Personalities - how does your's match your horse

Hullabaloo

Hullabaloo

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I was reading the post about kissing horses and thinking about what the vet said today about my horse.
The vet said that he thought Boo had lots of character but was very much his own man and wouldn't want a lot of fussing. I think this is right - he is friendly, just not overly fond of being pampered or fussed over. I'm very much like that too so I think we suit each other. In fact his old owner said she was pleased I bought him as I wouldn't be too soppy with him. I'm not sure how I'd get on with a horse that constantly wanted cuddles as its just not how I do things - I still love my horse lots though. I also like that we both have attitude, although it does cause a bit of hassle sometimes.

I was wondering how other people see their horses suiting their personalities? Do you have lots in common with your horse or would you like them to behave differently?
 
George doesn't like lots of fuss, but he is quite content to have his face brushed and scratched and his withers scratched, he is also happy for his Mum to give him a hug, but not too much soppiness which is just right for me. Would hate it if he didn't like being fussed at all.
 
Beau is like me, puts a brave face on even when inside we're crumbling and totally bricking it! Both have a tendency to avoid hard work, but if its something we enjoy and are good at we go until we burn out. We both like cuddles and fuss - but hate to admit it, and we both secretly like to be the center of attention and show off, but can get embarassed easily. We both stress when we dont do something right.
And we both love FOOD!
 
It has ocurred to me before that Flora and I are quite similar. Neither of us a very demonstrative in terms of big displays of physical affection, but we both 'look after each other' and have given each other confidence. Niether of us like to 'shout', she really wouldn't like if if I did and I don't like bolshy horses.

We are very well matched
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Hmmmmmm, mad, stroppy, moody, hysterical arab mare, one arab x QH, so mainly placid but prone to the odd hissy fit, QH and APHA are very laid back and placid, but not thick, Haffy x QH, stroppy bugger at times but mainly a very happy, and contented bunny.

Actually, I've got it covered really. Generally placid and easy going, but when upset I throw all my toys out of the pram, then 5 minutes later forget what the fuss was ever about, so I never hold a grudge.
 
Both have pasts to contend with which makes us very rarely trust anyone fully we love each other to pieces but often forget to show it infact we allmost rely and need each other , go to pieces about the smallest things hold are head up high and ignore the worst , both like to be different spotted out in a crowd , both hate people getting too close specially people we dont know makes us nervous , love been the best or aiming for it ! so yer i think my horse is a little like me i surpose when you think about it xx
 
haha, that's really made me think. i don't cuddle mine very often, just occasionally when i think they need it, or i need it (more like), or they've been brilliant and really deserve it!
i do cuddle the youngsters, because i think it's good for them to learn to put up with whatever weird things i try to do to them!
i like them all to be switched on to me, totally attentive to everything i'm doing all the time. the new one's a little bit reserved, she kind of watches the world go by as if she's looking through a window, and i find that quite odd.
my best ever horse was a very stand-offish mare, who'd obviously had a hard time as a young horse in ireland. she'd occasionally want a cuddle, and then half-way through she'd realise that it was a PERSON cuddling her and HOW DARE THEY and she'd stiffen up like a ramrod and her teeth would start snapping...
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What a great question! I think that a horse's behaviour will reflect its handling. I know all the horses in my care end up with similar behaviour patterns and my youngster who has been with me since she was weaned has developed a lot of habits from my mare- who I worship and my gelding who is pampered! She must have observed what works...
For instance my mare has always raised a hind leg and shaken it when she is impatient- filly does this. Mare also waves front leg quietly as she knows that stamping on concrete is not allowed but that the leg waving has alerted me to the fact that she wants something now. Filly does this too.
Meal times are funny. Mare shakes head and Gelding sncrunches nose up and shakes his head since stabled next to mare and filly does a mixture.
I think their behaviour and personalities are a mix of copying each other and responding to me in a way that has worked previously.
All of them have learnt a particular please give me just one more mint look- It gets me every time! My first pony introduced this piece of carer training and I think he must have spread the word.
I'm sure my horses are like me and I them! I do find that there are some horses I just click with and I think they are similar types but it does fascinate me that the youngster who was frankly a bit intimidating initially and a bit of a baby aligator has grown into my type- just like my favourite mare.

Long post sorry!! Alison
 
What an interesting thread! My old trainer used to tell me that my beautiful mare was hysterical and neurotic, like her owner
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Nah, not at all. She is the lead mare and loves attention from me, but sometimes on her terms. She loves to meet new people over the stable door and snuffles in their hair. She is very lady like in her manner but doesnt suffer fools. The only time she will allow me to put my arms around her neck and cuddle is when I really need it, almost as if she understands and will oblige in that instance.
 
I think we're very similar. We're both quite stubborn and like to get our own way, and we're both lazy and like food! One of my friends thinks we have exactly the same facial expressions. We both can be a bit pathetic - if something has worried him or he's injured himself he'll rest his head on my shoulder and sigh dramatically. We both like cuddles and kisses, and prefer life to be quiet and easy
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I think understanding the personality behind the horse is important when dealing with their training. I think it makes you understand both the horse and the rider. As is becoming clear here the horse often reflects the hopes, and fears of the rider.
All of mine are very different, but then again i have had them all , apart from one, in various stages of their lives.
My stallion that i have had since he was 8 months, likes to be admired, but not touched, likes grooming, on his terms, is a workaholick and hates making mistakes. If things displease him he blows raspberries!!!
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. At feed time he stands by his food trough [far too undignified to make a fuss, the food always comes]Mostly the world is fine so long as everyone understands he is king. Simple.
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The thing i find the most amusing is who ,out of the mares my stallions fancy!! The stallion above likes them hairy and common!!! One of the Spanish stallions likes the older, more Rubinesque lady!!
I do think it does make working a horse and finding a horse for a client much more successful if you take these personalities seriously.
 
I'm not sure how this works if you have more than one. All three of mine like attention, cuddles, and the youngsters queue up at the gate despite just being hayed to go 'walkies' (I'm trying to make them less feral).
My old TB mare - opinionated, manipulated, drama queen but basically kind and sensible. My 3yo - endlessly and tiresomely enthusiastic, reactive, keen with just a hint of pouty lip when she doesn't get her way. The other youngster is a cleanliness freak (can stay clean in a muddy field), laid back, calculating, and very clever.
I think the key to being happy with your horse is to appreciate and fully utilise their good points, and not get obsessed about their weaker points.
S
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The thing i find the most amusing is who ,out of the mares my stallions fancy!! The stallion above likes them hairy and common!!! One of the Spanish stallions likes the older, more Rubinesque lady!!

Nah Partoow, if I remember correctly when I arrived at your lovely yard, B and A got very excited when they saw Cass come down the ramp
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They obviously know breeding when they see it
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I think you are right that horses do reflect their owners ambitions and fears. I am at this moment in time growing a bay mustache.
 
definelty.
my girl is just like me.I have had her since she was 9 months old ( now 4) and we are both tomboys,stubburn and quite fiesty.
also we are both clumsy hurt ourselves ALOT! eveyone says how alike we are.I know she is just being a horse but it does seem rather a good match!
 
Me and equine Twiglet are both stressheads.......but we like making people laugh, and we're very affectionate to the people we like
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Oh, and we're both bossy boots. We both enjoy work when we're in the right mood but normally would rather be out playing with our mates.

And our public tantrums can be very embarrassing for those around us.

Blimey, we're more similar than I thought!
 
partoow, your post has reminded me, i've heard of quite a few very posh stallions who particularly fancy the larger ladies, the bigger the bottoms the better, and who don't really like covering the more quality, less hairy laydees...
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it cracks me up that they have such preferences, when i suppose received thinking is that they're supposed to want to jump on top of anything that stands still for long enough...

i've just realised that the original question was whether our personality is similar to our horses'... oops, didn't read it properly the first time! in my case, no, because i've got 5 horses now, all totally different. but i do find that they end up being very similar in their general behaviour, because i'm the only one who looks after and rides them, day in and day out. it can take years, but the rough edges get smoothed off and they all end up like big teddy bears.
 
Like i said H Bats likes the Rubinesque ladies
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and Alan, mmmm well he really does'nt know whats what and has no idea if he wants to bonk it or kill it!!!!
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!!! So long as everyone admires his style!! Think your girl is, on the surface far too nice and proper to behave in such an unbecoming manner..... but wait until she gets on the Shiraz.....oops i means carrots!!!
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My own mare and I are very similar and daughter and I laugh about it often!

We both hate the cold, hate the rain and the hail, we both like our own space, we both have sensitive skin, we both love our food and we are both beautiful!!!
 
Scarily like both of mine, although they are both so different! Me and Flash live for our food, are incredibly determined when we want to do something, both very stubborn, a bit dippy and clumsy, can be very silly, when it comes to hard work we'd both rather not bother, but if its fun we'll put our whole heart into it. We're quite inseparable, he follows me round like a puppy and has to be everywhere I am. Maddy is secretly soppy although appears to be a bit of a cow, also very stubborn, slightly neurotic. My trainer always used to say she was like the person in the energy adverts years ago who was climbing over the aisles in the supermarket rather than going round.
 
Ellie and I are both very similar, in that we are very independent and both know our own minds (sometimes to our detriment!) We are somewhat prone to mood swings, but can both give as good as we get....we are also both very loving (when the mood suits), and believe in giving our all in anything we try to do...

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yes... very much so... she is clever but without much common sence, doesnt like being fussed over, loyal, pretty but with flaws, walks with a limp
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she is very low maintenance, especially for a TB and is always happy with what she has. She also puts weight on quite quickly just like me!!!

Funnily enough my OH's horse is just like him too....
 
Great question!!
He's very laid back unless someone pushes it too far, then he lets them have it.
Doesn't trust strangers.
underestimates his capabilities.
Loyal to his field mates.
very expressive in showing he loves me.
will cuddle all day and often comes and tucks me under his chin for one.
When I think about it we are very alike. I got him two years ago as a seven year old, he had been through the wars and was a real mess, its only this summer he has been fit long enough for us to get out and about in public. I know he does things for me he would never do for others, but i also know I trust him just as much back and trust is something neither of us are good on.
 
[ QUOTE ]
My own mare and I are very similar and daughter and I laugh about it often!

We both hate the cold, hate the rain and the hail, we both like our own space, we both have sensitive skin, we both love our food and we are both beautiful!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

And is your mare modest?
S
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Oh mines just like me - stroppy, opinionated likes her own way, likes cuddlies but not too many, but if she loves you you have her heart and loyality forever!! Oh and she'll always run to mum if she's got a problem, and you also know when she's been up to something she shouldn't have been. (more like me by the day!).
 
We're both laid-back, stubborn as hell, hate being told what to do, prone to weight gain and don't like being fussed over - so we're pretty similar
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Friends have often commented on the similarities between me and my mare - we both are very protective of our personal space, aren't your cuddly types, have a mean snarl when crossed, dominant and bossy, but are very protective and look after what we see as our herd/friends, bit lazy, like our grub and do suffer from sudden stage fright, particularly when faced with jumps!! Deep down (way down) we are both softies
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I'd say we are pretty similar. Determined, strong and pretty moody - some days we are up and some we are down.......
Also brave and confident about most things, although my horse is more confident than I and far less of a worrier.
 
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