I think my horse might actually think he is a big dog...

[adelmo95]

For years I have joked that I bought the equivalent of an oversized dog because I bought a yearling even though I could only afford one horse at a time. While he was young I still wanted to spend lots of time at the barn so I spent a lot of time grooming him, taking him for walks etc. but staying very mindful that he still respected my space and maintained his manners as I have met many trainers that prefer starting unhandled youngsters as compared to overhandled ones.

He is now 4 years old and well started undersaddle, and was the easiest horse I have ever started so between lots of handling and a great mind all worked out well. Lately however I have noticed that he consistently comes when called, follows me along the fence line when I am walking my dogs (they have a healthy respect for horses and stay out of the field), and that he is extremely curious about the game of fetch. Yesterday I was patting my gelding and my dog brought up a large stick he found (normally I play fetch with balls and soft toys), before I could intervene my gelding had picked up the one side of the stick and my dog grabbed the other side and they were having their own little game of tug-o-war across the fence. Normally I would have immediately intervened and stopped the situation but knowing how both behave (dog plays tug-o-war by holding the toy and letting the other dogs pull on it while he stays put, my gelding is going through a phase where he will pick up anything he can get his mouth on if you aren’t watching, holds it for a while and then gets bored and spits it out so neither has a tendency to be overly physical) I figured I would let them be and continue standing about a foot away if needed (if either showed any inclination to really tug on the stick I would have immediately intervened). After a couple of minutes my gelding let the stick go and my pup proudly bounded off with the stick.

Since that occasion my gelding is even more interested in games of fetch and will eagerly watch the entire game. My dog has learned a lesson from that and has figured out to drop the ball or stick out of reach of my gelding so that he doesn’t wind up in a second tug-o-war situation.

[Pennywell_Bay]

[QUOTE=adelmo95;8041795]
For years I have joked that I bought the equivalent of an oversized dog because I bought a yearling even though I could only afford one horse at a time. While he was young I still wanted to spend lots of time at the barn so I spent a lot of time grooming him, taking him for walks etc. but staying very mindful that he still respected my space and maintained his manners as I have met many trainers that prefer starting unhandled youngsters as compared to overhandled ones.

He is now 4 years old and well started undersaddle, and was the easiest horse I have ever started so between lots of handling and a great mind all worked out well. Lately however I have noticed that he consistently comes when called, follows me along the fence line when I am walking my dogs (they have a healthy respect for horses and stay out of the field), and that he is extremely curious about the game of fetch. Yesterday I was patting my gelding and my dog brought up a large stick he found (normally I play fetch with balls and soft toys), before I could intervene my gelding had picked up the one side of the stick and my dog grabbed the other side and they were having their own little game of tug-o-war across the fence. Normally I would have immediately intervened and stopped the situation but knowing how both behave (dog plays tug-o-war by holding the toy and letting the other dogs pull on it while he stays put, my gelding is going through a phase where he will pick up anything he can get his mouth on if you aren’t watching, holds it for a while and then gets bored and spits it out so neither has a tendency to be overly physical) I figured I would let them be and continue standing about a foot away if needed (if either showed any inclination to really tug on the stick I would have immediately intervened). After a couple of minutes my gelding let the stick go and my pup proudly bounded off with the stick.

Since that occasion my gelding is even more interested in games of fetch and will eagerly watch the entire game. My dog has learned a lesson from that and has figured out to drop the ball or stick out of reach of my gelding so that he doesn’t wind up in a second tug-o-war situation.[/QUOTE]

Sounds cute. On a serious note, it sounds like maybe he needs a non-canine friend. Perhaps a goat? He sounds lonely to me. Not anthropomorphizing, horses are herd creatures. I have one that would do fine alone and usually prefers such but she’s not looking to play with my dog either (no snark intended). I’m not sure why you can only have 1 equine, but they really aren’t meant to be solitary, though certainly some do fine.

[adelmo95]

[QUOTE=Pennywell Bay;8041827]
Sounds cute. On a serious note, it sounds like maybe he needs a non-canine friend. Perhaps a goat? He sounds lonely to me. Not anthropomorphizing, horses are herd creatures. I have one that would do fine alone and usually prefers such but she’s not looking to play with my dog either (no snark intended). I’m not sure why you can only have 1 equine, but they really aren’t meant to be solitary, though certainly some do fine.[/QUOTE]

Sorry I should clarify I only own one horse, he is in a pasture with 4 other horses and happily plays with them the rest of the time so he has friends.

[HPFarmette]

I have a gelding that has a dog-like personality. Part of why I love him…

[sabinomare]

How cute! Take a video next time to share

[katyb]

I have one of those - she picks up EVERYTHING in her mouth, has to be involved in whatever is going on, has more personality than all the others put together. Mine is convinced she is not a horse. I swear she is humming, “I’ll never be, your beast of burden” all the time.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10202552151958781&set=a.4093067138770.155776.1645536526&type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205345605313369&l=5486144afc

[adelmo95]

[QUOTE=sabinomare;8042137]
How cute! Take a video next time to share :D[/QUOTE]

I was kicking myself after as I had my phone with me and could have taken pics and video but was so surprised that they were actually playing I didn’t even think to get any pics. Will definitely get some video next time if it happens again.

[MMacallister]

My retired TB comes when called, licks your hand, drink beer, begs for treats and I am fairly positive she would come in the house if I let her. I always joke that she is a big (very expensive) dog.

[Pennywell_Bay]

[QUOTE=adelmo95;8041848]
Sorry I should clarify I only own one horse, he is in a pasture with 4 other horses and happily plays with them the rest of the time so he has friends.[/QUOTE]

Totally cute. You need to tape the cuteness!!!

[tallyho392]

Both my morgan mare and arab gelding were large dogs. The mare I got as a baby,and she was totally a dog…would take your hat and dash off, then bring it back, follow ANYWHERE and have to be involved in whatever you were doing,take tools from a bucket and toss them aside,came running to a whistle,licked hands. The gelding came as a teen and would call to me as soon as he heard the car door slam,coming running across the pasture,yelling. He too, would come running at the call of a whistle, and had a habit of taking the hood of my hoodie in his mouth and following me around. LOL…We used to joke that is was like having the train of a dress carried by a servant.

[Frosty_M]

My niece has a mini who jumped in her lap at a horse show. Luckily, she wasn’t hurt but quite surprised and kept a little more distance between her and her overly friendly equine friend.