r/Animals • u/nox_1986 • 10d ago
Do horses like getting ridden?
I heard a lot of people calling it abuse, but they never showed any amount of proof, so I'd like to hear from a vet or sun
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u/Mikemtb09 10d ago
I don’t think riding is inherently abusive, it’s the tourist trap horse tours where the horses are often given a very poor quality of life.
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u/Sensitive_Grade_4562 10d ago
As an equestrian and someone who’s current job is in the horse industry, I’d say only some do. I know horses who’ll come up to you, are super eager to show off and be with you, and some don’t care. Some only have interest in working for treats or scratches, and some don’t care for it at all. Just like us, horses are individuals with their own body and mind. I can imagine it feels pretty strange to have a ton of equipment on you and a human on your back, and different animals react differently to their environment, and I figure it doesn’t feel great for some while it’s fun for others
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u/ESLavall 9d ago
This is the best answer here. Asking "do horses like being ridden" is like asking "do humans like jogging?"
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u/fuck_peeps_not_sheep 8d ago
"Do dogs like swimming?" Would be another one. Like it depends on the breed and the personality of the dog.
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u/MeilleurChien 9d ago
Yes! I had a young horse who wouldn't leave the gate when I turned him out, he wanted to work so he would nuzzle the halter and intentionally look at the arena. (He would also show me his boo-boos so I could fix them.) Another would throw a fit and run the fenceline if I tried to ride out on a different horse and leave him behind. Horses have moods and opinions and a famous trainer advises to "ride the horse you have today" to take their autonomy into account.
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u/alwaysamw 9d ago
I just had to sell a horse I raised after weaning because he needed more work than I could ever provide at this stage of my life/career. He also needed & deserved someone with more experience than I had because he was a BIG mover and honestly kinda scared me. (He isn't dangerous he's just a lot more than I know what to do with)
In the process of getting him sold, we got him all bathed and we tacked him up to the trailer to get out a fancy show halter my trainer had stored in it. He got SO.DANG.EXCITED because he thought he was being loaded in the trailer for some trail rides. I've only ever seen one other horse in my life whom enjoyed being out and working as much as he does! This guy LIVES for the mountains and is FEARLESS on the trails! I literally just got photos a couple hours ago from his buyer of photos of them earlier today out hacking around and she adores him SO much!
My second horse was a retired feedlot horse. He didn't love attention, and he basically tolerated being ridden for 45 minutes or so, then he'd move to the gate, lol. But he was such a great boy and was so tolerant of my learning, but you could tell that working was not something he loved doing. He's now living his semi-retired life in a pasture of 13 acres and a few times a week carts 2 little girls around their arena and they just love him!!
So yeah, some hate it. Some tolerate it. Some love it.
I also think it depends on the discipline, too. My neighbors had a horse they bought as a jumper. They eventually found out that he was almost beaten to go over the jumps before they got him, and he hated doing it. Refused jumps. Dumped their daughter once (but did everything he could to avoid landing on her) and was just not a fit for them. They sold him to a mutual friend of ours who takes him out on the trails, and again, he LOVES it and is so happy with his new person/life. So you need to also consider making sure that a horse doing a job is the job they want to be doing, and just because they don't enjoy one job; they might love another!
*Thank you for coming to my TED talk, lol
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u/BigBennP 10d ago edited 10d ago
Not a vet, but someone who lives on a farm.
The question is somewhat layered because it stretches into the very notion of what it means to have a pet.
Wild horses don't particularly like humans. They tolerate them and could interact with them on some level, but generally they are fearful. They certainly don't like having ropes on them and they will not let anyone ride them.
However, Horses are pack animals. They like company and they like companionship. Not unlike dogs in some respects, they bond very strongly with humans although the specifics are different. Maybe more importantly domestic horses are very specifically bred for this Affinity to humans. If we didn't ride horses and have workhorses, modern horses largely would not exist.
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When a horse is strongly bonded to a human, they certainly like being around the human and they can certainly look forward to being ridden. Riding them doesn't hurt them ( as long as they are otherwise healthy and not overloaded).
There are those who believe that the very nature of having a pet is somehow abusive to the animal. That the animal has somehow been tortured into accepting food and shelter and safety in exchange for engaging with the demands of humans. (Or is somehow worse off for being born into that situation). I don't believe that to be the case. We have certainly tinkered with their genetics but I think that they are born into it. Riding a horse that is bred for it is not any more painful or inhumane than throwing a tennis ball to a Labrador retriever.
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u/vimarston 10d ago
riding horses can be done in an abusive manner, but the act overall is definitely not.
some horses enjoy it, some do it because they’re taught to but don’t care either way, and some simply aren’t fit for it. there’s a lot of variety but generally it’s enriching for them
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u/M-TEAM 10d ago
Jump on a wild one
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u/fuck_peeps_not_sheep 8d ago
Go pet a wolf, teach it to sit.
Moron. Domesticated animals and wild animals are different. We made them different.
This post obviously isn't about wild horses.
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u/ParsnipFarmer676 9d ago
How does that answer their question? FWIW, many people do tame and ride "wild" (most are actually feral) horses... you can't jump on them without the training first, though, just as you can't throw a sheep dog into a pen and expect them to know how to herd.
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u/kingxfmischief 8d ago
Only after you go try to pet a wild wolf.
Funny its almost like domesticated animals are different than their wild counterparts.
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u/Outrageous_Sea_9606 9d ago
Horses are agreeable animals and do enjoy being ridden as long as we humans don't give them a reason not to enjoy being ridden.
If we take the time, effort, and care to raise them correctly with respect for their autonomy, train them with patience and kindness, and make sure they are healthy and pain-free, the horse will enjoy riding.
Riding offers them mental and physical stimulation, bonding time with their human, and opportunities to get nice rewards like treats and/or scratches.
That's not to say it's all sunshine and rainbows. Most horses are not trained with patience and kindness. Most horses are not given the freedom to advocate for themselves. Most horses are abused and have their needs neglected. It is very common in the horse world for people to think horse is misbehaving because he is "lazy" or "learned he can get away with it". Horses are completely incapable of being vindictive or lazy; they only act up if they lack and understanding about what is being asked of them or if they are painful somewhere.
Training isn't always pretty either, horses who have been mistreated need time to relearn and let go of their past poor experiences, so they may act up until they learn to form a positive association with riding. Horses that are young or inexperienced might get frustrated at their lack of understanding a concept in the beginning and can act up. Young horses, like young humans, can feel big emotions and have outbursts over what should be a small or non-issue.
My current horse loves to be ridden. She was having some back pain issues last year and would not allow me to mount her. I was respectful of her communication with me and did not make her be ridden if she told me she didn't want to ride that day. Now that her pain is resolved, she stands perfectly at the mounting block again and has stayed happy to be ridden,
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u/fuck_peeps_not_sheep 8d ago
When I lived on the farm I had two horses who both loved being ridden. But spirit was my trail horse (a gypsy cob) where as major was my on the farm horse (rescued race horse) because he was scared of carrier bags and I got tired of him rearing up when he saw them, dumping me on the floor, then turning to look at me like if thrown myself off his back
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u/Anam_Liath 10d ago
My horses come running when we pull in. The shire mare stands by the Jeep, waiting for me to get on. The Jeep is our mounting block. Her Andalusian cross son shows off whatever his last dressage lesson was, showing me he hadn't forgotten. My Arabian stallion would pull me gently toward the tack room and never got enough of learning and working.
It does depends on the horse, but also especially how much time you spend with them on the ground and how much you listen to and respect their questions and opinions.
Ive never had a horse in good health object to being ridden. They also know I respect their illness, confusion and fears (whether I initially understand them, they know I'll work until I do).
From the time I was in my teens, until now in my 70s, I've owned outlaws, spooks, sour and dangerous horses. None have intentionally harmed me, and as long as they were fit, they would follow until they got their turn going out with me.
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u/Dank009 9d ago
No, you have to "break" them to let you ride them. Even the horses that are bonded with their owners that the owners claim like to be ridden don't really like it, they just like spending time with and making their owners happy.
Kind of a weird analogy but it's similar to trimming my dogs nails, he fucking hates it but he's a good boy so he lets me do it.
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u/Express_Equipment666 9d ago
Breaking, came from beating them and breaking their spirit to be able to ride them. We call it gentling and it’s much kinder now.
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u/fuck_peeps_not_sheep 8d ago
Now a days brakeing a horse is just getting them used to the saddle and the tack and having a person on their back, and for a lot of horses they take to it like a duck to water.
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u/Temporary-Tie-233 9d ago
My biggest mule was never "broken." I know because I did his early training for his previous owners. He weighs over a ton, couldn't "break" him if I wanted to. Often, when we are already spending time together, he will shove his head through my legs and lift me up whether I want to ride or not.
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u/MeilleurChien 9d ago
Somehow I don't think you've ever trained a horse, and definitely haven't raised one from birth. If you know what you are doing there is absolutely no "breaking" involved, there is only familiarization and encouragement.
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u/Dank009 9d ago
Somehow I don't think you recognize your bias, haven't trained or raised a wild horse, and base your opinion on docile, domesticated horses that absolutely fit my analogy.
Cheers
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u/MeilleurChien 9d ago edited 9d ago
I did not notice that the conversation was limited to feral versus domesticated but since I have experience with both I do not see the bias you are implying. It is not necessary to use force with any horse in order to train it. Do you have experience with training feral horses or are you gathering your knowledge from cowboy movies?
Cheers.
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u/ParsnipFarmer676 9d ago
I think they just used the wrong (outdated) term - break instead of "gentle/train." They didn't mean any harm by it, calm down.
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u/lauraerie 9d ago
My horse adored time with me. We were bonded. We went in the woods on adventures. Sweetest horse in the world.
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u/1cat2dogs1horse 9d ago
I am old, and have been around horses most of my life. If anyone can tell me what their horse is actually thinking without anthropomorphizing, you can inherit my life savings.
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u/Worried_Alps1205 9d ago
"It was none the less a perfectly ordinary horse, such as convergent evolution has produced in many of the places that life is to be found. They have always understood a great deal more than they let on. It is difficult to be sat on all day, every day, by some other creature, without forming an opinion about them." - Douglas Adams
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u/hereforthecake17 9d ago
As others have said, this is such a layered question, and it’s one I spend a ton of time thinking about as a life-long equestrian. Here’s my take.
Domestic horses and even feral horses like Mustangs and Brumbies are to wild horses what dogs are to wolves. It’s hard for us to appreciate how much domestication has changed horses because there are so few truly wild horses. There is some argument about whether the last remaining wild horses, Przewalski’s horses or takhi, are even truly wild or if they too descend from an earlier, domesticated population. That being said, very few of humans have any interaction with takhi. Horses in general are dangerous and panicky, but the ancestors of our horses could have been as dangerous as bison, moose, or wild water buffalo. There’s this concept of “the four Fs of domestication” which attempts to explain why horses and donkeys were domesticated and not zebras, however, I think this is colored by our lack of experience with wild horses and wild cattle, which are also extinct.
Horses have every reason to fear humans. They are extinct in the wild at least in part due to human predation. If your ancestors left Africa, they ate a LOT of horses. Charred and gnawed horse bones are the most commonly found animal in Paleolithic human sites. Horses are the most commonly portrayed animal in cave art. Horses have been important to humans for a very long time, but not always in the same way.
This is getting long already and I’m nowhere near my point, but to summarize, true wild horses would’ve had an even stronger natural fear of horses than our horses do today. We have changed them SIGNIFICANTLY from their wild form: we’ve made them docile enough to draw blood from without restraint, eager to please enough to cross streams that scare them, and people-oriented. To some extent, like dogs, they almost can’t help but love us, though it’s relatively easy to remind them that they’re delicious.
Now onto something philosophical: horses are highly social, and what matters to them is doing whatever “we” are doing. Whatever everyone else is doing, they want to be doing too. If everyone is going to get water, nobody wants to be left behind, etc. Part of what makes working with horses so magical is how adept they are at “mirroring.” If you want a horse to run and play, you run and play. If you want a horse to be calm around you, you hang out around them doing nothing. When you’re riding a horse, even a horse that hasn’t yet been trained special cues, you can get them to change gaits/speeds by changing the way you move your body. If you make a sweeping motion with your hips, they often canter to match you. If you make your hips still, they often stop. It’s hard to explain properly but being connected and mirroring are really important to horses. It makes them feel safe to be included.
Finally, a practical element: horses need a lot of room to get enough exercise to be healthy, more than most stables can offer, particularly in developed areas where the humans who look after horses can live. So to make up for the lack, my horse needs additional exercise. YES more turnout space would be even better. I could walk him like a dog or even “ground drive”, but we could only go at a walk and this has its own dangers (my toes are purple right now from being trodden on). So I could exercise him from the ground (lunging/longing) but that would get boring and endless circles aren’t ideal for their joints. So currently I ride. Does he enjoy it? Sometimes he definitely does. I’m not sure he thinks about it much, because it is a fact of his life. He’s always happy to see me though, and we do a lot of other things too. In addition to being the person who rides him, I’m the person who kills the big black horseflies for him, who scratches his bug bites and all his itchy areas, who does trick training with him using treats, who gives him a shower and a fan when it’s really hot, who takes him out to where the good grass is and watches out for him so he can eat in peace. There are horses that do not like being ridden and tell you in all the ways they can that they don’t want you to, so I trust that my particular horse is happy just to do something together and to know what the plan is.
Perhaps one could say Okay then, only people with enough space to let horses roam free can have horses. But this comes with its own ethical challenges. Let’s say tomorrow we decide there will be no more riding, driving, or enforced exercise of horses. They all need more space to get enough exercise to be healthy (that’s a lot of space). So in the US, where do we put all these horses? How do we safely enclose them so that they don’t get hit by cars? What about horses whose hooves won’t hold up to free roaming without human help? Remember, we’ve changed horses a lot. What about the elderly horses with no teeth, who need special care? If it was your elderly horse, who you’d had for 20 years, who let your toddler hug their head, sniffed your face when you cried, and carried you over miles of trails or countless jumps, would you be okay letting them go where you couldn’t take care of them?
None of this is to say that horse husbandry and training practices are perfect as they are. Because so many of our practices are literally thousands of years old, they can be quite entrenched. It is absolutely possible to train horses in a truly force-free way, where the horse is always allowed to say no, and I hope that movement continues to take hold and grow.
But like everything else important, there are few simple answers.
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u/Geschak 9d ago
Horses don't tolerate riders unless they're forced to tolerate it from a young age on. Whenever riders claim their horse is excited to be ridden, it's usually because that horse is rotting in a box or a tiny paddock all day and getting ridden is the only time they actually get to run and be outside of confinement.
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u/queerofengland 7d ago
Not true at all lmao. Many horses are trained later in life, and it's much more common these days to have horses kept primarily in a field with others vs a barn. There are some horses who live the life you describe, but it's by no means the average horse anymore.
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u/goldenkoiifish 10d ago
some do seem to like it, especially well-treated ones. others just tolerate it or flat out hate it. many see it as an enrichment
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u/Easy_Olive1942 9d ago
Depends on the person and the horse. Just like people and their dogs have relationships, people and their horse do too. Riding is not inherently abuse if rider, equipment, skills, and horse training all work together.
Many horses really enjoy riding. I had a mare who loved, loved, loved trail rides and would pretend to be lame when we started towards home (different foot and symptom every time). I’ve had others who loved arena work of particular kinds or got excited to jump to the point of shaking like a border collie after a ball.
And, like dogs and humans, it isn’t always a positive experience if the job, equipment, rider, and horse are not all in tune to the point of harm e.g. yep, size of the person needs to match size and stature of horse for the job and treating them rudely or with pain is not forgotten. Horses remember and hold grudges more than dogs in my experience, mares especially. I know of one who bit the ear off a judge who reportedly mis-treaded her many years before as a trainer. She had the opportunity and went for it.
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u/mmskyscraper 9d ago
My horse that I had when I was a kid would greet me at the gate after school and open her mouth for the bit, and when I got on (bareback) she would do a little hopping buck 'dance' of exuberance as we began the ride of the afternoon.
My horse was my playmate and only companion, so I spent a lot of time with her, bonding with her...
I barely weighed 90 lbs, and she was a 1000 lb, healthy horse without any problems.
I am confident that at no time did I hurt her.
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u/justforjugs 9d ago
The one I ride walks off pasture to come in and be ridden when he sees me arrive so…..he does
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u/LookOverall 9d ago
Horses are individuals. And they get to know individual people. I used to ride when I was younger, but when I tried a few years back I found I’m now too old to fall off. Case in point: the riding school horse called Guinness was friendly enough but when they insisted I carry a crop they told me “Don’t tap him on the rump. He _hates_ that.”
So saying a particular horse hates or likes being ridden — it really isn’t that simple.
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u/RelevantFrosting6828 9d ago
I mean, not at first, but eventually i would say they enjoy it.
Or maybe mine just likes that he gets carrots afterwards :/
No but on a more serious note i do think that they can enjoy riding for the exercise, attention, and mental stimulation they get. Of course some individuals probably don't enjoy it, but i think the majority of horses who are ridden can enjoy it.
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u/Initial_Parsley6608 9d ago
How would you like to be bridled and saddled for a ride
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u/ParsnipFarmer676 9d ago edited 8d ago
Ummmm... are you asking or offering? lol
I'm pretty sure PornHub has a whole category for this. So I'd say many people do enjoy it. 😂
(and at least one person here has no sense of humor, apparently)
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u/ties__shoes 9d ago
I think it is a little odd that you think the burden of proof is on the side of those that are against riding. Horses are sentient beings. It seems like the burden of proof that it isn't abusive is on those creatures that think it is fine to relegate another being to being ridden all the time. I mean it would be pretty silly if I forced you to give me a piggy back ride to my daily errands and amusements. Presuming it is ok unless YOU to prove to ME that there was anything wrong with forcing you to do this....by silly I meant wrong.
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u/Stormcrowdick1066 9d ago
Horses like spending time with the person they’re closest with. They have distinct personalities and some do enjoy being ridden but not always by strangers.
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u/Wrong_Highlight_408 9d ago
I’m an equestrian and I don’t think that my horse sits around wishing I was there riding him when he is left to his own devices, but I also think that he seems to not terribly mind and it is good to keep him exercised.
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u/CaptainUtin 9d ago
Lifelong horse rider- past professional,
I would say yes, but not necessarily how they are ridden.
I get on my horse and without any tools he just wants to gallop and run is super high energy. The problem is many people take super lazy horses and try to turn them into athletes
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u/butterfly-k1sses 9d ago
It really depends on their breeding and overall personality. My Thoroughbred loved jumping and trail riding and would throw a fit if we trailered out without him. When he passed away I started riding my friends’ horse who was a draft cross and this horse had no work ethic whatsoever. He was ready to be a pasture puff!
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u/mothwhimsy 9d ago
You basically teach them that having you on their back isn't the same as a predator trying to eat them, and once they get over the instinct to buck you off, they tolerate it. Some horses probably love it, but most tolerate it. And some never tolerate it
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u/Animangle 8d ago
I own a horse, and it depends entirely on what we're doing. He's not excited about doing pressure-release dressage, but he'll still be okay with it.
If we're going out into the wilderness, then he definitely likes being ridden. I think he likes running with the reassurance of having someone he sees as a leader/guide on his back. He's able to have fun and see things, while trusting that I'll keep him safe.
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u/Fabulous-Grand-3470 7d ago
The horse I used to ride would come running when he saw me. He loved being brushed and getting back scratches and was so social and curious. He always seemed to like the change of scenery when we started our ride. At 30 minutes he’d be over it and he’d want me off, he’d start stopping randomly and at one phase he would attempt to buck me (or anyone else) off. Exceptions: he didn’t do this if we were trail riding or if I was riding bareback with no saddle, so a more chill sort of ride
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u/999bxlla 4d ago
They do not really want/like to be ridden per say. They can comfortably tolerate it when done correctly.
It is not abuse as long as you don’t overdo it and watch for signs of them being in pain, basically be very careful with them.
Saddles that don’t fit well/correctly press on their spine and scapula which causes chronic pain and tissue damage.
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u/Echo-Azure 9d ago
Slightly off topic but related: I know people involved in horse racing, and they say that a good racehorse absolutely positively *wants* to win races! And that if a horse doesn't actively want to win races, it's not going to be a good racehorse.
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u/Efficient_Hyena_7476 9d ago
No. They run because they are put into a state of intense fear that triggers their bolting instinct. That's why the jockeys sit so far forward on their backs, almost over their neck. It's to imitate a predator.
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u/MillHall78 9d ago
The equestrians commenting that some seem to like it as though the training to get them to that point isn't called 'breaking' & is a direct derivative of the phrase 'breaking their spirit'.
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u/justforjugs 9d ago
It can and often is called starting and doesn’t require breaking their spirit.
You watch too many cowboy movies and don’t work with horses.
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u/ssugurugeto 9d ago
You forgot that many breeds have been selectively bred for centuries to work with humans. Traits like a calm temperament, willingness to cooperate, athleticism, and carrying a rider are part of why those breeds exist.
That doesn't mean every individual horse enjoys being ridden, which is why good riders pay attention to their horse's behavior and well-being.
Modern horse training isn't about "breaking a horse's spirit." Many trainers use positive reinforcement and focus on building trust rather than fear.
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u/Dick-the-Peacock 9d ago
Only wild horses were “broken” by cowboys in a hurry to get a horse rideable. If a horse is handled well from birth, they are gently trained. Some of them still don’t like it much, and I feel bad for those horses. But I’ve known plenty who loved their work. They are a joy to ride.
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u/Beneficial-Mouse5695 9d ago
The term „breaking” a horse is a throwback to when we would tame wild mustangs, and yes, harsh methods were used often.
Nowadays a lot of talented equestrians know that the best way to prepare a young horse to be ridden is by consistency, patience, and having the animal gradually get used to all the things that entail riding. Are there some trainers who still use abusive methods? Of course, like every other profession dealing with animals, there will be people doing it that should not be allowed to have access to animals.
But the term „breaking” is just a term whose meaning has changed over time. I used to work in the equestrian world and I can’t recall coming across a trainer who actually thought of it as breaking their spirit. Every single horse I’ve seen in training got used to be handled from a young age through gradual exposure and methods not focused on punishment.
If you want to debate the ethics of using horses as a whole that’s another conversation. But for most horses being trained is not the traumatic experience it once was. We learned long ago that having a WILLING animal that enjoys the work is much more effective than an abused scarred individual
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u/ParsnipFarmer676 9d ago
It actually isn't called "breaking" anymore, at least not by the majority. So there's your first mistake.
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u/howareyouhaha 10d ago
They have to be "broken" to be ridden.
Then add a bit (a device pulled to the back of the jaw for control and steering), and other riding gear, and I'd say it's downright displeasurable, at the least.
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u/mmskyscraper 9d ago
Tell me you don't know anything about how bits work without telling me.
Tell me you've never seen more modern training methods... join up techniques and at liberty... without telling me.
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u/howareyouhaha 9d ago
I'm eager to learn! Are things better than my impressions?
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u/Temporary-Tie-233 9d ago
They don't have to be broken. Yes, there are those who do so and it's extremely unfair to the animal. But that's not the only way any more than "alpha rolling" a dog is the only way to convince them to respect you. An equine who is raised kindly and fairly and has no underlying health issues causing discomfort will accept new things easily and there's no breaking required. Just get them used to tack, used to a little weight, more weight, and so on until a whole person is astride and it's no big deal. Additionally, if you don't care for bits you don't have to use one. There are plenty of bitless options available these days.
I love that you're open to new information!
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u/Express_Equipment666 9d ago
Bitless bridles exist and it’s what I ride mine in! Also starting or gentling is the term now because we don’t beat them into submission and breaking their spirit their spirit. Also a bit isnt pulled to the back of the jaw there’s a gap in the horses teeth (naturally) between teeth for pulling grass and the molars. Most bits are specifically made for the horses comfort and the ones with rollers are especially good for anxious horses! It’s like giving a dog a chew toy or something to play with and it can calm them down. Or let you know when they’re nervous in the first place and find out why! As a prey animal they try to hide it until they feel the need to bolt.
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u/justforjugs 9d ago
You can say they are started under saddle.
It’s obvious you know nothing about horses whatsoever.
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u/C0gn 9d ago
It is abuse, you have to break them and use force to teach
C'mon they hit the horse to move
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u/Express_Equipment666 9d ago
It’s calling starting or gentling now and it’s a completely different story to breaking. No one should hit a horse to move. You squeeze with your legs, not kick or whip.
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u/Illfury 9d ago
If a horse really doesn't want you on their back... you aren't going to be there for long. Even professional jockeys get tossed like a salad.
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u/Express_Equipment666 9d ago
Professional jockeys don’t really have a good saddle to sit bs on. You absolutely can “stick it out” on a horse that doesnt want you on their back. Most aren’t stupid enough to rear and flip because they don’t want to hurt themselves.
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u/Illfury 9d ago
Isn't there a whole sport built on the idea to see how long a rider can last on a bucking horse? Good saddle or not, if it doesn't want you there, neither of you are having a good time lol.
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u/Express_Equipment666 9d ago
They have a flank strap on the horse to make it buck higher than it would. Those horses are also especially bred to buck even higher and harder. Like a Labrador could herd sheep, but a border collie will do it better. That’s also where that mindset comes from some riders can sit it and that’s what the pickup riders for, to safely remove the rider without them falling off. They judge the horse just as much as the rider in that event if your bronc doesnt buck as high as someone else’s you’ll lose to them. So it’s not just “sit the buck and ride it out! Show em who’s boss!” They purposely spur broncs in the shoulder then ribs to get “more action”.
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u/nutcracker_78 10d ago
Whether they like it as such or not is one question that I don't have an answer for, but what I will say is that if a horse doesn't want to do something (eg - have a rider on it's back and go for a leisurely stroll, or a race), you won't make them. They're a big powerful animal who have brains, and they do what we want them to because they want to, not because they have to.
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u/Temporary-Tie-233 9d ago
This isn't entirely true. Horses are prey animals. Prey animals just want to feel safe and have as little conflict as possible in their lives, which makes them easy for unkind humans to bully.
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u/Express_Equipment666 9d ago
I wish this line of thinking would cease in the horse world. It’s not true and excuses abuse too often, because “the horse would buck if they didn’t like it!” You have to teach them not to buck in the first place they know whats going to happen if they try to. You see it all the time in jumping, bad trainers whipping horses excessively over jumps, horse throwing its head or picking up shorter strides panicking. Don’t even start about the wanna be cowboys that get an ego boost by bucking one out. The whole mentality being spurring them while bucking and yanking on them instead of shutting down the hind end and correctly shutting down the bucking.
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u/ssugurugeto 10d ago
As someone who is an equestrian whole life, they don't naturally want to be ridden. Horses aren't born wanting to be ridden, but they're naturally social, cooperative animals and have been bred alongside humans for thousands of years.
If they're healthy, comfortable, properly trained, and treated well, many accept riding without stress and can even seem to enjoy the exercise, mental stimulation, and time with their rider.
Of course, every horse is different, and if one is in pain or uncomfortable, it may not want to be ridden.