Things that your horse does that should scare you but doesn't

soulfull

soulfull

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Isn't it strange how many of us have horses and despite not being mega confident our horses do things, which if it was another horse it would scare you to death.

Micah has a snake between his withers and his nose and when excited or nervous he can without warning suddenly throw his nose down and twist his head to the side, or throw his head up near my nose and face backwards. Its like a split second thing then his head is back where it should be.
Luckily he seems to have out grown the huge bucks and the odd threatening to rear but even those didn't really bother me either. Yet if I saw another horse doing any of these I would never dream of getting on it.

I think it is probably realising that it never gets followed through that allows me to just think 'you whally, get a grip!' oh plus the fact its usually over before you have chance to think much more :D

So what about yours and why doesn't it scare you?
 
My 16.3hh irish boy rears for england, when leading he will go right up, im only 5'1", i totally ignore him as he is always a perfect gentlemen and would never land on me. Everyone thinks im crazy but im sure its like a spoilt child, reaction is what he wants, and if i ignore him he just comes down and walks like a lamb.
If any other horse did it to me i would not be so calm!
 
my mare can capriole = but not with as much finesse as a proper one :p initially i found it v hard to sit to - now i find it funny
friends who've seen her do it refuse to ride her :o friends who haven't don't believe she'd do it (she's normally quite sane and sensible!)
 
My horse runs at me at full pelt expecting me to run hes a big 16.2 cob i just stand my ground the disapointment in his face is so funny so he does it to others to get his fix
 
posie_honey said:
my mare can capriole = but not with as much finesse as a proper one :p initially i found it v hard to sit to - now i find it funny
friends who've seen her do it refuse to ride her :o friends who haven't don't believe she'd do it (she's normally quite sane and sensible!)
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OOO I`d love to have a go!!!! sounds great fun!:)
Ayla can put in some mean bucks but I dont really mind bucks off any horse.
 
Spooks - usually involves spinning suddenly and running in the opposite direction.

It should scare me as in the summer I ended up flying off at the side of a road when he did it, and the 2nd time he span so suddenly he lost his footing and fell on top of me! He also spooks occasionally when being led - the worst time he jumped behind me, knocked me over and ran right over the top of me. I actually had horse shoe shaped bruises on my bum!!

Touch wood - he's only 14.1 & so far I've not hurt myself. I also just find it irritating rather than scarey as I know he's not frightened - he's just being an eejot!! I've also got better at spotting when he's about to spook and can catch him first and stop him.
 
My horse has the biggest lips you've ever seen and, when he takes a treat, practically swallows your whole arm up to the elbows :D
Some people find it really disconcerting, but even when he's got your whole hand, he's incredibly gentle and hasn't bitten me once!
 
Our shire x can be very naughty but he isn't nasty about it, someone has described him as being like a Shetland in a shire x body. He soon gives up once he's told off!!
 
Flicker that really made me lol! :D

My girl when she used to be ridden was a vertical rearer doing bunny hops with her back feet, it didnt bother me as I learnt to sit it well but others would recoil in horror. Until the day she fell back on top of me and I decided enough was enough and retired her.

Sadiemay
 
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Ha ha yes! I'm the biggest wimp when it comes to riding other horses but with my sharp young tb I'm happy as larry! I know him and I know he's a goodun. I'm definitely a one horse person.
 
Cappy will chuck all 17-3hh of himself around rearing, bucking and cat leaping when first put on the lunge. I suppose it looks scary but he is just getting his rocks off and is afterwards a total sweetie.

He is also a rearer, Elizabeth is no longer bothered. I don't ride him as I am a happy hacker and he is a dressage horse in training, who doesn't really hack out.

He also pull the most evil faces and puts his head right up in the air, 7ft, and looks down his nose at you ,trying to dominant you. Which frightens some people but I just laugh at him, which he hates and goes and sulks.

In the field he will pelt full speed at you, skidding to a halt in front of you.

He will try to intimidate anyone who will put up with it, but tbh he is such a sweetie most people are not bothered. We put it down to the way he was treated in the past, he was physically abused. He has never kicked or bitten anyone. The only thing he did do is threaten, so Elizabeth taught him to lift his other leg to show he was uncomfortable with something, for example having his face touched. But no longer even really does that any more.

Fany has never frightened any one, she is such a sweetie. Although she will now stick up for herself in the field.

FDC
 
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Sometimes My Girl has a hell of a gallop - I know she's only having fun - And doesnt do it without 'asking'.
Once she is going I can always stop (usually do just to test the breaks)

But the shear speed of a 17hh lump moving that fast brings tears to anyone elses eyes ;)
 
My old lady - retired 16.3 eventer, before the snow came in she came back to me and back to work - and on a fittening programme.

So, Frosty doing passage most of the way home and threatening to rear or run off. Honestly doesn't worry me because at the end of the day, she really is a complete lady and would never hurt her rider. She took me novice eventing and knows her stuff so it looks mega dramatic with her huffing and puffing but just sit relaxed and she will do zero. My eventer friend loved riding her and she is the reason why I actually enjoy hacking!
 
My TB loves leaping around in fields. When he gets really excited he goes sideways until he meets a hedge and then gallops off as fast as he can! In the meantime, he will be broncing leaping and generally being an idiot. I'm really not a confident rider anymore but it doesn't really phase me much at all. I just yell at him to stop being such an eejit!
My Welshie has an enormous buck on him, but it's the same story. If any other horse were naughty with me I would be terrified but with my boys I seem to be fine. (touch wood)
 
My spotty pony can buck for England! He has had me off a few times, but I can manage to keep his head up now most of the time... doesn't stop me taking him hunting and stuff though! In fact he makes me laugh when he does it! :rolleyes: He has taught me how to sit to a flat out gallop as if I go in a forward seat, I am less secure to sit the bucks so I have to sit back! :p
 
My girl will often drop her head to the ground, spin and run. There's no neck there so you learn to sit pretty tight, although I wouldn't be so cavalier if I had to get on another that does this.
It was the day she did this and ran past her hacking companion, who ran with her (big wimp). then when they stopped you could see him looking for what had scared her. :/

I probably wouldn't get on majority of the horses in this thread. Getting older sucks!

She's the main one I've ridden in 4 years so slightly concerned at how I'll get on once the toung 'uns backed.
 
prince is a hot headed tb but is safe as houses. He is a complete gentleman so prats around on the end of the lead rope away from me or he knows hel get a flick!

Im still not used to my new mare coz she has done a few things that have left me abit sheepish afterward. she has nearly had my head off on the lunge a few times and has kicked my hand and broke my fingers ;-/ Bless her! she likes to run at me when shes having a spat aswell! i dont know her well enough yet to just stand their like a plum!
 
mine can get really over excited if he thinks its time for a gallop. he'll spin, back up, go sideways, half rear, canter on the spot, shake his head, snatch the bit, generally do whatever he can to gain control. to start with it frightened me, but once i got to grips with him i just push him on as hard a possible and ride him through it. he usually gives up after this! but he still does it, i think, just to see if i'll give in one day and let him win. if he were any other horse, or any bigger than his ickle 13.3 stature, i'd be pooping it!
 
soulfull said:
Isn't it strange how many of us have horses and despite not being mega confident our horses do things, which if it was another horse it would scare you to death.

Micah has a snake between his withers and his nose and when excited or nervous he can without warning suddenly throw his nose down and twist his head to the side, or throw his head up near my nose and face backwards. Its like a split second thing then his head is back where it should be.
Luckily he seems to have out grown the huge bucks and the odd threatening to rear but even those didn't really bother me either. Yet if I saw another horse doing any of these I would never dream of getting on it.

I think it is probably realising that it never gets followed through that allows me to just think 'you whally, get a grip!' oh plus the fact its usually over before you have chance to think much more :D

So what about yours and why doesn't it scare you?
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My pony he is 14.2hh approx 23years old i am 13years old when cantering i can get him into a slow canter he is fine but when i ask him to go forward he does an exited buck.
One of my horses George he is 16.2hh and 12years old he is very skitish and is startled by well anything.and when he jumps he rushes the last few strides nocks the jump and scares himself and bolts of.
My other horse Compo is an ex racer and is just well so perfect.
They dont bother me anymoore all there silly behaviour.
 
traceyann said:
My horse runs at me at full pelt expecting me to run hes a big 16.2 cob i just stand my ground the disapointment in his face is so funny so he does it to others to get his fix
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This :D
Except mine believes he is a racehorse (just cos grandpappy won a few cups) so he comes charging downhill at full gallop then bunny hops Tigger style to try and stop before he hits me or the fence. It's all part of his sense of fun which I love about him.

It did scare me when I first got him but I learned that trying to move out of his way just confuses him and is more likely to cause a collision (has never happened though). If I stay in one spot he will bounce to the side.

Scares the bejeesus out of anyone who happens to be with me though :D :D :D
 
My filly just trots at you and keeps on trotting which scares most people, but if you stand your ground she does stop, albeit with her nose right in your face, her snorting triumphantly. She also likes to tow you across the yard or up any hills around and will dive into any food bucket without qualms. Have tried showing her and when it's her turn she truly shows off - bucking and rearing, the full works!
 
maxapple said:
Spooks - usually involves spinning suddenly and running in the opposite direction.

It should scare me as in the summer I ended up flying off at the side of a road when he did it, and the 2nd time he span so suddenly he lost his footing and fell on top of me! He also spooks occasionally when being led - the worst time he jumped behind me, knocked me over and ran right over the top of me. I actually had horse shoe shaped bruises on my bum!!

Touch wood - he's only 14.1 & so far I've not hurt myself. I also just find it irritating rather than scarey as I know he's not frightened - he's just being an eejot!! I've also got better at spotting when he's about to spook and can catch him first and stop him.
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Exactly the same, with lorries. It sometimes freaks me a little but I try to keep calm and like maxapple, i'm now more astute at anticipating when he's about to try to run away. Horses eh!!
 
My show cob turns his bum on me & reverses - he only wants a bum-scratch though. It scares the hell out of anyone who doesnt know him and I certainly would get out the way if someone else's horse did that!
Funny thing is my cob foal has started doing it too for a scratch LOL
 
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