What does your horse do to tell you he/she loves you?

My pony looks after me, I had a nasty fall from another horse so I was struggling to walk up the field. I was turning them out, the others galloped off and my sweet boy walked slowly by my side so I wasn't left behind. He is very affectionate and loves attention. not sure about "love"... Mares clearly love their foals, so they are capable of it... they are never going to display emotionas the same way humans do. Whatever the case, I have a miserable old grumpy horse who hates me being around her 😂
 
At the risk of sounding anthromorphic I'd describe our ponies as 'family' - we can bicker and squabble when hubs or I want them to do something they don't want to do, but on the whole we rub along just fine and would rather be all together than not. We do keep them at home though so they are involved in family life almost as much as the dog.
In particular we've now had three ponies that have been very affectionate and communicative, moreso than some of the others. All three were/are breeds that are renowned for being 'one-person horses', they 're the ones with a big sense of humour too!
 
I'm not sure I wouldn't describe it as "love" but I sure know when my mare doesn't like somebody, She isn't my sharers biggest fan- and she makes it clear (to me at least), though she's generally nice to most people, I think I just know her itchy spots and she likes that! Gelding shouts at anybody with food, but does know that I am the one to fetch him and feed him- so he'll come over in the field and kicks the nine bell out of the door when I am making up feeds etc. The only time I have felt more than just " they know I am their keeper" was with my old boy who I had an amazing bond with - he would follow me about, trust me with scary things etc.. Though I still wouldn't call it love.
 
I hadn't noticed that my horse was bothered about me at all until a few weeks ago when I sadly lost my first pony.
I had been loose jumping him a couple of days after I lost my pony and after putting away the poles I found I needed to sit down on the mounting block and have a little cry (I'd had pony 16 years!) - Fin wandered over and started gently 'grooming' the top of my head and let me cuddle him. Usually cuddling is out of the question!
It was very sweet, I've never known any other horse respond at all when I've been upset but he did seem to want me to cheer up!
 
Bernster said:
My mare is more affectionate and expressive though, first 'cuddly' horse I've had.
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Your girl was very cuddly today - unfortunately she had been snoozing on a pile of poo. I didn't realise how awful she smelt until after she'd snuggled up for a selfie!

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The way she follows me around even when not on a leadrope. She will follow me anywhere now. Snuffles into my shoulder gives me a kiss on the cheek. nods her head when brushing and then gives me a "hug" with my head.
 
My mare can be quite sweet when she wants to be. She always calls when she sees me - I'm not responsible for feeding her, so I like to think it's because she is happy to see me.

Remember in the old pony books that the way to make friends with one was to blow in it's nose? Well, she does that to me - puts her muzzle to my nose and blows gently. If I'm feeling sad or unwell, she'll put her head against my chest and let me cuddle her.
On the other hand if I'm stressed or nervous she will be too, I can't 'lie' to her either like I can with my gelding.

Speaking of whom, he never calls to me and is only ever interested in seeing if I have anything in my pockets! He never used to let me kiss him on the nose, but has started to let me do that recently. I don't think it's because he loves me, but it is sweet.
 
I don't fool myself that my horses love me. Bit sad really.

Bucket love all the way. I am the one that feeds them therefore at times I am their favourite person, they wicker to me, I take it as "hey! Serving wench! Food on the table NOW!" they would be the same with anyone else.

I don't even think they respect me, they are simply well trained enough not to step on me, or do anything else they know from experience I don't allow them to do. They would be the same with anyone else.

My little mare has improved over the 18 months I have had her, she will now come to me rather than me having to walk to her. She will stand to have blankets put on or off, rather than having to be tied up. She will follow me when asked. None of this is affection, it is habit, and yes, bribery and corruption, she gets treats if she does as I want. I don't treat as a matter of course but with E it has helped, she is a very reactive, sensitive little horse who probably has had a very strict life on the show circuit, she would never dare touch me, I think retribution has been swift and firm, and that she actually has no reason to like or trust people.
 
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Mine is that all I have to do it open the gate in the field and he comes charging over to see me. Its a 40acre field and he always leaves his mates. I might be kidding myself and its only because he wants to come in really, but it makes me feel special.
 
Goldenstar said:
Horses don't love people .
They can trust you and be happy in their environment ( which you provide ) they can accept you to be a leader when they work .
They do recognise people as individuals and behave accordingly but they they don't love them in a way humans understand the word.
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Absolutely this.

My two are always pleased to see me probably because they are expecting a treat and they love being fussed over etc but I don't believe horses "do love" in a human way.
 
Mine has recently started to attempt to boot / bite / otherwise be very cross at any other horse that dares to approach / look at me when I'm fetching him in from the field... guess he's not keen to share his no 1 meal ticket! He did skid to a stop in front of me the other month when him and all his mates came cantering around the corner as I was walking down the field searching for him (his mates had carried on past me). This wasn't really an intentional thing we just happened to bump into each other (the field is set in about 80 acres with a wood in the middle and part of it's an a hill so there's a good chunk of field you can't see from the gate) He even let me put a headcollar on and lead him past his mates in a semi-calm manner. (He must have REALLY wanted his breakfast that day...)

Most other things are communicated through overly dramatic nudging, meaningful looks (occasionally meaningful glares) and the medium of snorting in a dramatic manner.
 
I think my horse prefers me over anyone else, if that counts as love? He lets me ride him, whereas for some others, mainly men, he will attempt to throw off at any opportunity. I think that is more to do though that he needs to be confident with his rider and trust them, and if its a new rider he doesnt feel that straight away usually. He wont listen to anyone else if he's worried like with a vet or anything, he'll only trust me that he's fine. I was the one that was able to get him ok with people touching his legs and picking up his hooves when I got him. He trusts me the most and will follow me around in the arena. If I am away for a few days, he will be very excited to see me again, but if I leave him for most of the week due to a late shift, he is usually in a bad mood about it. If I ride him at that point, he will put up a fight about it, but the next day he's fine. He will groom me when I do his hooves (although he does the same to his farrier too). He can be an affectionate horse to anyone though really, his physio loves him because of his affection and cheekiness mixed into one. If you bring him food, he's your best friend until he finds someone else with food. I think before me he hadnt really had anyone else to trust, he didnt like his breeder and while he liked the people at the dealers, dont think he had a connection with them so to speak.
 
My horse whinnies practically every time I set foot in the barn. Then I discovered that she whinnies practically every time ANYONE sets foot in the barn.

My horse is basically a bucket whore.
 
I never used to think horses did really got attached to people and that most of their "affection" was related to food that we were bringing them or other services that we do for them.

However about four years ago my pony got a nasty injury that required long term box rest and rehabilitation. He was living out at the time and did not take well to box rest at the yard I was on at the time, so he went away to a specialist yard which had lots of horses on box rest to keep him company and plenty of people around during the day to keep an eye on him and give him attention. It was further than my normal yard so I could not go and see him every day and during the first couple of weeks he pinned for me and would only eat his full hay ration on the days I visited him. Normally he is very greedy. When his broken splint bone had healed enough for him to start some individual turnout in the small paddock he would still wicker when he saw me walk up the drive, even though by that time he was very settled. During this time I was not the person who was feeding him, I would just come and visit and give him a groom and a cuddle, so it was not food related.

Two years later I moved back to the rehab yard as a part livery. He remembered everyone and settled in very quickly - no pinning this time. I go to the yard 3-5 times a week and am not normally the person who feeds him but he still seems to like me!
 
I have no idea whether or not love is the right word, but it is completely obvious that horses/ponies
have strong feelings about certain people - positive or negative.
 
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Love is just a word in the human language

We all show love and it shows its way in many different forms from all different species, if we could not speak and for those who cannot speak they show their love and affection the way they can which is the same for animals. Horses are no different and show their affection/love /trust as we call it by mutual grooming each other and do the same to us, along with letting us into their vulnerable areas, they nudge us rests heads on us nibble us and more which is their way of showing love/ effection
 
My mare is very stand-offish but we do have a great working partnership and we look after each other when it counts. I grab an annual cuddle when she's sedated to have her teeth done and too dozy to fight me off :D
 
The love we feel and show to horses is surely different from that they feel and show to us. The same applies to "respect". Both are inclined to be projected on to horses, but both are a lot less complicated.
 
Tiger hates people (unless they are on his back in partnership with him).

He does not love me, he doesn't even like me I don't think. I guess he just hates me less than others :/

I've had him coming up 10 years................

Brian on the other fan is quite a fan of mine so it balances out quite well.
 
Mine bites me, backs up on me to squash me into submission and scratch his balls. He also uses me as a head scratching post. Most recently he gave me extra loving by getting ill and now is lame, so he's gifted me a big vets bill.
I always get a toss of the head and a whinny too!
 
Wimbles said:
Tiger hates people (unless they are on his back in partnership with him).

He does not love me, he doesn't even like me I don't think. I guess he just hates me less than others :/

I've had him coming up 10 years................

Brian on the other fan is quite a fan of mine so it balances out quite well.
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My Mads is the same as your Tiger but I don't have a Brian to compensate :(
 
I'm 100% of the "they can love people" school.

How does mine show it?

Infrequently.

But if you give him a muzzle nuzzle and he can see you're watching hies eyes, he has a sort of "oh please enough cuddles already " look.

If he doesn't thinking you're watching him, he has an expression of soft delight!
 
I don't know about love but he sure as heck trusts me a lot more than he did when I bought him and will go the extra mile for me generally. This morning he was horrified by the white bag of haylage I'd left in a wheelbarrow by the field gate but, despite the eyes out on stalks and the snorting, he walked quietly up with me and his fieldmate who was in my other hand and knew it was food.

He does the trapping my shoulder in his neck thing when stabled but I have always put that down to his slightly coltish behaviour as I think it is a stallion dominance behaviour.

I think the growth of trust is the thing that pleases me the most - he is a complete stress bunny at times but, certainly when I am on the ground, trusts me to save him from nearly anything. Ridden is still a work in progress but he is a different horse to the one I bought. Certain things - brushing his legs, clipping, even tidying up his mane with scissors (pulling is a complete no) still worry the life out of him but every year it all gets a bit easier. I wish I could tell him that most of it is nothing to worry about but he is getting there in his own time.

He also now trusts his fieldmate's owner - seems to be learning that most people are ok finally.

If he shows me he loves me, maybe it's by not biting me any more apart from the very odd occasion! :)
 
My horse loves carrots ergo he loves me because I give him carrots :D.

He has a facial expression for every situation and his eyes do go soft and slightly squinty when I kiss him on the snozzle.
 
One of my horses seeks my company even from a foal he would prefere my company to the other horses, when i let them out of their stables the others go off down the yard to their field whilst this one just stands with me because im stroking him, paying him attention
 
Mine tolerates my existance as the feed bucket lady.

She trusts me, she accepts that I am in charge, she occasionally looks to me for reassurance/comfort when she feels she needs it and she does look to me for leadership.

I wouldn't say she loves me, she knows I am her human but not necesarrily love.
 
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