Horses are Amazing and have a Sense of Humor

[SAJohn]

I don't recall this subject having been previously discussed here, so I am going to tell a few of my horse stories.

The only horse I ever owned was named Ben. He was an older gentleman who was intelligent and had a sense of humor. His favorite trick was to sneak up on me while I was working on my hands and knees (somehow this giant fellow could move soundlessly) and put his head on my shoulder. We are talking about a near heart attack.

Once I was digging a waterline trench in a narrow passageway between Ben's stall and a fence. I took a break and when I came back I discovered that he had backed into the narrow confines about 30 feet so he could poop in my ditch.

He loved to be saddled up and ridden but at an age of about 20, he wasn't all that steady of foot so the rides were of short duration and over soft level land.

One of my dogs, Bridget, spent hours each day stalking Ben from outside his corral. Ben actually enjoyed this and would move around to work her butt off. This activity kept them both of them in good shape. On day I accidentally left the gate to Ben's enclosure ajar and Bridget ventured inside. Old Ben took off after Bridget. I looked up just in time to see Bridget running for her life, her tail tucked between her legs because Ben's giant teeth were snapping at her hind quarters. After that I could leave that gate wide open and Bridget would never venture inside.

Both of them are now buried near each other on my property.

John

 

[Fox Mike]

When I was a youngster my granddad had a horse, Ole Bill. Bill was a plow horse but he too had his 'quirks' If you went to feed him his bucket of oats he had his 'trick'. If you stood by the fence by his feed trough and didn't immediately dump the food he would gently place one hoof on top of your foot. It stayed there till you dumped the bucket. He was in no hurry but a BIG horsey foot on yours is enough to hurry the process.

 

[caryc]

I once had a big dog like the one in the photo. He had a habit of coming up in back of me and sticking his head between my legs knowing he would get a nice head scratch. That dog used to scare the crap out of me sometimes when I'd be outside working on something and here comes that big bony head right between my legs.

Just be glad your horse didn't pick up that little trick.

 

[Don Lovel]

My friend Willie The Welder in Colorado had a beautiful appaloosa named Apollo. Well trained cow pony and trail rider. He would tolerate being used for packing Elk out as long as you eased him into the smell of the killed game.
He was like a big puppy, very mellow, and would actually come into the house if you left the door ajar.
He liked to hang out with us if we were sitting around drinking beer, Willie had a flat metal pan he would pour Apollo some in it and the old horse would just lick it up.
Apollo died back in October last year at age 34. Very sad day for us all who knew him.

 

[arfmel]

I once had a big dog like the one in the photo. He had a habit of coming up in back of me and sticking his head between my legs knowing he would get a nice head scratch. That dog used to scare the crap out of me sometimes when I'd be outside working on something and here comes that big bony head right between my legs.

Just be glad your horse didn't pick up that little trick.

My dog Chumley used to do the same thing. Didn’t matter how important whatever I was doing was, he’d interrupt for some ear rubbing. Made me laugh. I sure miss the big galoot.

 

[A.J.]

Back in September my wife got run over by one of our horses breaking her neck and back in two places each. Our horses are gone now and she's almost fully recovered.

One of our horses would sneak up on me when I was working on the fence and steal the hat off my head or take the hammer from my tool box and run away with it. They're kindly, gentle animals. Just don't be standing in front of them when they're running.

 

[Dave P.]

They're kindly, gentle animals. Just don't be standing in front of them when they're running.

Not all of em.......
Been around horses for many years, some are ugly, mean, and just flat out
dangerous to work with.
Gotta be smarter than the horse that's trying to kill or maim you.
There's a few that took great restraint not to shoot them on the spot!
Dave

 

[Colonialgirl]

I once had a big dog like the one in the photo. He had a habit of coming up in back of me and sticking his head between my legs knowing he would get a nice head scratch. That dog used to scare the crap out of me sometimes when I'd be outside working on something and here comes that big bony head right between my legs.

Just be glad your horse didn't pick up that little trick.

You got to scratch the head ??? :shock: :shock:
My dog Jessie Girl goes between my legs in the other direction and I get to scratch a BUTT !! :roll: :roll:

 

[DPris]

Borrowed Grandpa's old grey mare a couple times, with ungood results.

Did not get the saddle cinched down tight the first time, loping back home after a ride(that horse was always glad to get back to the corral) dumped me on the ground in a tangle of leather, blanket, and ouch.
Horse, which had been in such a hurry to get to the corral previously, had to leisurely amble back to where I was trying to breath again, and stand there looking down at me, laughing inside.
Yeah, they have a sense of humor.

Second time, I dismounted on the side of the main road through that small town to talk to somebody on the sidewalk.
A car swooshed by, spooked the horse enough to jump & land with a front hoof square on my foot.
And just stood there, on my foot, looking at me & laughing silently inside.
Had to shove & cuss to get her off. And it seemed to go on forever, under that hoof. Try having a horse stand on you some time.
Yeah, horses have a sense of humor. :)

That old gal gave Grandpa no nonsense at all, but she sure knew how to take advantage of a young visitor.
Denis

 

[Pat-inCO]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but since digs have been introduced . . . .

A few years back a friend with a LARGE German Sheppard(sp?) that was
vary calm, unless one of the neighbor kids came by with a stick rattling
it in the chain link fence. She would go ballistic with that.

We were watching one day when the kid was coming, and the dog walked
over and hid in some bushes next to the fence. The kid went by running
the stick in the fence and was about three fourths of the way across the
lot. As he was doing that, the dog, VERY quietly walked up behind him
and at a distance of maybe three feet went WOOF WOOF WOOF!

Kid almost left some brown smelly stuff in his britches.
Dog turned and walked calmly back to where she had been resting. 8)

My bet is that was the last time the kid was a problem. :D

 

[Selena]

I have a horse that hates men. Any woman can ride her but if a man tries she will go into a gallop straight to a tree limb that is about 5 inches higher than her back. She's unseated a lot of halfway good riders.

 

[GP100]

They're kindly, gentle animals. Just don't be standing in front of them when they're running.

Not all of em.......
Been around horses for many years, some are ugly, mean, and just flat out
dangerous to work with.
Gotta be smarter than the horse that's trying to kill or maim you.
There's a few that took great restraint not to shoot them on the spot!
Dave

Agreed.

Not all are gentle, kindly animals.. You obviously have never worked with thoroughbreds before A.J..

When I was a kid, I sometimes worked with horses at the racetrack.. They have a mean temper and have no issue biting you for just poor meanness..

I learned very quickly never to bend down in front of them to pick anything up, as they wouldn't hesitate to take a chunk out of your back.. I saw a guy get bit by one of these supposed gentle creatures one time, and it wasn't pretty at all.. They are mean, nasty animals at times.. (thoroughbreds).

Another time, I saw a guy who made the mistake of getting behind the horse to fix something hanging on the wall, and the horse he had in the stall with him, backed up and tried to crush the guy into the wall.. He then, kicked the guy in the back, and that guy wound up in a wheelchair with a broken spine because of it..

Gentle, my rear end.. Some might be.. But thoroughbreds are anything but gentle or kindly animals.. They almost did me in a few times as well.. But I managed to get away just in time.. I got lucky.. Nothing more.. Just poor luck.. But it wasn't for the horses lack of trying that I didn't get hurt.. That's for sure..

I've also seen horses that were gentle and wouldn't hurt a fly.. But they weren't thoroughbreds either..

Depends on the horse.. Thoroughbreds are just born with a mean streak in them I think..

 

[Pierow]

My ex's Appaloosa hated men as well. When I met her horse Cove for the first time it did that fake-charge, flailing head routine straight up to my face. I was so impressed with her all I could do was smile and look in those eyes which told me she had no idea what to do with me. She expected a reaction and I didn't give it to her. She backed up a few steps eyeing me up and down and finally focused on the apple I had extended in my palm. We became friends.

Not a horse story but I remember a very similar incident with a goose. Was walking on a path and noticed folks ahead of me scurrying and running around. Turns out there was a goose nest or something close to the path and the goose would charge anyone passing by. I thought it funny folks running from a goose. When I got close it charged me and I kept walking. When it got close I directed my next step directly towards it and the goose, in a comical way fell backwards on itself as it retreated.

Pierow

 

[Rancher Will]

Years ago I owned a horse all of its life, over 20 years, that was a good rope horse. Chip, the horse, was foaled in our horse pasture by a mare that gave me 8 good horses over the years.

Of all the horses that I have owned, nearly 100, Chip had a serious habit that was unique among all of my horses. Chip was Hell on dogs and coyotes, except our own ranch dogs. Chip never had a problem with our own ranch dogs over his life but any stray dog, or a neighbor's dog on the ranch, was in serious trouble from Chip.

Many times we watched Chip do his best to chase down and kill any coyote or stray dog that he noticed in the horse pasture. He actually caught and killed at least three coyotes that we know of and perhaps injured other coyotes and dogs that managed to get away and out of the pasture.

None of our other horses every had any problem with dogs or coyotes. I never knew for sure but I have always believed that probably when Chip was a very young foal a coyote probably attacked it and may even have nipped it before the mare drove it away. At any rate, for his lifetime, Chip was hell on any coyote or stray dog that he could catch.

 

[Dave P.]

Years ago I owned a horse all of its life, over 20 years, that was a good rope horse. Chip, the horse, was foaled in our horse pasture by a mare that gave me 8 good horses over the years.

Of all the horses that I have owned, nearly 100, Chip had a serious habit that was unique among all of my horses. Chip was Hell on dogs and coyotes, except our own ranch dogs. Chip never had a problem with our own ranch dogs over his life but any stray dog, or a neighbor's dog on the ranch, was in serious trouble from Chip.

Many times we watched Chip do his best to chase down and kill any coyote or stray dog that he noticed in the horse pasture. He actually caught and killed at least three coyotes that we know of and perhaps injured other coyotes and dogs that managed to get away and out of the pasture.

None of our other horses every had any problem with dogs or coyotes. I never knew for sure but I have always believed that probably when Chip was a very young foal a coyote probably attacked it and may even have nipped it before the mare drove it away. At any rate, for his lifetime, Chip was hell on any coyote or stray dog that he could catch.

I don't think that's all that unusual, one of my nieces hunter jumpers ( big thoroughbred mare ) hated
dogs. We had a somewhat distant neighbor that had a large fairly aggressive male rottweiler that
they let run loose a lot. It would get out and harass the neighborhood, a few people call the police
about it.
One day we hear lots of barking out by the paddock, look out and see the dog after the horses.
By the time I got out the door I see the mare has the dog in her mouth shaking him like a
rag doll, then proceeds to kicking and stomping him.....dead dog real quick.
I've seen stallions do that before but never a mare.
Dave

 

[caryc]

Years ago I owned a horse all of its life, over 20 years, that was a good rope horse. Chip, the horse, was foaled in our horse pasture by a mare that gave me 8 good horses over the years.

Of all the horses that I have owned, nearly 100, Chip had a serious habit that was unique among all of my horses. Chip was Hell on dogs and coyotes, except our own ranch dogs. Chip never had a problem with our own ranch dogs over his life but any stray dog, or a neighbor's dog on the ranch, was in serious trouble from Chip.

Many times we watched Chip do his best to chase down and kill any coyote or stray dog that he noticed in the horse pasture. He actually caught and killed at least three coyotes that we know of and perhaps injured other coyotes and dogs that managed to get away and out of the pasture.

None of our other horses every had any problem with dogs or coyotes. I never knew for sure but I have always believed that probably when Chip was a very young foal a coyote probably attacked it and may even have nipped it before the mare drove it away. At any rate, for his lifetime, Chip was hell on any coyote or stray dog that he could catch.

I don't think that's all that unusual, one of my nieces hunter jumpers ( big thoroughbred mare ) hated
dogs. We had a somewhat distant neighbor that had a large fairly aggressive male rottweiler that
they let run loose a lot. It would get out and harass the neighborhood, a few people call the police
about it.
One day we hear lots of barking out by the paddock, look out and see the dog after the horses.
By the time I got out the door I see the mare has the dog in her mouth shaking him like a
rag doll, then proceeds to kicking and stomping him.....dead dog real quick.
I've seen stallions do that before but never a mare.
Dave

Bit off a little more than he could chew, huh?