Why Isn't My Horse Perfect???

I’ve done everything right. Taken things at a pace appropriate for my horse, invested in establishing a relationship, worked consistently with fair expectations and good results at all the basics and many advanced skills and my horse STILL isn’t able to consistently walk by the arena drag without acting like an idiot!

Why does this happen? 

There are two reasons why the horse described above performs a certain way:

  1. Because the rider signals for it, or
  2. Because the horse has limitations.
 We’ll start with #1. This is the horse that the owner rides and he does fairly well. The trainer or professional rider gets on and WOW! The horse rides superbly, doesn’t spook and/or shows no signs of the problems that the owner has while riding. In this case, the owner is lacking in skill and is unaware of messages he sends to the horse. The rider may think he’s saying “left-lead lope” but the horse understands it as “bend to the right”. It is also common for the rider to tell the horse “be afraid”, when he tenses his muscles or sees an obstacle that he feels could be scary to his horse. Most horses are such far superior communicators that they know what we want before we consciously ask. Our bodies have actually started making adjustments prior to us being aware of even doing it! Can you imagine how a horse feels when your body initially says “scary jump, be afraid” but moments later you insist he jump anyway?

This premise of the horse being so sensitive and aware is why instructors will constantly remind students to breath and relax. THIS IS A MAJOR SKILL THAT NO RIDER CAN DO WITHOUT! It is also the reason why many riders will spend a lifetime seeking the assistance of good instructors! 

Now, we’ll address the second reason. No horse is perfect, nor are any two exactly the same. To expect robotic, equal responses from every horse is absurd...even if training and riding skills are equally implemented! Along these lines, we have to accept that each horse has limitations. If every horse were able to become a world champion, competition (as we know it) would end! What this means is each horse has strengths and weaknesses. This includes each BREED of horse. Some are known for being exceptional at chasing cows, others are known for their ability to perform over great distances. Even within the specific breed there are exceptions, limitations, strengths and weaknesses.

If you ride your horse and he occasionally spooks at his own shadow AND the trainer rides your horse and he STILL spooks at his own shadow, you may have a horse that mentally cannot handle the stress level of work he is doing at this point in his life and training. This is not to say that you are doomed to a life with a horse that spooks. It does mean that this horse may take three times the work to get enough confidence in himself and the rider to end the spooking for good! Another horse, ridden by the same rider may NEVER spook! This is the reason many good horsemen say one of the best ways to become a better rider is to ride a LOT of different horses. The reactions you repeatedly experience from these horses can alert you to weaknesses in you own ability. The horses will also mirror your strengths……BOTH WITHIN THEIR LIMITATIONS! 

If you find yourself wondering why your horse isn’t “perfect” and you’ve done your work, take some time to assess;

1. Yourself,

2. Your skill level,

3. Your horse,

4. His breed,

5. His Skill level

6. How other horses you’ve owned have behaved,

7. Your strengths and weaknesses,

8. His strengths and weaknesses, and

9. The limitations you both have!

10. Then, relax and give yourself a pat on the back….riding is one of the most challenging activities you’ll ever love! Don’t ever expect perfection but do maintain high standards for both of you!