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HI Spy: What makes your horse unique?

Just like humans, every horse has his own quirks. Sometimes these little idiosyncrasies are endearing. Take, for example, the horse who nickers for his owner’s attention every time she visits with another horse in the barn, or the one who will make funny faces after being given a favorite treat. Other times, these quirks can be annoying, like a clever equine who figures out he can hinder bath time by stepping on the hose or the pony who digs a hole in the front of his stall and seems to laugh when distracted humans step into it.



Many times, your horse’s unique traits are neutral. They probably won’t land him a spot on the David Letterman show to perform a stupid pet trick, but they don’t cause any harm, either. They simply make your horse a unique individual!



Is there a quirky equine in your life? Click “Submit a Comment” below and tell us all about him. Some responses may be selected for publication in a future issue of Horse Illustrated!

One selected response may be selected by the editors to win a monthly prize! If you would like to be eligible for the prize, please include your email address in the comment form (email addresses are not publicly displayed.)

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  • My horse has learned what our car sounds like, and also she loves jumping so much that when I can't det off her back and jerk her mouth she keeps going every time.

  • My gelding, though he is unique due to his rare breed (Felver aka Hungarian Half-bred), has another quirky trait that i find sets him away from the crowd. You've heard of rider's who tend to hold their breath while riding,right? Well, my horse holds his own breath while in work. We're not sure why he does it, but that's his own little thing. Though he puts on a tough guy face, i think he is just a really sensitive little guy that gets frustrated when he can't figure something out :)

  • Many horses take the bit well, but I've never seen a horse take a bit like my Quarter Horse. She practically dives onto it; you don't even have to get it up to her lips. If you hold the bridle anywhere close to her, she flaps her lips repeatedly, smacking them together until you offer it to her.

  • My gelding, Ferdinand, LOVES riding! While my mares want to laze around at the barn, Ferdinand is right there, waiting at the fence and nickering to get my attention. On the trails, if we try to turn around and head back, he will stop constantly and try to head the other way. And don't even get me started about trying to take the bit out of his mouth! I have to wrestle with him for quite some time before he'll agree to be un-tacked quietly. But I still love him!

  • I've heard how horses and dogs get along great together. Not mine! Whenever my yellow lab even steps a foot into the horse's pen, my mare will drive him out! I wish they would get along better; when I got my dog, I planned on taking him on trail rides. But right now, safety is more on my mind than fun.

  • My Quarter Horse gelding is unique to me because he always loves me, no matter what happens to me! Even if I tend to be unfair with him on difficult days, he'll still be waiting excitedly at the gate for me the next day! He's so sweet and loving!

  • My horse has 3 incredibly unique idiosyncracies:
    1- He is so tidy that he will walk around the pasture with me by his side, smelling each and every "apple pile" that isn't cleaned up yet, telling me to get to work!
    2- When he finishes his oats, he will stare until someone brings him a drink.
    3- He is scared to death when the gate between his dirt lot and pasture is open when it's not time to be turned out. He looks like he's thinking "I might get out!!!"

  • My arabian mare makes this noise that sounds exactly like a pig squeeling! when another horse comes over to her to say hi she squeels as if they offended her. its funny. and whenever you crinkle the wraper on a peppermint she starts nickering and bobbing her pretty hed up and down

  • What makes the mare i ride unique is her friendly nature to everyone but the chiropractor! Shes the sweetest horse i have ever known but you would never know it when the chiropractors around!

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