question about horses at the finish line

Cajungator26 · #1 10-03-2006, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linny

Ears pricked usually means that they are running within themselves, not extending a "maximum effort." Look at Wait a While's picture on the front of Tuesday's DRF.

Actually, it's a good thing when their ears are pricked. Ears pricked alert and facing forward indicate that the horse is happy and interested in what's ahead of him/her. Normally, when they're laid flat back, they're not happy.

SundayStar · #2 10-03-2006, 12:32 PM

did anyone notice when dance in the mood won the cash call mile that she pricked ONE ear forward. i don't think i've ever seen that. what a beautiful mare. i haven't heard of any bc plans for her. i guess she's not coming.

Cajungator26 · #3 10-03-2006, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SundayStar

did anyone notice when dance in the mood won the cash call mile that she pricked ONE ear forward. i don't think i've ever seen that. what a beautiful mare. i haven't heard of any bc plans for her. i guess she's not coming.

That means that the ear that was BACK was paying attention to something behind her. The best way to tell about a horse's personality is their ears. I could always tell when I was going to get thrown off by mine by what he was doing with his ears.

#4 10-03-2006, 12:41 PM

The horse wanted to hear their name called as the winner!! lol Bad day needed a laugh

#5 10-03-2006, 04:12 PM

When a horses' ears are pricked forward while racing they are not paying attention to the rider or the other horses. They are focusing on something in front or ahead of them. That's the last thing you want to see when you are on the backs of one these, going that fast. Remember Gary Stevens getting dumped in the Arlington Million at the finish line? His horse had it's ears forward, spotted the photographer and put the breaks on. If a horse has it's ears forward it doesn't always mean it's happy and if they're back, it doesn't always mean it's upset. Where the ears are pointed usually means that's where the horse is looking and paying attention. "Pinned" ears on a racing horse isn't a bad thing either. When they are "pinned" that is their way of telling that other horse that they are challenging them to just try and get by. That is also a good sign of an honest, aggressive race horse.

Cajungator26 · #6 10-03-2006, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Eyes

When a horses' ears are pricked forward while racing they are not paying attention to the rider or the other horses. They are focusing on something in front or ahead of them. That's the last thing you want to see when you are on the backs of one these, going that fast. Remember Gary Stevens getting dumped in the Arlington Million at the finish line? His horse had it's ears forward, spotted the photographer and put the breaks on. If a horse has it's ears forward it doesn't always mean it's happy and if they're back, it doesn't always mean it's upset. Where the ears are pointed usually means that's where the horse is looking and paying attention. "Pinned" ears on a racing horse isn't a bad thing either. When they are "pinned" that is their way of telling that other horse that they are challenging them to just try and get by. That is also a good sign of an honest, aggressive race horse.

You don't always want an aggressive race horse... seems to me that many get gelded for being too "aggressive" during the races. They don't always pay attention to RUNNING when they're like that.

#7 10-05-2006, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

You don't always want an aggressive race horse... seems to me that many get gelded for being too "aggressive" during the races. They don't always pay attention to RUNNING when they're like that.

Ummmm..... I want an aggressive race horse. Maybe you don't. I prefer mine to dig in when the tough gets going, not back down when challenged. When I say "aggressive" I am not implying the horse needs to savage the other horse. That's called a savage, not an aggressive race horse. And a horse that is interested in the other horses for other things than racing is usually called "studish" not aggressive.

DiscreetCat=Monster · #8 10-03-2006, 11:42 PM

They are just waiting for another command and are not at the stage where they are exausted

#9 10-04-2006, 05:24 AM

in native dancers lone loss in the derby....they said he kept looking back at dark star in the winners circle while they led him back to the shed. and then once he was there he pouted. the good ones hate to lose--and they know it when they do!

YellowSnowMonster · #10 10-05-2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Actually, it's a good thing when their ears are pricked. Ears pricked alert and facing forward indicate that the horse is happy and interested in what's ahead of him/her. Normally, when they're laid flat back, they're not happy.

It kind of depends on the horse though. My horse puts her ears back when she is running flat out, when she is with in herself her ears are forward- pretty good indicator that she's being lazy!
As for knowing where the finish line is.... Horses always know. The same horse mentioned above always tries to stop before the cones, it makes me angry! (We run in barrel races)