You consider horses manners to be....???

Illusion100

Illusion100

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What do you allow your horse(s) away with before you consider it 'bad manners'?

This is out of curiosity. I'm very strict personally and expect horses to be attentive to my every move, remain standing still until they are told to do otherwise and respond to aids pretty much immediately and without question.

If a horse does not 'agree' then I spend however much time it takes until it does what is expected i.e. not presuming what to do next, being inattentive etc.

What are your levels of expected manners, what will you let them away with and why?
 
I am blessed with my two ridden boys, they are both very mannerly and obliging, to the extent that in a total of 21 years of owning the two of them I've only had my foot trodden on once, and have never had a crack on the head by their head. They stand to be mounted and dismounted, change gait as required and stay in that gait until I ask for a change, offer feet up to be picked out etc, I do understand how lucky I am, and I think this is mainly their nature rather than what I will and won't put up with.

We picked up a new loan boy yesterday, he is green and uneducated rather than unmannerly, I have already worked out that I need my hat on to bridle him as he's yet to learn that swinging his head about is not acceptable! He won't be allowed to do this, it's potentially dangerous so today he had a sharp NO! which worked very well. The owner has said he gets bored with the farrier, again not acceptable, I'm happy to hold him a few times and keep his attention but will expect him to get on with it a few months down the line.
 
I expect mine to be safe to handle but I am more than happy to work around foibles / quirks. They have to put up with mine.
 
I would consider bad manners to be things like being bargey, pawing when tied up, dragging when being led, just generally being rude and not doing as they're told!

The thing that drives me mad is door kicking and pawing, Jake used to paw when I first got him but soon stopped and now stands like an angel :D
 
I like mine to be polite and safe to be around yet to retain their own character/personality. I can't be doing will drilling them for any minor mishap.
 
I normally don't let them get away with anything but have become a bit of a soft touch with my oldie and at 25 I let him get away with some things I wouldn't have in his youth.
 
I'm pretty hot on manners but do allow them a personality.

I cannot abide being pushed about. No head rubbing, no barging, no nudging or knocking with the head. No swinging into me. And no lead rope snatching/dragging to grass etc. They are expected to do as they're told, first time. I'm not repeating myself over and over again.

I think a polite horse to handle is a polite horse to ride. My friend has two Highlands who are rude and bad mannered because she let's them (mostly because even when rude, they're not dangerous or difficult, so she's never clamped down). Her young one has become exactly the same to ride too : inattentive, opinionated and rude. She doesn't yet see the importance and connection to the ground manners.
 
ihatework said:
I like mine to be polite and safe to be around yet to retain their own character/personality. I can't be doing will drilling them for any minor mishap.
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This. And we have two charming and totally trustworthy mares who have never been hit or even shouted at. It's a mutual respect, we allow them into our space and they allow us into theirs but bot they and us know when enough is enough and leave each other alone. When you have horses that will walk free beside you and go all round the field to collect something from the far side then you know you have done a good job.

Oh, and my farriers only complaint is that they are too nosy! They get into everything left in reach, but he loves them and would have them in a heartbeat.
 
lme said:
I expect mine to be safe to handle but I am more than happy to work around foibles / quirks. They have to put up with mine.
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This. I don't mind personality . . . but there comes a point when personality/quirks/foibles become bad manners. Kali can be sharp . . . and this weekend he was rude because his brain overtook his body . . . but as a general rule he is a Christian to handle and is very mannerly. A two-year-old child could (in theory) take him up to the field . . . you don't know he's on the end of the lead rope (unless he is blowing in your ear).

What I mind, though, is (habitually) bargey, bolshy horses with no respect for their handler's personal space.

Being run over by a horse is not my idea of fun.

P
 
xgemmax said:
I would consider bad manners to be things like being bargey, pawing when tied up, dragging when being led, just generally being rude and not doing as they're told!

The thing that drives me mad is door kicking and pawing, Jake used to paw when I first got him but soon stopped and now stands like an angel :D
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How did you stop the door kicking/pawing?
 
Kallibear said:
I'm pretty hot on manners but do allow them a personality.

I cannot abide being pushed about. No head rubbing, no barging, no nudging or knocking with the head. No swinging into me. And no lead rope snatching/dragging to grass etc. They are expected to do as they're told, first time. I'm not repeating myself over and over again.

I think a polite horse to handle is a polite horse to ride. My friend has two Highlands who are rude and bad mannered because she let's them (mostly because even when rude, they're not dangerous or difficult, so she's never clamped down). Her young one has become exactly the same to ride too : inattentive, opinionated and rude. She doesn't yet see the importance and connection to the ground manners.
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Completely agree, ground manners relate to ridden manners. This what gets me. People complain their horse naps/bucks etc when ridden and don't relate it to the facts like it is bargey on the ground! Baffling eh?!
 
ihatework said:
I like mine to be polite and safe to be around yet to retain their own character/personality. I can't be doing will drilling them for any minor mishap.
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This.

I can't bear walking off when mounting (I find it dangerous more than rude!) so have drilled that one in recently and he is a real faffer when grooming and recently stood on my foot (17hh and shod) he soon got shouted at then!! I keep on at him to stand still and we are getting there. Standing when asked out hacking is another important one. Basically I need to be the one in charge. I don't mind a bit of rubbing and searching my pockets though... perhaps I'm going about this all wrong,!?
 
ihatework said:
I like mine to be polite and safe to be around yet to retain their own character/personality. I can't be doing will drilling them for any minor mishap.
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Yep, this.
A horse that is a pleasure to be around and can be handled by anyone. I don't insist or demand, I ask nicely and they're pretty obliging, but still retain their character.
 
Warning!

I let my horse graze a couple of times while I was talking on my mobile phone. In no time at all, immediately the phone rang he thought it was a signal for him to put his head down. Little whatsit! So I have to be ready for him now and tell him that rushing off to the nearest grassy verge is, sorry, not allowed. They soon learn bad habits!
 
I'm too soft but my boy still knows the boundaries. He is absolutely full of character tho and often chances his arm. I was mucking out round him recently and he was absolutely torturing me following me around sniffing my hair and I was ignoring him and he went to paw me!!! I turned round to tell him off and he ran to the front of his stable with a sorry look on his face before I cud even say his name! I know I shud have had him tied up btw!
Our late boy was let away with more an more each year as he got older to the point where we never ever scolded him. He was such a lovely honest genuine boy he didn't do much harm
 
I let my horses way with dancing about a little when getting bathed. That's generally it. I don't tolerate bolshy behaviour an the first thing any if mine learn is to step back from the stable door or gate. Biting is unacceptable (but grooming with the lip is allowed but no teeth!) as is running around in a blind panic. If they are naughty I run them in a lunge for a bit to snap them out of it.
 
Illusion100 said:
How did you stop the door kicking/pawing?
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I found ignoring him when he was pawing helped a lot as it was an attention thing big time! But what helped the most was taking his shoes off (not the reason I did it) as obviously he can feel it more! :D jake has never really been a door kicker but with one at the yard I find the best thing to do is ignore them completely too, as if you shout as them or tell them off they get attention, all beit negative attention, but they are still getting the reaction they are after. If they don't get noticed for doing it I find they do it less often :) doesn't always work but helps
 
xgemmax said:
I found ignoring him when he was pawing helped a lot as it was an attention thing big time! But what helped the most was taking his shoes off (not the reason I did it) as obviously he can feel it more! :D jake has never really been a door kicker but with one at the yard I find the best thing to do is ignore them completely too, as if you shout as them or tell them off they get attention, all beit negative attention, but they are still getting the reaction they are after. If they don't get noticed for doing it I find they do it less often :) doesn't always work but helps
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Huh! Do you know what I think my boy kicks the door more now than he used to and the only thing I've changed is putting shoes on! Maybe it just didn't make enough noise for him to bother. Not so slow are they lol I close the top door on him when he does it.
 
xgemmax said:
The thing that drives me mad is door kicking and pawing, Jake used to paw when I first got him but soon stopped and now stands like an angel :D
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I do not consider pawing and door kicking as 'rude' or bad mannered. Unless they're aiming at me when doing it! It is an anxiety or stress reaction. Like jogging when excited, it's part of their drive to move their feet when stressed etc. It's bloody annoying but not bad mannered. Bad mannered to me is pushing a human around (mentally or physically) like they would a lower ranking horse.
 
I don't stand for anything that is rude, painful or dangerous. They do not bite, kick, barge or pull me around on the end of a leadrope (that includes yanking their head down to graze!).

Personally don't stand for pawing or door kicking. Both easily solved with a curtain of rubber matting (if whilst tied up and a verbal reprimand doesn't work, a well aimed shoulder slap will!). And whilst not dangerous my absolute pet hate is horses that rub their heads ALL over you. So rude!!!

I expect to be able to rug/groom/pick feet out/trim/tack up/whatever regardless of what the horse is doing. Be that eating, in the field, in the school, on their own or in company. Manners are not an option, end of.

Recently posted a picture on our facebook page of CS and Fig, together in the washbox, both untied, both eating feeds. People couldn't believe they weren't scrapping! They wouldn't dare because me and/or PS were standing there, and we are Top Dog.

They are quick to learn though. Bruce knows he can walk off round the stable whilst Pappy Sparkle is doing morning rugs, doesn't do it with me or PS! He also knows he can yank his head down to graze whilst Pappy T undoes/does up the electric fencing, again, doesn't dare do it with me or PS!
 
I expect my horse to lead in a quiet manner, turn around me when turning out so I can shut the gate behind him, stand still for grooming/tacking up/rugging, move to the back of his stable when I walk in with feed or a haynet, if I'm hanging a haynet I expect him to wait until I've finished hanging it before he eats it. The only thing he does wrong is walk a few steps whilst being mounted, but then that's my fault for not correcting it. Generally he's an utter saint to handle and ride, and always has been - it's just his personality.
 
Copperpot said:
This. I don't want an animal that is a robot. I like personality and some little cheeky traits.
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Oh, absolutely.

Fig will always come and harass me for a cuddle. Wiggles his lip all over you, but will instantly back away if you ask him to move. CS loves a good scratch and will come up and gently nudge you with his shoulder or hip, but again, backs off the moment you ask.
 
Mine are allowed to nuzzle me but not bite. Chester has bitten me once in 5 years and he got a whack for it and has never done it again. They don't kick, barge or pull me around. I can change their rugs/pick feet out etc in the field whilst they aren't tied up. They stand still to be mounted and generally do as they are told. Frolic in particular is a little angel and I've never had to tell him off or shout at him. At some point in his life someone has put the fear of god into him and I've spent time letting him know he doesn't need to worry about being whacked. Now he's less worried his personality is coming out more :)
 
My last two horses are a complete contrast yet in many ways the same. Lancelot was dangerous. There is no other way to put it .he would kill someone in the wrong place and the wrong time,yet it had nothing to do with manners. Away from the stable he was the kindest safest horse,small kids could cuddle him ,a complete softey . impeccable manners ,yet in "Hell" his own personal horsey hell ,he became lethal. We found out late that he had been box rested for9 months and basicly gone a bit mad. Poor little sod.Bob the nota cob is also completely crazy but has never hurt a living soul intentionaly (and the only times he has ,he has gone a bit berzerk with remorse. He will however turn and come at me with his mouth wide open but it always turns into the gentlest nibble on my coat. It has taken all my self control not to overreact after a horse that truely would have ripped my arm off ,and slap Bob. I feel that if I slap him ,a completely non violent creature, that I am teaching him to be violent.
 
Pip is terrified of life, so he is always quite locked on to me, sort of asking what he should be doing. If I'm walking next to him and hesitate, or speed up, so will he, if I turn to look at something, he'll mirror me. He is ridiculously well mannered. He puts his head into his headcollar by himself, as well as his bridle - even opens his mouth for the bit. I can give him a full clip (apart from his right ear!!) without even tying him up, can wash his feet etc with the leadrope over his neck and he will stand like a rock. I can leave his stable door open, and go and do stuff, and he will stand with his feet just on the threshold and watch what's going on, but NEVER step outside, even if I'm mean and tempt him with food. When I pick out his feet, I just have to vaguely point at a foot and click and he will lift it up for me.

I spoil him rotten, so I can assure you it's not my doing :p
 
Agree with many people here :)

But the horse also expects a bit of the same courtesy as part of a working relationship, so it's give and take. I wish there was more emphasis put on teaching people how to show politeness to their horse!
 
I have always been a stickler for manners, till I got my current horse.

He is good, and far better mannered than many horses I see, but is continually pushing his luck, he tries to help me put his headcollar on for instance, which is really unhelpful. He is constantly pulling faces at me, gurning and shouting for attention, and if ignored he just stands on his back legs till someone notices. Unfortunately I think he is really funny so there's no hope for him.
My other 2 are pretty impeccable I hasten to add.
 
Aside from the above, trying to put head down to eat grass when working (ie with bridle on). Makes life at shows so much easier when they just don't consider trying to go for the grass (against native instinct), especially if you have two to hold.
 
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