They really are. One left a tennis ball sized bruise on my friends arm, who wasn't even paying attention to it. He just walked straight up and bit him.

But I grew up around full sized horses, and they really tend to be more gentle. You do get your butt heads in there once in a while. My brothers old horse Captain, for one. Obstinant as could be. He would slosh through a river, but would litterally leap over a six inch stream. And he would try to fight you, if he didn't feel like going somewhere. But then you get ones like my dads old horse, Dutchman. Who, when he realized he threw me off, came back and nuzzed me, and you could tell he felt bad about it. LOL! I forgot how much of a cowboy I really am. I know how to saddle them, ride them, gallop them, groom them, shoe them. I kind of miss it.