Don't you think it's weird that horses love to canter and gallop?

[Loony]

Yet they don't show the same excitement to 'go' without a rider on board??

I wonder why that is.

[Anni~Bell]

I wonder too!
You've got me thinking now!



*KABOOM*

[Loony]

pmsl!! It is odd.. like jogging when they get to their favourite canter spot, yet when they get turned out, most just wander off and eat!! Why do they enjoy galloping with a rider? Whats the difference to them?

[Mungo Madness]

:lol: loony have you been thinking again? :lol:

[Loony]

Yes, I know, it's dangerous!!! :lol:

[Loony]

But then why would they seem to enjoy it? Flight refers to running when they're scared, right?

[Savvy]

Think Sov must be like Ferds cause she enjoys running about like a loon rider or no rider, sometimes ignoring a rider

Maybe horses pick up on their riders enjoyment at having a good gallop?

When I turn Sov out almost everyday she charges about like a loon for the first few mins and she lives out 24/7 so I'm only talking about turning out after being ridden or brought in for farrier/groom/feed etc so minutes really but she still goes out like she's been on box rest for months everytime

[Twizzel]

It's funny, I've hacked out Freebie cob quite a few times now and he always needs a lot of leg to keep going when we canter. Yesterday however out cubbing, once I put my leg on he was really quite forward going, we had an amazing gallop which I never thought he was capable of doing!! I think the adrenaline is partly to do with it, horses seem to be pumped full of adrenaline when we are riding, especially hunting or really fast hacks with lots of horses. I suppose they see their field as a place to relax, hence why I don't like working them in their turnout fields if at all possible.

[My Crazy Clan]

Maybe its because they "know" they have to work, where with no rider its their own free will, like us and for them its an adrenaline rush.

[Teej]

There are 4 mares in Babys field and they often have a canter or gallop around. Chip is usually quite calm in his field.

[ness]

My two often have a cnter round the field if they are excited and sometimes if they have just been turned out! I think it is just the joy of life!

[beks the artist]

LOL! I have to laugh at this, as I have never truely let either Jakes or Taran go completely! They have never had the 'urge' to go flat out! xx

[Loony]

But I've seen pictures of Taran when he's strong out hacking! Its just weird thinking about what gives them that oooomph.. I suppose it could be sensing adrenalin from the rider!

[K8E]

I was wondering about this yesterday too.

We had a buch of horses down at ours and you could see the tension in Copper and his friends as they saw them in the garden they wanted to run but didnt lol. What i found funny was his friends were running around at the end and Copper was looking at me and i shouted go on Copper run run run and he just canter off:lol: . Horses are funny things.

[Roan Mare]

My pony is so lazy in the field it makes me laugh!

Once when I was watching the horses in the field the entire herd took off at a gallop from one end of the field to the other. My girl started off joining them (although at the back) but after a few strides she broke into a steady canter... then a trot... then she stopped and dropped her head down to the grass :p

[Charli]

Haha Atiqa is usually the little trouble maker who starts them off galloping about!! She's always up the front, crazy mare. She does get over excited in canter when I am riding her though and I don't know why. Some days she will be quite sensible, other days she has to have an excited bucking fit before settling into a nice controlled canter!Then other days she has no brakes! Horses are very funny things!

[Poppy and Harmony]

Harmonys not active in the field or ridden :lol:

[Roan Mare]

Mine is like that too Roan Mare. He keeps out of the way when they have a loon about.

She's just like me I think - I'd also rather be eating than running about :cheekywink:

[Storm]

It will be in their genetic makeup to run since pre domestication - those hoses that routinely ran and kept fit survived to pass on their genes, while the equine couch potatoes soon became dinner for something else....

A horse will feel the anticipation from their rider of excitement, (adrenalin, same hormone released for flight / fight) and thus will want to run

[piccolo]

You can say that again! I was once turning out a VERY lazy (but totally sweet) horse who just did not want to go when riding! I unclipped the lead rope, gave him a pat and he just rocketted(sp?) off to the sound of his freind.
Why oh, why does it take a kniker from a feild mate to gallop rather than lots of carrots!
Silly question, i know!