Conference noted::equitation

    Re: Question 1
    
    I assume that by being a 'pet' you mean that the animal is a companion
    who feels a bond to you and you to it.  My answer is why not?  You
    may not be able to do this if you have a number of horses, but if
    you have one or two, why shouldn't you feel that they are as much
    a pet as a dog?  Horses are herd animals and naturally form friendships
    and alliances with people and other members of a herd.  
    
    Re: Question 2
    
    Absolutely!  Foals develop their attitudes toward people in the
    first several months of life.  We've had foals that were at large
    breeding farms for the first six months while mama is being rebred
    and they are usually very standoffish toward humans.  On the other
    hand, the foals born at our farm are loved, hugged, and cuddled
    every day from day 1.  We do it intentionally to produce animals
    which enjoy human contact.  Thats why horses are better than cars,
    because they love back!
    
    Bob
    
    

    I AGREE WITH WHAT BOB SAID IN HIS REPLY TO THE QUESTION OF HORSES
    BEING PETS. I HAVE FOUR HORSES THAT I HAVE RAISED SINCE THEY WERE
    BORN. TWO OF THEM ARE 14 AND 15 YEARS OLD AND THEY ARE ALMOST MY
    BEST FRIENDS. WHEN THEY SEE US GOING OUT TO THE FILEDS THEY CALL
    TO US AND COME RUNNING. I NOW HAVE A FOUR YEAR OLD THAT I HAVE HAD
    SINCE HE WAS BORN AND HE IS EVEN FRIENDLIER. ALL OF THESE HORSES
    WE HAVE HAD SINCE BABIES AND THEY WERE BORN AT OUR PLACE AND HANDLED
    ALOT FROM THE START. I NOW HAVE A YEARLING STALLION THAT IS A PREFECT
    GENTLEMAN AND LOVES TO GET ATTENTION FROM ANYONE THAT WILL GIVE
    IT TO HIM. HE IS OUT WITH OUR OTHER HORSES AND THEY ALL GET ALONG
    GREAT. I WILL BE SORRY TO SELL HIM (I HAVE HIM UP FOR SALE NOW,
    TOO MANY ANIMALS).
    
    I THINK THAT IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF THE ANIMALS.
    I SOMETIMES GO FOR MONTHS WITHOUT RIDING BUT LOVE TO TAKE CARE OF
    THE "CRITTERS".
    
    GOOD LUCK, TERRY

I think that if you spend tremendous amounts of time training and grooming 
an animal, you're bound to view it as a pet. That doesn't mean that you 
don't maintain control. It just means that you have a substantial emotional 
investment in the beast. That investment can be a problem when it comes to
major decisions like selling it, or putting it down. But, it is an advantage
when working with the animal. It gives you the patience and calmness to
treat the horse consistently and firmly. 

Developing a "relationship" with the horse is the thing that I've found most 
thrilling about riding. Prior to buying a horse, I had always
equated learning to ride with learning to drive a manual transmission. 
I figured that somebody would show me the correct movements, I'd practice
them a few times, and that'd be it. What a mistake!  I am constantly amazed
by the variety of ways that a rider needs to communicate with the horse, and
by the number of things that the horse does that telegraph its moods and
intentions. You can have the trophies, medals, and shows. Just let me
have one of those beautiful days when the horse and I are telepathically
synchronized, and we'll gallop off into the sunset, suspended between
the earth and the sky.

/ed

    
    Ed,
    
    That was very well put! 
    
    It also seems to hit on just the reason I don't let other
    people on my horse. It's not an easy relationship to build and it
    can be damaged very easily by someone who doesn't know any better.   
    
    Dani
    

	I bought my horse when he was 14, and boarded him about 1/2
	hour from my home. Usually I only got to ride once or
	twice a week. He bit, was a runaway, was a pain in the
	neck to catch, constantly had his ears back, and was an
	all-around jerk most of the time.

	Last fall I bought a place with room for him, and he became
	a backyard horse. In just the past 8 months he has become
	affectionate, I can turn my back on him and let him nuzzle
	me, he responds to me as a rider beautifully, and will stand
	around letting me pet him all I want. I just put in a new
	deck, and he'll stand there with his head over the rail
	begging for carrots!

	So, what I'm getting at here is that whether or not a horse
	becomes a pet depends on one's circumstances. Large barns
	using them strictly as a business don't usually have the time
	or inclination for it - let's make money! A backyard horse
	can become a wonderful pet, and there are many many degrees
	of difference between the two. And, yes, anyone/anything
	learns and develops their concept of the world around them
	better and faster at an early age, but you can still teach an
	old horse new behaviour and manners, and encourage their natural
	sociability and curiosity and have a wonderful pet.

	-julie

    I must agree with Ed also.
    The wife & I love our Arab, our bond is close to him, he likes to
    give us kisses on the face. He knows what is going on.
    We've been together since his birth, that was five years ago, boy
    how time flies by.
    Each horse has their own personality, it's how they are raised,
    just like your own children.
    
                                            Steve
    

    Your horse doesn't have to be in the backyard to be a pet. My mare
    is a little over 3 and lives in a boarding stable. Now that I've
    had her a few months I can call her in the pasture and she comes
    to me (unless one of the studly geldings chases her away - I hate
    that). I feel good knowing that when she sees me she's happy to
    see me. I've seen other horses there turn to the back of the stall
    or run away in pasture when their owners appear. 
    
    I also spend non-riding time either grooming or hand grazing Taffy.
    That seems to help the bond. I believe in maintaining control but
    that doesn't mean she's not a pet. I don't let my dogs run wild
    and disobey and no one would say they weren't pets. liesl

    I have boarded at both types of barns.  The first was more farmy,
    each chicken even had a name.  The bull's name was Jeremy and the
    pig was Porky.  Their horses and ours were treated like pets, they
    were kissed and hugged and generally fawned over, and the horses
    thrived.  I have always played "ball" and "tag" with my horses,
    we take a lot of walks (they are very good listeners) and are part
    of the family.  More than pets in some ways.  They ride to the ice
    cream stand and they get ice cream, too, etc. etc.  
    
    I also rode at a now-defunct barn in Brentwood NH.  The people there
    treated their horses like machines.  They rode for their own pleasure,
    the horses were just the means for it.  This meant no stall cleaning,
    the horse were even tacked up upon your arrival.  You just hop on,
    ride it around and get off.  The horses were just a toy, like aa
    sailboat or a nice car.  I couldn't understand it in the least.
    They looked at me funny when I talked to my horse other than in
    a non-command way.
    
    I got a lot of funny looks, but my horses are my babies!  
    
    Stacie

Please excuse, but

	re: -1  How do you play ball with a horse???  

    I've played tag with my critter, wandered in the pasture he was turned 
    out in (he started to 'herd' me around - it was fun!), and other fun
    things, but not play ball!

				Thanks!
					-Caroline

    I've always considered my mare (she's 14 now) as another member
    of my family of pets.  I've had her since she was weaned and our
    bond is quite strong.  She not only knows me when I go to the barn
    where I board her (always boarded my horses - my first one too)
    and whinnies her "hello", but she also seems to recognize my car
    when I drive it out back to the barn.  I just love to hear her call
    to me.
    
    Sometimes she's been moved to the larger barn with the arena and
    when she's that far from the driveway she doesn't know I've arrived.
    When I get out of the car I usually call her name and she'll always
    answer me to let me know where she is.  She's a very clever mare.
    She's not only a good trail horse but a good show horse as well.
    She brings me as much joy as do all of my other pets and though
    some people might think they're spoiled, you can believe they know
    their proper manners.
    
    Spoiled?  Yes, and why not?  As long as they're not dangerous to
    be around!
    
    

    
    
    I think what it boils down to is that you will get back from your
    horse what you put into them.  I have spent 17 years caring for,
    protecting, worrying over, laughing over, and training my horses.
    Likewise, they have done the same with me.  I have been approached
    in the woods by strange people and my horse has protected me.
    I have had riding accidents, been knocked out, and my 19 yr old,
    ( a stallion at the time), ignored the other rider's mare to
    stand by me and try to wake me up.  I have never thought of
    treating my horse's as "things" because I would not want them
    to treat me that way.  And so far, they have shown that they can
    be useful for riding as well as "pets".