Does your horse do this? And does this mean that my horse is starting to like me? or see me as a herd leader??

Question

Okay, i only get to see my horse on the weekends, but when i do see her, we go for rides(which she loves), i give her treats, full grooming, i clean her pen, and i feed her. i got to ride her for a longer time today, and she just loved it! prancing and stepping high, and her ears were forward. my sister wanted to ride her, and my sister is inexperienced, so i held onto the reins and led my sister around while she was on my horse, Daisy. I decided to give the reins to my sister, and Daisy knew this, and i told my sis to make her go forward.Daisy wouldnt do it. i told her to give her a little nudge with her foot, she still would not budge. so then i started walking, and Daisy began following me. i ran ahead a little bit, and then i stopped about 20 feet away, and Daisy went up right to me, and stopped. she would not listen to my sister, and my sister was trying really hard to make her go forward and trying to turn her, pulling on her mouth to make her turn, and stuff like that. she just would not listen. if i moved one foot, Daisy would walk with me, tuen with me, and stop whin i stopped, and i wasnt even on her.

sorry for the story being so long, but does this mean that Daisy is starting to like me or see me as a herd leader?

thank you everyone!!

sorry again!

Answer 1

It sounds like she does! She has recognised that you are the one who cares for her and she respects and likes you. The fact she was following you meant she trusted where you were going and knew it was good to follow you. Not listening to your sister would have been a combination of knowing your sister was inexperienced and then looking to you for guidance instead of her. However, if she's going to ride your horse more then you may want to teach your sister how to make her respond and teach Daisy that it's good to respond to her too.

Sounds like an amazing horse who really loves and trusts you. A horse I work with is similar to that. When I'm walking him around to cool him down at the end of a ride he just follows and doesn't need the leadrope at all. I've also done Natural Horsemanship with him before and he is so responsive to me without the rope... it's such a great feeling.

Your horse sounds lovely. She trusts and respects you, and it sounds like you have a great partnership with her. :)

Answer 2

Sounds like it to me. But don't take that for granted, make sure you're doing groundwork to instill in your horse that you're the leader. Check my blog for some free articles and videos.

David

http://gentlenaturalhorseman.blogspot.co...

Answer 3

We have an old rope horse that is much the same way. Now I am not his person, nor is my dad. But if we toss a young child on his back, he will not move unless he is led. He is what I like to call out babysitter. He is coming up on 20 and he has been around the block(at least on his bike) and he will adjust to the riding experience of the rider. If some on does not know how to ride he is very forgiving. Now if my Pa or I get on him the lightest touch and he responds. There are horses like that, Many times if they do that with inexperienced riders, I like to call them baby sitters.

Answer 4

my horse jocko is the same way, he will be the best horse out there when me or my grandpa ride, but wen someone else does, he is stubborn, fallows us, and wen he does go he makes a u turn and comes back weather the rider likes it or not, i think it fairly common for a horse who is ridden by the same rider to get attached and confused wen theres a rider on its back but its not u and he can see you

i think....

Answer 5

Maybe, maybe not. If your sister is inexperienced, she probably had no idea to turn the reins, or kick hard enough, or maybe your horse thought you had a lead line. If she is at a barn or out to pasture with a lot of other horses, then she doesn't see you as a herd leader, shes sees any other horse as being that. But I'm sure your horse likes you.  

Answer 6

Sounds like your horse is seeing you as the leader, or at the very least, her friend, and that your little sis' doesn't have the riding or leadership skills that your horse understands. Confused horses respond in different ways - freezing up, even bolting and bucking in the worst instance.Your horse isn't understanding any of the yanking and kicking because that's not what she has learned. I have a mare here who is exactly the same. She'll carry a novice/intermediate/advanced rider anywhere, but put a complete beginner on her and she comes to a dead stop, she can feel apprehension and inexperience - "I don't trust your leadership skills, so why should I trust you to make me go anywhere". In these instances she will gravitate to me or the horse I'm riding.

And yep, I reckon she likes you lots ;o) You're the one who gives her the closeness, attention, exercise and change of scenery she needs.

Answer 7

shes attached to you, you take care of her and ride her and do all this stuff for her she likes you.

Answer 8

She does like you;)

Especially if you give her full grooms- thats a great way to bond with your horse. Also, if your the only one that rides her then she definitly knows you.

Keep working with her though, talk to her and keep up the grooming! Im sure she looks forward to these=]

Answer 9

Hey There,

Your horse probably does like you! Maybe she only wants you to ride her too. But a more logical approach is your horse is probably very smart and knew the person on her back was not experienced therefore she was looking to you for guidance so she did not mess up. That seems more like your horse wanted to be sure she was doing OK in terms of you. It does sound like she already likes you and she obviously trusts you. You can't ask for more in a horse. Its great the you two get along so well. Happy trails!

Answer 10

no she sees you as her leader and she must have been trained to follow her leaer. i know this because i have a horse that does that.