How can I be nice to a "horse"? (And other animals.)

[Goldenbug]

I met some animals in a field today. I recognised them straight away as "horses", like from the advert. A couple seemed quite friendly and walked (trotted?) over to meet me. I didn't have much of an idea on how to be nice to them. I stroked them on their faces (Very boney ) which I think they liked, and patted the bit between the "horses'" head and body (neck?) which the white one seemed to particularly like as it rubbed it's head on mine, drooled on my T-shirt and followed me when I went.

Did I do the right thing? Do they prefer rubbing? Scratching? Hugging?

And not just "horses". Where do you start with a goat? They have actual weaponry on their heads!

I 💜 you Goldenbug!

I'm laughing so much I nearly did a wee. Thanks op for this pure gold! It was the bit about the horse working in the bank that did it!

I got in trouble off my dp.for laughing at this thread and ignoring his very serious question...

I'm
Stuck in the airport waiting for my really delayed flight .... horses working in banks are keeping me laughing ... just the thought of them peering over their glasses and tutting at overdrafts ..

He probably goes on long rides in the country on Halifax Howard.

Quite nice to know I did it right. There weren't any smiles at the time.

I think of all the animals to have jobs in a bank horses are one the more impractical. How does a horse sit on a swivel chair for instance?

OP you've had me laughing so much! Thanks

Are you 6 years old?

They like polo mints. If you are near any animal don't be scared and if they don't want to interact respect their space. If they approach start small and make sure they can track where your hand is going and stay at the head. Never block their escape or corner them because they can feel threatened.

I usually stroke the neck and nose on a horse but if they have a red ribbon on their tail stay back as that can be a warning that the horse is a kicker.

Have you never met a horse before? I grew up in a farming town so I'm used to farm animals.

Here is a 'Horse' who works for Amazon

Obviously he's not a real horse, as he's very small, but he may be a cross between a horse and a dog (a hog? a dorse?)

Don't copy what jockeys do with one of these - he will break.

Good luck with your horse whispering.

I have absolutely no idea what OP is talking about with horses working in the bank but I have had a good laugh. Do you not know what ears are, what about the wiggly long thing that sort of sticks out of their bottom.

Don't pat a goat they're bastards
Loving this thread op

Stop saying "horses" .. it's making me want to cry with irritation

The long wiggly thing that sort of sticks out it's bottom means it's a man "horse".

I've been You-tubing a bit tonight and think I've become a bit of a "horse" expert. Saw some idiot on some thing referring to a "horse" as a donkey! Although maybe he was complaining his "horse" was "wonkey" and I mislistened.

Horses scare me and tend to bite me if I pet them. At least the ones at DD’s riding school used to when she was taking lessons. They never bit her.

Cows also scare me. I think they are dumb and dangerous and I get very nervous if I end up in a field with one.

DS was chased by a bunch of rams when he was off on his last DoE expedition so they scare me now as well.

You’d never believe I grew up in the countryside.

Oh I was licked by a cow once, it was so lovely, the feeling will stay with me forever.
Goat's are indeed bastard though, not to be trusted.

A long wiggly thing sticking out a horses bottom does not mean it is a man horse. It means it's having a shit.

Oh this has really made me giggle. So many questions though!!

Why OP? Where are you from that this is seemingly your first encounter with horses? You did do well.

Goats, yeah they are shit heads. I would be surprised if they were even in a field if they are anything like ours. No respect for anything.

Cows, dangerous. Cows with calfs, very dangerous.

Sheep are fairly boring, they will run away.

Are you on holiday? Moving to the country? I think you should document your experiences. Really well written.

Why why why "horse" but not "donkey" ... why? 😩

Now dh wants to know why I'm laughing.
They shall forever be known as "horses" in this house now

The "Horse" was from Basingstoke. Or at least it was in Basingstoke when we met. It might have been from somewhere else and travelled in, but if that was the case why did it pick Basingstoke?

Sheep don't always run away - I had one come up to me once, it got really close, it's eyes glazed over, it did a little curtsey, and then did a massive wee. Then it sauntered off.

I also once made my XH drive miles back along the A11, because I had seen an injured cow by the side of the road. On closer inspection it turned out to be an abandoned sofa.

I got attacked by a ‘goat’ once, it lived down the road from me and escaped, another neighbor tried to lasso it with her handbag.

I think "horses" like their nostrils tickled. Good luck finding those. They look like holes on the end of the long bony bit.