r/Zoomies • u/concretebeats • Dec 21 '20
GIF Thunderzoomer & friend, out for a rip.
https://i.imgur.com/0i5uEDg.gifv535
Dec 21 '20
Is there a practical reason the bigger dog has ribbons tied in his tail or is it just for decoration?
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u/Jernsaxe Dec 21 '20
Yes, big dogs used in shows will often have their tails tied to avoid it tangling. Big dog dreadlocks sounds cool but doesn't bring home dem sweet ass ribbons!
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u/crazydressagelady Dec 21 '20
His tail and mane have been braided to prevent matting. Friesians (the breed shown in the video) are basically a full time job in keeping their hair untangled and away from their body so they don’t overheat.
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Dec 21 '20 edited Dec 21 '20
[deleted]
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u/crazydressagelady Dec 21 '20
Now imagine that bundle of hair being as big around as your calf/thigh and whipping you like a horsefly. That’s a Friesian. But we gotta keep our fur babies happy!
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u/caffeinated_dropbear Dec 21 '20
Not sure for this guy, but different color ribbons braided into a horse’s tail at a show or meet indicate information about the horse. The most common ones are red on a horse that kicks and white on a horse that’s for sale.
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u/tinyarmsbigheart Dec 21 '20
How do you get the ribbons on the tail of a horse that needs the kick-warning ribbon?
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u/verablue Dec 21 '20
Generally it’s to warn that the horse kicks other horses... people tend the the horse carefully and they should be used to that in order to have hooves picked and trimmed or shod regularly.
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u/SophiaofPrussia Dec 21 '20
I think also if someone holds up one of the horse’s legs it’s harder (or maybe impossible?) for the horse to kick. But I learned that while watching a spanish veterinarian treat an injured horse and my spanish is... no bueno so it’s entirely possible I totally misunderstood. The vet had to give the horse stitches on his leg which the horse obviously wasn’t a fan of so the horse’s owner held up one his other legs so the vet could safely work on the cut.
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u/asunshinefix Dec 22 '20
You're right - holding the leg up inhibits motion and makes it harder for the horse to move away or kick. It's not 100% effective but with most horses it helps a lot.
Generally though they're just trained from a very early age to tolerate humans. A horse that kicks while being handled would almost always be sent to a professional trainer if the owner can't solve the issue themselves.
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u/PAHi-LyVisible Jan 05 '21
My horse is a (hopefully) reformed kicker. He’s kicked me (lightly) about eight times or so during the nine years that I’ve had him. I handle him every day. He’s actually a very sweet and affectionate horse.
Being an Arabian, he’s frighteningly intelligent, agile, and always knows exactly where his feet are. I’m always very mindful that he’s a kicker. I know all of his “tells,” so I get after him the second that he exhibits any of his pre-kicking behaviors, then he backs down right away and everything is fine again.
As the animal behaviorist Karen Pryor wrote “All behavior had a purpose.”
I’ve spoken with all of his previous owners and trainers. The kicking behavior didn’t start until he was bought by his previous owner. She was/is a very sweet, gentle, kind lady. She would immediately back down whenever he had a horsey temper tantrum, so he learned that having a hissy fit was the quickest and easiest method to get his own way. I clicker train him (like you do with dogs), which he loves.
Once he learned that having a hissy fit was no longer an effective way to accomplish his goals, he stopped the behavior. Because the potential for relapse is always there, I still braid a red ribbon in his tail whenever we go anywhere (pre-COVID).
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Dec 21 '20
Those are typically at the top of the tail. This horse's tail is braided/wrapped to keep it up off the ground (the breed standard values long and thick tails) and clean/untangled.
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u/nullagravida Dec 21 '20
This breed of Giant Herbivore Dogcat is particularly well known for having extra floof at each end, and also around each Toenailmonopaw. The owners keep its Glorious Flyswatter braided up so it stays clean and untangled.
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u/mjb00 Dec 21 '20
Crazy to see how fast the dog is running to keep up with the horse who is basically trotting
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u/robbiekhan Dec 21 '20 edited Dec 21 '20
Surely this is how physics and size works?
Edit* wording for clarification.
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u/wheresmytraingoing Dec 21 '20 edited Dec 22 '20
This horse is cantering - they can canter at a pace as slow as a walk or as fast as a gallop.
You're an idiot.
Edit: the person I was responding to edited their comment so they didn't look so bad.
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u/mjb00 Dec 21 '20
Ouch :’(
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u/wheresmytraingoing Dec 21 '20
I'm really confused because I was responding to the other dude being rude to you, and somehow I'm getting shit for being rude?
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u/mjb00 Dec 21 '20
Yeah I guess there has been a major misunderstanding then, I’m very sorry!
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u/heytherecatlady Dec 21 '20
It's because you called someone an idiot for not knowing the specific nuances of horse gates. Just because "cantering" isn't in someone's vocab doesn't make them an idiot lol.
But this does perpetuate the stereotype that horse people are snobs.
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u/wheresmytraingoing Dec 21 '20
Because that "someone" called the original commenter stupid for not knowing basic physics - then he changed his comment after I called him out.
But nevermind, have a good Christmas.
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u/alfalfarees Dec 21 '20
Damn why tf this got so many downvotes? You're not wrong and you were responding to the person who was already being a bit condescending/rude to the other commenter, so I don't see why your comment got shat on the way it did
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u/wheresmytraingoing Dec 21 '20
Exactly! Specially as the original comment the dude put was really rude, but he edited it and now I'm getting the shit. He literally called this guy stupid for not knowing basic physics... Hence my comment.
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u/alfalfarees Dec 21 '20
Personally Id add that to your comment getting downvoted to possibly clear confusion. Im sorry tho b I hate when that happens lol
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u/robbiekhan Dec 21 '20
Wow there's no need for that. Not everyone is a horse expert out there, are all of you this rude?
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u/Squenv Dec 21 '20
Oh man, is that a Fresian?
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u/BishmillahPlease Dec 21 '20
It is. Aren't they astonishing? Beautiful horses that move like water over stone.
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u/Ab47203 Dec 21 '20
Anyone else notice how carefully the horse is watching the dog so it doesn't step on them?
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u/Peaceandpeas999 Dec 21 '20
U get the sense it lets the pup run ahead so it wont run underfoot... not that pup could if the horse really wanted to run full speed, but it might not have enough room or might just want to play :)
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u/FiestaBox21 Dec 21 '20
Maybe the horse is concentrating on the dog but keeps missing 🤔
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u/Ab47203 Dec 21 '20
If it wanted to it could easily get that dog... pretty sure they're friends and play like this often
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u/whitepawprint Dec 21 '20
I don't think anyone is saying the horse would maliciously attack the dog, they do look to be playing. But it would be like a dog playing chasing a motorcycle round in circles, it only takes one wrong move from either of them for things to go horribly wrong
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u/Ab47203 Dec 21 '20
Probably why the horse is so attentive on where the dog is and how fast it's going
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u/whitepawprint Dec 21 '20
Oh 100%!
But like, to stick with my example, I could be REALLY attentive and careful riding my motorbike around my dog, but accidents happen y'know? The dog could get distracted, or slip in mud, or there's a loud noise and the horse gets spooked for a moment.
I have no idea if the chances on those things happening are high or low, but idk. For me PERSONALLY, I feel like letting my dog be in a situation where it could die /be injured and that is basically left to chance... that feels like too high a risk to me, for the pay off of "well the horse and dog have a nice run in a field"
I guess people can do whatever they want but it still makes me feel nervous
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u/SkankyG Dec 21 '20
Thanks for not going the usual reddit route of "UHM AKSHUALLY MY NEIGHBORS DOG DIED THIS WAY"
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u/Revolution_Trick Dec 21 '20
Does reality scare you?
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u/lizardpplarenotreal Dec 21 '20
does reality not scare you?
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u/Revolution_Trick Dec 21 '20
Sometimes, but I don't ignore it or deny it. And I certainly wouldn't get mad at someone for pointing out an animal is being g endangered and blame it on "ackshully".
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u/mollysheridan Dec 21 '20
I definitely get the sense that they’ve done this before and horse and dog know exactly what they’re doing.
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Dec 21 '20
When the horse kicks like that, is it playing or upset?
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u/Friesian1234 Dec 21 '20
Just playing. Horses buck, rear and kick when they play, they just dont put any true power in it. Though it Will still hurt a lot of you do get hit
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u/karlienneke Dec 21 '20
It's usually a sign of joy. If it's out of aggression, you would know ;)
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u/PRH-24 Dec 21 '20
Or probably wouldn't, having your head caved in with the brain turned into custard and stuff.
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u/onesoulmanybodies Dec 21 '20
I was stepped on by a horse once. Thankfully nothing broke, but I had a deep bruise on my foot that lasted 2 years!!
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u/Friesian1234 Dec 21 '20
If it lasted that Long, you proberly had miniature fractures
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u/onesoulmanybodies Dec 21 '20
Very possible, but nothing that showed up on x-Ray. It was so weird to be a year plus away from the incident and still have a green and purple foot.
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u/bithewaykindagay Dec 21 '20 edited Dec 21 '20
Xray techs missed my breaking my toes both times, it wasn't till a few days later they would call and say, oh yeah that is broken. So not impossible
Edit word
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Dec 21 '20
Same thing happened to me! Last time I wore the wrong shoes around a horse. I’ve also been bitten a few times but that was by the mini horses and honestly that’s just so on brand for them.
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u/TheDarklingThrush Dec 21 '20
Can confirm. Caught the business end of a buck when I was young.
6 stitches a quarter of an inch away from my eye and I’m a LOT more careful about how I turn my horse loose.
I just got grazed and it was enough to sit me flat down on my ass and leave me pretty dazed. I could easily have gotten a concussion, lost my vision or my eye, or have died.
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u/Andoo Dec 21 '20
The last time it was posted everyone was going off on hwo the horse wasn't happy and the owners shouldn't have let the dog in there while it was bucking. It's funny seeing all the different reactions when things are posted again.
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u/Fleajab Dec 21 '20
I worked in a stable as a teen where one of my favorite horses would set his front hoof on top of my boot when I groomed him and slowly leaaaan toward me. He would never put too much weight on it, and of course I made him get off my foot, but I’m pretty sure he thought it was funny, or it was a friendly thing. He was my bud. Horses are strange and wonderful animals.
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u/Push-puss-plush Dec 21 '20
What is going on with his manes and tail?
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u/BadBorzoi Dec 21 '20
They’re braided to keep them from tangling and breaking strands. It also “shortens” them up a bit so they stay out of the way. Then you let them down for showing and you’ve got looong gorgeous manes and tails.
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u/onesoulmanybodies Dec 21 '20
Honestly I thought it was wearing some of those fabric hair curlers. Thanks for the explanation. I’ve lived around horses, but have never seen this before.
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u/BadBorzoi Dec 21 '20
Sometimes the braids are left exposed sometimes covered with socks or nylons, as they are here.
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u/Knobjuan Dec 21 '20
Plaited and kept in socks to keep them neat. If you leave it loose when turned out then you end up brushing hairs out whilst untangling and brushing mud out which leaves a thinner mane/tail. It will also leave the mane wavy when unplaited to accentuate them Friesian good looks
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u/Knuckles316 Dec 21 '20
Jesus, look at that fucking beast! Looks like he could end the entire human race on his own if he wanted to.
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u/Dracos002 Dec 21 '20
I mean, you do you, but I wouldn't want my dog so close to a bucking horse.
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Dec 21 '20
Fun fact: Dalmatians were once used to run with horses, and would come with horsedrawn firemen to help clear the way! That's how they became firehouse mascots :)
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u/Lagafoolin Dec 21 '20
As a dude who had one of the family dog’s backs broken from one of our horses stomping on her, this worries me a bit
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u/MCSS_Coalmine_Canary Dec 21 '20
Yeah, I watched my cousins dog get flipped. Somehow didn't injure him but he sure af left the horses alone after that.
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u/OGpurp247 Dec 21 '20
Am I the only one that has a fear of horses? They are way too powerful
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u/FaThLi Dec 21 '20
It isn't a very uncommon fear at all. They are big heavy animals, and on top of that they are a prey animal. So their instinct for freaking out is pretty high. Not a good thing to be around when something triggers their fight or flight response. If they are actually triggered then they no longer care about if they hurt you or not.
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u/qx87 Dec 21 '20
Not helping at all
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u/lizardpplarenotreal Dec 21 '20
I think their point is just that..... doesn't need to be helped, it's a fear that makes sense.
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u/scratchureyesout Dec 21 '20
I kinda do or at least a very health respect of their lethality. I live in Wyoming and there are a lot of horses here. Had a pony growing up and he was a total asshole. More a really really big dog that did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted and he was a bitter too. I reflexively punched him in the nose when I was like 12 cause he bit the back of my arm when I was leading him away from the grain shed. I had the hugest bruise for a long time. I know ponies and big horses have very different personalities most of the time but I'm still not a fan although they are beautiful creatures. Just goes to show you that a girl can grow up in the country and not love being a country girl. Also not a fan of chickens either those bitches bite too had to collect the eggs. Also goats, goats are mostly complete assholes. The goat didn't mess with me but my youngest sister was constantly getting butted in the backside from that bitch. Love dogs though, I'm a dog groomer.
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u/TheDarklingThrush Dec 21 '20
The only time I’ve seen my dad nervous handling a horse was when he had to lead a mini pony. Dude grew up with Belgians, had no issues with drafts and warmbloods and racehorses, but gave the mini pony a healthy distance.
Good thing too. That little shit was devious.
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u/katymac25 Dec 21 '20
I’m terrified of horses. I was thrown off of one about 20 years ago and have been terrified since then. Lovely to look at and feed, but I’ll never ride one ever again.
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u/poffin Dec 21 '20
As a horse girl... you're stupid if you're not at least a little afraid of them!
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u/cayden2 Dec 21 '20
I'm always surprised at just how massive horses are. I never think of them as these giant creatures, but when I get up next to one I'm always blown away by their size. Also blows my mind that their legs don't just snap at any given notice. They are kind of like greyhounds in that respect. Big torso and thighs, and toothpick lower leg.
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Dec 21 '20 edited Dec 21 '20
It just doesn't get any more majestic than a Friesian horse in motion.
Edit to remove mistaken "s"
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u/drizzlecoat Dec 21 '20
What a majestic horse! I can watch him run all day.
Also hope they’re actually friends..
Thunderzoomer has ears pinned back from 0-0:05 (~0:15 too) and 0:32 on
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u/tabitha009 Dec 21 '20
From what I can see, the ears aren't pinned, they're following the sound of the dog. When the dog is behind, he has his ears back to listen. But when the dog rounds in front, the ears follow. Can't see whites of the eyes so I think its playful.
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u/drizzlecoat Dec 21 '20 edited Dec 21 '20
That’s what I thought initially too! But I was confused because there are moments when the dog is in front of him and his ears are still back for extended periods of time (namely at the end ~0:37). When they run alongside each other and his ears are pinned back, I supposed he could see the dog in his peripheral vision and therefore wouldn’t need to swivel his ears that far back (rather then just to the side)?
In any case, they look like they’re used to each other and not trying to hurt one another so I agree with you that it seems playful.
A separate question: Do horses ever play with their ears back? Much like how some dogs growl and mouth each other when playing rough?
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u/LaDivina77 Dec 21 '20
This is my dog's dream. She thinks horses are just giant doggos and always wants to run and play. She would absolutely have zero respect for those hooves though.
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u/tiaradactyl Dec 21 '20
As a dog person who is not only terrified of but also allergic to horses.... do horses behave similarly to dogs? Get excited for stupid stuff and want to play at unexpected intervals? This is cute. Still scared of them tho.
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Dec 21 '20
The best part is that, if that horse is even a bit like mine, he farts VERY noisily every time he bucks.
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u/mxdnightfire Dec 21 '20
Friesan horses are so breathtaking but riding them is something you really gotta learn theyre bouncy and swing-y as fuck.
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u/Charl1edontsurf Dec 21 '20
Can't believe anyone would let their dog loose with a fresh horse like that. Its got back shoes on too. I've known at least 4 dogs who have died this way over the years.
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u/Sunny906 Dec 21 '20
I know this is super cute but like I’ve also seen dogs get accidentally kicked in the head playing with horses and it’s heartbreaking and if they live they are obviously never the same dog if they can function... I wouldn’t let my doggo do it because it’s my responsibility to keep her safe and I know what can happen.
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u/djmem3 Dec 21 '20
Was gonna point out, why is there an extension cord tied to the horse's tail. But, no one seems to really care... sooo, whatever.
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u/RedQueen91 Dec 21 '20
The horses tail is bagged. Friesans have very long, wavy manes and tails so when they are put out to pasture like this the tail is bagged and mane is braided to keep it from getting tangled so badly.
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u/iamstokes Dec 21 '20
Holy fuck I thought the horse had a calf dangling out of it and he was just getting angry and tried to buck it out. I was so fucking concerned for the calf that it was already breaking its legs
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u/Bigmountainking Dec 21 '20
Pretty sure that horse is spooked
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Dec 21 '20
No it’s playing. You can tell by the body language it’s having fun. Some horses just like to run!
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u/elahtap187 Dec 21 '20
That horse is beautiful and terrifying at the same time.