Horse Sense ...

[80sChild]

OK I WAS ASKED BY SPECIAL REQUEST !! How many of you love horses? How many of you love them, but you're scared of them? So I'm sure you have questions so thats how we will get this going, OK... ASK YOUR QUESTIONS AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO ANSWER THEM !!:stickguy:

 

[psalms 91]

I love horses but have never been around them a lot.

 

[Lamb]

If we see a horse in a nearby field and he comes over by the fence, do you think he would allow himself to be petted?

 

[80sChild]

Usually if a horse comes to you, yes he is safe to touch... when you approach a horse to pet him, turn your hand over hold it as if you are cupping water in it, then slowly go under the hoses head and rub his chin/lower lip area where his whiskers are, then you are free to slowly slide around to the cheek area of the face then slowly to the front of the head, but never go directly to the front of the head unless this horse is one that you know well and it knows you as well. Why? The horse is a flight animal, which means when spooked they "flight" or run away. Horses have a range of vision of about 350°, 65° of this being binocular vision and the remaining 285° monocular vision. Their monocular vision has two "blind spots," or areas where the animal cannot see: in front of the face, and right behind its head, this is also why you never walk up behind a horse that is unaware of your presence.

 

[80sChild]

You should try to when you can, there one of God's most amazing creations !

 

[Lamb]

I didn't know about the blind spots but it makes a lot of sense!

When my daughter came to visit, she went out for a run and at one of the horse farms a horse came near the fence and she said she got to pet it. My dad told me to never pet a horse unless we knew it because it would bite! So I got scared when my daughter said that she did it! Glad to know my dad was wrong (can't tell him that though!)

I've seen people who are out walking feeding the horses. What are some good and bad things to feed them?

 

[visionary]

Raised, broke, barrel raced, equestrian grade B [double bit], jumped competition, trained, ride both English and western.

 

[80sChild]

slice up an apple and they love carrots , and sugar cubes. Sometimes if they have never had treats it takes them a bit to get use to them, but they always end up loving them !!when you feed a horse out of your hand, make sure you keep your hand spread flat, this keeps the horse from accidentally biting it when eating the treat from your hand.

 

[Lamb]

Ooh yes, the flat hand is something they always tell us to do at the feeding places where we feed goats, donkeys, sheep, etc... But never a horse.

 

[80sChild]

Sweet! Same here! not much barrel racing anymore though, mexico doesn't have much , now just racing and western on off days!
Nice to meet another horse woman!

 

[80sChild]

Yeah they can bite you and not mean to!

 

[Lamb]

Do horses like music? I know it's an odd question but all other animals I've been around love it when I sing or play my flute

 

[80sChild]

Actually yes they do! I keep a stereo at the stables with light music ( Elton John lol) playing 24/7.


80'sChild

 

[Lamb]

What is the proper way to mount and dismount?

 

[80sChild]

Always mount and dismount on the horses left side. Right food first to mount then swing your left over. Dismount is just in reverse .


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[Lamb]

Why the left side only?

 

[80sChild]

#1. Horses are very one-sided, that is, they only think on one side of their brain at a time, they can learn something on one side, and not know anything about that particular subject on the other side. So we have standardized the left side as the side . #2. You have to go back to ancient times when horses were used as war mounts. Soldiers carry their swords on the left side (to reach with their right hand) and so they could only mount from the left or they would sit on their sword. http://www.lemen.com/qa176.html

 

[Lamb]

How can you tell what mood a horse is in? What are the signs?

 

[80sChild]

Twitching tail and ears pinned back is for sure a sign that the horse is agitated.



80'sChild