Can a horse choose its rider?

Question

My friend owns a horse that cant be ridin by anyone but me. Everytimes somone trys to mount him,

he turns his head and trys to bite them.

If they they get lucky do happen to mount him,

he rears up like hes never had a person on his back.

Then when i try to mount him,

hes an angel and just waits for instruction.

So i was just wondering if a horse

really can choose its rider.

Answer 1

Of course. At my riding stable, there is a horse named Sunny. He is so sweet, but isn't to some other riders. He really loves strong riders that push him to his limits (I don't know why). When my cousin once got on him, he couldn't move. The owner also couldn't even make him budge. Hse kicked and kicked, but he did nothing. Although I'm still having trouble with him, we've grown to like each other. I guess some horses like a challenge.

Answer 2

Horses repsond better to some people than others but this reaction is just extreme. This horse needs to be checked out by a vet, farrier, dentist, saddle fitter and backman. There is something serious going on here. A horse may express preferance to one person over another, as a dog or cat may, but never to this extreme. The reason he is so good for me may have many reasons - for example, if his back hurts maybe you are lighter than your friend and it doesn't hurt as much. Maybe your friend reminds the horse of someone who abused him in the past and so he is frightened of her. There could be 100 reasons. Get the above people to check this horse over, he clearly has a big problem.

Answer 3

A horse does SORTA choose its rider - from the aspect that if he knows your horse smart - and cant get away with things - or maybe when you get on your not hurting him (ie: your friend may poke him, as well as others, and he's agitated? Or they pull back on the reins too much)  they are condition response animals - and if the right rider with the right experience gets on - he knows its not going to hurt.... hope that makes sense!?

Answer 4

Yes totally.

At my barn, there is this lady who half-leases or half-owns (something on those lines, not sure) this awesome horse. He is always used for lessons, beginngers (like, never ridden ebfore) have ridden him, more advanced riders have ridden him, etc etc. But the lady who half-whatever him, as soon as she gets on him he'll find a way to get her off, he's learned what he has to do with her to get her off. Divi (the horse) HATES HATES HATES this lady.

Sort of the opposite of you, but anyway.

Horses do like certain people and don't like certain people. They click with people and learn to bond/trust with those people. Some horses are just "one person horses" meaning that they only like/respond well with one person and maybe just a few other people, but they usually stick to one person.

Answer 5

Absolutely!  That's how I ended up with my current horse.  He was bought for my daughter but made if very clear he preferred me.  We bought another horse for her and we're all having fun riding the trails and showing together.  You can train any horse to accept others but if you are paying attention, you'll notice, they do have preferences.

Answer 6

yes...im the only one who can ride my horse....when some one else gets on he refuses to move or (like when my older sisters ride him) he takes off.....for younger kids he just stands there and wont move

Answer 7

This horse has bad habits and there is something going on with him. A horse tends to drawn to some ppl over others, I suppose there could be various reasons, but if a horse is trained well he should tolerate anyone riding him without this INTENSE reaction! Biting is a serious bad habit and is not an acceptable behavior (it really hurts). Has this horse had an owner in the past that abused him? I have 2 horses I rescued that did not like men at all.

Has he been well trained?

Answer 8

Totally.

I had a similar horse-friend when I was a kid. Horse's are like dogs in that way. Sometimes they just take a liking to someone and that's that. Everyone else can go hang.

Answer 9

Def.

that means your a good rider and he def trusts you.

horses that trust riders and know like the rider cos there soft/kind/understanding and quiet while other times the rider might be a bit rougher and loud.

a ahorse can eb pretty sesitive so he obs loves and trusts you well done

Answer 10

I hate to say it but this horse is not trained if he just selects certain riders to be on his back.  

Regardless, if he tries to bite whoever is mounting him, they should be prepared and when they mount him from the left, they should shorten the right rein turning his head to the right so he can't bite.

As for the rearing up, I would certainly send him off to a trainer for evalution and training.  I would like to say I have a wonderful horse that is well behaved, sweet, good natured and will give everyone a great ride!  That is a horse you can be proud of, not one that will tear your pants off and break your back.