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Original poster

Are horses just giant puppies then?

130 replies

WillowtreeHouse · 05/05/2023 19:46

I have found a new route to take my dog for his evening walk, river on one side and a field on the other. There is a massive and I mean massive horse in the field and almost from the first time we went, he comes over and walks along the fence with us making little noises. Ddog is a gentle old lab with arthritis and has clearly fallen in love with said massive horse (I've decided his name is Major) and won't move until he's over at the fence and walks with us.

Tonight ddog dropped his ball over the fence and Major the horse picked it up, ran away with it, kicked it around for a bit absolutely living his best life, then brought it back and gave it back to ddog. Honestly never seen anything like it in my life, he actually gently gave it back to ddog. I have now also fallen in love with this horse. 🐴

So my question is, how do I keep a horse in a small house with barely any garden?

OP posts:
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justgettingthroughtheday · 05/05/2023 20:54

Why? Because the owner hasn't consented! I don't want people taking pictures of my animals either. It feels intrusive in the same way I don't want people taking pictures of my house or me!

Nor do I want randomers fussing or feeding my horses. So I always fence them far enough back from field gates that people can't just reach over the gate or throw things too them. I also make sure there is strong electric fencing to deter anyone who might try and enter the field.

mindutopia · 05/05/2023 20:56

Just please don’t feed Major, even grass. That’s probably why he comes so happily because other people do feed him. It can easily kill a horse, even just grass, if they have a health condition or you don’t know enough about horses to realise what’s in the handful is poisonous. It happens so often. On one of my groups the other day, someone was saying they discovered a woman who had been coming to feed her horse like 10 bananas a day. It eventually killed him.

But glad you’ve made a new friend. One of mine will run and play games with me and there are special balls just for horses with a little handle they can hold in their mouths!

GiveUsThisDayOurDailyPizza · 05/05/2023 20:56

Thanks for this lovely thread 🐎 it’s brought back some really happy memories of my own horse, who once ate the ears of a live rabbit. He was just playing with it and offering it to his field mates who turned away from it in disgust.

Not that that was a happy moment. Poor bunny.

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Horses
rooinspace · 05/05/2023 21:00

justgettingthroughtheday · 05/05/2023 20:54

Why? Because the owner hasn't consented! I don't want people taking pictures of my animals either. It feels intrusive in the same way I don't want people taking pictures of my house or me!

Nor do I want randomers fussing or feeding my horses. So I always fence them far enough back from field gates that people can't just reach over the gate or throw things too them. I also make sure there is strong electric fencing to deter anyone who might try and enter the field.

I have always understood not feeding others’ animals, but the photos is new to me. I have previously thought a non-identifying photo of a horse in a field was fine. I would never have thought a picture of a horse in an identifiable location was ok, but you live and learn I guess.

Prescottdanni123 · 05/05/2023 21:05

So sweet. Both dog and horse sound gorgeous.

(You probably already know this but don't feed him).

edwinbear · 05/05/2023 21:06

@orangeflags butter wouldn’t melt!

To the horse owners, I’m so sorry, I really didn’t mean to offend. I’m not a horse owner and so not up to speed with the etiquette. Completely understand and apologies again - it was a silly suggestion (but still a lovely story)!

Rockingcloggs · 05/05/2023 21:07

Possibly my favourite ever post on Mumsnet! What was ddog doing while Major was living his best life?!

justgettingthroughtheday · 05/05/2023 21:07

@rooinspace to a non horsey person a horse might not be identifiable but in horsey circles it might well be!
I keep a fairly unusual breed. A photo of my trio would absolutely be known as mine amongst certain horsey people. Equally an ex partner who had been involved in their care could also identify them. You just don't know where the picture may end up.

AlltheFs · 05/05/2023 21:10

@WillowtreeHouse don’t fall for it. They do cute things so people buy them, then you gradually go bankrupt and along with financial destitution they also take your soul.

Horses are basically crack and should be covered in warnings like fags.

SpindarellaRockafella · 05/05/2023 21:13

Is Major on his own? Horses are very social creatures and need a herd, at least one other equine to ensure decent rest (one stays awake on guard while one sleeps).
If he’s on his own maybe he is really wanting your dogs company as he’s lonely? I hope he has a happy herd and just loves you and your dog :)

edwinbear · 05/05/2023 21:13

I also want to know what ddog was doing whilst Major ran off with his ball? Did he sit patiently waiting for it back?

JennyTheDonkey · 05/05/2023 21:20

Can we have a photo of the dog??

Original poster
WillowtreeHouse · 05/05/2023 21:22

AlltheFs · 05/05/2023 21:10

@WillowtreeHouse don’t fall for it. They do cute things so people buy them, then you gradually go bankrupt and along with financial destitution they also take your soul.

Horses are basically crack and should be covered in warnings like fags.

I can well believe this!

I would never feed him, I know that's not the right thing to do. Ddog is a lovely old soul and is getting a bit wobbly on his pins at times but he's like a puppy himself when we're up there. Watching his lovely old grey face get all excited and his tail whirring like that typical lab propellor made me a bit teary tonight, which I know makes me a bit tragic, but these little moments are so lovely.

OP posts:
FellPuck · 05/05/2023 21:23

This horse sounds lovely!

My horse is a real cow at times, especially to other horses, but she's beautiful to look at so totally gets away with it (with the humans), and is huge so the other horses don't answer back.

I can't help but be impressed as the sheer audacity of her at times.

Original poster
WillowtreeHouse · 05/05/2023 21:25

edwinbear · 05/05/2023 21:13

I also want to know what ddog was doing whilst Major ran off with his ball? Did he sit patiently waiting for it back?

He kind of did a little tap dance along the fence. 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
WillowtreeHouse · 05/05/2023 21:34

This is ddog looking particularly marvellous ... 😁

Are horses just giant puppies then?
OP posts:
Squirrel28 · 05/05/2023 21:36

Really considering now offering my horse a ball to see if the reason he’s a grumpy bitey idiot is that he fancies a kick around. 😁(It isn’t the dog. He sees lots of dogs and is mainly indifferent to them.)

Original poster
WillowtreeHouse · 05/05/2023 21:44

Squirrel28 · 05/05/2023 21:36

Really considering now offering my horse a ball to see if the reason he’s a grumpy bitey idiot is that he fancies a kick around. 😁(It isn’t the dog. He sees lots of dogs and is mainly indifferent to them.)

Worth a try, please update!

OP posts:
edwinbear · 05/05/2023 21:47

My cockles are all warmed ❤️

cooldarkroom · 05/05/2023 21:49

My ancient puppers (dog) goes & visits a donkey who is sometimes tied up to munch through the scrub near us. She comes & gets me when the water tub needs filling.. The donkey is I'm told a bitey bastard, but hasn't grabbed me yet.

CornedBeef451 · 05/05/2023 21:55

@GiveUsThisDayOurDailyPizza that made me snort out toothpaste!

Poor bunny but good sharing from your horse!

Heartsnrainbows · 05/05/2023 21:58

One at the school where I ride is like a puppy.

Gigantic 17hh, built like a brick outhouse and follows me around like a shadow. Everyone who rides him gets this treatment. He bonds with his people. Once I was upset and crying and he stood with his nose on the top of my head, licking my hair for ages. Sweetheart.

You often find the bigger ones are the gentlest. It's ponies you have to watch. Little man syndrome!

CrotchetyQuaver · 05/05/2023 22:02

Yes they're wonderful on the whole, my and my DD's lives are certainly richer for having horses and being able to enjoy them but my goodness it's a very expensive hobby!

userxx · 05/05/2023 22:03

My dads greyhound used to touch noses with a horse in the field, beautiful to see.

NightToDaydreamer · 05/05/2023 22:03

My mare can be a right miserable baggage, she likes to be the queen bee and while I wouldn't say she is a bully she likes to keep everyone else in the herd in their rightful place. She's not overly keen on being groomed although she will present you with her arse for a scratch when it pleases her.

But what she does do is whinny, a lot! She whinnies when I arrive, she definitely whinnies when I'm sorting out food, she sometimes whinnies when I just walk past her in the field. She had to be sedated by the vet the other day and when she was waking up (obviously still very spaced out) she kept doing big sighs and whinnies at nothing which was so cute/hilarious, she is a very chatty girl even if she's horrible!

I bloody love my horse. She'd be petrified if I threw a ball to her.