November 2020 – Page 7 – James Poeartistry

Horses Like Dale have Personalities

Parts of this article were originally posted in the Year 2013 as “Dale – A Powerful Yet Gentle Horse.”
This year, with a few edits here and there, it is a pleasure to spruce up the article’s sweater! Lauren Thank you so much for the interview!

Throughout history, horses have worked with men and women to accomplish tasks. Depending on the owner’s preferences, horses have been used from “beast of burden” to royal chariot carriers. Sadly, at times, they have been used as weapons of war. People have different views on how intelligent these animals are. Some say they are temperamental. Still, horses are fast learners when they have owners who are correctly teaching them and consistent in their methods. The way a horse is talked to and treated has a significant bearing on its ability to learn. A horse associates tone with commands. It is not only what the trainer says, but how he or she says it. So in another way of saying it, horses emotionally associate different commands in positive and negative ways.

Listen to Lauren, horse owner, share her equestrian experience with (Glebedale) Dale. Her experience with training and jumping horses gives helpful advice on the treatment of these creatures and how they are reciprocal animals.

What is Dale’s personality like?

Lauren says: Dale is quite a nervous horse when you work with him in the stable. He doesn’t like his face being touched and things like that, but he is the gentlest of horses, especially when you are riding him. He is such a gentleman and will do anything for you.

Question Lauren we have heard people use similar expressions, “the gentlest of horses” before when they are riding a horse. Give us more of how Dale’s temperament is when he is not in riding or competition mode.

Lauren says: He is so friendly as well and follows me around the stable or the yard and leans his head on me as if he is giving me cuddles. When I am upset, he always seems even more comforting as if he knows I am sad. He is just like a best friend as he seems to listen to everything I say.

Question Lauren What do you feed Dale and how much?

Lauren shares: Their ideal weight depends on the breed of the horse really, you can tell by looking at them if they are overweight or underweight. Horses are always out in the fields grazing but when we bring them in we give them a big feed, and in the winter they also get hay out in the field.

Thank you, Lauren, for sharing your equestrian experience with us. It shows why horses have been used throughout history to help men and women in farming and transportation. By listening to people like Lauren, we find out horses are not just instinctual but they have feelings that endears them to you.