History Main / HorsingAround

** ''Discworld/GoingPostal'': Moist von Lipwig rides a half-mad stallion called Boris from Ankh-Morpork to Sto Lat to help save the postal system. The stablemaster gave it to him as retaliation for Moist's disparaging remarks about his horses--although he tries to back out when Moist accepts the ride, because then it started "looking too much like murder". It is mentioned that Boris would have been a champion racehorse except for his unbreakable habit of attacking the competitors and jumping the fence at the first turn.
** The horse belonging to the hapless Lieutenant Blouse in ''Discworld/MonstrousRegiment''. Turns out part of the reason the horse so grumpy may be that [[spoiler:Blouse thinks the horse is male, but [[YourTomcatIsPregnant male she ain't]].]] Blouse isn't very observant.
** According to ''Discworld/WitchesAbroad'', Jason Ogg the Lancre blacksmith has the secret of the Horseman's Word used to quieten bloody-minded stallions. It involves a swift smack between the eyes to get the beast's attention, followed by the threat of [[GroinAttack the stallion finding his "goolies" between the anvil and a big hammer]]. Even the most fractious stallion calms down around Jason.

** The scene in the ''Pecos Bill'' segment of Disney's ''Disney/MelodyTime'' where Slue-Foot Sue tries to ride Pecos' horse [[MeaningfulName Widowmaker]]. Watch it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB8_THAyd5o here, starting at 4:00]]. It helps that [[RedEyesTakeWarning his eyes are visibly red with anger during this scene]].
** The Prince's horse in ''Disney/SleepingBeauty'', who until the climactic scene was very stubborn and had to be bribed by carrots to do his master's bidding, and even then the horse bungles it and charges straight into a puddle.
** Phoebus' horse from ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'' when he was told to "sit". His face seemed well smug. Self-satisfied maybe?
** Pegasus on ''Disney/{{Hercules}}'' is usually gentle with Herc. Megara, on the other hand...
** Maximus from Disney's ''Disney/{{Tangled}}'' won't let Flynn Rider ride him. It may have something to do with him being the Captain of the Guard's horse, and Flynn being a wanted criminal. [[spoiler: Until the end when they team up to rescue Rapunzel.]]

-->'''Orwell''': ...I saw a little boy, perhaps ten years old, driving a huge carthorse along a narrow path, whipping it whenever it tried to turn. It struck me that if only such animals became aware of their strength we should have no power over them, and that men exploit animals [[{{Applicability}} in much the same way as the rich exploit the proletariat]].

-->'''Orwell''': ...I saw a little boy, perhaps ten years old, driving a huge carthorse along a narrow path, whipping it whenever it tried to turn. It struck me that if only such animals became aware of their strength we should have no power over them, and that men exploit animals in much the same way as the rich exploit the proletariat.

* Creator/GeorgeOrwell got the inspiration for ''Literature/AnimalFarm'' after watching a young boy cruelly whipping a horse, and Orwell realized just how badly it would go for the boy if [[TheDogBitesBack the horse had lashed out at him]].

* Camels are also known for behaving badly; they'll spit, bite, refuse to move, or run out of control for seemingly no reason. Balanced by the fact that in the desert you'd still rather have a live camel with you than a dead horse.

* The WesternAnimation/{{Classic Disney Short|s}} ''How To Ride A Horse'' is built entirely on this trope. Note that Walt Disney (and a lot of his animators) were avid polo players.

** The show usually averts this when dragon cub Spike rides on Twilight Sparkle's back, justified in that they communicate verbally and Twilight's like family to Spike, but a parody of this trope shows up in "A Dog And Pony Show" when the Diamond Dogs are trying to grab onto the ponies, who in turn jump around and knock them off like ''very'' disobedient horses.

* ''Series/MisterEd'': What do you expect? The show stars a talking horse![[/folder]]

[[folder:Mythology & Folklore]]
* In Myth/NorseMythology, Svaðilfari the stallion was assisting his unnamed master in building Valhalla within a certain time period in exchange for goddess Freyja, the sun, and the moon, but the Gods, [[JerkassGods having no intention to keep up their end of the bargain]], made Loki (who allowed the use of Svaðilfari in the first place apparently just for the purposes of being a {{Troll}}) [[WeNeedADistraction serve a distraction]] to keep it from being completed in the allotted time, and to accomplish this Loki [[GenderBender turned himself into a mare in heat]] who trotted out and made Svaðilfari run off from his master, with the [[ShapeshiftingSquick expected]] [[MisterSeahorse results]]. [[JustSoStory And that's how]] the 8-legged horse Sleipnir came into being.
* American TallTale hero Pecos Bill has Widowmaker, who got his name because he would not allow anyone to ride him ... until Bill "tamed" him. He still won't let anyone ''except'' Bill ride him, though. Bill's girlfriend Slue-foot Sue asks for a new spring bustle and to ride Widowmaker, a bad combination. Widowmaker bucks her off, at which point the spring bustle starts bouncing her higher and higher into the sky. Bill, however, is not worried ... he's an expert with a lasso. However, his lasso falls short, the only time Bill has ever missed a target. [[spoiler:This is because Widowmaker stepped on the rope.]]

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* Lucy the pony from ''ComicStrip/NonSequitur'' is unusual in that as a talking horse she'll actually explain why she's acting spooky or headstrong.

[[folder:Pinball]]
* In ''Pinball/CactusCanyon'', the player must shoot the Bronco Lane three times to tame the horse.
-->"Guess the horse is breaking you then, heh heh heh!"

[[folder: Video Games]]
* Averted in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime''. Epona is a trusted horse that follows the player any time she is summoned. However, unless you learned Epona's Song from Malon in the pre-Ganon Hyrule, Epona won't let you ride her. When you beat Ingo in a race with her, the rancher is utterly flummoxed that anyone could "tame that wild horse".
* In ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption'', if you spur the horse you're riding too much, it will throw you.
* A disobedient pony is the only reason the protagonist of ''VideoGame/LureOfTheTemptress'' gets involved in the plot. He's not a soldier, but his pony decides to charge after the king's horsemen as they head to battle. Then he's thrown from his saddle and gets captured, leaving him as one of the only survivors.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' will have horses fight against and disobey the player until the player fully trains them up. Even after that, horses with a "wild" temperament will still throw the player off if they try to dash too much.
* Taming horses in ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' amounts to getting thrown by them repeatedly until they get used to you (and sometimes one more time an instant after they do for good measure). Fortunately that deals no damage. Also, if you don't equip it with a saddle, you can't control it.
* To tame a wild horse in ''VideoGame/ArkSurvivalEvolved'', you have to feed it, then mount it and repeatedly feed it in quick-time events while it tries to buck you off.

[[folder: WebComics]]

* A non-comedic example can be found in ''{{Webcomic/Gaia}}'': Viviana, who is apparently not a skilled or bold rider, insists on riding [[TheAllegedSteed a gentle but rather sorry looking nag named Casper]] because "He has never unseated me." Unfortunately, Casper proves that even the gentlest horse has his limits, dumping her and bolting when someone or something deliberately spooks him.

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Appa of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. When a ten-ton bison decides something (entering a cave, leaving without backup, etc.) is a bad idea, it ain't happening.
* The WesternAnimation/{{Classic Disney Short|s}} ''How To Ride A Horse'' is built entirely on this trope. Note that Walt Disney (and a lot of his animators) were avid polo players.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''
** The show usually averts this when dragon cub Spike rides on Twilight Sparkle's back, justified in that they communicate verbally and Twilight's like family to Spike, but a parody of this trope shows up in "A Dog And Pony Show" when the Diamond Dogs are trying to grab onto the ponies, who in turn jump around and knock them off like ''very'' disobedient horses.
** A loose example that's played for laughs in "The Best Night Ever." Two pony stallions help to pull the ladies' carriage to Canterlot, and glare angrily at Spike when he gets too into his role as coach-dragon and whips them.
** A pony using another pony as a mount results at best in a miffed pony. Rainbow is less than happy with a shrunken Applejack rigging her with a crude bit and bridle for aerial assault in 'Bridle Gossip', and even Twilight lets out a miffed reply when Spike tries to have his 'noble steed' (read: her) charge in "A Dog and Pony Show". And 'Clover the Clever' (played by Twilight) is sullen about having 'Princess Platinum' (played by Rarity) ride her to avoid wading in a stream in the Hearth's Warming Eve pageant.
** Spike also gets thrown off by Applejack and Rainbow Dash during a rodeo in "Fall Weather Friends." One wonders how they talked him into participating in the first place.
** Twilight also flips Spike off her back for making a lame joke in "The Cutie Pox".

[[folder:Real Life]]
* TruthInTelevision since horses are still animals. Very big, powerful animals. Aside from the obvious danger of a kick or a nasty bite (which can be severe enough to disable or even kill), they can also spook or bolt if they're stung or startled, leaping or galloping off in a panic. When that happens getting dumped is almost inevitable. Worse, some horses have a ''nasty'' habit of lying down suddenly to roll in the grass... while you're still on them. The results can be fatal. So if your horse goes down suddenly... ''IMMEDIATELY'' get off the horse. Goes double if it's in the water.
* The riding accident that nearly cost Creator/KaleyCuoco her foot is only one of many, many textbook examples of how dangerous horses can be without even trying. Imagine having one actually pissed off and hellbent on destroying you, which there are also numerous cases of.
* Horses can be sneaky devils as well. A common one is them inhaling as you fasten their saddles, so that when they exhale again, the saddle becomes loose and you end up riding upside down. They have lots of tricks beyond this, like getting the bit anywhere it's not supposed to be (between their teeth, beneath their tongue, back in their mouth, etc.) and flat out refusing to follow any of the rider's bidding.
** As an old refrain says, "Mas sabe el burro que quien lo monta" ("The donkey knows better than the person riding it"). That also goes for horses.
** And the worst part of all this? If a horse decides he isn't going anywhere, that horse ''isn't'' going anywhere. There is a reason why trained equestrians don't get in a tug-of-war with a horse - they have the experience to know they won't win. Horses are best managed with kindness and trust; failing that, they are managed by manipulation, followed shortly by bribery. When that fails, the rider in question calls in someone with more experience.
* Horses will not jump anything unless they are a) in a blind panic or b) being ridden by a competent rider. There's an old saying that you can fool your enemies, fool your friends and even fool yourself, but you can't fool a horse, and if you don't know what you're doing you probably ''will'' make it past the first jump.... about ten feet past, depending upon terrain and atmospheric conditions. Many horses will also only jump something if they feel like it. Chronic escape artists have been known to jump 4'6" stall walls from a standstill without provocation (sometimes it seems just to prove the human wrong when they say "no way he could jump that!") and the best rider in the world can't make a horse they're riding jump even a small fence if the horse decides he's not doing it.
** An inversion to this: horses and other domestic/captive equines will go to all lengths to find a way out of their enclosures if they decide they really want out. They'll jump a fence that their keepers thought was too high like it's no problem and if it ''is'' too high, they'll wriggle their way out under the bottom. Build it low to the ground to stop them from doing this? They'll get another horse (usually a smaller one or a pony) to get under it and ''lift'' it up so that it's high enough for them to wriggle under. And that's if they don't dig a hole under it.
* Then there are ponies, who, in addition to all of the above, often have very talented lips, and easily master the art of unbolting their stalls. And occasionally every other stall in the barn as well, apparently [[ItAmusedMe for the lulz]]. Miniature ponies are particularly notorious for this sort of behavior, and it's said that the smaller a pony is the more intelligent they are, so if horses are troublemakers, ponies are [[ComicStrip/DennisTheMenaceUS Dennis the Menace]].
** There's a common equestrian adage that goes something like "the higher the horse, the longer the fall; but the smaller the pony, the closer to hell". It's not unjustified.
* Donkeys, the close relative of horses and ponies are well known for their stubborn nature and tend to be less trusting towards humans. Likewise, mules (a cross between a male donkey and a female horse) and the rarer hinnys (a cross between a female donkey and a male horse), who tend to inherit the stubborn streak of their donkey parents, hence the phrase "[[StubbornMule stubborn as a mule]]". However, once you get along with them, they are quite dependable, hardy, and intelligent, mules even more so then either parent. Ticking them off is not wise, either: they can strike with their hooves in any direction, even sideways.
* Camels are also known for behaving badly; they'll spit, bite, refuse to move, or run out of control for seemingly no reason. Balanced by the fact that in the desert you'd still rather have a live camel with you than a dead horse.
* Famous racehorse Seabiscuit's quirks were actually toned down for the movie, and he was a notorious bad actor until he was just lucky enough to get an owner, trainer and jockey who understood him. The race instructions "... never hit him with the whip, only touch him with it on the left side, and never more than three times..." were taken word for word from an interview with the real Red Pollard.
* Japanese racehorse [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Ship Gold Ship]] is described as having "broken" several jockeys with his difficult personality. His racing career is littered with a mixture of astounding victories and inexplicably lazy races, thanks to the horse's moody nature. The anime ''Anime/UmaMusume'' adapted this difficult personality into a CloudCuckooLander with a habit of pulling pranks.
* There was an attempt to domesticate zebras during the colonial era due to them being immune to diseases that were decimating horses. They proved to be too prone to panicking and, being wild animals, were much more unpredictable than horses. A few people had succeeded after multiple cases of trial and error with a few individual zebras that could be ridden, but generally it was considered too much effort and the project was abandoned. This is also why, over the course of human history, zebras have ''never'' been successfully domesticated as a whole, with the only successes being in taming individuals, with any subsequent offspring inevitably being just as wild and aggressive toward humans as the offspring of non-tamed individuals. It's presumed that because they evolved alongside humans, their instinctive fear and aggression against humans has simply been too hardwired into their DNA to be overcome conventionally.
* Creator/DavidNiven recounted an amusing Horsing Around anecdote that happened to him while he was filming ''Film/ThePrisonerOfZenda'' in his memoir ''The Moon's A Balloon'': The director wanted all of his stars mounted on fiery, flashy horses for the royal procession scene. Niven, being an experienced rider, wanted no part of that and bribed the wrangler to give him a nice, safe, gentle mare instead... only to be nearly killed when his nice, safe, gentle mare was [[CoitusEnsues mounted]] by Ronald Colman's stallion.
* According to [[Creator/MontyPython Terry Jones]], at one point in the First Crusade, a whole load of European knights (mounted on stallions for strength) encountered a whole load of Muslim cavalry (mounted on mares for speed)... during the season when the mares were in heat. Details of the subsequent engagement are lacking; [[LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain the chroniclers of the First Crusade evidently decided this particular battle should be a forgotten moment]].
* And of course, there is Creator/ChristopherReeve's accident as an example: he was competing at a horse trial when his horse Eastern Express suddenly slammed on the brakes one or two strides from a jump, something known as a "dirty stop" in equestrian circles. Reeves flew over his horse's head and struck the solid cross country obstacle head first; the impact approximated a fall from a three-story window. Reeves' head was saved by his helmet but the impact crushed the vertebrae in his neck. No one knows why the horse stopped, as he had never done anything like that before. He only had to do it once.

* The horses of the Literature/TortallUniverse have very distinct personalities in general, but special mention goes to Cloud (Daine's pony, and often a grumpy TeamMom as well) and Peachblossom, Kel's [[FluffyTheTerrible inappropriately named]], bad-tempered gelding, who decides to be Kel's equine partner [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe because she treated him well]] and because (as he tells Daine) she needs to be looked after.

* Boris from ''Discworld/GoingPostal'' is a half-mad stallion who would have been a perfect race-horse if it weren't for his tendency to throw and trample the jockey, attack the other horses, then jump the fence at the first turn and bolt. Moist von Lipwig asked for a horse with "a bit of fizz, and not some feagued-up old screw", and Willie Hobson [[ExactWords gave him Boris to ride.]] So what does Moist do? [[RefugeInAudacity Raise the stakes by riding Boris bare-back from Ankh-Morpork to Sto Lat]]. [[note]]It is fair to say, however, that the Discworld Award For Bloody-Minded Riding Animal goes to ''camels''. Every time.[[/note]]
** The horse belonging to the hapless Lieutenant Blouse in ''Discworld/NightWatch'' is evidently from the same stable.

* Creator/AlanDeanFoster wrote a series of short stories about mountain man [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Mad Amos]] and his horse, Worthless, an ugly, mean, brute of a horse who frequently bites Amos, urinates on his boots, or otherwise makes life miserable for the mountain man. And Amos is the one person the horse actually ''likes''. When he goes after someone he ''doesn't'' like...

** Maximus from Disney's ''Disney/{{Tangled}}'' pulls this when Flynn tries to ride him near the start of the movie.
* In ''WesternAnimation/SpiritStallionOfTheCimarron'' has an entire sequence where soldiers attempt to "break" the resistant Title Character. Fittingly enough, the background music is "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2NjhCnun3Q Get off of my Back.]]" Later in the movie, Spirit is just as resistant and rebellious to a kinder Native American, but eventually warms up to him.

* Loras Tyrell, from Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire, manages to defeat the much larger, stronger, and more vicious Gregor Clegane in a joust by taking advantage of this. Clegane rode a young stallion, so Tyrell showed up on a mare in heat; the stallion proved much harder to control and keep a seat on than usual, so Clegane was unhorsed easily.

* American folklore hero Pecos Bill has Widowmaker, who got his name because he would not allow anyone to ride him ... until Bill "tamed" him. He still won't let anyone ''except'' Bill ride him, though. Bill's girlfriend Slue-foot Sue asks for a new spring bustle and to ride Widowmaker, a bad combination. Widowmaker bucks her off, at which point the spring bustle starts bouncing her higher and higher into the sky. Bill, however, is not worried ... he's an expert with a lasso. However, his lasso falls short, the only time Bill has ever missed a target. [[spoiler:This is because Widowmaker stepped on the rope.]]

Horses, both in fiction and RealLife, are living creatures, and come with their own personalities. They lose their tempers, they get scared, they react like you'd expect an animal to react. Often suspiciously like you would expect [[AllAnimalsAreDogs a dog to react]]. {{Sapient Steed}}s are liable to be this if you treat them badly... or possibly just because, like humans, [[TheTrickster they have a mischievous streak]]. And lord help you if you have a MoodyMount.

Aversion of AutomatonHorses, and in the case of wild horses of AllAnimalsAreDomesticated. Also an aversion of horses' usual AnimalStereotype of being noble, loyal and steadfast.

* Donkeys the close relative of horses and ponies are well known for their stubborn nature and tend to be less trusting towards humans. Likewise, mules (a cross between a male donkey and a female horse) and the rarer hinnys (a cross between a female donkey and a male horse), who tend to inherit the stubborn streak of their donkey parents, hence the phrase "stubborn as a mule". However, once you get along with them, they are quite dependable, hardy, and intelligent, mules even more so then either parent. Ticking them off is not wise, either: they can strike with their hooves in any direction, even sideways.

** Jason Ogg the Lancre blacksmith has the secret of the Horseman's Word used to quieten bloody-minded stallions. It involves showing the horse the anvil and a large hammer then pointing out horses have testicles. For now, at least. Even the most fractious stallion calms down around Jason.

* And of course, there is Creator/ChristoperReeve's accident as an example: he was competing at a horse trial when his horse Eastern Express suddenly slammed on the brakes one or two strides from a jump, something known as a "dirty stop" in equestrian circles. Reeves flew over his horse's head and struck the solid cross country obstacle head first; the impact approximated a fall from a three-story window. Reeves' head was saved by his helmet but the impact crushed the vertebrae in his neck. No one knows why the horse stopped, as he had never done anything like that before. He only had to do it once.

* And of course, there is Christoper Reeve's accident as an example: he was competing at a horse trial when his horse Eastern Express suddenly slammed on the brakes one or two strides from a jump, something known as a "dirty stop" in equestrian circles. Reeves flew over his horse's head and struck the solid cross country obstacle head first; the impact approximated a fall from a three-story window. Reeves' head was saved by his helmet but the impact crushed the vertebrae in his neck. No one knows why the horse stopped, as he had never done anything like that before. He only had to do it once.

* Averted in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime''. Epona is a trusted horse that follows the player any time she is summoned.
** However, unless you learned Epona's Song from Malon in the pre-Ganon Hyrule, Epona won't let you ride her. When you beat Ingo in a race with her, the rancher is utterly flummoxed that anyone could "tame that wild horse."

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' will have horses fight against and disobey the player until the player fully trains them up. Even after that, horses with a "wild" temperament will still throw the player off if they try to use dash too much.
* Taming horses in ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' amounts to getting thrown by them repeatedly until they get used to you.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' usually averts this when dragon cub Spike rides on Twilight Sparkle's back, (justified in that they communicate verbally and Twilight's like a mother to Spike) but a parodical version of this trope shows up in "A Dog And Pony Show" when the Diamond Dogs are trying to grab onto the ponies, who in turn jump around and knock them off like ''very'' disobedient horses.

** Pony on pony action (no, not porn) usually results in at best a miffed pony. Rainbow is less than happy with a shrunken Applejack rigging her with a crude bit and bridle for aerial assault in 'Bridle Gossip', and even Twilight lets out a miffed reply when Spike tries to have his 'noble steed' (read: her) charge in "A Dog and Pony Show". And 'Clover the Clever' (played by Twilight) is sullen about having 'Princess Platinum' (played by Rarity) ride her to avoid wading in a stream in the Hearth's Warming Eve pageant.
** Spike also gets thrown off by Applejack and Rainbow Dash during a rodeo in "Fall Weather Friends." (One wonders how they talked him into participating in the first place.)

* TruthInTelevision since horses are still animals. Very big, powerful animals. Aside from the obvious danger of a kick or a nasty bite (which can be severe enough to disable or even kill) some horses can have a nasty habit of lying down suddenly when you're riding them... to roll in the grass while you're still on them. The results can be fatal. So if your horse goes down suddenly... ''get off the horse IMMEDIATELY!'' (especially if he's in water.) They can also spook or bolt if they're stung or startled, leaping or galloping off in a panic. When that happens getting dumped is almost inevitable.

* Beyond this, they can be sneaky devils as well. A common one is them inhaling as you fasten their saddles, so that when they exhale again, the saddle becomes loose and you end up riding upside down. They have lots of tricks beyond this... like getting the bit anywhere it's not supposed to be (between their teeth, beneath their tongue, back in their mouth etc.) and flatly refusing to follow anything the rider asks of them.
** As an old refrain says "Mas sabe el burro que quien lo monta" ("More knows the donkey than the person that's riding him"). Well, horse.
** And the worst part of all this? If a horse decides he isn't going anywhere, that horse - well - isn't going ''anywhere''. There is a reason no trained equestrian gets in a tug-of-war with a horse - they have the experience to know they won't win. Horses are best managed by kindness and trust. Failing that, they are managed by manipulation, followed shortly by bribery. When that fails, the rider in question calls in someone with more experience.
* Horses will not jump anything unless they are a) in a blind panic or b) being ridden by a competent rider. There's an old saying that you can fool your enemies, fool your friends and even fool yourself, but you can't fool a horse and if you don't know what you're doing you probably ''will'' make it past the first jump.... about ten feet past, depending upon terrain and atmospheric conditions. Many horses will also only jump something if they feel like it. Chronic escape artists have been known to jump 4'6" stall walls from a standstill without provocation (sometimes it seems just to prove the human wrong when they say "No way he could jump that!") and the best rider in the world can't make a horse they're riding jump even a small fence if the horse decides he's not doing it.
** An inversion to this: horses and other domestic/captive equines will go to all lengths to find a way out of their enclosures if they decide they really want out. They'll jump a fence that their keepers thought was too high like it's no problem and if it is too high, they'll wriggle their way out under the bottom. Build it low to the ground to stop them from doing this? They'll get another horse (usually a smaller one or a pony) to get under it and ''lift'' it up so that it's high enough for them to wriggle under.
* Then there are ponies, who, in addition to all of the above, often have very talented lips, and easily master the art of unbolting their stalls. And occasionally every other stall in the barn as well apparently for the lulz. Miniature ponies are particularly notorious for this sort of behavior, and it's said that the smaller a pony is the more intelligent they are, so if horses are troublemakers, ponies are [[ComicStrip/DennisTheMenaceUS Dennis the Menace]].
** There's a common equestrian adage that goes something like "the higher the horse, the longer the fall; but the smaller the pony, the closer to hell." It's not unjustified.
* Donkeys the close relative of horses and ponies are well known for their stubborn nature and tend to be less trusting towards humans. However, they are also highly intelligent and dependable if you earn their trust.
* Likewise mules (a cross between a male donkey and a female horse) tend to inherit the stubborn streak of their donkey fathers hence the phrase "stubborn as a mule". But are quite dependable, hardy, and intelligent even more so then either parent. Ticking them off is not wise due to fact they can strike with their hooves in any direction, even sideways.
** Hinnys (a cross between a female donkey and a male horse) are similar in personality to mules but are much rarer due to difficulties in reproducing them.

* Famous racehorse Seabiscuit's quirks were actually toned down for the movie, and he was a notorious bad actor until he was just lucky enough to get an owner, trainer and jockey who understood him. The race instructions "...never hit him with the whip, only touch him with it on the left side, and never more than three times..." were taken word for word from an interview with the real Red Pollard.
* There was an attempt to domesticate zebras during the colonial era due to them being immune to diseases that were decimating horses. They proved to be too prone to panicking and, being wild animals, were much more unpredictable than horses. A few people had succeeded after multiple cases of trial and error with a few individual zebras that could be ridden, but generally it considered too much effort and the project was abandoned. This is also why over the course of human history zebras have ''never'' been successfully domesticated as a whole, with the only successes being in taming individuals, with any subsequent offspring inevitably being just as wild and aggressive toward humans as the offspring of non-tame individuals. It's presumed that because they evolved alongside humans, their instinctive fear and aggression against humans has simply been too hardwired into their DNA to be overcome.
* Creator/DavidNiven recounted an amusing HorsingAround anecdote that happened to him while he was filming ''Film/ThePrisonerOfZenda'' in his memoir ''The Moon's A Balloon'': The director wanted all of his stars mounted on fiery, flashy horses for the royal procession scene. Niven, being an experienced rider, wanted no part of that and bribed the wrangler to give him a nice, safe, gentle mare instead... only to be nearly killed when his nice, safe, gentle mare was [[CoitusEnsues mounted]] by Ronald Colman's stallion.
* According to [[Creator/MontyPython Terry Jones]], at one point in the First Crusade, a whole load of European knights (mounted on stallions for strength) encountered a whole load of Muslim cavalry (mounted on mares for speed)... during the season when the mares were in heat. Details of the subsequent engagement are lacking; the chroniclers of the First Crusade evidently decided this particular battle should be a LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain moment.
* And of course, there is Christoper Reeve's accident as an example: he was competing at a horse trial when his horse Eastern Express suddenly slammed on the brakes one or two strides from a jump -- known as a "dirty stop" in equestrian circles. Reeves flew over his horse's head and struck the solid cross country obstacle head first; the impact approximated a fall from a three-story window. Reeves' head was saved by his helmet but the impact crushed the vertebrae in his neck. No one knows why the horse stopped. He had never done anything like that before. He only had to do it once.

Horses, both in fiction and RealLife, are living creatures, and come with their own personalities. They lose their tempers, they get scared, they react like you'd expect an animal to react. Often suspiciously like you would expect [[AllAnimalsAreDogs a dog to react]]. {{Sapient Steed}}s are liable to be this if you treat them badly... or possibly just because, [[HumansAreBastards like humans]], they have a mischievous streak. And lord help you if you have a MoodyMount.

[[IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] ''JustForFun/HorsinAround''.

* Creator/DavidNiven recounted an amusing HorsingAround anecdote that happened to him while he was filming ''ThePrisonerOfZenda'' in his memoir ''The Moon's A Balloon'': The director wanted all of his stars mounted on fiery, flashy horses for the royal procession scene. Niven, being an experienced rider, wanted no part of that and bribed the wrangler to give him a nice, safe, gentle mare instead... only to be nearly killed when his nice, safe, gentle mare was [[CoitusEnsues mounted]] by Ronald Colman's stallion.

* Creator/DavidNiven recounted an amusing HorsingAround anecdote that happened to him while he was filming ''ThePrisonerOfZenda'' in his memoir ''The Moon's A Balloon'': The director wanted all of his stars mounted on fiery, flashy horses for the royal procession scene. Niven, being an experienced rider, wanted no part of that and bribed the wrangler to give him a nice, safe, gentle mare instead... only to be nearly killed when his nice, safe, gentle mare was mounted by Ronald Colman's stallion.