The older I get, and as someone who gets to play with horses for fun at the end of the day when I’m tired from working with still mostly wild training horses and being present for more or less dysregulated people (I’m a counselor in my other life), the more I appreciate a good horse to “come home” to.
Even when they’re pretty green, barely broke or not even under saddle yet. Or older but still spicy and opinionated. We have all of the above in the Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustang herd.
With that much variety, what then is a good horse?
To me – I work with a number of Mustangs for several hours most days and have for years – a hallmark of a good horse is that it’s still pretty good when it’s “bad”. Meaning it remains manageable and the brain stays online even when frustrated, nervous or surprised.
Basically, they’re able to regulate their emotions. Some of that can be taught and/or affected by husbandry-related measures, and some is innate and difficult if not impossible to change.
Good horses – that’s my definition , not some textbook explanation – remain situationally aware under stress and are able to keep themselves safe, and with that their rider. They allow us to make some mistakes and relax here and there. With proper training they become as trustworthy and consistent as a large prey animal in the often noisy and confusing human world can be.
They’re a good investment of our time. Meaning if I spend 25 minutes of focused training time with the horse, it’ll have retained 18 to 25 minutes worth of that when I come back the next time. I can do a lot in limited time if I set it up right and we’re not revisiting the same thing forever.
That’s assuming we’re actually setting the horse up for success by making sure it’s healthy enough, its basic needs are met and we’re breaking things down enough for the horse to have a chance to understand and do what we’re asking.
It’s also assuming the horse has learned to understand how to respond to commands, cues and – yes – pressure in different scenarios so we don’t get flattened over a bear in the woods or a trash can lid flying through the air.
I want a horse that challenges me to grow as a horsewoman while being soothing for my nervous system that’s also navigating a lot of other things because, well, that’s life. That’s what I look for, based on 32 years of working with horses. How about you?
Pictured: Yours truly on Divide Basin WY Mustang mare Lacy, ponying Bible Springs UT Mustang mare Firefly who would shortly thereafter have her 2nd ever mini ride, bareback on a mountain trail, and German Shepherds Denali and Ranger during a lovely sunset ride after work last week. We got back to the trailer at 10pm by headlamp light, everyone did great and had a blast.
