Horse People, Please Respond

[Powder]

I'm a life-long PTSD sufferer.

Horse's can't stand me. I'm told that they "pick up on" anxiety.

Horse's will take their head away so they don't have to look at me, and they will not let me ride. They will quickly buck me off or run into stuff to get me off. Even horses that typically love young women.

I don't know horses well at all. But I wonder if other people with severe, chronic PTSD get the same negative treatment from horses.

It's too bad because I love animals and dogs adore me. Horses do not.

Any input on horse psychology or what this could mean in terms of PTSD is wide open. I'm really just curious.

 

[scout86]

Well, since horses are what I do for a living......

How many horses has this happened with? Under what circumstances?

They may pick up on your anxiety, yes. They are prey animals. Their world is really a lot like ours. They think everything might be out to get them until proven otherwise. How hard it is to convince them depends on their prior experience. When they are around a person who's anxious, unless they are very experienced, they tend to feel anxious too. They may not know what's wrong, but they can tell something's wrong and "you can't be too careful". Horses usually like me, but I think that's because they recognize me as being "one of them", in a way.

Most horses DO appreciate a leader. They like being around someone who gives them the feeling they're safe. Because they get "unsafe" really well.

 

[Rumors]

It sounds to me like your choice of horse is inappropriate. Even if a horse doesn't like you, they usually don't buck you off, just you and only you. They may buck everyone who tries to ride them off, but not usually an individual who hasn't provoked them by using Spurs or a whip or something. Perhaps if you try to ride again you should make sure your mount is appropriate and that the tack is appropriate for the task.
As for the psychology of a horse, they are keen on senses. They can feel the rigidity of a rider or a caretaker. They usually respond by raising their head higher in the air or turn their body away. However, just like when you or I get in a group of unfamiliar people and we don't cozy up right away, neither does a horse. They value your time and temperament and trust is only given when earned. So, on the first meeting with an animal you can't expect they will immediately warm up to you unless you are by chance kindred spirits. Just my take.... I've ridden for 40 years now, owned and bred several...

 

[Tearsofawarrior]

As a combat vet. I went through a program called combat boots to cowboy boots. I knew nothing of horses when I went. Maybe you already know a lot about horses. I do recommend finding a company that does PTSD/anxiety treatment using horses to re integrate you into your favorite hobby. While the treatment horses gave me the same cold shoulder at first. Over time they become used to me and accepted me.

 

[joeylittle]

I agree with @Tearsofawarrior - look for a therapeutic riding center, where you will generally find horses that are really collected, very mellow, and patient. Don't ride again until you feel really good just being on the ground with them. And, what everyone said - they are prey animals, so their general tendency is 'alert' - but, that's a very general way to put it, since so much depends on where they've come from, what they've been through, their experiences, gender, and whether they can still procreate. So, I guess, a lot like us. ;)

You can also help yourself just googling for how their vision works, and how to watch their ears. Or click this link: http://horsehints.org/HorseVision.htm Knowing how an animal interacts with its surroundings is always useful stuff. It also can give you something to do, besides wondering what they are going to do.

Learning how to groom will also help you out a whole lot. Understanding what happens when they are relaxed. Just interacting.

 

[Recovery4Me]

Any input on horse psychology or what this could mean in terms of PTSD is wide open. I'm really just curious.

Just a thought...consider being around an older pony to just learn the breath, the snorts, the head shake, the antics, or their view of life. Perhaps a Shetland as they are more akin to a mischevious dog. Bring a carrot or apple. Hold your palm up and fingers out of the way, as they are not always concerned with particulars. And stroke their neck slowly, carefully, such as the underbelly of a dog, lest they shake their head or head butt you.

Spend the time, to meld into their energy as you might with a puppy or large dog. Place riding second to understanding the animal spirit. As you learn to bond with them, then they allow you to be part of them. There is some part of you that does not feel confident, heal that part with nurturing and then the ride will come. Perhaps offer to wax or clean the tack, to become familiar with the feel and joining parts. Consider exploring and not the destination.

I am sure with your love of animals, that you may unfold yourself and find what you seek upon the back of a friendly steed soon enough. Horses are a part of our unbridled soul, it takes time to learn to fly. (((hugs)))

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Horses are very smart and sensitive I think. I think you need a gentle mare that is more experienced with anxious riders. I am glad that you keep trying to get back on the horses and not give up. I believe that you can do this. Great thread.

I used to own three horses when we had our little farm many years ago and I loved the horses. We raised a mare from a foal and she was the gentlest creature and did not spook easy at all.

 

[Poofycat]

I rode competitively for 25 years, and my parents still have horses, so I've been around them almost my entire life.

It sounds like you need to somehow clean your slate. Right now your mindset is "horses don't like me." At this point, no matter how you may THINK you're approaching them, that thought will always be there, and it's likely the horse will pick up on it. I like @Tearsofawarrior 's approach of a therapeutic program. Something like that will likely re-frame your approach, and you'll be working with horses trained to help people with anxiety disorders.

I think it's really cool that you're wondering about this. Horses are such magnificent animals, and I sincerely doubt I would have many of the coping mechanisms that I have today if I hadn't grown up around them. Let us know how it goes if you continue to pursue this.

 

[Powder]

Thank you all for these encouraging ideas.

I used to take my students each summer to the Chimps at the University housed in a naturalistic setting. I could get the chimps' attention and they'd sign "cool/black" to me, meaning they liked me. It's nice when an animal can sign if they like you or not, rather than bumping you off their back when you think it's all fine. :)

 

[Tearsofawarrior]

Chimps would be scary for me. Do you ever think about working with or near the Chimps again? Do Chimps have that sense to pick up on someone who has PTSD or anxiety?

 

[Friday]

Had nothing to add to any of the above, but I got to thinking this line here

Horse's will take their head away so they don't have to look at me, a

Horses don't "look" at people. They like being able to see them (horses can see almost 360 degrees, due to eye placement. The only places they have blind spots is directly in front, and directly behind. They hate people standing directly in front of them, unless they know them & will throw their heads to push people back & to catch a view of them / determine danger / make whomever or whatever is directly in front of them move into their field of view / make them back off.)... But they don't look at people -or anything- eye to eye*.

*The ONLY time a horse is going to eyeball you? "Look" at you, in an eye contact kind of way like a human/cat/dog might look at you, is if they're about to attack you (or want something from you). If you're their target. Snort. You can tell a horse is up to noooooo good if they're eyeballing you. Either your pockets are about to be raided, or you're about to have to leap out of the way of flashing hooves/teeth/etc.

Ponies tend to "look" at people waaaay more than horses, but ponies are also mean little f*cks, most of the time. Some ponies are sweethearts, but most have cruel streaks in their demented little brains. A lot of ponies are constantly on the attack. :meh: Ugh. Foul creatures, most of them. Mean spirited. ((Different breeds have different traits. Most ponies are mean spirited, regardless of actual breed. Thoroughbreds tend to be high strung/edgy. Quarter horses solid. Drafts gentle. Arabians intelligent & emotional. Morgans unflappable. Etc. Horses were all bred for different things. Ponies? Were largely bred for fighting. Especially in the hill country. It's only in recent years that ponies have gone to children. Historically, children were given into the care of the gentle giants who pulled plows -draft horses- due to their temperaments. Only after children learned to quiet their hands, and gentle their seat, were they given more responsive (and smaller!) horses.))

Anyhow, Since horses can see almost 360? They can see you virtually anywhere you are. How they really "look" at people/ other horses in the bondy kind of way is by touch, primarily, as well as sound. A horse really looking at you, horse style, will be rubbing on you. Or leaning against you. Murmuring at you. ((Horse have these sounds... Whickering, wuffling, nickering, chuffling, little half snorts, shifts in breathing patterns. You can lean against a horse and "talk" back and forth for hours just making breathing and mouth noises. Or you can watch two horses talking to each other, standing side by side, each with their head in a different direction, tails flicking flies off each other's faces, and their ears are constantly moving. One ear paying attention to ambient noises, but the other ear cocked backward to hear what their friend is doing, except when they "like" what the other has done, and it will flick forward for a half second and then immediately flick back to keep listening.)) But primarily, the way a horse "looks" and stays engaged with people, other horses, even friendly dogs/cats is via touch.

 

[Powder]

I was behind plate glass with the chimps. They are so intelligent and feeling. It is a shame that they are treated as they are in labs or endangered in the wild.