horsie prejudice? - Page 2

gypsygirl3 · 10-24-2009, 09:03 AM

one of the horses i rides HATES arabians ! he goes out in the pasture with 3 of them, if they get to close he will chase after them. even seeing an arabian near by while riding he gets mad....i have no idea why ! hes a freak lol

DappleGrayMyWay · 10-24-2009, 08:26 PM

I suspect horses like what they know. Seeing something that would make another horse stand out (loud color pattern, spots, light) might bring on the herd defense instinct.

Tule is a gray, and he rolls as much or as little as Dillon does. And the dirt shows equally on both boys. Which is not much, to be honest. Tule still shows light gray. He can't completely coat himself no matter how he tries!

singing tree · 10-24-2009, 08:46 PM

I am sure the familiarity thing is part of it. But I do think Haflingers are just more comfortable with each other whether known or unknown than my other horses have been. I had three horses before - bay morgan, chestnut foxtrotter, and appy mare. The three were very rarely in the barn together. Now, I have the Morgan and 3 Haflingers, and they are all so tucked into one corner of the run in barn that I can't even see them. Horses - never boring!

Thanks for all the interesting stories from everyone. Would love to hear more if any one has another prejudice story!

For8tune · 10-24-2009, 09:49 PM

The first show I took Fortune to a big loud colored Paint went right by us and I swear I thought he was going to jump out of his horseshoes

. He would not go no where near that horse after that. He also can't stand ponies or donkeys. He freaks out!

Horsie Michelle · 10-25-2009, 11:32 PM

Funny I was recently wondering the same thing. One of my mares (whom I've had the longest) seems to only buddy up with small dark pinto horses. She'll be an outright witch to other horses. I've had several while having her and have boarded her and she's only bonded (and I mean really bonded) with three-one a blk/white shetland, and two under 14h dark brown and white SSH mares. Weird.

I've heard of stallions being color biased so I would assume it goes on.

singing tree · 10-26-2009, 10:14 AM

Hadn't thought about the stallion issue. That could be tricky, if your stallion turned his nose up at the beautiful mare of the wrong color that somebody is paying a nice stud fee on

.

ahlihaff · 10-31-2009, 01:58 PM

singingtree, funny you posted this. Another Haffie owner and I have been discussing this recently.

When Ahliver was three, he was at a trainer's for 30 days. He was alone in the round pen, which was located in the big arena. I was outside the pen waiting for the trainer. There were other horses in the arena which Ali didn't get excited about. In come two Haflingers, and he was highly interested. They were all geldings. He was pacing along the panels calling to them.

I do think horses have preferences for other horses just as humans do. Ahliver and I rode in a clinic a few weeks ago. There were 7 other riders. He absolutely did not like one horse - an adorable Pony Of The Americas gelding. Every time that horse came near him, he'd pin his ears and put on an ugly face.

hielema10 · 10-31-2009, 02:29 PM

I have an appy who is not very pretty and everyone hates her. ?? She is the sweetest one to us though. We have two appys and they hate each other the most.

Rafflesgirl · 10-31-2009, 03:17 PM

I actually think there have been studies done on this subject years ago. I remember reading as a very young girl that horses tend to group together with what they are familiar with and that even in wild horse herds light colored horses were sometimes shunned. (Maybe they stand out more and would be more of an attention thing for preditors? Who knows?) But I do remember reading this.

I'm sure it is also what they are around and familiar with. A few years ago I owned a very pretty flashy bay and white paint mare that I gave to my daughters friend. She was young about 6 years old and never bred. I had owned her since birth and she lived with her bay mother and a white gelding. Well in her new home they own a mammoth donkey stallion who would very much like her to be his girlfriend. She absolutely refuses to allow him to breed her. I think she tolerates him as he is the only other equine there now but she won't breed with him. Her owners now would love a painted mule baby out of them but it's been several years and no way. I think she just can't get past the huge ears! ha ha but he is kinda cute to me!

My farrier said he has heard of this before also.

sherriawright · 10-31-2009, 03:32 PM

My palomino gelding totally ignores my pony/mini crosses, one is a bay, the other a sorrel. When we went to a horse show, there was a paint pony/mini cross there. I didn't think anything of it, but Sonny was freaked out by it, he was actually terrified of it! He is pastured with my appy and a paint horse, so I don't know what was up with that.

Horselady44 · 11-01-2009, 12:26 AM

Ive never heard of 'breedist' horses

I too would think it has more to do with color more than breed

Just my two cent worth

Horse Show Mom · 11-02-2009, 08:30 AM

My daughter white (grey) hangs out mostly with his Palamino girl-friend. He will share a feed bucket with her but nobody else.
I guess I am a lucky grey owner, my boy does not like to get dirty, heck even walking through mud makes him think twice. Someone at my barn just this weekend commented that for a white horse is manages to stay clean. I guess he stays clean to avoid getting a bath when he can.

theoldbear · 11-02-2009, 10:57 AM

Couple of memories just came back to me!

We had a snow white TWH stallion at the stable where we boarded in West Virginia. He was near 20, and had never been bred. Never showed any stud-like behavior. Mares were kept across the aisle from him, even in the stall next to him, with no problems.

Then we brought a snow white Appaloosa mare into the barn. He freaked out! It was love (well, lust) at first sight! She turned him on like a ten thousand watt light bulb! We decided she reminded him of his mother (who was snow white) and that it was an Oedipal thing!

There was a black TWH stallion at the same stable who was used for breeding. He refused to cover palomino mares! I understand that one of the famous old TWH stallions (Merry Go Boy?) had the same aversion.

beaner1962 · 11-02-2009, 02:24 PM

My friend's bay arabian can't stand loud colored appaloosas. They bought this app and the arabian never accepted him even after weeks he'd still chase him away or threaten him. He gets along with paints and solids but he just can't stand the appi spots.

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10-24-2009, 09:03 AM
gypsygirl3 Newborn Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: wisconsin Posts: 27	one of the horses i rides HATES arabians ! he goes out in the pasture with 3 of them, if they get to close he will chase after them. even seeing an arabian near by while riding he gets mad....i have no idea why ! hes a freak lol __________________ pain is weakness leaving the body scout- 20yo pinto grade gelding <3 gypsy- 3yo black hano/tb mare <3

10-24-2009, 08:26 PM
DappleGrayMyWay Long Yearling Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NC (Asheville) Posts: 1,499	I suspect horses like what they know. Seeing something that would make another horse stand out (loud color pattern, spots, light) might bring on the herd defense instinct. Tule is a gray, and he rolls as much or as little as Dillon does. And the dirt shows equally on both boys. Which is not much, to be honest. Tule still shows light gray. He can't completely coat himself no matter how he tries! __________________ My sanity is with my horse, and if you see them, please send them back to the barn. Tule Pepper Dillon Blog : http://tulepepperdillon.blogspot.com/

10-24-2009, 08:46 PM
singing tree Long Yearling Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hartville, Ohio Posts: 1,045	I am sure the familiarity thing is part of it. But I do think Haflingers are just more comfortable with each other whether known or unknown than my other horses have been. I had three horses before - bay morgan, chestnut foxtrotter, and appy mare. The three were very rarely in the barn together. Now, I have the Morgan and 3 Haflingers, and they are all so tucked into one corner of the run in barn that I can't even see them. Horses - never boring! Thanks for all the interesting stories from everyone. Would love to hear more if any one has another prejudice story!

10-24-2009, 09:49 PM
For8tune Yearling Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Monroe, GA Posts: 553	The first show I took Fortune to a big loud colored Paint went right by us and I swear I thought he was going to jump out of his horseshoes. He would not go no where near that horse after that. He also can't stand ponies or donkeys. He freaks out! __________________ Proud Mom to a Spoiled Rotten Arabian Gelding ~Fame Fortune~ http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/fame+fortune

10-25-2009, 11:32 PM
Horsie Michelle Yearling Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Summerfield, FL Posts: 910	Funny I was recently wondering the same thing. One of my mares (whom I've had the longest) seems to only buddy up with small dark pinto horses. She'll be an outright witch to other horses. I've had several while having her and have boarded her and she's only bonded (and I mean really bonded) with three-one a blk/white shetland, and two under 14h dark brown and white SSH mares. Weird. I've heard of stallions being color biased so I would assume it goes on. __________________ ~~"All that we love deeply becomes part of us" ~~ Helen Keller

10-26-2009, 10:14 AM
singing tree Long Yearling Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hartville, Ohio Posts: 1,045	Hadn't thought about the stallion issue. That could be tricky, if your stallion turned his nose up at the beautiful mare of the wrong color that somebody is paying a nice stud fee on.

10-31-2009, 01:58 PM
ahlihaff Seasoned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Western MA Posts: 4,562	singingtree, funny you posted this. Another Haffie owner and I have been discussing this recently. When Ahliver was three, he was at a trainer's for 30 days. He was alone in the round pen, which was located in the big arena. I was outside the pen waiting for the trainer. There were other horses in the arena which Ali didn't get excited about. In come two Haflingers, and he was highly interested. They were all geldings. He was pacing along the panels calling to them. I do think horses have preferences for other horses just as humans do. Ahliver and I rode in a clinic a few weeks ago. There were 7 other riders. He absolutely did not like one horse - an adorable Pony Of The Americas gelding. Every time that horse came near him, he'd pin his ears and put on an ugly face. __________________

10-31-2009, 02:29 PM
hielema10 Halter broke Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 106	I have an appy who is not very pretty and everyone hates her. ?? She is the sweetest one to us though. We have two appys and they hate each other the most.

10-31-2009, 03:17 PM
Rafflesgirl Weanling Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 492	I actually think there have been studies done on this subject years ago. I remember reading as a very young girl that horses tend to group together with what they are familiar with and that even in wild horse herds light colored horses were sometimes shunned. (Maybe they stand out more and would be more of an attention thing for preditors? Who knows?) But I do remember reading this. I'm sure it is also what they are around and familiar with. A few years ago I owned a very pretty flashy bay and white paint mare that I gave to my daughters friend. She was young about 6 years old and never bred. I had owned her since birth and she lived with her bay mother and a white gelding. Well in her new home they own a mammoth donkey stallion who would very much like her to be his girlfriend. She absolutely refuses to allow him to breed her. I think she tolerates him as he is the only other equine there now but she won't breed with him. Her owners now would love a painted mule baby out of them but it's been several years and no way. I think she just can't get past the huge ears! ha ha but he is kinda cute to me! My farrier said he has heard of this before also. __________________ Kelli ~He is the lord of all horses and has been my friend through many dangers~

10-31-2009, 03:32 PM
sherriawright Yearling Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 634	My palomino gelding totally ignores my pony/mini crosses, one is a bay, the other a sorrel. When we went to a horse show, there was a paint pony/mini cross there. I didn't think anything of it, but Sonny was freaked out by it, he was actually terrified of it! He is pastured with my appy and a paint horse, so I don't know what was up with that. __________________ Illinois, where our Governors make our license plates!

11-01-2009, 12:26 AM
Horselady44 Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 2,437	Ive never heard of 'breedist' horses I too would think it has more to do with color more than breed Just my two cent worth __________________ A happy horse equals a happy rider!

11-02-2009, 08:30 AM
Horse Show Mom Halter broke Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Central, NJ Posts: 188	My daughter white (grey) hangs out mostly with his Palamino girl-friend. He will share a feed bucket with her but nobody else. I guess I am a lucky grey owner, my boy does not like to get dirty, heck even walking through mud makes him think twice. Someone at my barn just this weekend commented that for a white horse is manages to stay clean. I guess he stays clean to avoid getting a bath when he can.

11-02-2009, 10:57 AM
theoldbear Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Arcadia, Florida Posts: 772	Couple of memories just came back to me! We had a snow white TWH stallion at the stable where we boarded in West Virginia. He was near 20, and had never been bred. Never showed any stud-like behavior. Mares were kept across the aisle from him, even in the stall next to him, with no problems. Then we brought a snow white Appaloosa mare into the barn. He freaked out! It was love (well, lust) at first sight! She turned him on like a ten thousand watt light bulb! We decided she reminded him of his mother (who was snow white) and that it was an Oedipal thing! There was a black TWH stallion at the same stable who was used for breeding. He refused to cover palomino mares! I understand that one of the famous old TWH stallions (Merry Go Boy?) had the same aversion.

11-02-2009, 02:24 PM
beaner1962 Halter broke Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: WI Posts: 168	My friend's bay arabian can't stand loud colored appaloosas. They bought this app and the arabian never accepted him even after weeks he'd still chase him away or threaten him. He gets along with paints and solids but he just can't stand the appi spots. __________________