How do I Know if My Horse Enjoys What We are Doing?

Brandy trots through the poles for fun

This article accompanies my chat with Jec Aristotle Ballou on this topic, Does My Horse Like This

Why does it matter if a horse likes what we are doing together? Horses, like people, focus, work, and learn better when they like what they are doing. This supports a positive attitude and relationship. We cannot measure enjoyment by obedience because a horse could be simply doing his job to avoid unpleasant corrections, or he could be in a state of learned helplessness. The difference is that an obedient horse simply does what he is told. Enjoyment elicits enthusiasm, anticipation, and initiative. It is easier to spot the difference when you know your horse. When in doubt, trust your intuition. One important set of clues is how your horse reacts to your presence. Does he nicker in greeting? Leave his hay pile? Meet you at the stall door or pasture gate? Come to you when you pick up his halter, or stand at the arena fence awaiting his turn? How does he respond to your touch and grooming? Does he relax into it, show you spots he wants you to attend to? I take it as a special compliment when the horse I am grooming looks ready to nod off. Another clue is whether he shows a proactive interest in his work. Does he take initiative? Understand the purpose of his job? Some examples… A horse who pulls toward a jump instead of trying to go around it. Or approaches a tough obstacle with a focused sense of purpose and confidence that says, “I’ve got this!” A trail horse doesn’t always choose the trail that leads home. When confronted with an obstacle, he plans how to negotiate it instead of turning around. A horse working in True Liberty stays with you in a large area, perhaps with no fences. An agility horse might run ahead of you to the next obstacle, go to a favorite obstacle, or play on obstacles alone in the arena. Happy therapy horses and kid-sitters look out for their charges even in the absence of directions from a handler. Race horses understand how to run their own best race with minimal direction from a jockey or driver. Any horse who has learned by watching you work with another horse is taking a proactive interest.

Bronzz likes flags and seems to think this is fun

It may not be possible to separate a horse’s “job satisfaction” from his relationship with his human partner. After all, doesn’t a co-worker you enjoy makes any job more fun? And one who isn’t so great can dampen the enjoyment of the best job. Wanting to please you is part of a good partnership, so if you don’t think your horse cares about pleasing you (at least some of the time!), ask yourself this question: Are you a boss focused on obedience and performance, or a Protector Leader attuned to his emotions and confidence? If you notice tension, resistance, pulling toward the gate or barn, or other signs he doesn’t seem to like the activity, monitor first for physical discomfort. Could he be stiff, sore, in pain? Is his general demeaner grumpy or out of character, or do issues show up only during certain activities? Some other questions to ask are: Is there a training issue such as lack of balance or confidence? Does he dislike the activity or the repetition involved? Does he need time off? Does he seem to dislike the whole job or just the basic training needed to do the job well? The early stages of learning are hard work, like playing a musical instrument. A horse might start by working to please his person, and find inherent enjoyment in his job later when he sees purpose and feels confident. Does he respond differently to some activities than others? Use this information to adjust activities or plan compromises to motivate him. Is it possible that YOU are bored with your program and are projecting your feelings onto your horse?

Ways to enhance your horse’s enjoyment of his job
- Less repetition. Employ the old rule of 3. No more than 3 repetitions at a time. Focus on concepts, not rote learning.
- More praise, encouragement, enthusiasm, scratching/petting, fun. Act more like an enthusiastic dog trainer. This reassures anxious horses and projects a positive attitude from you. Why should we expect enthusiasm from our horses if we are boring?
- Create real world scenarios that show a purpose in what you are doing. Get out of the arena and do circles around natural obstacles, leg yield past trees, etc. Instead of repeating endless cross-rails, try a jump course of tiny obstacles made of various (safe) things. Obstacles can be incorporated into any ride or training program.
- Take time to do things he likes. Like us, horses are more willing to work at something they aren’t excited about if they also have a chance to do things they find more fun.

Is it fair to ask a horse to do a job he doesn’t like? This may be a question only your horse can answer. I suspect it partially depends on how much he dislikes a job and why. Is he just bored? Or physically or emotionally uncomfortable doing it? Also, is the job he doesn’t enjoy meant to be his whole career or a “side job” he has to do occasionally? My husband acquired his beloved Sapphire because her previous owner showed in Western Pleasure and had little time for anything else. Sapphire had no tolerance for ring work but was happy and reliable on trails. A career change made good sense. Bronzz seems to think his main job is being a trail horse and looking out for me as we roam through the woods. He is willing to "humor me" and do other things as long as he gets enough trail time. "Side jobs" have included a few dressage tests and musical freestyles, some hunter shows, lead-lining grandchildren, and doing Equagility (ridden agility). For Equagility competitions we practiced about 20 minutes a week, and spent another 20 minutes or so filming the course each month. Although his "performances" were not always enthusiastic, they were competent enough to earn us the title of The International Horse Agility Club's Equagility World Champions in 2018. It stands to reason that the better your relationship with your horse, the more likely he is to invest himself in whatever you plan.

Bronzz, 2018 Equagility World Champion

He was also North American Champion and High Point Senior in The International Horse Agility Club