Do claimed horses need to adjust mentally?

[Toccet02]

I have never heard anyone talk about this, yet I've heard about getting horses "over" losing a pasture mate, losing a foal, and of course new stallions getting accustomed to the new way of, um, interacting with fillies.

So...if a horse has made 30 starts and then gets claimed, what can one expect from this animal that suddenly has total strangers walking up and taking charge? New barn and new feed and new tack, everything changes.

So why do people talk about it like they just go out there and don't react at all?

[cng]

Yes but with counseling and carrots they should be fine.

[Toccet02]

ba dum-bum!

[LB]

Most horses experience change throughout their lives. It's extremely rare for a horse to be born and die on the same farm. Riding and show horses are generally bought and sold multiple times.

The average racehorse is born in one place, sold as a youngster, sent to a training center, sent from there to a track, and then probably another track or two. He may or may not change trainers even if he isn't claimed. I'm not sure why the fact of being claimed (rather than sold, for example) would require a different adjustment process than any of those other changes.

[Toccet02]

Well, duh on me, all that is certainly true. And I knew that. So why does claiming seem different to me?
But this begs another question: do they get so used to change that they don't really react at all?
Would a horse raised as a pet with the same family have a much more affectionate personality?

[griff]

Horses are not dogs. they are livestock

g

[Shannon]

I think they desensitize to travel and change over time and with exposure. The big thing with being claimed I think would be medication withdrawl and feed changes. I also know of several that were claimed from long time owners, trainers and grooms, that DID pine for a time until they bonded with the new caregivers. Small things like stall walking looking out the door at the end of the shedrow, coming off the track and trying to go to the old barn, lack of focus. Eventually they settled into the routine and did just fine.
Show horses are highly adaptable as they tend to move a lot more than your average racehorse who likely stays at one track for a long time, maybe with different trainers, but the same location.
All horses are highly sensitive to their surroundings; seperate a wild horse from their herd and stress and trauma result. Moving barns, trainers etc really isn't that different, just a different type of herd for them, one where the instinctive part of their nature is subdued, but still influences behaviour, often triggering stress responses to change.

[Toccet02]

Horses are not dogs. they are livestock

g

I am aware of this. I acknowledge it would be highly unusual for a horse to be raised from birth as a pet. BUT, if they were to be raised so, I wonder how different (if at all) the bonding would be. If there is any.

[Crystal]

It takes the people associated with the horse far longer than the horse to get over being claimed,.

A horse(most) will follow any hand to a feed bucket.

[LB]

Would a horse raised as a pet with the same family have a much more affectionate personality?

In my experience, some horses are naturally more affectionate toward humans than others, and it isn't necessarily dependent upon the way they were raised. The horses we currently own--some of which we've had since they were born--seem to fall into three categories. Some will nicker and run to the fence when they see me coming. Some are happy to hang out with me if I happen to be in the vicinity but they don't seek me out. And others are just more content with their horse buddies.

[zinn21]

LB wrote in a comment to Toccet

Toccet02 wrote:
Would a horse raised as a pet with the same family have a much more affectionate personality?


In my experience, some horses are naturally more affectionate toward humans than others, and it isn't necessarily dependent upon the way they were raised. The horses we currently own--some of which we've had since they were born--seem to fall into three categories. Some will nicker and run to the fence when they see me coming. Some are happy to hang out with me if I happen to be in the vicinity but they don't seek me out. And others are just more content with their horse buddies.

Good post LB. You nailed it.

[Lucy]

In addition to what LB posted, even among similar 'personality types' there will be individuals who take change in general better than others.

I knew one aloof old mare who would pitch a fit if you so much as moved her to a different stall - she'd pace and go off her feed for days. Her daughter, otherwise similar in temperament, did not care if we shipped her to Timbuktu as long as there was food around.

[kezeli]

I've known alot of fillys that would sulk from the slightest change. But I do have to add that race horses are handled more than any other horses from what I've seen. And alot get very attached to there grooms. I had one lost 150# when I left him.

[Toccet02]

I've thought before that a race horse probably sees more of its groom every day than any other person.

[Joltman]

I've had some that didn't react well to environment changes, especially losing buddies. On the other hand, a claim to the right barn might be a real pick me up - better feed, routine, turn out, etc.

jm