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Pasha
Platinum Member
 England
3622 Posts |
 Posted - 08 Jan 2010 : 1:57:18 PM
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Any horse behaviourists (or anyone else) that can set my mind to rest? Please don't think i'm a complete fool - I am genuinely worried!
Shesky is quite a vocal boy and I get a full-on whinny when I get to the yard, call him from the field, dinner time etc and sometimes these are a whicker only, which I find irresistable and immediately results in a treat and cuddles!
Last night when I lunged him, after 15 mins when I made him walk to cool down, I asked him to stand and walked towards him to turn him around and he whickered at me... I did the usual gushing, kissing and scratching, turned him around and walked on the other rein.
Then when we'd finished and I asked him to stand again, he whickered to me again!
He has never done this before when being worked and I immediately thought OMG what is wrong? Is he trying to tell me something?
I felt all over and no heat or swelling or anything... is this normal for a horse to do?
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geegee
Platinum Member
England
3682 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jan 2010 : 2:07:02 PM
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I don't think your mad, at all 
Did you notice any of his body language at the same time? If he was looking relaxed, head down, ears forward etc etc, my guess is that it is a learned behaviour and that he was expecting his reward for the whicker, i.e treats/cuddles.
It is surprising what we teach horses without realising it....
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kate b
Gold Member
Wales
1418 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jan 2010 : 2:08:47 PM
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I think he has learnt that if he speaks he gets sweeties and attention. He is obviously training you very well  |
      
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jan 2010 : 2:22:56 PM
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Lol! He is certainly training me better than I am training him 
When I ask him to stand on the lunge, he stands-up quite proud, ears *****ed and it was the same last night! He is a good boy and doesn't try to turn-in, but he does turn his head to look at me as I walk towards him and this is when he whickered!
If it's a nice thing I am pleased... was just worried he was trying to tell me something, but if it's just 'i've been a good boy and deserve a treat' then that's ok by me! I like the fact he can ask me for a reward (in a nice way of course) |
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geegee
Platinum Member
England
3682 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jan 2010 : 2:31:23 PM
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| Sounds like you have a good understanding of each other |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jan 2010 : 2:48:53 PM
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Ha ha yes... he understands that i'm a complete softie who spends 99.9% of her waking hours worrying about him and pandering to his every whim and I understand that he will take full advantage 
Oh dear! No hope for me then! |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jan 2010 : 3:19:42 PM
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| Thats sweet, my old boy was very vocal, Ali is mute!!! Always comes to call, sometimes without calling if he see's me first but I do miss being chatted to! |
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Montikka
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2653 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jan 2010 : 3:28:07 PM
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| Ahhh I think he loves you (or the treats). |
   
Louise, Warwickshire |
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jan 2010 : 4:10:23 PM
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| I am sure there is nothing to worry about , if he is talking gently to you, if he was calling in a stressed way, he would be acting in a stressed way. he is obviously loving you |
   
www.dreamfield-arabians.com |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jan 2010 : 4:19:13 PM
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| Aww thanks guys - I hope he loves me a little more than food |
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Qui Gon Jinn
Platinum Member
Scotland
1627 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jan 2010 : 5:33:40 PM
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Merlyn does this too! He will whicker to me when I am doing any ground training with him......AND yes I always give him a treat and cuddle afterwards! These horses have got us well trained!! It's a lovely feeling though to have that bond with your horse.
My new foal is very vocal too and whickers and whinnies whenever he sees me. He isn't rewarded with treats but a cuddle and a rub of some description. Perhaps arabs are more prone to this behaviour, given that they are so people orientated? |
The Soul would have no Rainbow....If the Eyes had shed no Tears. |
Edited by - Qui Gon Jinn on 08 Jan 2010 5:34:40 PM |
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georgiauk
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2605 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jan 2010 : 6:46:58 PM
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What a rewarding thing to happen, surely makes you feel really special I wish Milly did this instead of planting kisses all the time, I do love it but not in this weather when she's just had a drink of ice cold water |
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Claire
Silver Member
England
422 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jan 2010 : 3:40:06 PM
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| Mirshid whickers to me when changing the rein on the lunge and at the end of a lesson or a hack- I think Lisa's right, definitely learned behaviour as I always give him a treat and a love! |
      
Suffolk |
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dassa23
Silver Member
England
261 Posts |
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angelarab
Platinum Member
Wales
2876 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jan 2010 : 9:33:13 PM
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| Baz is very vocal, lots of different sounds come from him, i love it |
 "Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened."
www.northwalesarab.co.uk |
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Anne C
Gold Member
United Kingdom
886 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jan 2010 : 10:16:44 PM
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My boy talks to me all the time. I love it when he talks to me. He's the only one that actually talks to me out of them all, the others are mares, wonder if it makes a differnce?
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Anne |
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fidodido
Gold Member
England
797 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jan 2010 : 10:25:51 PM
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My mare is very vocal she never shuts up actually and has quite a range of whinnies and whickers, although i know she loves me she has a much greater love of food and treats .
She also whickers when she's about to be ridden and being lunged, but as i always give a treat just before i get on and after work, i think she has just worked out she might get an extra treat off the soft touch on her back/ at the end of the lunge rein if she makes a cute whickering noise. |
Edited by - fidodido on 09 Jan 2010 10:26:25 PM |
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sarahlock
Platinum Member
England
1535 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2010 : 2:49:17 PM
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My Palomino mare is very vocal , she neighed when she was halfway out of her mother & hasn`t shut up since!
Years ago if someone gave me a lift to a show & weren`t driving as carefully as i do she`d make herself heard & i`d tell them she wasn`t too happy with them!
Almost everytime i walk past her whether its in the field or the stable she wickers or neighs but she has always been very affectionate & loves lots of cuddles & attention! |
     
Brixham (South Devon ) |
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Why does he whicker?
Bless him
