Horses and their instincts or amazing behavior

[Sanny]

I still can't believe this one.....

We were at AMHR Nationals for just a day - stalled in Barn C - and while we are at the barns I had put in gates so the horses could look out of their stalls and watch all the activity so they wouldn't get bored.

the first night we were there we took three of our four horses into the main arena to do some jumping. Though all four of the horses we took to Nationals are experienced jumpers, we only took the three because they still benefit from practicing and getting used to the show arena. We left the fourth horse (Phantom, for those of you that know him) in his stall, because he doesn't need the jumping practice and I wanted to be nice and let him just rest up since he was going to be the busiest horse all week with the whole family showing him.

We had just enough time to set up the two jumps we'd brought and jump the other horses a couple of times and suddenly here comes Phantom galloping in through the open arena gate. Clearly ticked off that we left him behind in the barn. He circled all of us and then put on a full liberty style performance using the entire arena and refused to let us catch him until HE was ready and willing (and AFTER he rolled in the dirt) he is normally not a problem at all to catch - in fact, if I kneel down he always comes right to me but that night he was mad and we had to have help from other people to catch him.

I was SO WORRIED that he hurt himself breaking out of his stall and galloping on the cement down the barn aisle and even MORE worried that he had hurt someone else or someone elses horse in the process.

The "witnesses" to his adventure said he basically circled his stall a few times, backed up and leaped over his door gate and then took off for the arena like he knew exactly where he was going - at a full gallop - didn't hesitate or look around - and it isn't a straight shot to the arena from our barn aisle and it isn't that close by, he had to make a couple of turns.

Thankfully he seemed just fine and no one else got hurt during his adventure. It still amazes me though that he knew exactly where to go and how to find us and was so obviously mad at us for being left out.

 

[Equuisize]

That's a great story Mary.........poor Phantom didn't want to be left out

of the family fun.

My story is an old one.....my now 29 year old son and 29 year old Egyptian Arab were a beautiful pair to watch together. My son just looked like he belonged on this wonderful Khemosabi look alike horse with his dark hair and matching dark coat of the horse. They were such pals.

At the time of this happening Michael was about 10 and so was Archers. We had a boarder barn on about 17 acres and he was out riding the trails while I was, of course, in the barn cleaning stalls!

I heard the pounding of hooves and watched Arch come flying over the top of the hill and down to the door of the stall I was cleaning. I asked him, "where'd you leave your brother?" figuring Michael had gotten off and was chasing a rabbit or something....... Arch ran partway back to the top of the hill and back towards the barn door and it was obvious to me he wanted me to come with and then I was worried! I got on his back and he had a definite direction he wanted to go, he was the driver, I was just riding. I was yelling for Michael. As we neared the bottom of the hill near the road there was Michael wrapped in blackberry vines. He had ducked going under like a archway of vines but one had grabbed his shirt and pulled him off Arches back and brought the rest down around him. I went back to the barn on Arch and got some nippers to cut him out of the vines.

I asked him why he Arch didn't stay with him, they were really good buddies and he said I told him, "Go get Mom, Arch." And that's what Arch did.

It's like a dang Lassie story and it's one of our loved family tales.

 

[lvponies]

I loved both those stories!! Aren't horses amazing??

 

[Candleliteranch]

Wonderful stories!

This incedent just happened oon Sunday evening.

My Quarter Horse mare, Haylee had been at a friends pasture as they had so much grass that needed eaten down and we had just weaned her colt and needed to seperate them. While she was gone was when my gelding Diablo passed. As soon as she got off the trailer, I turned her out in the field with the other two that are here. She talked for a minute with them, little nickers back and forth. She then flared her nostrils, kicked and let out the luodest, longest whinny I have ever heard and went racing to Diablos grave. she circled it three times at a slow trot, stopped, nostrils flaring again, then, galloped off down the fenceline, whinnying, snorting, tail flagging to the grove of trees where they always stood. She stayed there for a while, then went off to the lower pasture. Not exactly sure what that was all about, but I think she was paying her respects. I never thought to tell her what happened. I guess I should have.

It never ceases to amaze me how these beautiful creatures communicate amongst themselves.

 

[KW]

I have a story about my driving horse. We were at nationals one year and I have to tell you this horse has never made a move without me cueing him first. Well we were in the line up and were about 8 in from the end where the judges started to have them back up. Monogramm was watching them as each one of them backed their horses. He does gawk around sometimes but this time he kept his eye on the judges. Right after the horse next to us backed up and steped forward and before the judge ever nodded her head he backed up 3 steps and then stepped up. She made the comment you don't have to tell him what to do he arlready knows. Well the minute they were past to the next horse he spread out and had to go potty. He knew he had to back up and must of know he couldn't go untill he was done. He must have had to go bad. That is the only time he has pottyed in the ring and has never since then done anything without me telling him to since. I am really amazed sometimes how smart they are.

 

[Miniv]

There are some great stories here......

Mine just happened a couple of weeks ago. It's about an older mare (23) named, Misty. She was about 33 inches and reminded me of a mini Fresian. Misty had had a hard life before she came to us, which I won't go into detail here

She had had a beautiful black filly this year with no complications. She asked me if she could wean the foal herself and Larry and I agreed. By the time her filly was 5 months old, Misty was pushing her away.

Ten days later, Misty had a stroke. It caused her to go blind and she lost partial control of her left side. She was struggling to even walk. We arranged for the vet to come euthanize and a friend offered to bring over his Bobcat and dig a grave on that same day. I spent lots of time talking to her and telling her that the vet was coming to release her over the Rainbow Bridge. Then I brought her filly into her. She went nuts! She made it clear that she didn't want her daughter to see her like that -- the message came loud and clear!

About an hour before the vet was to arrive, I went into Misty's stall and told her I was leaving her stall door wide open and asked if it was at all possible, would she be able to make her way out to the front section of the barn? I explained how it would make it easier for both the vet and the man that was coming with the Bobcat. I gave her a kiss and left her alone. TEN MINUTES LATER I returned. In that short time she had somehow struggled her way out without seeing, and barely walking, and managed to lay down in a perfect open space where the sun was shining, just inside the main gate of the barn.

Both the vet and our friend with the Bobcat arrived at the same time. I told them that Misty knew what was happening and was waiting......Our friend looked inside and said in amazement, "Look where she is! She wants to fall asleep with the sun on her face."

Misty was a proud spirit and she left this earth with dignity ...... and the sun shining on her face.

MA

 

[Buckskin gal]

Your story of Misty really brought the tears to my eyes. What a wonderful lady she must have been. I would guess she wears her wings proudly. Mary

There are some great stories here......
Mine just happened a couple of weeks ago.  It's about an older mare (23) named, Misty. She was about 33 inches and reminded me of a mini Fresian. Misty had had a hard life before she came to us, which I won't go into detail here

She had had a beautiful black filly this year with no complications. She asked me if she could wean the foal herself and Larry and I agreed.  By the time her filly was 5 months old, Misty was pushing her away.

Ten days later, Misty had a stroke.  It caused her to go blind and she lost partial control of her left side. She was struggling to even walk.  We arranged for the vet to come euthanize and a friend offered to bring over his Bobcat and dig a grave on that same day.  I spent lots of time talking to her and telling her that the vet was coming to release her over the Rainbow Bridge.  Then I brought her filly into her.  She went nuts!  She made it clear that she didn't want her daughter to see her like that -- the message came loud and clear!

About an hour before the vet was to arrive, I went into Misty's stall and told her I was leaving her stall door wide open and asked if it was at all possible, would she be able to make her way out to the front section of the barn?  I explained how it would make it easier for both the vet and the man that was coming with the Bobcat.  I gave her a kiss and left her alone.  TEN MINUTES LATER I returned.  In that short time she had somehow struggled her way out without seeing, and barely walking,  and managed to lay down in a perfect open space where the sun was shining, just inside the main gate of the barn. 

Both the vet and our friend with the Bobcat arrived at the same time.  I told them that Misty knew what was happening and was waiting......Our friend looked inside and said in amazement, "Look where she is!  She wants to fall asleep with the sun on her face."

Misty was a proud spirit and she left this earth with dignity ...... and the sun shining on her face. 

MA

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[hobbyhorse23]

MiniV, I'm sniffing here.

Stories about animals who die with such dignity always make me cry, although whether from sadness or grieved respect I don't know.

I LOVE that first story, that is just so HORSE! LOL. "How DARE you leave me behind?! I'll show you!"

And you do have to love those Arabs like Arch. Here's my story of choice:

I took my Arab Spyderman on a 25 mile trail ride when he was 26 or so, straight out of the pasture and in no kind of shape. No, don't give me that look.

I wasn't going to go the whole distance!

It was a charity ride I'd done every year since I was twelve and I wanted to do it one last time with him as a way of celebrating our friendship. The ride was done in three loops and I figured I could do the first 8 mile loop easy at a leisurely walk and then go back to camp.

This would have worked out fine except I was the last one out and the officials decided that instead of sticking to the printed rule saying they would not start cleaning up until the last horse was checked in, they would instead take down all the directional signs while I was still out on course! Yipes! So we finish the first 8 miles and could see where the sign had been nailed to the tree, but there no sign telling me which way was back to camp. I picked a direction (figuring I had a 50% chance) and of course ended up on the next loop instead of standing at the trailer. I didn't want to get off the marked path at that point for fear of getting lost so next thing I know my horse and I are slogging another 8 miles or so. Spyder was doing well until about mile 13, then he started tuckering out but gamely went on when I pointed out the only way back to camp was on his own four feet. I got off and walked for several miles to give him a break but he eventually made it clear that it was faster if I was on him and would I please mount back up?

So out there all alone I get to talking to my horse. First just comments, then encouragement, and finally cajoling him to go on and begging him for advice. (Hey, he is five years older than I am!) We got to the end of the second loop and stopped for a breather, staring once again at the big empty nail hole in a tree. Great, now what?? I went along the most likely path and couldn't find anything that looked like a marker or way back to camp. Turning Spyder I started to go down the other trail, explaining to him that I wanted to go back to camp but needed to see if either trail had markers. Well, here's where it gets funny.

Mind you, it was all in the way he did this. He hadn't been at all reluctant to turn and walk down this other trail. He was walking out perfectly willingly right up until I ruefully said the words "Buddy, if you know which way we should go to get back to camp, feel free to show me." No sooner had the last word crossed my lips then he smoothly comes to this lovely collected halt and flicks an ear back at me as if to say "Really? I can have the keys now?" I gave the back of his head a bemused look and said "okay boy, take us home." I laid the reins on his neck, folded my arms and carefully took my legs off his sides so it was clearly up to him. And he rocks back on his haunches and does a picture-perfect 180 degree pivot and walks off calmly down the trail. I did not pick up those reins for 15 minutes as he twisted and turned and ducked under branches and merrily followed the other trail. He ignored all forks in the road and alternate routes and delivered us safely to our own trailer at the far end of the lot. Not just the parking lot but our own rig!

He walked straight over to where I tie him and came to another beautiful square halt and then looked over his shoulder at me as if to say "See Mom? I got you home safe!"

I always rely on my horses as partners, but that was the first time the horse has offered to take the lead. And you know, I was sure glad he had!

Leia

 

[Black Magic]

OMG... I'm all teary eyed over the story of Misty. I believe that there is something special about the way they communicate but just being a poor mortal, have no clue how they do it.

My story is how I hurt my back. I was riding our QH Pressa.. (you can see her gorgeous picture)... and a baby bear cub came out on the limerock road on the way to a friends house. She lost it, (I guess Mom bear was nearby), and she stood on her front hooves and her back hooves were like ten feet up in the air, with me flying over her front end landing on my back on top of the lime rock. I lost consciousness for a few moments.. (no clue how long). When I came to, Pressa's butt was flying down the street, top speed away from me. I couldn't move, I was certain my back was broken. So I looked in back of me and saw this furry mange - y butt in the woods, very close to me, but not so close that I could see it close.. I wasn't in any shape at the time anyway.

Pressa tore down to a friends house, who has two horses, (that sleeps during the day, works nights), and somehow she spoke to them. All heck broke out, and woke the sleeping friend. Pressa laid down and made all sorts of noises for my friend to get on her. My friend, got on her, and she took her right to where I was laying. She rode Pressa back to her truck, and came to get me to the hospital. Fortunately, there was no break... Thank God... but even more I thank Pressa for not leaving me on that rock road any longer then necessary. If she had gone to the other friends house, it would have taken her twice the time to get there, and as she's often late coming home from work, she might not have been there. Oh, and I should mention, my dear little Pressa, is the slowest horse, I've ever seen .. but yet.. that day.. she did.

Another time, she was attacked by a mixed breed, Mastif/Boxer/Pit while I was on her. I got off, to try and get the dog away from her, broke my tibia plateau, and again, I was a mess. She put her head down to me on the ground and I grabbed her halter. She struggled, but she got moving... dragged me home about 300 yards.

In both cases, she could have run off.... but both times, she showed me how much she cared, and just how much she could love.

Oh heck.. the more I know horses, the more I think they are so far superior to people....

Oh, and my last short story... We had our black Magic.. (aka Horsezilla) got loose last May , and found this four acre piece of property that was on a culvert, it has wonderful pasture with grass growing there. He just stood in the middle of the property, as if to say.. I'm home! Then when I went to approach, he went and kicked at a FOR SALE sign, down in the dirt. We purchased it for $25K... Six mos ago, we had it appraised at $100K! So the silly horse... found himself a new place for our family.... and increased our equity by $75K... all because he liked the place! Lol.. Forget real estate agents... I'm using our horse next time.... Lol..

God Bless,

Lynn W

Can't ya tell, I'm crazy about our babies??? Oh, heck.. I'll take them a little snack right now... they deserve it..

 

[Robin1]

Thanks a lot MA!!!

Do you know what that story did to my sinuses? and I have a cold on top of it.

Robin

 

[CKC]

I have a miniature gelding named Frankie. For many years Frankie was a bit hard to catch and really nervous. 3 years ago we lost our first horse Major. He was my pride & joy. After we came home from the equine hospital I decided to go out and give the other horses hugs. As soon as I got down there and go in the paddock with Frankie I was balling. I couldn't stop crying. I was nealing down to give hugs and Frankie came right up to me and put his head against my forhead. I couldn't believe it. We must have been like that forever. Since then Frankie has been my horse soul mate. He is the one that knows when I am upset or need a hug. Yes a hug. His new thing now is to come up and put his front leg(both of them if given the chance) over my leg and just stands there while I am wrapping my arms around him.

Fast forward to this morning. I went out to feed and was really upset over Millie. Frankie stopped eating to come over and spend probably 20 minutes just sitting there with me and giving me a hug.

I really love that boy!

 

[ChrystalPaths]

I'm just in tears over these wonderful stories. MA your's started it. Bless you sweet Misty. Heck Bless them all.

 

[Tammie-C_Spots]

sniff* sniff* such great stories!

I have two-

I used to take my yearling colt to nursing homes. Buzzie was normally a spirited horse but when he knew he was going visiting he was all business. I very quickly learned to let him take the lead on what people to visit. So often he was drawn specifically to wheel chairs. He'd go up to them and the person would try to hold a hand out to him and he'd just lay his head in thier lap. This so delighted them! At one home there was a paralized man. Buzz wanted to go to him but the nurses were afraid he'd bump the delicate man. I somewhat was holding my breath too as I let Buzz go to him. The nurse helped him hold his hand out and the man's eyes never left buzz as Buzz approached so carefully and put his face under the man's hand like you see dogs do. We helped the man to stroke his forelock and Buzz just seemed to close his eyes and cocked a hind hoof up while being stroked. The man had tears in his eyes as we left that day. He wasn't the only one- I think the nurses and us went through a few tissues as well.

The other was of my first horse- a 20ish abused QH mare that I saved all summer to buy for $500 (which included a new saddle and bridle). Anyway, I took her out on a trail ride after I'd had her for four or so months. We both enjoyed our rides and had a special bond. While riding a new trail a branch got caught in her bridle and she paniced and I fell off to her side landing on my head and I blacked out. (this was before I started wearing a helmet). I opened my eyes to find myself looking up at her face. She was pushing my face with hers. I went to stand up and waves of dizzyness came over me. I rested and then used her leg and knee to pull myslef up. I was sick and had a serious concusion. I couldn't mount so I leaned on her and held onto the flap of her saddle. I was staggering and had to stop often and that mare seemed to sense it cause she walked so very slow. It took us two hours to get back where it had taken us fifteen to twenty minutes to ride. Needless to say a helmet became an important part of riding and I appreciated that mare more after that day. Sadly, she died about six months later from colic complications. Her name was Isha.

Tammie

 

[Dona]

All of these stories are amazing...and very touching. They would make a wonderful book! Someone should collect all these stories & publish them!

I have a story...not mine, but a good friend's.

She & her husband had 4 horses....two Belgians, and two Morgans.

They returned home one day to find one of their aged Morgans, dear Cappy, lying in a dishevled heap in the pasture where he had apparently had an aneurysm or heart attach & dropped dead. The other three horses were all standing around him like they were protecting him. They buried Cappy in a sunny corner of the pasture that day. They had put the other horses in the barn while they had a backhoe dig the hole & put Cappy in. Later when they let Buck, Cody & Dutch out into the pasture again....they watched in amazement as all three, very deliberately trotted over to Cappy's grave & stood very quietly...each with one foot on Cappy's grave. My friend showed me a photo that she took of them that very clearly shows each one standing with head hanging, & a front hoof planted on the grave. Gave me chills when I saw it & still does even now when I'm typing it.

 

[Jean_B]

Mine is a story about an older mare that I sold last winter to someone on the east coast.

Sugar was one of those mares that had incredible movement. She could really pick 'em up and lay 'em down. And that was her un-doing. This spring as she was ripping across the pasture with her foal, her 1 month old filly cut in front of her and Sugar went flying in a sommersault. And couldn't get up at first.

Luckily her new owner is a veterinarian. They knew that Sugar would have a long, hard battle ahead of her. Difficult for a young mare, almost impossible for a mare of 18 years, even with full-time help from a vet. But she was a FIGHTER. She stayed on her feet. She shuffled a few steps. Once in a while she had to be put in a sling to help support her. She kept eating, passing manure, and feeding her baby.

At one point she went down and they couldn't get her to her feet - but she raised her leg so that her foal could nurse while she lay there on her side! At that point they figured they would put her down...but decided to wait to the next day.

She met them at the door the next day on her feet with a determined look on her face that said "I'm not ready yet!" And hung on for a few more weeks...while her filly continued to grow and thrive.

And when her filly was 3 months old, Sugar decided she had done the best she could and started going downhill. She had done her job, and they allowed her to go out peacefully and painlessly.

 

[dannigirl]

I actually have two different incidents.

The first happened at a show some years back. I was showing a mare in the two yr old class and had another in the very next class. I had set up a gate hold so that I would have time to get the second horse. I was in a hurry and walking fast with the first horse when she stopped dead and would not move. She was standing next to a wheelchaired gentleman that could hardly move his hand. She nuzzled him and I had a treat in my hand so I gave it to the younger man pushing the wheelchair and when he put it in the mans hand, Danni took it very carefully and loved on him one more time before allowing me to take her to her stall. I made it to the next class in time because they waited for me and did very well with both mares.

The other happened at a parade. My husband was walking a gelding that was very spirited. So much so that he stayed in the middle of the road so that no one would get hurt. He could handle him, but figured we had plenty of others for the kids to pet on so he would just let him get used to the crowds. Out of the crowd a mother and her daughter appeared at Dave's side and asked if her daughter could "see" his horse. He thought that was a strange request until he realized that the girl was blind. "Seeing" required 'hands on'. He said ok, and then held his breath. Silver stood like a statue while that girl felt him from his ears to his feet. Allowing her to feel his legs and tail and everything without moving. After they left, he was his usual skittish self. Who knows what was at work, but Dave knows he didn't have much to do with it.

 

[Equuisize]

I am loving reading all these stories....after each one I just nod my head

and think, 'Yep this is why we have horses'.

Hope more people will contribute.

 

[Chamomile]

I had an arab mare that I raised from a yearling. We had many wonderful time together and she was always amazing, but this was so touching and heart breaking.

She foaled a gorgeous arab filly, her first baby and mine too!! I named the filly Isabel and spent all my extra time with her. One day I had the mare, Abby, out beside the corral, where Isabel was staying with her baby sitter. I brushed Abby, and spent a little time with just her, no baby. Then I went to put her away. I noticed that Isabel was walking funny. Looked down and my heart stopped. She had broken her hind leg, off, it was hanging by a little piece of skin... It was awful, we all fell apart. Abby stayed calm and helped prop up her filly until the vet could get there to put her down. Thankfully the vet arrived about 15 minutes after it happened, so Isabel was still in shock, nursing and nuzzling us. I left the filly in with Abby overnight. The next morning we had a neighbor come with a backhoe and bury Isabel. I had her put in my back yard. I had a halter on Abby, because I didn't want her running all around looking for the filly. We were standing in the pasture, I was 8 months pregnant and Abby just laid her head on my tummy and I swear there were tears in her eyes. I know I was blubbering.

About two months later, I let Abby out to wander the area, we live on 20 acres and only a little was fenced then... she wandered a bit and then went right to the grave and laid down for a nap. Right on the grave. It made me cry all over again. She would do that every time I let her out.

She was very depressed for an entire year. She lost weight and wouldn't eat. I had a feeling that she really missed her filly. She loved being a mom. So I decided to take her to a stallion and have her bred. I knew the minute she was settled, she started eating again and when I brought her home, she quit hanging the fence with the neighbor mare and foal. She would run and play again and got all shiny and fat. She foaled another gorgeous bay filly and still lives with her.

My mom named her farm Isabel Gardens, after Abby's first filly.

 

[Nancy G]

My mare Mundy was attacked & killed by a bear over 5 years ago. When we were searching for the bear, I noticed in the lower field, all the horses (8) had formed a circle around the one remaining foal in the field. They were all facing out & very alert, noses flared. I was amazed at this natural instinct.

Also hiding in the circle was our pygmy goat. When everything was over, the goat came staggering out. She kept falling down. The one game official thought she was a fainting goat. I told him no, she must have been terrified by the bear.

 

[GREENWOODMINIS]

wonderful...wonderful stories

lis