Spoilt Rotten - Are they the most dangerous types?

[Illusion100]

Really think to comes down to peoples perceptions of spoilt.

Generally view a 'spoilt' horse as one who wants for nothing but don't necessarily agree that makes it bad mannered. Nor, does being an orphan predispose the horse for bad behaviour.

I suppose, you mean the horses that are pampered (or not) but don't have to 'mind their manners' but I don't see them as any more potentially dangerous than any other 'pigeon holed' horse. The ones I find the most dangerous are intelligent horses of a sensitive nature that have suffered trauma at the hands of people.

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

My pony is my baby, iv had him since he was weaned and is very well handled and has manners to die for, he never puts a foot wrong. I'm starting to break him in now and he's still being as good as gold.
It's not the ponies that are spoilt its stupid owners who don't have a clue.

I am not knocking that your horse is well mannered, he might well be - but IME the owners that say that, are often blind to the horses 'foibles'.

 

[glamourpuss]

In my experience a 'spoilt' horse...as in a horse who hasn't been taught acceptable boundaries because of a owner's need to treat them as a child substitute or as a desire to be 'loved' by them is terribly dangerous.
I have a horse who was once on a livery yard with me. An ex-racer who did have manners to burn (as expected from a racing yard) who had been given to a well meaning but inexperienced person. I have no doubt in my mind that this owner meant their absolute best for the horse but it just wasn't right for him.
I eventually bought the horse for £5 as otherwise he was going to be destroyed..... & he was far too pretty for that. His range of 'tricks' involved.
1) rearing up at you & boxing at you when you went to catch him
2) rearing up & whipping round when you tried to lead him in
3) rearing up & pulling back when you tied him up
4) kicking out at you if you picked out his back feet
5) being so bad to shoe (& old owner refusing to deal with it) only 1 farrier in the region would shoe him (luckily when I took him on my farrier agreed to work with me on him)
6) occasionally (but actually very rarely) trying to double barrel you in the stable.
7) Would rear bolt upright under saddle if you tried to make do *anything* he didn't like.

But underneath it all I could just see a confused, bored horse who would thrive on hard work & clear boundaries.

I'm pleased to say he is now a reformed character who is a loved & happy member of my family & can now be handled by my children

 

[lme]

I think that it depends on your definition of spoilt. I'm sure a lot of people would consider our home bred as spoilt. She's a bit of a diva, with a slightly suspect work ethic, but suits us just fine. I think the requirements of someone who competes seriously are very different to those whose horse is primarily ( if not exclusively) a pet.

 

[doriangrey]

I think that it depends on your definition of spoilt. I'm sure a lot of people would consider our home bred as spoilt. She's a bit of a diva, with a slightly suspect work ethic, but suits us just fine. I think the requirements of someone who competes seriously are very different to those whose horse is primarily ( if not exclusively) a pet.

.

My definition of spoilt/spoiled is the foal/youngster that at a very critical learning period will never be able to relate to other horses/humans in a way that is safe for either. It's so rare (if ever) for them to become integrated successfully. Agree that this is totally down to handling and not the horse.

 

[abracadabra]

Really think to comes down to peoples perceptions of spoilt.

Generally view a 'spoilt' horse as one who wants for nothing but don't necessarily agree that makes it bad mannered.

I don't think that is what people are meaning by spoilt at all, spoilt does not mean that a horse doesn't want for anything and I can't see anyone implying that unspoiled horses are left wanting for any material thing or care. It's about manners. Not their standard of care.

otherwise he was going to be destroyed..... & he was far too pretty for that.

This is a completely bizarre statement, and one I've seen before. No horse that is dangerous is 'too pretty' to be destroyed, or is it only ok to shoot the ugly/plain ones? I suppose they don't matter.

 

[Illusion100]

I don't think that is what people are meaning by spoilt at all, spoilt does not mean that a horse doesn't want for anything and I can't see anyone implying that unspoiled horses are left wanting for any material thing or care. It's about manners. Not their standard of care.

Think my full comment covers that, not the extract you've chosen. Atb.

 

[tankgirl1]

Agree, spoilt means a lack of manners, whether through ignorance or fear on the handlers part

Boyo was becoming rather bolshy with me on the ground, so have had groundwork lessons, as I (finally) realised the problem was my fault, and he has improved vastly through being consistent and fair. He can still be a bit of a bolshy ****** for other people though, but then he is a Welsh D cross lol!