I've had opportunities to work and live around horses, always wanted one or two - even a Shetland pony would be cool, but I've never had one of my own. I'm one of those people who've never met a horse I didn't eventually get along with, even biters and kickers and head-butters and stompers and ones who love to squish people against stall walls & then turn to look at their butts like, "boy, that end is really getting out of line again" but who still won't move away so you can breathe.
it's strange you know, i always preferred the stubborn horses, and ended up being shunted the meanest horse at the place called Coda, who had been born with a deformity so he was tough - uncomfortable to ride, liked to bite and kick, and liked to 'go.'
i had my best relationship with him. i dunno, though, i feel with horses - i don't like many horse 'people.' if i could just be with a horse without having to be around the typical horse 'person' and their bossy personality i think i'd be much happier with horse energy in general. rofl. i think i've only met one horse person who wasn't a 'typical' horse person. they were the person who taught me to ride.
I feel for you about 'horse people'. 'Horse people', or those that consider themselves such, seem to feel the need to dominate the horses they are around, and I think that transfers over to the people they're around, too. There's also a certain cockiness and overbearing self-assuredness when you do have expertise in a field, be it with horses or medicine or whatever.
Horses do have a social hierarchy, much like dogs in a pack only not so obvious to the outside observer. I think horses just agree to let us think we're in charge. If you fall asleep in the saddle, the horse doesn't need you to know when it's time to go home - or to tell them where home is.
My sister's husband is a professional wrangler, and he has told me some horror stories of beating horses in the face with their reins (or a chunk of firewood if it's handy) to 'show them who's boss', to prove to them he's the dominate herd-leader. Personally, I think that's bullshit & seems more like a reaction from anger or fear.
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
Re: Ooh, horsie!
Date: 2007-04-23 10:43 am (UTC)considering I rode for about two years...
me and horse energy has a strange 'on again / off again' relationship.
Re: Ooh, horsie!
Date: 2007-04-23 10:51 am (UTC)I love every single one of 'em.
Re: Ooh, horsie!
Date: 2007-04-23 10:55 am (UTC)i had my best relationship with him. i dunno, though, i feel with horses - i don't like many horse 'people.' if i could just be with a horse without having to be around the typical horse 'person' and their bossy personality i think i'd be much happier with horse energy in general. rofl. i think i've only met one horse person who wasn't a 'typical' horse person. they were the person who taught me to ride.
Re: Horse Hierarchy
Date: 2007-04-23 02:13 pm (UTC)Horses do have a social hierarchy, much like dogs in a pack only not so obvious to the outside observer. I think horses just agree to let us think we're in charge. If you fall asleep in the saddle, the horse doesn't need you to know when it's time to go home - or to tell them where home is.
My sister's husband is a professional wrangler, and he has told me some horror stories of beating horses in the face with their reins (or a chunk of firewood if it's handy) to 'show them who's boss', to prove to them he's the dominate herd-leader. Personally, I think that's bullshit & seems more like a reaction from anger or fear.