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RE: [RC] Horses and "fun" - Nikki McCormack

Don't get me wrong, I think horses have fun, I just don't think they 'think' about it in the manner we do.  I am sure they don't 'worry' about having fun as much as we do.
 
Nikki
AERC M33800 / PNER 3782 / NSS 44146



> Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2007 22:17:05 -0700
> From: horseygrandma2000@xxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [RC] Horses and "fun"
> To: neyska@xxxxxxxxxxx; ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Oh I sooo disagree!! My horses have fun and we play on
> a regular basis. One of thier favorite games is chase.
> It started when short on time I would go out in the
> pasture and chase them with a lunge whip. At first
> they didnt know what to think and then they figured it
> out. I would hide behind the barn and they would try
> to sneak by and I would jump out and they would all
> run like crazy with tails high and snorting like mad.
> They would run all the way to the front of the pasture
> then try to sneak up on me and when I jump out the
> whole thing starts over. The young ones will keep it
> up longer than the older ones who will drop out when
> they get tired. It was a good way to make sure
> everyone got some exercise when I didnt have time to
> ride. They also play throw your feeder over the wall.
> Some times I find everyones feeder in someone elses
> stall. My horses can put thier heads over the stalls
> so they can do that. Even the 27yr old has done this.
> Each one is different but Joey my big quarter horse
> will follow the tractor any where it goes and gets in
> the way because he likes it. Mirage teases the others
> to get attention then they chase him. I can see my
> horses out my window and if the neighbor horses get
> running they all love to get involved. I know my arab,
> Mirage loves his distance rides because he gets so
> excited and cant wait to get down the trail. We think
> of our horses as family so maybe thats why we are so
> intuned to them. We also do everything to make thier
> lives as comfortable as possible and they in return
> try to please us. Our big guy even gives kisses when
> asked. We only have 5 so maybe a bigger herd might be
> harder to get to know as individuals but they are just
> like big dogs. You just have to pay attention. Pattie
> H.
> --- Nikki McCormack <neyska@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > Ok. I don't know that horses understand the concept
> > of fun. I am sure they can enjoy things in the
> > sense that a full belly is comforting to them and a
> > romp with a playmate gets the blood flowing. I did
> > my first 50 last weekend and, as I said on another
> > group, "I could not have done it without my horse,
> > and he sure as heck would not have done it without
> > me."
> >
> > That said, when we condition on the same old trails,
> > my little Arabian gets bored and drags along and I
> > really have to push him. He always gets in the
> > trailer and he always does it because that is what
> > he is trained to do, but he does not seem to get
> > much out of it. At the 50, he was forward and
> > willing the whole ride, even when we were close to
> > the end and he had gone further than ever before,
> > even when we lost sight of all the other horses and
> > it was just him, me, and our usual riding company,
> > my husband and his horse. I won't say he was having
> > fun, but he sure was willing and eager to discover
> > the new trail.
> >
> > So maybe they don't have fun, but, at least with my
> > horses, they sure seemed to like it when they have
> > someplace new and different to see. I would never,
> > ever, intentionally hurt my horses, but I do think
> > one must consider the balance between quality and
> > quantity. A well managed endurance horse is healthy
> > and fit (doesn't that lead to longer life, barring
> > accidents?) and they sure get more stimulation than
> > most pasture ponies. I imagine some horses would
> > prefer life without such stimulation, but mine seem
> > to thrive on it.
> >
> > NikkiAERC M33800 / PNER 3782 / NSS 44146
>
>
>
>
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