What does your Horse want from YOU??

[Tiger]

Ok, i guess we have a reasonable idea what we want from our Intructors..........Not to be shouted at, endless patience, the knowledge and flexibility to explain things in lots of different ways, demonstrations, recognition/ acknowledgement when we get it right.........FUN.......???????? So - What do our horses want???????

[Cassandra]

hehehehe - I know *** mine want - MORE FOOD!!!! :D

[galadriel]

Consistency. Also dinner, affection, to be brushed in the right itchy places, to be rewarded so she knows when she's done well, but above all consistency.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

Autumn wants...food...affection (and more then what Tahoe gets or he gets jelous hehe) and more food!

[Shiny McShine]

I would mostly think to be left alone, but they do tend to get used to the idea of getting food, play, company, comfort etc.

[Esther.D]

I would mostly think to be left alone

My shetlands hate that. If they are really not concentrating and are messing about all the time the worst 'punishment' (for want of a better word) I can give them is to take their tack off and put them back in the field. They mope about and creep up to me all submissive and then usually pick up their bridle and give it to me or try to put it on themselves:rolleyes: If I relent and put their tack back on they are immaculately behaved for the rest of the session. Because they think like this I have to make sure when I do untack them normally at the end I go over the top with praise so they understand I am not upset with them. They love to be with people and would happily spend all day just being with you, even though they very rarely get feed or treats.

I think Rupert (13.2hh New Forest) wants security. He came to me a very insecure bully, now he is turning into a very affectionate but unconfident pony who likes to know exactly what to do and get plenty of praise when he gets it right. Oh and food, he is very greedy!

I think the shetlands just want a good time :D

[HAYLEY GITTOES]

My horse loves attention, she loves being brushed, and messed about with.

She also, loves her food and treats, but how many horses dont!!

[Jodie & Ru]

Rupert seems most happiest when being worked, he seems in his best mood after he's been worked and he's just chilling out being groomed. He absolutely loves going in to the woods and like most adores his food treats.

[Mehitabel]

copper wants to be left alone. he is an antisocial old bugger. petal wants love and adulation due to her status as queen of the world. :rolleyes: and food, of course.

in the real world, they appreciate consistency - ground rules that don't vary, sensible work schedules, tack that fits, feet and teeth looked at, and not to be blamed first before i blame myself. well, that's what they get, anyway, so i hope it's what they want!

[cvb]

thinking specifically of riding -

- not to be nagged all the time
- to be left to get on with the job
- to be given the best possible chance to do it right
- not to be asked to do something she's not ready to do
- to explain clearly and slowly and give her a chance to try
- to let her know when she's done good :D
- to not tell her off when she's trying hard
- to not expect her to be serious all of the time
- to have fun, to do stuff we both enjoy
- to be listened to
- to be allowed to have 'off' days, after all I do so why shouldn't she !

I have a good go at most of the above but need to work on the nagging bit !

[Tootsie4U]

Originally posted by Esther.D
I think Rupert (13.2hh New Forest) wants security. He came to me a very insecure bully, now he is turning into a very affectionate but unconfident pony who likes to know exactly what to do and get plenty of praise when he gets it right. Oh and food, he is very greedy!


Goodness, I know I've said it before, but he is Bonfire's twin!

Thats exactly what I was gonna say for my own horse!

[Esther.D]

:D They do sound spookily similar Tootsie:D Pity they will never meet!

[Wally]

Have never thought aboutit that way really.

Food is the first thing to spring to mind.

What our guys want most I suppose is consistency. To know where they stand ALL the time. Never to be taken unaware in any givien situation.

I fed them the other night in the indoor school, I sat on the mounting block while they finished up. One by one, they came up and stood by me. I was reading a magazine so didn't really notice the growing crowd. Nobody was closer than about 12 inches, but they just came and stood nest to me without being pushy. I looked up from my mag to find I had a crown of 12 horses round me.

I suppose they want security, food, consistency and love.....but most importantly freedom to choose when they have the company and contact with people, or at least enough time out not to mind overly when we do prevail upon thier good humour and let us ride and drive them.

The fools left the doors of the bus open that brings the disabled riders to us..........it's a snazzy "sit down" bus that gets low to the floor to let folk on and off......it also has a ramp........it ALSO had most of the seats out that night as they had a lot of wheelchairs to accomodate.....oh so much room for a Shetland pony to investigate. What Andy wants is a trip on that bus!:D :D

[nat17]

lol wally:D ding ding all aboard:D Maybe they will one more little one at the other end one day:D

[Tiger]

Well done cvb !!! What a thinker :)

[floppy]

oo i have to say my horse would probably want me to leave her alone! :D

but she cant complain she has had a 2 week break because of me being too lazy to torment her into going out and getting lost in the woods.:o..ahem but that will all change as of tomorrow but dont tell her ;)

[tiarri]

Buddy's two priorities are food and cuddles hehe. He hates to be left alone and ignored. He could be out in the paddock but as soon as he sees me he comes cantering up to the gate to say 'hi' If I have to do something in his paddock he'll follow me all around and pester me until I give him a hug or stand there with him and scratch him like another horse would and he shows his appreciation by grooming me back. He's a little sweetie who must wants to be loved. :)

[tbone]

In T-Bones life all their is is food! He is a total pig he has to cheeck everyones hands etc... and when I pick out his feet he cheecks my pockets and sometimes bites my bum don't worry I know how to keep him from doing this! lol he also thinks about Shast and hycenith his 2 mares that he likes although I don't aprove of Shasta Hycenith is quite pretty and sweet!

[horsefreak]

Melody would like a carrot out of me plz!!!

Ax

[Lucy J]

not to be worked in the school while her friends are out playing in the field!

[Yann]

Things to eat would be the obvious answer in Rio's case, but I think a consistent and predictable routine is actually more important to her. She seems very aware when something isn't following the normal plan and doesn't usually like it.

Food and love (the two are very much intertwined for her I think) are very very important too. She genuinely seems to like people and human interaction.

I do think she enjoys her work as well, especially so if it involves going very fast round the countryside with a small light rider up top:)

[Echo64]

For me to get off my duff and take him for a good descent ride. Oh, and more cookies and pictures.

[Bebe]

At this precise moment in time, Bebe probably most wants a stallion! She's in the middle of a raging season and is being a right flirt about it, to the point where I had to tie her at the far end of her stable this morning so she'd ignore the gelding next door and eat her breakfast. I can count the number of times that I've tied her up in the stable on one hand, and they've all been when she's in season (she doesn't get nasty, just goes all doe eyed and her brain seems to slow right down and only register boys).

Other than that, consistency, food, scratches, blasts around the countryside and love are what she seems to need, not necessarily in that order. Also, human companionship and horse companionship, lots of turnout and being able to "have her say" in things.

[Cochise]

Right now? To get out of the paddock! Poor guy is so blobby at the moment! He expresses his boredom in interesting ways. Hate to think what he would be like if kept shut up in some awful stable 24/7! (Love it here where they can live out all the time!)

[rezbeck]

yep food is the first thing to spring to mind but the reason i think jack is playing me up at the moment is cos i lunge him when the others are just lounging around, and i reckon his priority is to be taken out on a good old hack which i really must get on with!!!!!!!