We've encountered black bears quite a bit in VA and
WV - with a number of different horses over the years. They've all
become alert at either the smell or sight of the bear(s), but not fearful.
I think they see them much like our Rottweilers, only bigger.
Last Spring I was riding my Arab gelding Razz on a
wooded trail in my HO Steele sidesaddle when we came up on a small 2 year
old bear. Razz laid his ears back and snarled since it was on the
trail & not moving off. The little bear said, "Wearowww" and ran down
the mountain through the underbrush at high speed! Score horse 1 : bear
0
A few people have mentioned bears...we don't have to worry about bears in
my area, but I've heard of bears in other areas where I would go for
rides...if a horse has never seen a bear, would it completely freak
out??
My horse has seen deer and has no problem with motorized things, but she
was really scared the first time she saw a cow (but not llamas or goats or
sheep). She is still nervous of cows and I am working on getting her over
it...for a "cow-bred" horse, she's definitely missing the cow sense :)
So a bear makes me *really* wonder what would happen, and not necessarily
in a good way :)
We do have lots of grass snakes, garters snakes and such in my area
Chrystal, but my horse seems to not even realize they are there. She walks
right over them like its a branch on the trail or road.
