What quirks/bad behavior would you put up with in an uber talented horse?

[DarkBayUnicorn]

I think it depends entirely on your definition of “quirky” behavior and the lengths you have to go to manage it.

My mare hates being cold and will lock up and refuse to go forward any time it’s colder than -10C. I managed that by moving to a facility with a heated indoor arena, which we both enjoy (and so does my coach!).

She also says that leaving her earstuffs in is vastly preferable if you want to hose off her face. She’s learned they prevent water going in her ears. That one is an easy fix – leave them in till after bath time.

She thinks that Canada Geese shouldn’t eat the windfall apples and will try to herd them away from the tree. But she will also gently “escort” them out of the ring to make it safer for the spookier horses. She once did the same with a small mouse wandering in the track of the indoor. shrugs

Other than that, she is the most solid citizen you could ask for and a good performer. Anyone can handle her. She ground ties. You can clip her without a halter. She will do the lead line one day and win A/O o/f the next.

Her son, now 3 years old, is the same. His “quirks” are so far limited to being a pocket pony with everyone he meets (he has zero stranger-danger instincts) and a fascination with zippers. He just likes the noise of a zipper going up and down. As quirks go, I think I can live with that.

[Foxtrot_s]

There is no perfect horse - they are horses and we are privileged that they accommodate us so well.

I hear kids say their horse is being an *** today, or that it spooked, or that it did this or that - maybe not even a spook, maybe a small stutter, or a look at a something unusual - it is their way, it is what they are. Or they are as dull as ditchwater, which is fine for some, too.

We can earn their trust if we are fair to them.

As long as they are not dangerous or blatantly rude…

[chestnutmarebeware]

Let me offer a perfect illustration of this question:

When I was 10, my mom took me to Kentucky for a horsey girls-only vacation. We saw the KY Horse Park, several breeding farms, etc. Then she took me to Claiborne Farms, where a groom led us out to the pasture to meet…Secretariat!!! He had just recently been retired to stud, and was my 10-year-old-self’s hero, ideal and dream horse all in one. (Actually, still is.)

Secretariat came right over to us, and poked his head over the fence. I moved toward him, and the groom said “Be careful! A lady journalist (OK, this was the 70s! :D) was just out here to see him, and he bit her earring right out of her ear. Took part of her ear, too!”

My mother must have looked absolutely appalled, because the groom shrugged and said “that’s just Big Red.” That horse could have eaten small children every day for lunch, and not one of his caretakers would have cared.

The groom then proceeded to let me pet Secretariat anyway, and asked me if I wanted a souvenir. I nodded, of course, and he reached up, grabbed a handful of mane and gave it a good yank.

BTW, I still have that handful of Secretariat’s mane—I joke that I’m going to clone him one day for my own personal use!

[pologirl27]

Bad as in naughty? Or dangerous? I put up with a lot on the ground as long as a horse is nice to ride. Stuff that can realistically endanger me (like kicking out when not being groomed on the belly, bolting without warning, rearing in hand just because) is more than I want to deal with, but I’ve worked with plenty of biters, horses that didn’t tie or load, ones that were weird with their feet.

[North_Dakota]

I accept my horse’s quirks, tell people it’s who he is and they can accept it or not be around him. He is 21, had him since he was 9 and he isn’t changing! Taking DarkBayUnicorn’s expression, about stranger-danger instincts, his are on high all the time. He doesn’t like new people, and he doesn’t like new people trying to make him socialize with them. If you don’t know him well then just don’t go in his stall. He isn’t dangerous as all, but will hide at the back and do all he can to avoid a new person. It takes some time training new vets about the easiest way to work with him. If he’s being looked at and poked where he doesn’t have to be moving, it’s easier to give him some drugs. On the topic of drugs, not a quirk, but he takes a LOT more tranq than any new vets think, even though I do tell them what works. Funniest thing is them giving him tranq IV, which he doesn’t like because a stranger is touching him, and he’s got bad veins to find. Then we all stand there waiting for the tranq to work… 5 minutes pass… 10 minutes pass… and he’s still got big and bright eyes, with his head in the air looking for monsters.
He isn’t a fan of grooming except on his face, it’s fine, we just compromise because he likes to be bathed. If he’s really dirty he gets a good bath instead of grooming. He also doesn’t tie or cross tie, at all. He will flip himself over, and it’s very scary. So instead he ground ties exceptionally well.

In my mind none of his stuff is dangerous, it absolutely could be, but he’s at a small barn where there is only 3 of us that handle him. We all know his quirks, and work around them.

[Foxtrot_s]

Wonder how much of Secretariat’s mane remained - I know someone who STOLE a piece of his hair.

[2tempe]

Several quirks for my guy: There are certain things he likes on his face - bumpy grooming mitten (LOVE), and certain things not so much (washcloth to remove bridle marks and sweat (head in the air). He is mouthy - mostly at things - cross ties, bridle. Rarely me, though always careful! Also, he is a stallion and regularly does his “weenie workout” which I try to ignore unless there is too much hubba-hubba noise…

[Fig]

I need my own and client horses to be safe for both myself and workers on the ground. Absolutely no kicking, biting or acting a fool on the ground. I’ve seen so many people (trainers included!) indulge bad manners like shoving you around, kicking in the stall at a person, and just backing down when they nip. I’ve never seen a horse’s talent diminish under saddle because they were taught manners. In fact the opposite is often true.

Horses can still be happy and have personalities without trying to take a chunk out of you and if you don’t want a lawsuit or all the good help to quit, you create a safe environment.

Now under saddle, there will be certain quirks that some horses have that make them unsuitable for beginner or even intermediate riders. These are not basic training flaws like balking at your leg or the like but maybe require a certain ride that an ammie wouldn’t enjoy.

[Dutchmare433]

[QUOTE=2tempe;8837267]
Several quirks for my guy: There are certain things he likes on his face - bumpy grooming mitten (LOVE), and certain things not so much (washcloth to remove bridle marks and sweat (head in the air). He is mouthy - mostly at things - cross ties, bridle. Rarely me, though always careful! Also, he is a stallion and regularly does his “weenie workout” which I try to ignore unless there is too much hubba-hubba noise…[/QUOTE]

My gelding does this ALL THE TIME. If he’s being groomed it’s out, if it’s a particularly good grooming, it’s out, out. It’s also hanging out sometimes before a ride, often after a ride, ya know, whenever. It’s makes no difference to me, he’s not a stallion, nor does he act like one. But he had the courtesy to do it when my 10 and 12 year old nieces were out grooming him and seeing the horses. Great aunt, I am.

[Russinka]

My old TB mare was a lovely old lady but had a few quirks. IM injections in the neck were a no go. Rump or chest was fine but she’d flip out if you tried to do one in the neck. I just did them in the chest and warned any vets that they needed to do them there as well. She loved TimTams and Lindor balls but only the plain ones and she refused to have anything with caramel in it.

I had a STB gelding who wasn’t all there. For the first eight months I rode him all of his training/work was done in ten minute schooling sessions three times a day. Eventually I managed to make them longer but at the start he’d have mental break downs (his whole head/neck would just shake and it was like the lights were on but no one was home) at around the ten minute mark. He was happy to follow another horse’s behind anywhere so I’d go out with a friend and work on the fitness side of things a couple of times a week. Solo he had no breaks or steering.
He was also the only horse I’ve ever known to bolt in the pace.

My next riding horse was another STB gelding(now 20 and retired), who despite a longish racing career (and would have been hosed off) really, really hates water. Puddles, dams, the hose, muddy patches, rain in his feed trough and rain in general. He drinks a lot but hates it coming into contact with his skin. I decided not to do any endurance with him because being hosed or sponge off after a ride would send his heart rate through the roof.

I’m unsure as to why he hates coming into contact with it so much but he hates it so much when we’ve had heavy rain and the grass is wet he pretty much hovers above the grass to avoid touching it. I went out to the paddock the other day during the rain and the poor boy was beside himself as his pasture buddy had kicked him out the shelter and he was getting wet.

[meupatdoes]

I do quite well on tense, nervous, over-reactive horses. I just go to my zen place and invite them to come with me. So I’d be fine with a talented horse with that brain.

However while I can ride that, I don’t seek it out. The great majority of my personal horses have turned out to be the easiest, most amateur friendly horses on my list.

[flashwhitelock]

ANY.

[Foxtrot_s]

Just got back from the Park with my horse - they have a string there and what a lot of saintly non-quirky horses for those beginners. Quiet, obedient, tolerant - bet none of them have any quirks. Not forgetting that a horse is still a horse.