That's not quite fair. The horse's reaction was proper and proportionate. You just don't come out of nowhere and swat them on the ass. They are hard-wired for reciprocation.
I owned horses for 20 years. It's easy to get along with them if you have love in your heart. I always advised that when a person has to move around the hindquarters of a horse, they should stay in bodily contact with the horse and do nothing sudden. (1) It keeps them aware of where you are. (2) If they get a kick in mind, they don't have much distance in which to build up a stroke. Be trustworthy, and they will trust you. And you can trust them.
I like to say that horses have the intelligence, emotional maturity, and strength of a 3-year-old child...who weighs half a ton!
Horses are great animals....to stay away from.
That's not quite fair. The horse's reaction was proper and proportionate. You just don't come out of nowhere and swat them on the ass. They are hard-wired for reciprocation.
I owned horses for 20 years. It's easy to get along with them if you have love in your heart. I always advised that when a person has to move around the hindquarters of a horse, they should stay in bodily contact with the horse and do nothing sudden. (1) It keeps them aware of where you are. (2) If they get a kick in mind, they don't have much distance in which to build up a stroke. Be trustworthy, and they will trust you. And you can trust them.
I like to say that horses have the intelligence, emotional maturity, and strength of a 3-year-old child...who weighs half a ton!