Although they are frequently perceived as calm animals with little defense, horses can be dangerous. It’s common for young youngsters to want a horse and often beg none-stop; however, there is the side that kids don’t see. Horses are herbivorous prey animals but are not at all vulnerable against a predator.
Horses can be dangerous not because of their breed but because they become complacent and let their guard down. Depending on the breed, an adult horse may weigh between 930 and 2,000 pounds.
Thoroughbreds and other hot-blooded breeds can both be dangerous. However, horses are not helpless animals. In our guide, you can find out what horse breed has the worst temperament and what makes a horse dangerous.
By the end, you’ll see why a horse behaves the way it does and how they differ in wild and domesticated settings. You’ll also see why certain horse breeds make the most dangerous horses while riding a horse at any time can be dangerous, and not only when horse jump racing. (Read What Weeds Can Rabbits Eat)
Why Do Horse Breeds Get Aggressive?
Horses can be aggressive for many reasons. Some have to do with not being trained or desensitized enough, while others have to do with stress or pain.
Horses rarely get aggressive for no reason. So, to train your horse for horse riding, you’ll always have to figure out what makes a gentle horse turn into wild animals.
Knowing a horse’s triggers and dealing with them before a horse can exhibit aggressive behavior makes a significant difference in how you’ll get on with them.
1. Fright
When horse breeding a thoroughbred, thoroughbreds are still untrained horses to start with. So, sudden movements, other animals, smells, and other stressors make horses jumpy.
A scared horse may become aggressive if it can’t escape what it perceives as danger, and in a dangerous situation, a horses’ strong flight response makes any breed a danger.
Removing yourself from a dangerous situation is best if you don’t know how to calm a horse.
2. Pain
A horse in pain will often act aggressively, whether it’s from dental pain, a leg injury, colic, or hoof problem.
Check your horse’s health regularly, especially for dental issues.
3. Food and Water
Horses need access to food and water 24/7. Horses have a fast metabolism, but their stomachs can’t hold much food.
An aggressive horse that strikes and kicks horses can be frustrated as they are hungry or thirsty.
4. Stress
Horses can get stressed for other reasons besides being spooked. For example, in the sport of horse racing, any horse spending an extended time in stables can turn into a hot-blooded horse when in the paddock.
Horses can also become stressed by being put in new situations, such as meeting new horses or other animals.
5. Untrained
When it comes to training a well-mannered horse, desensitization and obedience training are two of the most critical steps.
Lack of training might result in a horse that is difficult to control and aggressive. When dealing with recalcitrant horses, persistence is absolutely necessary.
More training is required to control aggressive behavior and short tempers in horses with high energy levels or breeds known to have a temper.
If a horse is not adequately educated to be a domesticated horse, then it does not matter what particular breed it is; it still has the potential to be one of the most dangerous horse breeds. (Read Can Dogs Have Oat Milk)
6. Breeding and Stallions
When breeding, most horses’ stallions can potentially become aggressive, and this hostility can be directed toward both the handler and the mare.
Stallions are known to bite and kick during the courtship and mating process, which is why they have typically kept a safe distance away from mares during this time of year.
Besides this, a mare may become aggressive after she has her foal.
Keep the holy animal of the foal between you and its mother if you find yourself in a circumstance where you must be with both of them.
Which Wild Horse Breeds Are Dangerous
Most people mistakenly believe that wild horses are feral horse breeds.
A feral horse is more difficult to predict than your own horse. Because of this, it makes these horses dangerous to approach.
1. Przewalski’s Horse
The only breed that is regarded as wild is Przewalski’s. Przewalski’s horse are common among Mongolians and could be the meanest horse breed as they are never used for riding.
Mongolians refer to these short, stocky horses as Thaki horses and consider them to be sacred.
Przewalski’s horses can become combative when approached because they are not used to human contact.
2. Mustang
Western U.S. residents know the feral horses found as the Mustang. Spanish explorers introduced Iberian horses and they emerged from escaped domesticated horses.
Since then, they have bred with Draft horses and American Quarter horses, and wild mustangs could be domesticated into working or riding horses.
However, the U.S. forbids interacting with them, and because of the wild character of the Mustang horse, most U.S. parks urge humans to keep 100 feet away.
Mustangs can be a menace to people even if bred from a quarter horse. In addition, trespassing on their land can be disastrous as Mustang stallions can mistakenly see humans as trying to steal their mares.
3. Brumbies
The 18th century saw the development of this Australian breed. However, because brumbies are invasive, the feral horse breed is free to roam in sparsely populated areas like the Northern Territory, and Queensland.
People mounted Brumbies similar to Mustangs, and they originated as domestic horses that fled or were lost from the first European immigrants to settle in the region.
4. Thoroughbreds
Even though hot-blooded domesticated horses are thought to be less dangerous breeds than wild and feral or primitive wild horse breeds, some of them can still be dangerous, especially for novice owners.
Thoroughbreds are characterized as temperamental and high-spirited because they were developed as racehorses for their power and endurance.
For these reasons, beginner riders should avoid riding thoroughbreds and other hot-blooded horses.
5. Akhal-Tekes
Akhal-Tekes are known for their extreme loyalty and are bred by nomadic people in Turkmenistan for their athleticism, power, and intelligence.
They’re called guard dog horses because they build deep bonds with their owners and will attack anyone they regard as a threat. (Read Can Pigs Eat Tomatoes)
6. Arabian
Because of their stamina and endurance, Arabian horses are favored for endurance races.
Once again, these are not the perfect horse for a beginner like some other horses. While they are domesticated horse breeds, they can still endanger your safety.
As they develop, the Arabian horse coloring lightens. They’re native to Arab countries, although their origin is unknown.
These animals are easily distinguishable. Therefore, people paint and photograph them often.
And as for the most dangerous breed is always the one that you’re too inexperienced to handle.
7. Morgan Horse
The Morgan horse is a breed that was developed only not too long ago. They have a muscular build and an arched back to their neck.
They approach their work and performance to be described as competitive. They can live anywhere between 20 and 30 years.
8. Friesian Horse
Also known as Belgian, these are native to the Netherlands. It is one of the extremely uncommon breeds that keeps its distinctive qualities.
Their stunning appearance takes your breath away. They walk with a graceful gait, and in contrast to other people, they are exceptionally polite and unruffled.
9. Gypsy Horse
Because of their moniker, they are nomadic and enjoy engaging in extended travels. As a result, they have incredible vitality, and their speed is incredible.
They have a high level of loyalty and respect for their owners. Sadly, there are just a few of them still around presently. The breed includes animals with a wide variety of coat colors.
The vast majority of wild and feral horses have little experience interacting with humans. However, in the event that you come across feral horses of different horse breeds or wild horses that are not domesticated, avoid approaching them.
In the horse world of domesticated horses, the horses bred to have tremendous amounts of energy, speed, and power are considered the most “dangerous.”
There is almost always a justifiable explanation for why a domestic horse would act aggressively toward its handler or toward other animals.
Aggression in domestic horses is not an aggressive response; instead, it results from learned behavior.
Warning Signs a Horse Is Ready to Attack
There is an endless supply of things that can make a horse angry, and while you may know this, you need to know the signs horses are indeed angry and can turn aggressive.
Horses Ears
You can determine whether or not the horse is anxious by directing its ears behind its head. Then, when they are very enraged, they will pin their opponents.
Even domesticated animals like cats and dogs will flatten their ears when they are angry. One can lessen the likelihood of suffering an ear injury when engaged in combat by pressing the ears flush against the head.
Just like dogs and cats, horses tilt their heads and move their ears to improve their hearing. Even if they are not currently upset, a horse may turn their ears back in order to better listen to its rider. This can happen at any time.
On the other side, a horse’s ears that are flattened may also be a sign that the horse is tense. But, again, it signifies that the horse is prepared to engage in combat.
A Horse Biting
If you want to know what the horse is about to do, look to see if it is baring its teeth and biting the air.
This will tell you exactly what it is going to do. That is, mimicking biting. If the horse attacks you, it is time to start feeling concerned. Horse bites can cause quite a bit of damage as they are often a reaction, and they have no way to control their bite.
Because of their status as prey animals, horses have nearly complete peripheral vision around their bodies. In addition to that, they would concentrate on the things that are worrying them.
There will be occasions when you find a horse staring at you while it moves its entire body to maintain its attention on you. Continue in a composed manner and with extreme caution. (Read Are Plumerias Poisonous To Dogs)
Horses Angling Their Body
If a horse is angling its body behind you, it warns you that you are about to receive a vicious kick from the horse.
It is easy for an inexperienced rider to assume that a horse cannot both bend its back end toward a goal and keep its attention on that goal simultaneously.
You’ll find this far from accurate. While horses can see a large area in front of them, they also can tilt their heads very far in the rear. They can also kick in the forward, backward, and both left and right directions much like a cow can kick.
Kicks from horses can be lethal if they hit you in the wrong place. Even a horse standing on your foot with its front hooves can be painful.
Swiping or Swishing the Tail
When a horse wants to show its wrath, it will use a strategy that involves thrashing its tail back and forth.
In this way, it also warns other horses that may be nearby to retreat. Be warned that a kick could come at any moment if the horse continues to act in this manner.
When you understand horses, you can see this is a more focused swish than if they are trying to get rid of flies.
