Over the years I have seen quite a bit of horses which act lots more cautios and careful, when kids are around them. As if they assume, that must be kind of foals or such sort of being
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And another matter I have observed often: if children don't demand much, are less assertive than adults and the horse feels appreciation and closeness, horses are lots more willing to do certain things for the little rider, even if the kids don't have the strength yet it usually would take...am thinking of leg yielding or such.