him to get on with it gives me a more determined confident outlook.

I say all this now...but next time it happens I'll probably go all stiff and tense

 

[Jill Crewe]

*pony* not pink!

 

[YorksG]

Appys must be the most talkative horses in the world The old girl could shout for England and the current girl isn't far behind, I always just sit there and wait for them to shut up, they usually do: D

 

[mandwhy]

Mine is very vocal! I really don't think you can do anything to stop it, I just find it funny really!

Sometimes I think it can be nervousness (trying to see if any other horses nearby) so I would give a bit of reassurance and try to soothe her.

 

[mutley75]

I was always taught if they whinnied when you were flat out they were already dead from a heart attack! Looked a compleat idiot swinging a leg and getting off one at Mach 1 who was just a bit talkative!!!

 

[*sprinkles*]

My horse does this occasionally, it's insecurity. I just ignore it and give him a job to do to occupy his brain, like a little shoulder in or frequent transitions or whatever.

 

[mulledwhine]

Just ignore it, why worry?

They are only communicating , were you talking to your friend ?

So I don't see the problem really it can be unsettling , but nothing to worry about

 

[Toffee44]

Everyone used to know when I was hacking!!!

I taught shoulder in and half pass and if she neighed=shut up listen lateral work.

She hardly neighs now. Although did manage to continuously bright for half hour non stop in the trailer a while ago haha.

 

[flirtygerty]

Not while ridden, but both my OH and myself are bruised and battered by our mare with a fixation on our gelding, she calls constantly, forgets her manners, just because a new horse arrived and she feels threatened, she has become herd leader, chases the new horse off and keeps her boy moving, the fact my boy and the new boy know each other and are friends, doesn't enter into it.
She stresses so much, people are getting hurt

 

[Sarah20]

Mine does it often whilst riding but she always carrys on with whatever we are doing

 

[RainbowDash]

The Boyo likes to shout out to his No. 1 lady as we pass her field and strutt/prance/jog past - an access road runs alongside to a few housing estates so not really a quiet road. (Boyo's being weened off this lady as he's rather attached and somewhat over-protective ).

I ignore him unless he shouts and she doesn't answer straight away - he just keeps going till she replies - if he does this then he gets kicked on and told in no uncertain terms not to be such a tart .

Across the road from the field is a day nursery and a couple of days ago we were passing - the little ones were playing out and yelling/screaming 'HORSEY, HORSEY, HOOORRRSSSEEYYYY!!!' then he gave an almighty shout out to his lady and the kids screamed in delight because they thought he was neighing at them

 

[sandi_84]

My horse does this- she will often call out to another horse when they are passing or to horses on the yard but I just ignore it and carry on riding normally

^ Mine too, every time we see a random horse/pony or donkey on our hacks I actually think it's kind of sweet (In my head he's saying hi to the neighbours... I'm not crazy honest! ) so I just carry on as normal

As long as it's not accompanied by a stop or any other naughtyness I'm ok with it

ETA: he does it in company or solo but I just think he likes to check out the other horses since it's not accompanied by any tensing/ jogging/ giving things "the look" or any other excitable or nervous behaviour

 

[tessybear]

Teas shouts and grows a foot when she sees other horses , not nasty and very sensible just a chatty mare ! Normally ignore her or pass the odd " nobody wants to talk tithe cow pony" comment ;-)