Would your horse protect you from an intruder?

[deb be]

I saw what I would describe as a creepy character while walking my dog recently, for the first time ever my dog who loves everyone and has always been that way got this little spring in her step and I think would have fought for me if needed.  Maybe she sensed it in my voice when I called someone on the cell that I was concerned. 

It begs the question - would your horse also be protective if you found yourself in some sort of altercation or with an unexpected intruder?   There was a bobcat near my barn once pretty close and I thought to myself that my mare would run it off if need be, but she seemed to care less much to my dismay.  Luckily it didn't mean me or the horses any harm and was just checking out my ducks - much to their dismay.  They were penned up and safe. My horses will definitely run dogs off.

But is it wishful thinking to hope that they would go after someone out to harm you in some way?  My horses notice everyone and everything walking up and down the road and even in the neighbors yards,  I'd like to  think they would intercede if the situation warranted it.  Obviously they can't open up the stall doors themselves, but do you think they would 'fight for you' or would they assume that your the top horse and should be able to fight yourself. I've never seen any kind of articles about it that I can remember.

[equisician]

Some interesting info about horse behavior:

http://www.angelfire.com/sports/ballycorr/behavior.html

[8Belles]

I don't know if my horse would or not, but I know she doesn't like other horses getting near me when we're out in a field.
She'll pin her ears and even chase after them if needed.

[Classic2011]

Very interesting info on horse behavior.  As far as protecting, the only protecting that might be done is maybe a horse alerting you to someone being around you. If you read the info on horse behavior,  it is the way they were designed...flight or fight but mostly flight.  It is so instinctive for horses to have that "get the hell out of there" reaction.  You can "feel" protected by knowing that if you are riding your horse and maybe a dangerous situation presents itself, you, too, can get the hell of that situation by riding like the wind, but do stay on the back of your horse.  The main protecting that goes on while riding is you basically protecting yourself from your horse having a flight reaction.

While at home, "interceding if the situation warranted it" is a probably not.  I do know that donkeys and mules have more more have that protective mode.  We have heard the story of the mule attacking and killing the cougar when the cougar was attacking a dog..how exactly true that is depends on the person who wrote that up.

And remember, since horses are herd animals and you are suppose to be the boss mare, they are going to expect you to protect them.  But, since miracles do happen, maybe there are those stories of horses protecting their owners.  There has to be and I would love to hear of some.  We should google this....

[equisician]

Many horses have rescued me from emotional and physical pain and have provided a barrier from general ugliness in the world just by being there for me to love, ride and spend time with 

[SaddlebredShowMom]

What a very interesting question!  I don’t think they are protective in the same way a dog is, but I do think they would respond to your danger and the way they respond would be unique to that individual horse's nature.

I think our big guy would be on guard for us and go into protective fight mode and I’d like to think he would come to my/our aid.  He is what I call the herd “sentinel” – always alert and the first one to call out to the others if he senses something amiss.  He could have this herd position and instinct because of his size and build (17.1 and built like it) as he would be one of the, if not the, biggest and strongest of his herd.  I also believe that there are the protectors or defenders of the herd (and that my guy falls in this group) and that while the majority of the herd would be in flight mode, those others would be in fighting mode to ward off the predator/danger so the others can make their escape to safety.  (The way of nature to risk and sacrifice the few for the safety and preservation of the majority of the herd.)

If you have established yourself as the herd leader of your horse(s) and have taught them to take it’s cues from you, it would follow that they would also take your cue to react to a dangerous situation.  As every rider and horse handler knows, if you’re tense and nervous you communicate that fear to your horse and they react accordingly.  If you’ve taught your horse to pay attention to you and to have confidence in you as their leader so they will push through whatever it is that may be fearful, a/k/a use their fight mode and overcome their flight instinct, then they should kick into that confident fight mode for you.

I’ve also often said that the mare we had prior to our current guy would walk through fire for my daughter, and I honestly believe that, so I have no doubt that she would respond in the same way for us.

Gotta luv 'em!  

[deb be]

Some of our horses definitely take care of us with regard to our riding - when I think of some of my silly escapades that could have been far worse I have to give them a lot of .   
I like the previous posters comment that a certain pony would have walked thru fire for her daughter.  Something we all desire in any animal friend. 
My grandfather would have been the ideal candidate to ask this of but he's long gone as most of those are who were in the cavalry.  I haven't had time to google it but definitely will. 
Maybe a good question would be if the lead stallion in a wild herd was harmed - would the others come to his rescue or would the second in line take over and run off with the herd quick while it had the chance to do so. 
       

[Coral Reef Riding]

Once I was on a trail ride up north in a very woodsy park system when suddenly we were hit with a very bad electrical storm. I turned around to go back but trees were getting hit with lightning all around me.  I was so frightened and I started crying and praying.  My horse Jack (big tb) stayed so calm as he carried my butt back to the barn.  He never flinched at the thunder or lightning once. 

[Coral Reef Riding]

Also a story on horse heroics during lessons.  A little 39 lb girl was on my paint Cash.  It was a very hot summer day. All of a sudden while Cash was at the far end of the ring.  He dropped down to his knees and we thought he was going to roll. Then he tipped his back and the rider slid off WITH THE SADDLE.  THe billet strap had snapped and only Cash knew so he dropped the kid off safetly to the ground.  Then he stood up and looked at us like he was saying "Come and get this kid".

[Classic2011]

That is awesome- that story gave me goosebumps.  Cash is some horse.

There are wonderful horse stories of horses that were used during the wars and the heroic acts they performed.

That thunder and lightning story with Jack (love that name for a horse) is also more like a miracle for a horse to react like that. 

As far as the question about the stallion who might be harmed...click on the info on horse behavior in the very beginning of this post.   It talks about the peeking order and what stallions do in a herd.  I have a friend who has a shirt that says Boss Mare.  A dominant, wise mare is who the leads the herd.  Stallions are territorial and protective.  But read the info to get the details.

  My daughter's mare, though she was an alpha mare, was not the bravest in her pasture.  Yet while being ridden by my 9 yr. old, she would do whatever she asked her to do...beyond the normal Arab duties.  True stories....and do not do this at home...but my braveheart child riding her mare would chase alligators sunning themselves on the channels.  The poor alligators didn't know what was happening and imagine an Arab charging gators into the water.  Another story was my daughter was galloping through this field and noticed that her horse was picking up speed.  She looked behind her and saw a Mastiff dog chasing them.  And so my child turns her horse around and goes flying after the dog.  That poor dog.  And my little 9 yr. old is a very sweet, non aggressive child, but, on horseback, she conquered the world.  The fight mode was what her mare obediently did.  Now going through fire....only if my daughter were on her back.

[SaddlebredShowMom]

Some of our horses definitely take care of us with regard to our riding - when I think of some of my silly escapades that could have been far worse I have to give them a lot of .   
I like the previous posters comment that a certain pony would have walked thru fire for her daughter.  Something we all desire in any animal friend. 
My grandfather would have been the ideal candidate to ask this of but he's long gone as most of those are who were in the cavalry.  I haven't had time to google it but definitely will. 
Maybe a good question would be if the lead stallion in a wild herd was harmed - would the others come to his rescue or would the second in line take over and run off with the herd quick while it had the chance to do so. 
       

Interesting that you mention the Cavalry.  The Saddlebred horse came into great popularity during the Civil War and they were used as mounts by the likes of General Robert E. Lee and others.

Excerpt from the International Museum of the Horse:

By the time of the Civil War, Saddlebreds were among the most popular riding animals in America. They were used in great numbers by the Confederate cavalry and demonstrated incredible endurance and dependability on long marches and under fire. The men of John Hunt Morgan and Nathan Bedford Forest were exclusively mounted on these horses. Generals on both sides proudly rode Saddlebreds. Traveller, General Robert E. Lee's mount and the most famous horse of the war had breeding typical of an early Saddlebred. His sire was the Thoroughbred Gray Eagle and his dam a mare of mixed breeding. Traveller possessed a smooth rack.

Link: http://www.imh.org/History-of-the-Horse/Breeds-of-the-World-by-Continent/American-Saddlebred.html

I think our Saddlebreds are true to their lineage and would do their ancestors proud if challenged today. 

As for the mare, she was definitely an Alpha and would let you know it, which only makes her relationship with my daughter all that more special.  I guess my daughter was the Alpha's Alpha.    She was wonderful with me too, but in a totally different way.  She would snap too for my daughter, but I was in the "caretaker mare" role with her; actually, I guess I've been in that safe harbor "caretaker" role with all of them, and that is quite fine by me. 

[D Minger]

Well. My grumpy QH doesn't like  but about 3 people in this world  and I am the one he loves most. If I'm in his stall doing barn work and my husband raises his voice around me Streak will semi lunge at him with ears pinned back. That's pretty protective.

[Classic2011]

Saddlebreds are so beautiful and I love their gaits and they way they carry themselves.  Had a few friends that had Saddlebreds and they were gorgeous.  Had nooooo idea they were used in any war.  The fight mode once again and obedient to their owners.

That is very funny about Streak lunging at hubby......never heard of that and quite protective.

[deb be]

This has turned out to be a fun question to say the least.  As for the grumpy QH story- that sounds pretty protective!   
My TB gelding seems to pick on my husband a little bit anyways so its little wonder I'm usually in the barn myself.  (I wish there were a magic pill to get our spouses or family for that matter to love our horses as much as we do.) 
I've seen some nice shows about Saddlebreds on tv.  It seemed like they used attributes like loyalty with regard to them.
The more I think about Streak; horses are intuitive and very tuned into us.  They may not be like attack dogs per say, but I think we could use them to our advantage if we kept a cool head.  I bet if I turned my big TB out of his stall an intruder would do a good vanishing act..

[D Minger]

The weird thing about Streak is he doesn't forget. He is actual wicked smart - 2 smart for his own good and he really doesn't care for my husband. It took one time for the voice to raise and streak never forgot it. 

[Classic2011]

Cute little true story.....not my horse, but his name is Captain.  He is a 3 yr. old gelding rescued from the ACC.  Anyway, he is boarded with my horse and so I saw him do this.  He is just one of those really cute curious horses.  He is still young and everything is basically interesting.  Not a mean bone in his body....so I thought.  So a woman comes in with her American Pitbull dog and the dog is a good size dog.  Captain happens to be loose grazing in the area where this lady came in with her dog.  I saw Captain look at the dog with too much interest and comes walking over to the dog.  I knew what was next.  Yup...Captain went after the "intruder" and how he didn't hit him, with both ends, I don't know.  We were a 3 ring circus!  The owner was running for her life----forget the dog.  I am trying to get the horse and the horse is trying to get the dog!  After much...oh God! Help! and Captain come here, I managed to grab his face mask.  Actually I was darn proud of that horse because I did tell the owner of the dog to please take him out and I should have said before the horse does.

[Coral Reef Riding]

Got to tell the story about SHINE, my tennessee walker and the boss of the barn (he thinks so).  I had this really bad pony, (gorgeous but very unpredictable and with a mean streak).  The pony got loose and when I went to catch him, he would swing around like he was going to kick me so I said "fine, stay here and graze" while I went to give beginners some lessons.  When we got off the horses after the lesson, we walked towards the wash rack, I was holding SHINE by his reins when all of a sudden here comes the pony going to get in the middle of everything (horses, children etc).  Before I could react, SHINE broke loose and pulled away from me and chased the pony away into a corner then sauntered away with that "No Problem" look.  I was in a state of shock of what just took place and will never forget how my hero "SHINE" saved the day!   

[Classic2011]

That is such a feel-good story!  It is really amazing how smart horses are and so many people say they are dumb.  That is another topic....but your horse, Shine, wow~!  He read that little pony's intentions quicker than a human and reacted quicker.  Thanks for sharing!

[Tisbouncy]

My horse was loose grazing in our yard a couple feet  (15) away from my son.  All of a sudden he went up to my son and nudged him out of the way and place himself between him (my son) and a snake.  He stomped at the snake and shooshled it off in another direction.  Love that big lug of mine!!!

[deb be]

Ya gotta love these stories.
The last posters made me remember a fun incident. I was in grade school and had a friend over and we watched my pony pick up a skunk by the tail and fling it. While he wasn't protecting us per say, I swear to you it happened. I guess he was protecting himself. He picked it up and flung it. 
Thank goodness I've never seen any skunks here in our neck of the woods because I know my nosey TB would get sprayed. When still fairly hot off the track I had the pleasure of watching  him encounter baby ducks in a field and another time a turtle and it was priceless.  All he wanted to do was smell them - the mother duck did the little I'm hurt routine to get his attention.