Does a race horse have rivals???

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

In todays state of racing I would say horses don't face each other enough to have rivals. Do horses know and acknowledge other horses they have known? Yes, horses actually make Elephants look forgetful. I think people with riding horses will more likely tell of horses liking or disliking other horses because they spend more time with them than a racehorse would. I know personally of my horses likes and dislikes of certain horses and stable them in particular stalls or ride them in a certain location in a group because of it. I think when you see a horse all out to win a race, it is because some horses are more Alpha and have an inate desire to be the boss, ie. leader. The good and great horses absolutely know what the games about, thats why horses like Lava Man, Cigar and so many other gems make this game so unbelievably compelling and exciting.

I currently have a riding horse I just bought that frustrates me because she wants to be a follower, not leader. I am an aggressive rider and most of my horses, especially my homebreds have been bold, brave, go-forward type horses. I'm not liking this new view on the trail from behind horses and am realizing how much I miss my retired trail horse. I may be in the market for a new one, I don't do timid, follow the pack riding very well.

Unfortunately, the majority of horses are followers more so than leaders. Especially trail horses. My old jumper was as big a sissy as you ever saw out on the trail, but oddly enough, he never spooked at a jump in the ten years that I owned him. I'm an aggressive rider too and I would have a hard time riding in the back! LOL

In the paddock at the 1978 Marlboro Cup the "rivals" were Seattle Slew and Affirmed. At that time, they did not know each other as racing rivals. It has been told that Slew pranced in front of Affirmed and generally acted as if," I am going to kick your butt. Who cares if you are going to go off the favorite. I am the better horse!" This is recounted by Slew's jockey Angel Cordero and others. I was at the paddock that day, but I was so enamored of Slew that I was not noticing specifics. He always seemed very self-assured and alpha to me.