Integrating a Horse Herd

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[@thomasalicea8877]

I love yall playing chess. My kids ride and play Wednesday night at church. It's a good life. Awesome to watch your horses

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

I can win against the youngest...sometimes. I am a terrible chess player and have been since I was a boy but I love the game anyway and learn something with every game. I like to play on the porch in the evening and listen to Louis Prima, could be why I loose.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

I used to work for a man named Dan, we all called him Uncle Dan, he was a tyrant but if you asked "how's it going" or some such he always said, "Its a good life if you don't weaken." I always liked that.

[@Cecilyeg]

The no dominance thing sounds like something Pat Parelli would say..... It made me laugh and throw the tape out the window of my car! Your video has been a good learning experience for my grandson. I stopped it off and on and we discussed our herd and who is where in the herd and why. This year one of the oldest mares has moved way up in the pecking order. Something I have not seen in 62 years of watching the herds. Fascinating. My husband and I like to sit in the barn aisle and watch the herd. At this time our stallion is out with the mares so the herd dynamic is very different than when the geldings are out in the herd.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

I love watching them

[@deborahgeorge9170]

Great video! Looks nice. Grumpy ole gelding. Lol. I’ve always put horses all together. That woman that said there’s not a hierarchy must have studied stables horses. Lol

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Thanks

[@deborahgeorge9170]

Nothing ventured, nothing gained so here goes. Lol. Could we see a short video or snippet of Pistol and her moves? I’ve always loved to see a good working horse move. Thanks.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@deborahgeorge9170 first chance I get. She is a gem isn't she?

[@deborahgeorge9170]

Fantastic! Thanks a bunch! I look forward to it.

[@jebediahnightlinger6357]

All a good deal until a tail gets chewed! That crap will make a preacher cuss!!

[@scrutinizer]

Peruvian hippies. That's one going into storage for later use.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Sometimes I dont even know what im saying but it comes out good.

[@liamrooney5314]

What do you mean about most vets leaving gelded horses "staggy." As in proud cut?

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

yes. A true proud cut gelding can still breed because part of a testical is still in him. A staggy gelding just acts proud.

[@loryspencer8215]

Can you expound on WHY you do not believe that horses behave as a Prey/think animal? I guarantee will horses are predated upon by big cats, and have seen more than my share of domestic horses that have been killed/wounded badly by big cats (Primarily Cougars/Mountain Lions) Horse's sense of smell is outstanding, and when a mountain lion took down a big elk at a barn I was at in Oregon, We also had bears and coyote packs coming into the pasture areas (which were surrounded by wooded areas/forests...All the horses were on high alert and worked up, so it would seem they recognize a threat when they see/smell one.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

I have explained this many times but am happy to do it again. Of course horses are on high alert when apex predators are around. All animals are on high alert when in dangerous situations including people. To be considered a prey animal you must have a specific predator and horses don't have one. Sure a Lion gets a baby colt now and then but not very often. Everyone in the world claims Mountain lions kill horses all the time. Lets be rational, a BIG Tom will weigh around 160-180 lbs a horse weighs 1000lbs a large bull elk weighs about 800. Im not saying a cat won't try it but most will only try once. Now an African lion weighs from 350-450 lbs and it still takes several of them to take down a zebra (smaller, slower, not as good of eyesight or smell as a horse). So the myth about mountain lions killing horses all the time is nothing more that a myth. Again they will get a baby colt now and then. Still all of this has nothing to do with my thinking on why horses are not prey animals. Before domestication by man, horses came from the Stepp regions of the world, short grass prairie and there is not a predator that is fast enough or sneaky enough to get near them, hence they have no natural predator and are therefore not a prey animal. That isn't my opinion its biology. After domestication horses have been taken to places they don't belong (Oregon with trees) and they naturally go on high alert because the ears and eyes don't work as well so they don't feel safe. It isn't because lions and tigers and bears are sniffing around all the time. All things are prey to a predator but that doesn't make it a prey animal by nature. I have killed and eaten bears and mountain lions, does that make a bear a prey animal? I hope this clears up what I was trying to say and I will say it once more. A horse does not behave the way it does because it is afraid, it behaves the way it does because it does not want to be afraid. One last point. I was on the river walk in San Antonio Sunday with my three young children my wife and another young lady. I was on high alert and caused them to pause on occasion or cross the street because I saw a predatory human that I didn't want them near. I also could point out every person in a crowd that was packing a firearm and every person that was strung out on something. I am not a prey animal I am a predator, I don't move the way I do because I am afraid, I move the way I do so I won't be afraid.

[@loryspencer8215]

@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt I had never seen your opinion on this, which is why I asked. Thanks for the reply.

[@loryspencer8215]

@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt I had never heard/read your explanation before. Thanks for clarifying. FYI: My opinion is that it is largely impossible for a human to realistically relate to or experience how a horse, for example, feels around a potential threat, as Humans are, in fact, apex predators.Sure, a bear or mountain lion can kill us, but we have fire power...so, we "win". I do agree that horses do not WANT to feel fear or threat, but being herd animals, they have the herd as a sort of strategy. (Safety in numbers, more eyes (with unique vision, unlike ours, which is designed to see potential predators/dangers around them.. to see danger and sense of smell (superior to ours)....why, if they aren't a prey animal?) ..This keen awareness is why so many horses experience anxiety, or "herd bound" behaviors when away from a herd setting...it is unnatural for them.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@loryspencer8215 I agree with you that people can not relate and I generally refrain from comparing species but I find it is easier for other people sometimes if I do. I also agree they are herd animals and get anxious without the security of a herd. The herd is why they have no natural predator and are therefor not a prey animal.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@loryspencer8215 absolutely. I hope I didn't sound exacerbated in my answer I didn't mean to.

[@modocroughstock5700]

Beautiful outfit awesome life

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

As long as you dont weaken

[@modocroughstock5700]

@HorsemanshipAsAnArt I've learnt that recently, one slip and it can be toast at my young 66.. physically or financially.. much love from McDermitt Nevada..

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@modocroughstock5700 thanks bro

[@mamaswrongagain4555]

Where are you living now? That don’t look like the Nevada I’m familiar with.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Texas

[@justinbonnot7851]

What part of the state?

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@justinbonnot7851 South of San Antonio.

[@user-mb1hg4qu9f]

No hierarchy? No dominant and submissive roles in a herd? 😅😂 Yeah, right!

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Just telling you what the Purivian Hippy said.

[@user-mb1hg4qu9f]

@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt that's who I was laughing at!😅

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@user-mb1hg4qu9f I know, I was laughing as well.