[I LuvMyHorses]

Originally Posted by moondust

Yes, I definately believe that there are one person horses! Moondust is my horse and I am her person. She doesn't fully trust anyone else riding her, and won't co-operate with anyone else riding her but me. Don't get me wrong, she is sweet on the ground to most people, so she isn't mean spirited to anyone. I rescued her from starvation, so our bond stems from that. My husband has always been active and supportive of Moondust, He repairs the fences, and helps with feed runs, but was never totally hands on ex: brushing her, does not care about riding, or doing any of the hands on care of the horses. So , I have been the one person consistantly hands on and hanging out with her riding, and training her, and bonding with her.

You have such a special bond with her!


Everyone has great stories!!

[Berlunz]

I dont believe in "one person horses". I do however believe in horses that take a great deal of work and effort to trust you. I am sure if other people worked with these "one person horses" as much as that one person does, they could be a more than one person horse. But as it is their trust is hard to gain and so its only given to the one person who is out there working with them. This is more common in mules than in horses. Many of the mules we have had have been what is termed here as "one person horses" meaning it takes a lot to gain their trust and if you dont take that time it just does not happen. We had a mustang before who I spent a lot of time working with and he trusted me and only me because of this, but it could just have easily of been the same story for anyone else had they spent the time and work that I did.

[Sheza_Angel]

I agree whole heartedly that some horses would rather just belong to one person. Sadly, the APHA colt I used to show that did not belong to me fit into that category. He never really seemed to bond with or listen to anybody else as well as he did me, and now I hear that he is not being handled a lot since I have switched barns and can no longer work with him. It can be both good and bad when a horse chooses just one person. It is good in that they will have a tight bond with said person, and bad in that it might present problems for other people who work with it/ride it.

My horse doesn't openly trust anybody but me I don't think. She will let other people pet her and so forth, but when it comes down to things like the farrier, trailering and other stuff it is only me who has much luck with her. I can be gone for an entire week and she'll play hard-to-get for a little bit, but quickly returns to her goofy old self. I have been cosistently working with her for a year now and I'm not sure if this is why she bonds with me most or not.

[FincaPerlitas]

Originally Posted by Berlunz

I dont believe in "one person horses". I do however believe in horses that take a great deal of work and effort to trust you. I am sure if other people worked with these "one person horses" as much as that one person does, they could be a more than one person horse. But as it is their trust is hard to gain and so its only given to the one person who is out there working with them. This is more common in mules than in horses. Many of the mules we have had have been what is termed here as "one person horses" meaning it takes a lot to gain their trust and if you dont take that time it just does not happen. We had a mustang before who I spent a lot of time working with and he trusted me and only me because of this, but it could just have easily of been the same story for anyone else had they spent the time and work that I did.

I agree. It takes time to create a mutual bond of trust and respect between horse and rider. I have several horses but also have a lot of friends and family who like to ride, so I've always made a practice of allowing other people to ride my horses (doing my best to match horse and rider).

In general, I think its a good idea to have my horses ridden by others. However, the two horses that I ride personally, one stabled near my house and the other at my ranch, don't really like to be ridden by others and don't perform at their best, even with expert riders.

I'm in Central America and both horses are Criollo-crosses, one with Arabian and the other with Peruvian Paso. They both have a lot of "brio", which best translates as spirit or energy but really is something different than either. The Arab won't relax her neck with anyone except me, and other riders have to hold her back to keep her in a walk, rather than speeding up to the trot or canter. It's not a big deal. She isn't a bolter or anything, she just won't relax with other riders.

My Peruvian cross, Viajero, I've only owned for a few months. He's gaited and is a 5 yr old gelding. He sort of "tests" other riders, and did so with me when I first started riding him. He'll try to start moving out before they're fully mounted, he resists backing up, and he'll try to change gaits on them. If they correct him a few times he gives up on the game, but if not he just takes them along for the ride.

I've recently decided to stop letting anyone else ride him, not because it's such a big problem but because I have him just about where I want him as a personal trail horse, and I don't want anyone else messing him up.

I've posted Viajero's photo elsewhere on the board, but here it is again. I'm the guy in the long-sleeved shirt. The photo was taken in February, a week or so after I bought him, during a trail ride in the mountains. I didn't have a saddle for him yet and was riding an English saddle I normally don't use on the trail. I've since purchased an Australian poley saddle which is great on him.

[Drafty]

Originally Posted by FincaPerlitas

I agree. It takes time to create a mutual bond of trust and respect between horse and rider. I have several horses but also have a lot of friends and family who like to ride, so I've always made a practice of allowing other people to ride my horses (doing my best to match horse and rider).

In general, I think its a good idea to have my horses ridden by others. However, the two horses that I ride personally, one stabled near my house and the other at my ranch, don't really like to be ridden by others and don't perform at their best, even with expert riders.

I'm in Central America and both horses are Criollo-crosses, one with Arabian and the other with Peruvian Paso. They both have a lot of "brio", which best translates as spirit or energy but really is something different than either. The Arab won't relax her neck with anyone except me, and other riders have to hold her back to keep her in a walk, rather than speeding up to the trot or canter. It's not a big deal. She isn't a bolter or anything, she just won't relax with other riders.

My Peruvian cross, Viajero, I've only owned for a few months. He's gaited and is a 5 yr old gelding. He sort of "tests" other riders, and did so with me when I first started riding him. He'll try to start moving out before they're fully mounted, he resists backing up, and he'll try to change gaits on them. If they correct him a few times he gives up on the game, but if not he just takes them along for the ride.

I've recently decided to stop letting anyone else ride him, not because it's such a big problem but because I have him just about where I want him as a personal trail horse, and I don't want anyone else messing him up.

I've posted Viajero's photo elsewhere on the board, but here it is again. I'm the guy in the long-sleeved shirt. The photo was taken in February, a week or so after I bought him, during a trail ride in the mountains. I didn't have a saddle for him yet and was riding an English saddle I normally don't use on the trail. I've since purchased an Australian poley saddle which is great on him.

i agree and you and him look very calm and relaxed and he is very good for you from what i can see good luck with him you got a special horse and you are a special to have him as well let us know how he does in the future

[TheNoviceRider]

I think that there are. There is this one horse at my barn who will buck off everyone, i mean EVERYONE, who trys to ride her except the lady who owns her. There has been a many very qualified people try to ride her and they all end up bucked off. I don't know her history at all.. but my point is, YES there is one people horses =)

[Dressage Princess]

I think there are 'one person' horses. I think I own one.

[ARMwins]

oh boy do i have experiance with this

my boy chico. he was born and raised a jumper with one rider and one trainer, doing great at shows. then they donated him to be a skool horse...BIG MISTAKE. he doesnt like all kinds of different riders telling him different things. he needs one set of directions and he needs to know his expectations, so he can go above and beyond them

your questions:
Do you think its Good or Bad? good, but not for skool horses
Whats your definition of one? one that needs one set of directions and expectations to live up to
What do you think causes it? nothing, just the way the horse's mind set is
-Such a special bond with one? maybe
-Not enough experience with other riders? not necessarily, more like too much experiance with bad riders who dont know what they are doing

so now that i am the only one who rides him, he knows exactly what is expected of him, and the trust we have helps him trust in me when trying new things

[ARMwins]

Originally Posted by Berlunz

I do however believe in horses that take a great deal of work and effort to trust you.

i agree with this

[mustang_dodger]

i use to have one. he was an apploosa gelding. he only would do things for me. he hated my ex-husband. he would always pin his ears at him when he would come close to him. he woul kick out at him too when he got to close. he would also get pissy when i would have other people take care of him for me on the weekends when i was at college. with me he was just fine.