Squealing whilst ridden?

[MasterBenedict]

Does anyone else's horse squeal whilst ridden?

My 4 year old has the occasional 'moment' whilst hacking where he just can't seem to control his excitement. It starts with slighty shorter steps, then feels like he concertinas up like a coiled spring. His neck arches and then he will either just jog for a few strides and then go back to normal, or he will give a really menacing grunting sounds followed by some head tossing and let rip to the most annoyed-sounding squeal! (More often than not followed by a little airs above the ground....)

Never does it in the school, and he is a real lazy bum in there. He's a very backwards thinking horse and I think rather than explode as other horses do when excited, he squeals to let out his frustration/excitement!

Does anyone else's horse do this? I don't think its pain related as doesn't happen in the school. Must catch it on video as it's quite something to hear!

 

[Vodkagirly]

Mine does this. Usually when he spots something exciting like a jump. He calms down very quickly after.
.

 

[Vodkagirly]

Is yours an Id?

 

[AdorableAlice]

Yes ! however my, no longer with us sadly, horse always followed through with an enormous buck and dumped me. Twice in the dressage arena.

Your horse is well - very well, maybe too well !!

 

[AdorableAlice]

Is yours an Id?

Mine was a pure bred gelding.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Yes, my lovely CF (pts 5 weeks ago) would squeak and squeal when jumping or when he decided it was time to bog off for fun. It was always when he appeared happy

 

[MasterBenedict]

Is yours an Id?

Yes ! however my, no longer with us sadly, horse always followed through with an enormous buck and dumped me. Twice in the dressage arena.

Your horse is well - very well, maybe too well !!

Not an ID here, a very naughty 15hh part bred appaloosa

Haha, sounds similar, except he tends to do his best levade impression. And yes, he is looking/feeling extremely well!

 

[Merlod]

My welsh used to do this, usually when i'd take a longer route on our hack he would stop and squeal at me, trying to go the quick way home! He did it once in the school too - first time sharing the school and the other horse left first and we were still working, took off and bronced all the way up the long side squealing whilst bucking and sticking his head between his knees - the sound hilarious! Grew out of it pretty quickly - just a baby thing!

 

[MasterBenedict]

Said naughty pony feeling a little fresh!

 

[sasquatch]

Oooh, he is a lovely looking boy!

I used to ride a young, green cob who would squeal occasionally whilst ridden. Sometimes it was if he got excited seeing his brother/field friends, other times if he was enjoying himself he used to squeak. The squeak was odd, sounded like a bird sometimes or a hiccup, but nope, he was just feeling a bit full of himself and having fun.

 

[Batgirl]

My big bruiser 17hh warmblood squeals like a guinea pig when asked to work even vaguely hard, it is hilarious

 

[Knockadoon]

I used to ride a 14h stocky little pony gelding who would do this when asked to canter. The bigger horses would just do it no prob and he'd be squealing like some high bred stallion. Such a funny little chap.

 

[ShadowHunter]

Yep, here too, usually followed by a bunny hop. I put it down to the fact that she's bored and wants to go for a long canter.

 

[Hexx]

We had a Dales at the Riding School called Cuthbert and he used to do it while cantering - it was hilarious seeing people's faces!

The best time was when we were doing a Treasure Hunt and we cantered the length of the cross-country course and he squealed the whole way!!

 

[nfpony]

my 8 year old nf pony squeals often. He also is very backwards thinking in the school, but going down tracks/through fields/along the beach with other horses proves too exciting. He never does it out of nastiness only because he's so excited he just can't contain himself! The squeals usually sound like very noisy birds, and are usually followed by hops and bounces. i actually have some on video and you'd never guess it was him making the noise!

 

[springtime1331]

Yup, my connie x tb is a squealer! Not often but it always followed by a leap in the air and front left leg strike out. I actually prefer it if she does it under saddle than on the ground as it bloody hurts if she gets you on the leg!

 

[Jnhuk]

My ID does this just before he does a big leap or buck! Very useful warning of some high spirits!

He is 19 now and still does it when feeling well.

 

[Deltaflyer]

Fiend of mine has a chunk of a cob who squeals with excitement when he gets to stretches where he's anticipating a good gallop.

My boy just leaps about when he's excited but he has emitted the occasional squeal, he's a connie X.

 

[Cheiro1]

My Welsh D mare does when she is excited/wound up by something. It usually occurs mid leap/dance around
Sometimes she does out of irritation too, if another horse makes her jump or something she'll give a little squeak under her breath in irritation haha.

 

[Micropony]

My 4yo WB very occasionally does it, followed by some minor antics, but has only done it in the school, never hacking. Had never experienced it before and the first time he did it with me I was horrified and leapt off thinking he must be in pain.
On a subsequent occasion, he did it with my trainer on, and watching it was 100% clear it's just high spirits. Now I think it's quite cute, but he hasn't done it for ages.

 

[kal40]

My big macho cob does this too. Had him years but it still makes me laugh

 

[deicinmerlyn]

Ha! Yes my ex racer does it sometimes when asked to canter or when he's turned out and goes from standstill to gallop and goes off squealing!

 

[ossy]

Mine does too ridden or on the ground it's her warning she's about to explode at something, there's a high pitched squeak followed by an explosion of some sort. At least we always get warning of the explosion.

 

[Auslander]

Alf does. If we're behind out hacking and his buddy goes into trot, he squeals and waves his head around - then starts leaping. It's a useful cue to grab the holy crap strap!
He's 18, so I don't think he's ever going to grow out of it

 

[Kezzabell2]

I've noticed my 5 yr old has started doing this recently! I thought he might have been sore in some way!

If I'm lunging him and I say canter and he doesn't canter, I crack the whip, he will squeel and spring into canter! its very odd!

I've not ridden much recently as he's been a bit naughty and his canine teeth are coming through, so we have the vet tomorrow, hopefully she will make them more comfortable! but the last time I went for a proper hack he was so fully of it he got me off!! then when I got him him and lunged him he was squelling, bucking and farting all over the shop!! he obviously just had some energy to get rid of haha!

 

[Hedge_pig]

Yep, it's normally followed by head tossing and mini broncs. She usually squeals either when she's excited, or she's cross at not getting her own way, like being told not to canter on the road.

 

[ktj1891]

My friends Arab squeals all the time when excited or coming into a fence. Watch from 6.11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okTKww83HVE

 

[FestiveFuzz]

Yup my connie x does the same. Coils like a tightly wound spring, squeals and then bucks, broncs or dances sideways. I liken it to a child who's had too many skittles and doesn't know what to do with all the excess energy.