question about horses at the finish line

#1 10-03-2006, 01:41 PM

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

#2 10-03-2006, 05:12 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 · #3 10-03-2006, 06:29 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.

#4 10-05-2006, 04:55 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.

Cajungator26 · #5 10-05-2006, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Eyes

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.

Sorry, guess we have a different view on what "aggressive" means. Dictionary term for aggressive:

"characterized by or tending toward unprovoked offensives, attacks, invasions, or the like; militantly forward or menacing: aggressive acts against a neighboring country."

I guess the term I would have used for what you're talking about would be "assertive."

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

#6 10-05-2006, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Sorry, guess we have a different view on what "aggressive" means. Dictionary term for aggressive:

"characterized by or tending toward unprovoked offensives, attacks, invasions, or the like; militantly forward or menacing: aggressive acts against a neighboring country."

I guess the term I would have used for what you're talking about would be "assertive."

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Sorry, I was using "racetrack lingo" and not terminology from a dictionary when I used the word "aggressive".

Downthestretch55 · #7 10-05-2006, 05:13 PM

Horses "talk" with their ears.
If they're forward, they are curious, attentive, looking.
If they're pinned, they're defensive. best get your fingers out of the way before you get bit.
I agree with Danzig, they know if they've been beat. Also, they sulk when one of their pasture buddies goes missing.
Now, here's a question...did you ever notice that the grooms bringing horses over from the barn to the paddock always are looking down?
Is there something that they don't want to step in?
btw...did you ever notice where a horse's ears are when it takes a dump?

#8 10-05-2006, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downthestretch55

Horses "talk" with their ears.
If they're forward, they are curious, attentive, looking.
If they're pinned, they're defensive. best get your fingers out of the way before you get bit.
I agree with Danzig, they know if they've been beat. Also, they sulk when one of their pasture buddies goes missing.
Now, here's a question...did you ever notice that the grooms bringing horses over from the barn to the paddock always are looking down?
Is there something that they don't want to step in?
btw...did you ever notice where a horse's ears are when it takes a dump?

On it's head?

Downthestretch55 · #9 10-05-2006, 05:21 PM

No foolin' you, Blue Eyes.

DiscreetCat=Monster · #10 10-04-2006, 12:42 AM

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

#11 10-04-2006, 06:24 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!