Comments on: Horses and Mirrors https://teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com/horses-and-mirrors/ Horsemanship and horse training the partnership way Mon, 21 Aug 2023 20:55:11 +0000 hourly 1 By: Teddie Ziegler https://teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com/horses-and-mirrors/#comments/2543 https://teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com/?p=15705#comment-2543 In reply to Connie.

It is interesting to watch how horses react to their own reflection. And it is a safety issue as well so they don’t spook on trails while walking by cars or things that have reflections. 🙂

]]> By: Connie https://teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com/horses-and-mirrors/#comments/2531 https://teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com/?p=15705#comment-2531 Another good topic! I have never thought about a mirror in the stable arena but from what I’ve seen some are funny to watch. Sometimes their reaction is a bad experience where they are surprised to see their reflection and trying to figure out where that horse is.

I also think the reflection doesn’t smell another horse that they tend to think, “hey that’s me”. It’s a good thing to get them used to seeing a reflection so they don’t spook when they see it in a window or something they are walking by.

]]> By: Carol https://teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com/horses-and-mirrors/#comments/2452 https://teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com/?p=15705#comment-2452 Hi Teddie,
I think that my horses recognize their images in a mirror.
However, I remember years ago when I was taking riding lessons as a young adult, someone let a horse into the arena at liberty, and it ran over to a large mirror on the wall.
This horse had never been in the arena before. The horse reacted quite strongly, snorting at its image, and trying to look behind the mirror at the edges. The horse ended up wheeling around and kicking out at the mirror. Fortunately, the horse was not injured. However, the mirror shattered into pieces.

]]> By: Teddie Ziegler https://teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com/horses-and-mirrors/#comments/2450 https://teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com/?p=15705#comment-2450 In reply to Helen Fleming.

Very interesting point Helen. I’ll have to try that. 🙂

]]> By: Helen Fleming https://teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com/horses-and-mirrors/#comments/2449 https://teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com/?p=15705#comment-2449 While watching the video of Merlin standing before the mirror, I wondered what his reaction would be if you were standing beside him, first quietly and then in motion. Merlin surely recognizes you from any distance. Would his self-awareness have come about at that moment of recognition, I wonder?

]]> By: Nancy Reinke https://teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com/horses-and-mirrors/#comments/2448 https://teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com/?p=15705#comment-2448 I have a six-year-old stock horse/whaler.
He loves standing at the mirror and kissing it.
Oh yes he is certainly aware that it is his reflection

]]> By: Gina Danna https://teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com/horses-and-mirrors/#comments/2444 https://teddiezieglerhorsemanship.com/?p=15705#comment-2444 Love it! Not sure how my Arabian would react. I’ve always had him with pasture-mates and for years he was out in the pasture 24/7. Hmmmm….

]]>