Quote:
Originally Posted by GenuineRisk
I'm really curious about how old the kid was (I don't remember from the article) and where he was reaching to pet the horse. My elderly gelding is a very kind horse around kids, but I always make sure to supervise, especially my 3-year-old, who stays in my arms when he goes to pet him. He especially loves horses' big shiny eyes, so I have to make sure his little fingers stay away from the horse's eyes. Because frankly, I'd bite someone who poked at my eyes, too.
And they're all just such individuals. My uncle has a gorgeous Tennessee Walker, without a mean bone in his body, but you can't pet him in the stall because he bites. Not out of meanness; he just bites anything that comes within reach of his mouth. His previous companion was a warmblood that would threaten to bite (though never follow through- he was all threat, no action), and the Walker was so young he just picked up this very bad habit, but actually does bite, even though he isn't annoyed or anything. You can hold his halter and pet him all you want, and he's kind and quiet to ride, but you can't hang out at the stall with him the way you can with my gelding (who, fortunately, is much too old and smart to pick up the Walker's habit. He's already got plenty of habits of his own.  ). |
Very true about them all being individuals. They can behave differently with different people as well. I can do virtually anything with or around my mare but only because after 17+ years with her, she places a lot of trust upon me. But she will get nervous if other people walk around her carrying shovels, manure forks or buckets. She is also very sweet, generally, with people but will nail another horse if it's nearby. And if you're in the way--oops, you just might get bitten or kicked by accident.
In a pasture/fenceline situation as it was with this kid, another possibility is that one horse went after another one approaching from the flank and the kid's head was unfortunately in the way. People that are clueless about horses can misinterpret this as direct aggression.