Well, I’ll be putting electric wire across my paddock gate to discourage handfeeding of my youngster. This morning I stopped to talk with someone at the barn. The 2 y.o. next to my filly was pawing up a dust cloud, slamming the gate with his hoof, then putting his leg through the rails and pulling back. The gates for these paddock are adjacent to each other. The person I was talking with let slip that he was doing that because she hadn’t given him a treat yet. My heart just sank. This person has been an ongoing problem about treat feeding. Before my youngster arrived I made a point to emphasize, “do not feed her”. Of course, she’s not going to skip my filly standing quietly at her gate. I just want to explode on this person but … the wire will discourage handfeeding. I think part of the issue is control along with ego so she won’t stop but I can try to modify behavior. Rotten situation created by one selfish, conniving, and egotistical person.
An electric wire won’t stop someone feeding a horse. The just reach over or under the wire. The horse will take it from any height.
I think I learned this “no treats” rule early on, as I took lessons for years at a barn that had a “boarders” wing where you were absolutely.not.allowed.to.go … let alone TOUCH the horses and godforbid FEED TREATS?!
Anyway, I spoke to the offender and it all went over just fine (I won’t lie, I practiced delivering my lines!). Wouldn’t you know though, that just a week later this same person had a blow-up with the (very sweet, very reasonable) barn manager and showed-up with a trailer the next day and hauled her horses off the property without any notice. Unbeknownst to me, this person had been causing the barn manager a fair bit of grief so she wasn’t sad to see the back of her.
What have I learned from this experience? Things (or relationships) aren’t always as they appear. Be nice to your barn managers as you never know what crap they’re dealing with from other boarders behind-the-scenes! There’s also some other lesson about not being afraid to speak-up and be heard when it comes to your horse’s care (more so when it’s other random boarders taking liberties) but I can’t properly articulate it at the moment 
This phrase is so appropriate in many situations. I need to remember it. 
I have a PSSM horse and he can handle a limited amount of treats. When anyone asks if they can give him a treat I say “No. He can only have a very limited number of treats because of his PSSM and I want to be able to give him a treat.” No one has ever argued with that.
If I decide that they can feed him something I will give them one of his alfalfa cubes.
I don’t want anyone buying my horses’ affection.
I don’t mess with other people’s horses, but I’m not worried someone feeding treats will get any affection from our beasts.
My dad had a weird friend that gave us candy. I was 4, but my brothers made me streetwise. Oh, I took the dang candy, and even smiled and said “thank you”, like I was supposed to, but we still called him creepy behind his back. Yeah, Mr. Tootsie Roll, I’ll snatch that candy right out of your freak show hand, but that’s as far as it goes, buddy.
Similarly, our horses will look interested and cute at anyone with something tasty to offer, until the treats are all gone. Then, the person gets the turn away and tail flick. There’s no respect there. They probably have unflattering nicknames for that weird person that talks baby talk while giving out treats. Things like The Maurading Molasses Woman or Miss Cawwot.
i had a teammate and her husband and son out here one time…she is a horsey person and he is an equine vet. She blew into one of my horses’ nostril. So he would remember her. wtf? Why does my horse need to remember someone he will never see again?
Horses have a great memory, that is the only way we can train them. They will remember her longer than she will remember them.
I have used that method with a scared horse having to be led into a crush for the vet. It does help with them trusting you, when needed in a hurry. This was a known to be horse. I was not a stranger though.
i wasn’t questioning the process, just the motive. as-in: why?
Barbara Woodhouse, the dog and horse trainer, used to swear by it, saying it mimicked the way horses greet themselves in the wild.
I love her books and persona, but TBH, I do sort of feel that she was just one of those people who have an instinctive connection with animals, and not all of her methods work with us ordinary folk.
I once tried the blowing with a horse as a kid, and got a look of “what the hell are you doing, and please don’t do that again.” Woodhouse also used sugar lumps in training. (I’ve haven’t given those, not for ages, although I know some people swear by them, because peppermints and candy are so much easier. Cubes always leave some residue and I’m afraid of attracting mice and ants.)
I use feed cubes in training, my mares will turn themselves inside out for any treat.
Some horses like to sniff your hair, face, the fake fur collar on your parka, or are fascinated by men with beards. Others don’t. I am caretaking a very herd focused mare (not really herd bound any more, just very socially aware) whose preference is to sniff new horses elbow underarm girth area first.
I think horses remember anyone they’ve had significant interaction with, for better or worse. I dont think nose blowing is some magic trick, unless the horse initiates it. Horses don’t just walk up to each other, grab a head, and blow in the nose. It’s part of a larger greeting routine. Also it often ends with a big squeal and a striking foreleg.
and why does a stranger feel the need to make a lasting impression on my horse anyway? That’s my question. Like OP/ feeding treats to other people’s horses
No but why would I? It seems weird to randomly spend time/ money on other people’s horses. I don’t even give my own horses treats except for specific situations.
My exception is my niece who is 9 and lovingly peels (LOL!) and cuts up a couple carrots for her pony and the other horses every time she comes for a lesson.
@eightpondfarm, I agree with you! I understand why kids and horse newbies want to feed treats - its exciting to be the focus of a horse’s positive attention since they are so amazing (which is why we all love them, to be sure!). But why would a normal boarder want to feed someone else’s horse treats? Go feed your own horse treats, for pete’s sake!
When my mare moved paddocks, the women whose horse was in the paddock next to mine (mind you, not a shared paddock - I had no reason to interact with her horse) asked me prophylactical to not feed him treats when I go catch or put my horse away. I was caught so off guard - why on earth would I feed your horse treats? Treats are expensive! And by the time I’ve put my horse out in her paddock after riding I assure you they are all gone! I mean, I’ve got a horse, a bunch of dogs, and a bunch of cats - I don’t need the emotional burden of demonstrating affection to any more animals as I am all tapped out at the end of the day LOL! I assured her I would not feed him treats and she was happy (shame she had to ask).
THANK YOU! This is kinda what I was getting at but didn’t want to be lambasted 
I accept I’m a little more territorial over my horse and my horsey “stuff”, perhaps more than most. BUT on the flip side, as a fellow boarder you can guarantee I’ll never be the weirdo that pulls your horse’s mane without your knowledge, secretly plies your pony with any and all manner of treats, blows in your horse’s nostrils, or takes other such liberties with your horse when I know you’re not around to catch me!
At the barn I just left, actually, there were one or two older women who didn’t own their own horses, and I don’t really think enjoyed riding that much due to age/nerves, and they were the worst treat-feeding offenders, as in “the horse is kicking down the stall, I must give her the treat.” Not fun if you’re in the stall next door to the horse who has been trained to “Kick or Treat.”
I do think it’s an easy way of feeling a connection with the horse, when someone can’t it through owning/riding. I hate to say it, but it’s a bit like a grandmother feeding sweets and giving toys to a child, and then depositing said back with the parents who have to deal with the behavior the rest of the week.
I totally get the territorial thing. Even if I’m just grooming a horse I’m riding or have ridden, I don’t like it when someone comes over (who isn’t the owner) and starts hugging the horse and feeding the horse treats while the horse is still under my care.
That old saw was popular a long time ago.
Not so horse would “remember” 
, but horses will do this to each other, the exchange of breath a sort of introduction.
A friend who sold youngstock once had an idjit “trainer” who came with a buyer do this to a mare she had for sale.
Apparently mare did not appreciate the intro, nearly took off trainer’s face 
Re: the horse memory thing
My horse - not a cuddler or very verbal - loudly & enthusiastically greeted a gal who had been the gateperson at shows.
Shows we’d not done for over 5yrs.
We’d moved to a neighboring state & she had become an equine massage therapist who was invited to our new barn.
Why he remembered her & was plainly pleased to see her is a mystery.
And no noseblowing was involved 
I find new or strange horses are very friendly to me when I am wearing barn clothes, especially ones covered in sweat and dust from my big healthy friendly mare. More than when I’m in “city clothes” I think. They can tell which humans are part of the herd.
i was recently off farm for two days. When i returned not, one, but 3! of my mustang mares put their noses right up into my face. Did not touch, but literally a hairsbreath away from my nose/mouth. I immediately thought about his conversation!
edit to say: Most of my horses are very facial with me. Not all of them, five out of 19 are not.
