Your favourite thing about your horse

DD265

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 April 2013
Messages
761
Visit site
What makes your horse special to you?

The first thing that jumps to mind is the fact that my lad will barely tolerate a cuddle when I'm feeling down - we're talking like two seconds of arms around the neck burying my face in his mane before he's moved. Instead, his nose is in my face, and he's giving me kisses and looking straight at my soul with those big brown eyes willing me to cheer up. :)
 
Mine is just a lovely, lovely person to have around. He's slightly neurotic and can be quirky under saddle, but he's got the sweetest personality.
 
My 31 yr old mare melts my heart. She is so grumpy but as soon as she hears my voice her ears flick forwards and then I'm quite they go back to the side. They are like little mummy radars

My Shetland doesn't like being caught but he come over every morning for his tiny token feed, he gets so excited and neighs at me, every time, without fail. Even in the summer when they arent fed

My ridden gelding, I'm not sure I can pick one thing. But he's had a lot of pain Issues and despite all of that he comes straight over when he sees me, he's always happy to come in, even if it means being ridden or put back to bed with only an hours turn out. He's such a people person. And is more like an oversized dog
 
His sense of humour.
Like the times he doesn't fancy coming in and trots off juuuuust out of my reach.
Or when he knocks the wheelbarrow over, waits for me to fill it up and walk away, then knocks it over again.
Or when he tries to "stealthily" sneak through the open stable door reaaaaal slowly, only to stop when he gets "the look".
 
I have two, but the one I am talking about had been retired for 5 years due to injury. Vet said I could ride him again (in walk as far as I liked) so since last September I have been doing just that. He is the most perfect gentleman both to ride and handle. The pleasure I get from just hacking him is immense. Whatever we meet he takes in his stride. His previous life was an eventer (BE90) and his BE record shows no XC jumping faults. We had some decent places on many occasions and it broke my heart when I had to retire him. He is such a pleasure to have around that it never occurred to me to have him PTS as many advised me to do. His problem is mechanical and he isn't on bute (although I am quite happy he should have some if he ever needs it). I will never be able to replace him :( It's because I will always compare to him that I cannot face looking for another.

I would like to add I have owned 4 horses /ponies and had one on loan from ILPH. I have loved them all to pieces and all have been PTS here at home (at 29 or in 30's). I still have another in his 20's still with me, not ridden at the moment but that's due to it being winter and him being such an a*** that he gets dangerous. Will start riding him again in summer.
 
There's so many things I adore about Esme, it's hard to pick a favourite thing. She really is the sweetest little person, always up for cuddles and kisses. I love her chilled out, laid back attitude to life, and the fact she has taken everything we've asked of her so far, completely in her stride. I love watching her move, when she really goes for it she's just stunning and it always takes people by surprise. I think most of all, I love the fact that she trusts us and we have such a special bond with her, almost like she knows we found her just before she ended up somewhere not very nice. She makes my heart sing!
 
With Jake it has to be the fact that he tries so hard all the time to please, and be your friend. Everyone who has met him has said the same, there is absolutely no malice in him at all. Even when he was in a lot of pain with a swollen leg with mud fever, he would pick it up higher and higher, almost falling over, to avoid the pain but never once struck out. He always seeks his human when asked to do something, as if to say 'is that what you want mum?'
 
His personality. He is a total character and loves life. He believes himself to be king and we are all his 'public' who adore him and should only pay attention to him when he is around.

He is spoilt in other words. But not nasty just loves attention.
 
I have two.
My mare, Roo. My favourite thing about her is the nicker she does when she sees/hears me arriving at the yard. I really love her. She is the sweetest thing and she has changed the person I am today.

Jimmy, he is such a clown. He throws my shavings fork and sweeping brush across the yard. Throws feed buckets over the door. Kisses me on my face. Makes me laugh every single day. Now roo has laminitis and Jimmy is keeping me laughing, he's keeping me strong so I can be strong for her
 
I have two very girly girls mare & filly!

They are both ecstatic to see me every morning.

The big one shows everyone exactly what she's thinking. When she's angry, she shows it!
She knows how to open doors, put her headcollar on, untie knots, untie double knots, gallop off when being led (chooses the right angle of the handler/novice handler), only comes in when she knows it's going to worth her while.

I just love her sass!!!

When she's poorly, she becomes so needy for my love and care.

I love how she burrows her head in my chest and stays there, allowing me to gently stroke her face and whisper in her ears.

Despite all the sass, she never, EVER tries anything horrible ridden. I totally trust her to take me anywhere. She tries her best all the time and really listens to me. She has given me the best time of my life. She owes me nothing and I owe her everything.



My little filly is also happy to see me at all times of the day.

I love her baby innocence to the world.
I love how, despite her total lack of experience, she has decided she does not like any form of mud, frost, ice or rain! Nobody has made her think that!
I love how she continuously tests the boundaries and questions the rules.
I love how she looks to me for help when the others in her field push her away.
I love how she looks for me for help when there is anything scary.
I love how when she gets cross, she shows you!
I love how she has some self control, even at 5.5 months, when being handled around 8 galloping horses.


I love how they are both full of spirit. They are not afraid to show their characters. I love how to anyone else they would be a total nightmare, but to me they are heartwarming.
 
Last edited:
Lots of things but the best has to be the welcome I get when I drive on the yard. It's not just feed (first one down feeds) but he is like a small child hopping between his 2 windows before I get to him.
 
loads of things with all my horses ... but with new horse Henry - the way he silently 'whickers' when he sees me - just his nostrils, but no noise ... and then his big, deep whicker when he sees the hay bag coming in his direction. The way he wriggles his lips when I 'hit a spot' (I know all horses do that, I just love seeing him enjoy a scratch and he's only just relaxed enough to start to do this) and the way he watches me going around the barn - they are in a big old cattle shed and he stands behind a big wall eating his hay and I just see two pricked ears and two big eyes watching me as wander around mucking out and doing hay etc! We've got a long way to go to be 'riding partners' ... but I adore him as a person and feel very lucky to have him.
 
What a lovely thread ❤️

It's hard to pick one thing, but I think I'd have to pick when he rests his head on me and exhales warm horsey breath onto me. Like a big contented sigh.
I love everything about him.
 
What a lovely thread ❤️

It's hard to pick one thing, but I think I'd have to pick when he rests his head on me and exhales warm horsey breath onto me. Like a big contented sigh.
I love everything about him.

Mine does this too it's lovely how could I forget this?!?
 
Because they are so forgiving. My mare because she 'says it as it is' and my gelding, because he enjoys a joke...at my expense!
 
With newest horse its the fact he hasnt a bad bone in his body, lovely to handle and ride, still young but gorgeous to look at, lovely to ride, huge jump. Sorry one then one point!
 
That she trusts me.

She was relatively unhandled when we met, had been chased with big sticks and hurt, there's no doubt.

Yet on meeting, she immediately rested her head in my chest and just stood there, calm and quiet. Those quiet, gentle moments are still a big part of our relationship and form the basis of everything else ��.
 
My beautiful mare in my avatar who knows when we are ill or hurt and does her very best to comfort us and take care of us. She is very communicative and lets us know what she wants, she has trained us well! I adore her.

ETA in my avatar that seems to have vanished!!
 
He has an innate ability to make me smile, even in my darkest moments.

He also knows my voice, so if I arrive at the yard and stop to chat to someone before I go and see him, he shouts me to get my attention. Oh .... And he's the cuddliest teddy bear of a pony you could wish to meet.
 
Top