Talking a lot with the horse = silly?

[ina.click]

Ok I noticed a difference between me and other riders from the RS and I was wondering if I'm acting silly.

I talk a lot to the horses. While riding.
They don't that much.
They just give the vocal commands and carry on.

Actually I am talking stuff related to our riding too, don't imagine I recite them Shakespeare but still, I think I talk more than the whole school in there.

I talk that much because I am ...hiper-talkative anyways,I am trying to get my mind away from being tensed and I relax hearing my ow voice I guess, heh, and most importantly I'm...trying to get on well with the horse?

Examples:
When I try to start Fatima to trot (which doesnt happen very soon as she learned what a total douchebag I am) you can hear me mumbling "Come on young lady (yes, I call the mares young ladies....:o) come on darling, let;s trot please, otherwise M. (my RI) will come with that whip and we;re not going to be happy"

When I get tired, instead of saying just HOOOOOO!! I also slip "Woah this is getting exhausting, let's take a break" - > which actually works, everytime I even think of slowing down fatima slows down, heh, she would do anything but not run I guess.

I'm also saying "hello" and "goodbye" and "I'm so sorry!" if I yank on reins by mistake and lots of good girl and blah and blah.

I know they do not understand the meaning, I really do. I'm not that silly to believe they can understand every little word - including "young lady"), but I just can't stop...talking to them!

And nobody else talks nearly half as much as me in there! Some don't even talk at all! So far I have not been frowned upon or something but I did surprise some amused looks though :o

Am i being silly? Although even if I am, I'm afraid I can't stop talking - > look at the length of this rant for example.

..just tell me there are more like me please? tell me there is someone else that talks A LOT with horses?

[xloopylozzax]

its good, im like that, i find it much harder to have a conversation with people!

ignore the looks you get, if it works for you and your horse then carry on.

unless you are planning on doing dressage cos i dont think you are allowed to talk then.

[Leosmummy]

I think its great that you talk to the horse, Im the same always nattering away,

always ask "hey fella how are ya" when i first see him "not that he's going to turn around and say "yeah im good thanks, was getting a little bored standing here, you come to ride me" lol

Dont worry about what others think, Its all about you and your horse. x

[Joyscarer]

I shut up for a bit just before I give Joy clear and concise instructions so she doesn't get confused.

Once we have that sorted out then I start banging on about everything esle and talk to her. She responds well to voice and is grateful when I shut up too. Especially if I have been singing! :o

[lauren123]

I do the same because i did not used to talk to the horses that i rode (sounds so silly:rolleyes:) until my instructor said "talk to him" and i find that he was alot more responsive once i started talking to him :D:D

[~Perdita.M~]

I do chat with mine on a daily basis about anything and everything.:o

[Flash Harry]

:)I think that`s great!:) I`m always chatting / moaning about O/H to my fella! Horses will always listen (as they are true buddies), but they don`t voice an opion, quality IMO- good for you

[acw295]

And me - flony_pony's Flo is probably scared for life as have told her all about my problematic personal life when I was sharing her:o

I talk utter nonsense to Molly all the time - leading, riding, grooming, I like to think that she likes it and she talks back with sighs and grunts in all the right places - but then so does my cat! :o

If you like to talk then talk - the only thing I can definitely say is that it probably makes you more relaxed - as you have to breathe to talk and can't tense :)


I do chat with mine on a daily basis about anything and everything.:o

[horses4eva888]

Yes, I talk to them way too much:p

I also tend to change song lyrics to include the ponies name or something about their character into it and then sing them the song. Repeatedly.:o

[horseygal90]

I talk to my mount when I'm riding too, on the ground as well.

[Tre]

i found myself tonight singing "you are my sunshine" over the stable door to my 26 yr old shetland i did start to have a one way conversation with her about her water bucket but she just stood there with ears pricked forward and very alert to what i was saying but her kind sweet eyes said it all to me, she then came an stuck her nose on my chin and slobbered on me and then for good measure snotted in my face :D

i had a another one way conversation with my new baby coblet this morning telling him what we was going to be doing together as we grow older, he did listen and came over to nuzzle me but we are still getting to know each other so he was like ok mum what ever.

i have conversations with the chickens too, i think im a little insane i will be talking to the wheel barrow soon :)

i do have a little chat with all the horses some are very lengthy and i must bore some of them but my dogs are best they actually answer me back, not a clue what they are saying to me though they are prob saying OMG call the white van again she's being retarded lol

i enjoy talking to all my animals its nice that they dont answer you back when your having a moan but wish they couldtalk when they are sick

[Midnight Rose]

I'm very vocal, but it's always directed at what we're doing.

Examples -

"C'mon Sammy! Lets go! Wheeee Sammy! Yip yip yip"

"Sammy. TrrrrottING!

"Sammy. cANter!"

"Waaaaaaaaalking Sammy"


It's more about tone than what I'm saying I think. Faster is all excited tone and slower is calmer and slower.


When I hold him for the farrier (who he just tolerates, but absolutely hates) I'll witter quitely to him. I'll say anything in a very quiet voice.

When he got really worked up on a hack becuase there were cows AND a tractor I sang a lullaby to him, changing the words to sing about how harmless cows and tractors were and how Sam looks like cow. It also took my mind off the fact he was doing a snorting stallion act on concrete.

When I'm grooming or something I'm quiet. Unless I'm saying 'foot!'

[Hippyhorse]

You're not silly at all, I talk to the horses I ride all the time, some of it related to what we're doing (or supposed to be doing!) and some of it just chatter. I like to give verbal encouragement ect and when i hack outon my own with Spike I sing and talk to him, I must sound really silly sometimes, last week he was a bit fresh out on a hack so to help calm him I sang nursery rhymes! He likes twinkle twinkle little star I have found, and row, row, row your boat! Ifit works for you don't worry about what others might think, just carry on!

[palmerlover52]

We had a spooky incident with a loose chick'n on the road the other day..cue loud rendition of American Pie :o Oh dear.It makes me feel so stupid, I relax, she relaxs, all is well ;)

[BlackBess]

I talk to all my animals all the time. The only thing I did find was that when I was in a RS and I said "ok horsey, pretty please can we canter in the next corner, thank you very much lovely horse", or "ok, please can we go into trot now", the "answer" I always got was "shut up fool, I'm not going to do that so ha ha". But, when I was more direct talking to them saying "right, here comes the corner, we are going to canter", the horse was much more responsive.

Now, I always say hello and goodbye when I see my share horse and ask how he is. He's very responsive to vocal commands so will go into trot and canter if you mention those words. Otherwise, if he's scared of plastic bags, I'll say "steady, it's ok, it won't hurt you" or if he's having one of those days where he decides to take the mick its "Get on". My OH is completely different, when he's with him its, "Alright mate, how's it hanging", "Your my mate", "Get off my foot mate", "Don't look at me mate, I can't stop her grooming you", "Know how you feel mate, don't even argue just do what she says, that's the best way" and so on.....:p

[Gemsluvshorsesx]

Am like that As well and dont realise im doing it! quite embarassing when i look back at videos of me riding ! :o

[HarlaHorse]

Haha, well you should see me, Harley knows everything about me - most the time I just sit on him and tell him stories about what happened today, or maybe even something that happened 5 years ago!

It's good to talk to them like that, because I believe that they can understand you and will behave better. And no way is it silly, and who cares if they don't talk to their horses? Just means you'll find a better bond, ;).

[Spider]

i talk to the horses at the RS :)
even when im out on my own for a hack we always have a little convo :)
im sure one man thought i was mad when he wer walking past us as i were saying ''now its only a man in a bright jacket nothing to worry about''

lol :)

[Abserd]

Oh i always talk to my horses or ponies! Anyone who knows me will tell you i'm a chatterbox anyway!! The only time i don't is when i'm really concentrating in a lesson but most of the time in lessons, and especially on hacks when i get a bit nervous, i'm chatting away, or humming! If at the back of the ride i may even sing quietly (quietly because it might offend my horse or the rider in front of me LOL)

So carry on chatting ina.click! I really think it's a good way to relax, bond and enjoy your ride, plus as you talk you HAVE to breathe, and breathing means you sit better and are more relaxed......this is good for me as i'm constantly being told "BREATHE" by my RI!! :p

[*katie*]

I'm always nattering to the horses :) i don't think it's silly at all. I'll chat about anything and everything; i even tell them stories :D. And you can tell them whatever you want without worrying wht they'll say or anyone else knowing - Billy knows all my secrets ;):D!

[Trewsers]

Talking to them isn't silly! Its essential!!! Its great for your nerves and also great for them as it relaxes them!! I sing to Storm too - I have lots of made up songs, but one of my favourites when handling her on the ground is (does anybody remember the kids program RAGTIME????!) well, I sing "its bedtime" to her on the way back from the field at night - I'm sure she likes it! lol, I don't know if makes any difference but she does seem better when I sing, plus I carry on singing it to her when she's spooking, you know if something flaps out at her, like a pheasant on its way to bed.........

[Imzadi83]

I talk to the horses all the time. Some of it is just the kind of baby talk most people do around animals but I also have kinda conversations with them. IE: "No you can't reach the grass outside of the ring cause your neck's too short", "Do you see the other horses trotting around the arena? That's what we're gonna do.", "I have peppermints in my pocktet, they're all for you if you'll trot for me when it's out turn.", "Do you need a break? I need a break? Let's take a break" etc etc etc. My pet parakeet loves to be talked to so now I'm in the habit of really going on. My RI is always telling me the horse has no idea what 'Please trot' means.

[Kittycat]

I've just posted on your other thread to say that talking and singing to your horse as you ride is a great way to relieve tension!:D

I made someone else at the stables laugh the other day, she said I talk to the horses as though they are human. I was asking a young horse to move and I think I said something like 'Come on darling, please move over, I need to get round here to clear your poo. I explain to them why I want them to do something, I'm not sure they understand though!:D:rolleyes:

[peppip]

I talk to my pony and sing to her, I would not want to be any different.
You should never be bothered about talking to your horse, it may help you and it hurts nothing so who cares what others do.

[Tatooed Lady]

Er...if talking to the horse is a "bad" thing, I'm in deep. Today, for example, I had to catch my gal, which means the filly in the herd tries to sneak out when the fence is open. So SHE gets the evil eye while I talk nice to Queen. Then, during grooming, I chattered away about how pretty she is, even with the poo stained hair, and how we're going to take a nice, easy ride around the trails with others, but she needs to get us there first. And how when we got back safely, she'd be getting apples and carrots as a 'thank you'.
When I mount, it's a lot of "whoa...whoa....hold STILL! Oh, GEEZ, it's not hard to just stand and look stupid, is it? I do it all day long! WHOA!" Once up, she got about 20 feet before putting on the brakes....she realized no one else was tacked for a ride, so she spooked at EVERYTHING, and refused to go forward. Sideways? Ok. Backwards? Fine. Forward? NOT blooming likely!
Good thing I paid attention to our trainer...I gave her some leg thumps and held on. She didn't bolt, buck or rear, just finally gave in (mostly) and moved forward. The ENTIRE time I was hurling a string of pleas, bribes and threats, along with several creative words that I should be sucking soap from saying aloud!
Okay...I won't bore you with ALL the details, but in the 2 hours we rode today (mostly with 7 other horses, but they cut off about 1/4 mile short of where we had to go to get to the yard), I yakked to her, to my friend (the BAAAAAAD influence that got me back into horses!), anyone that would listen...
I don't think I shut up most of the ride... :o
BUT- Queen balked, spooked, bolted (loose dog charging the horses), etc today...and I managed to sit EVERY TIME she did something, even when we got back to the yard and the YO's OH let loose with a pneumatic nail gun...:rolleyes: Queen's butt dropped about 2 feet, and she jumped us straight forward in what probably would've launched us over a narrow stream. The "Gift of Gab" saved my butt! :D It also forces me to keep breathing, which must help...I didn't feel tense for a change!

[Hero]

I'm ALWAYS chatting to Hero. even when we're competing at a high level...

it really chills him out

[*katie*]

You couldn't shut me up today :D! (it was probably because i was so over-excited :o!) i was chatting to her, encouraging her, i was even singing to her - My Lovely Horse from Father Ted - oh dear :o. No problem as long as you don't mind a few strange looks from non horsey folk ;):D!



'My lovely horse, running through the field . . . where are you going with your fetlocks blowing in the wind . . . ?' :p:D:o

[allinyourrows]

talking is good! Especially when thing are going wrong, as it keeps you breating, singing helps too, as it can subconsiously bring a sence of rythm. It can also reasure the horse.

[jessss:)]

talking is def not silly! i'm always chattering or singing away to the horses, they probably know more about me than some of my friends do, and you know they won't go and tell someone else one of your secrets:p

It really helps to relax you and detense you (if that's a word hehe) - when I first learnt to canter and jump, my RI used to make me sing as I went around, and call out my name as we went over the jump.
It's also good for keeping a rhythm; in canter if you repeat the days of the week (but not saturday or sunday) it's meant to help you stay at a steady pace:)