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Horse Behavior

  
 

If a predator leapt upon a horse back, the horse would buck, plunge and rear to dislodge its enemy, then use its legs to strike and kick and its teeth to bite.

Although the modern horse does not have to deal with life-threatening predators, it still retains its instinctive behavior and will exhibit it. A young horse that is being taught to accept a rider may lunch into a bucking fit when a saddle is first placed upon it-after all, it is an unknown enemy on the horse’s back.

 
 

Horses who meet unexpected sights, for instance a young horse meeting a large truck, will often turn and run. It is only by accustoming the horse to the sights and sounds of our every day world that we desensitize them, resulting in a horse whose natural instincts are overridden, behaving as we would wish.

Shying is a common horse problem, whereby the horse suddenly moves quickly to one side, usually unbalancing the rider and perhaps even dislodging them. The cause of this may be because he has suddenly caught sight of something on the ground and moving sideways enables it to have a clearer look at the object.

 

Some horses, when they put their heads up, are able to see the person sitting on them-which is why young horses should be accustomed to seeing people above them and on either side of them, before anyone actually gets on their backs. Otherwise the shock can send them beserk and produce a madly bucking bronco!

 

  

You've also probably heard the bladder jingle, "When you've gotta go, you've gotta go." Although most horses defecate unabashedly while in crossties or while being shod, few will urinate, especially if on a hard floor that splatters back. If a normally quiet horse becomes extremely restless, you might give him the opportunity to relieve himself in a deeply bedded stall.

 

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