When an owner feels a horse is 'wasted' with them

[mrsfields]

here's a little photo of my kenny, taken a while back - i love his ears on this - they look like they're in a really strange position, but totally capture that moment in time: his left ear was focused on a bouncy toddler in my arms in front of him, and his right ear was completely locked down on a screaming baby in a pushchair (and his eyes are half closed as if to say "what a noise, get me out of here" lol)

[mandal]

Jan 30, 2013 14:05:22 GMT 1 SarahW said:

Not even the tail specialized? I learned that when a mule's tail is moving, he's thinking!

That's interesting. I tend to think that horses tails flick/move often when they are irritated by something. A fly for example or something environmental or an emotional response. I'm probably simplifying it too much though as the tail is part of the body so will react somewhat to physical effort as well.

Fantastically illustrative photo Mrsfields.

[shan]

Talk some more to me about tail movements anyone in the know... ?

I think what we humans also tend to overlook is how adaptable animals are - even the ones who have led a really varied, stimulating & active life will still adapt to circumstances & environment when they're wintered, retired, etc. I don't think we can assume that horses 'miss' going to shows or on hacks or whatever, even if they show boundless enthusiasm for it when they do.
I used to look at Ginge just stood in her field near the gate & think 'god she looks so sad!', but then I'd see the 7 boys in their field doing exactly the same, they were a really tight & playful gang who were just 'being horses' in a way we may never understand unless we can know exactly what they're thinking (or not) at any given time.

[cookie]

Mrs fields that's a great pic, Lizp asked for pics for the listening post mag a while back, I'm sure there's an article in the making from some of this thread...

Sarah? Liz?

Sent from my GT-I9100 using proboards

[SarahW]

I think all tails seem to be emotional. When I worked with the zebra, zedonks, zonkey and zorse, all of them swished their tails when they were thinking about something - as did the mules in Mallorca and all donkeys.

It has made me wonder when horses are penalised for swishing their tails in dressage whether we may be misreading it as anger, or reluctance, when in fact they are just changing gear in their mind.

[potto]

Mischief...

sorry it has taken me so long..LOL erm I was thinking about things like pulling out plastic fence posts, crawling under fencing or jumping over fencing. despite having plenty of food water and company. Opening gates, untying knots in leadropes and sneaking off when your not looking, running off with wheel barrows and scoops that kind of thing,playing with water buckets, climbing on top of anything they can, sitting on laps :-) Showing an apptitude for learning and interest and curiosity for all things new in the environment they are in and things that are introduced into it. A propensity to develop bad habits and a bad attitude if not harnessed and redirected and developed i guess. :-)

I think a lot of our problems come when we under estimate our equines... we spend a lot of time looking at how the would be 'naturally' in behaviour.. but the fact is they are the most adaptable creatures and have survived because they are and have managed to adjust to our lives and habitat and the way we domesticated them. I think sometimes we don't do them justice in that.
I also think that equines have times in their lives when they want to do stuff and times when the can't, don't want to or would really like to or are past it. just like us with different personalities, they are all individuals.

I have to say mule wise Noo aka Callie the Dragon on The Three Muleteers blog. always loved to work and still does, very much like a cat with her tail and often used it like a warning. She was an absolute pest left for too long unattended, her favourite field was by a bus stop for teenagers waiting to go to school. They told me she would come and watch them and chew and pull off the safety sign i had put on the gate in front of them and throw it at them showing off then run away of up the field broncing LOL minx... I do miss her :-)

[KimT]

For me I think this entire debate depends on what is meant by 'wasted'. Ellie will forever be 'Wasted' with me because she could do very well in Welsh Sec D PB classes and definitely has the breeding for it (championship lines) but she would be stimulated enough out hacking (since this is a relatively new to her having been a broodmare for 5 years). So in her case she is adequately stimulated but totally wasted. She would also not cope well in a busy yard.

Lady is massively curious and has actually trotted up to 'spooky' objects (like a white cow feed bag blowing round the field) to investigate. Ellie would not do this and is more likely to run but I think this is due to their upbringing. I have had Lady since she was 17months old and have done despooking things so she is very curious about the world. I have no idea of her parentage and she has little potential in the show ring so she probably wouldnt be wasted with me cause I am a happy hacker through and through. However, whilst she has plenty of stimulation in the field, she is young, curious and into everything so could probably do with doing a bit more. But she is not 3 yrs yet so we are still fairly limited on what we can do. She will love the yard we are moving to this weekend because it is in a village and when I take her out for walks there will be loads to look at. She will love the pubs down the road in the summer with people sat outside.