Do think horses know when something bad has happened to their onwer?

Question

I was riding my horse at a show over the weekend and she spooked at a piece of cardboard and I came tumbling off and got a concucion. I went to the ER and was in there a couple of hours. When I came back my horse acted like nothing happened. Do you think they know or they feel bad when they hurt you?

Answer 1

she probably doesn't connect your injury with her spooking,all she knows is that she got scared,you fell off,and you were taken away,she probably thought that you were getting put in your stall...you know like thats what a horse would think.whenever I fall off my horse just freezes cause he doesn't want to step on me.if he did and he heard me scream he might make the connection but unless you showed any loud sounds of pain she might not have realized it...

Answer 2

I think some know...I got bucked off and landed on my head, should have broke my neck the way i landed.  The Arab i was riding you would swear thought she did the worse thing ever, i had i have my brother pull me back on her.  A normal freak of nature turned into a big teddy bear, she was so gentle i think she knew, it was a stupid accident, i just didnt want her thinking she killed me.

I have this Draft X right now that my paralyzed nephew works with, she is a kitten when he is near...Odd thing she does is gently grabs his pant leg and moves his legs one at a time off, till both legs are on the ground.  Its like she knows his legs don't work but doesn't understand why he is sitting down.  Now we thought this was just a one time thing, nope she does it all the time, makes you wanna cry when you see it.    I keep telling my nephew that he better watch out when he is wearing shorts, she may get skin trying to do this. LOL

Answer 3

yes the horse i sponsored from when i fell off of him and went to the ER and also got a concusion and stiches would freak out where i fell off of him for two days but then he went back to normal

Answer 4

Horses dont bear grudges. They pick up and react on your mood so if you are feeling slightly annoyed at her because of what happened, maybe she is keeping her distance for the moment because of that.

Answer 5

Well they don't remember things that way... I think they're aware at the moment sometimes...I remember many years ago, I was jumping my horse over some of the hunt fences and he slipped - got over the fence, but we both ended up laying in the mud. I freaked out when he didn't get up, then I realized he was doing the same thing! He wasn't getting up until I did, and he was so worried. It was the only time in 10 years he "let" me fall off, and I think it really bothered him.

On the other hand, I once had a Tb who was sweet as pie, but once every time you rode him, he would randomly start bucking like a bronc and there was no staying on - as soon as you were off, he'd stop & stand over you, laughing.... you could see it in his eyes.  Then I would climb back on, and he would quietly go back to work. Never did it twice in one ride, there was no specific "trigger" for it. He just had a funny sense of humor!

So yeah, they both knew that they had "hurt" me, but only one felt bad about it!

Answer 6

I've got one that will come back to you, if you've fallen off, and wait for you and the other is a "rim rocker"..if you come off, he'll be on his way home....I don't know that they "feel" but I do believe that some of them know when things aren't right, that you've come off of them, and they'll come back to you because they're "hooked" on to you.  They know who feeds them.

I had a major surgery and when I was at the barn, both horses seemed to know that things were different and they were very careful around me.

Answer 7

aw.. how awful I'm glad you and your horse are okay now

and i think it depends on the horses personality

some horses like to buck for fun, and when they buck you off it's  fun to them but others will actually move under you to keep you from falling!

one horse i saw even bent on his knees to keep his rider on

i think it depends on the horses attentions span, playfulness, and respect of the rider

i bet your horse won't purposely buck  you off just to be mean or tease you but she can't help being spooked! she is just a horse with natural flight instinct..and when that instinct kicks in you better hold on tighter!!

and no she doesn't know anything bad hap pend to you because how would she know what an ER room is? all she knows is she got scared you were there and then you weren't

and now you are back so it's just like normal!

but again my Friends horse if you fall she won't move until she can see her rider! it's so cute lol we played a trick on her once and my Friend did an emergency dismount and her horse FROZE like a deer her ears were twitching like crazy listening for her rider she won't even turn her head lol poor girl we were teasing her... but then my horse i fall off him he looks at me like i'm stupid cuz in his mind i'm supposed to stay on and if i fall it's all my fault lol witch it  usually always is!

Answer 8

I would say that whether or not a horse is bonded with you they know when something is wrong mostly based on experience from my "story" lol

story-- 2 years ago when i was 15 i was "night riding" with my friend and was headed back to the pasture his horse was kept at. We were trotting down the road and went around a corner at a trot that we have done many times and my horse slipped while turning and landed on me. Not sure how but i got out from under him, remember looking to make sure he was ok, and then felt the pain. I broke my ankle/foot in 3 places. My friend jumped off his horse and called a friend to come drive me to the ER. The entire time (10 mins or so) both horses stood perfectly still in the middle of the road near us waiting when normally when not being held onto they would walk home or eat grass. No reins were being held. They knew i was hurt and something was wrong.

*shrug* thats just me though

Answer 9

o yea horses do know if their owner is hurt but they might not show it though.so when you went to the ER your horse felt bad so the do know.

Answer 10

no i dont think they know their not magical

Answer 11

I think only if you are really close to the horse can they sense that you are acting different and on the horses personality. it is like people too. If your best freind was acting funny you would know but if it was just an aquaintance you probably wouldn't notice.

Story: Once I was riding my little pony (cute tiny palomino) and she spooked and bucked me off. It didn't hurt since she was so small but instantly once she felt my weight off her back she turned right around and sniffed me almost like she was seeing if I was OK. It was so cute!

Answer 12

It depends on how close a person is to their horse. Some horses get very worked up when their caretaker/rider becomes injured. Others couldn't care less. I know quite a few horses that act differently when their owner/rider falls and is injured. I also know a lot of horses that don't have a care in the world about their owner/rider. It all depends on the horse.