In conversation it has recently been expressed to me by a number of people that they are surprised to learn of horses having substantial limitations, or even talents. Because a horse is a horse, of course! – In general, I’m seeing there is commonly a vehicle-minded way of viewing a horse’s abilities. As though stating a year, make and model would direct one to a manual that tells the horse’s towing capacity, fuel mileage and expected engine life. In a world being overtaken by machines, it is a natural result for people to unintentionally begin to think this way about horses as well, especially those less experienced with horses.
Sadly, with such a view, many horses that don’t meet the general expectations of performance or behavior are often labeled lazy, mean, bad-tempered, stubborn, etc. Since horses aren’t machines, often these labels are behaviors the horse is using to express his inability or lack of understanding.
Let’s Put This In Perspective
For a different perspective, we can take a look at humans for a moment. All can agree that not every human has the physical ability to go to the Olympics or be a professional athlete, and even fewer have the necessary training. Then some of those select few who have both the aptitude and training have been permanently removed from competition by injury. Likewise, not all humans have the mind to write computer code or engineer a skyscraper or run a large business, and again even fewer have the training. This concept holds true to horses as well. When we state that a horse is a 10-year old Thoroughbred gelding, standing 16.2hh, it is comparable to describing a man for example as being a 28-year old Caucasian male, standing 6 feet tall. This is only a surface-level description.
Other Considerations
But a horse is a horse of course, right? Well, we have not yet considered any other ailments that can limit a horse’s capabilities. Just like people, horses can have respiratory issues similar to asthma, allergies, vision issues or hearing issues, among other ailments that can limit a horse’s job capabilities and therefore his life prospects. There’s no such thing as a perfect horse, and those that come close to perfect for their intended purpose cost a lot of money and/or a time to acquire. What makes a great horse great is that so many things must align in their life to make them come out so well, including their own natural inclinations and strengths.
What’s Not To Like?
So, what makes people dismissive of a horse? At the lower levels of riding, such as the casual rider or back yard owner, behavior and training are usually top of the list. In the more ambitious segments of the horse world, it is breeding, conformation, athleticism, and training that often rank over behavior and personality. Horses that missed their opportunities when young might be passed up in favor of one who had the proper start in life. If that same horse is nice tempered, it may make a suitable lower-level horse for a rider who doesn’t need as much out of their mount. However, some horses, particularly those with some grit and competitive edge, may behave inappropriately or even dangerously if not handled and taught manners from a young age. Being allowed to sit without structure and discipline into adult age can create serious behavior problems.
Understandably, a horse that acts out is undesirable to most, regardless of the reasons behind it. Not everyone has the time, facility or knowledge to gamble on training a horse with obvious behavior issues. Among people who have some horse knowledge this scenario is one that lands horses in a perpetual state of being unwanted. Another is much simpler; the horse becomes injured, or lame due to some genetic predisposition, so becomes unworkable or minimally workable, and can’t keep up with the needs of most horse owners. Afterall, horses are expensive to keep, especially when the horse can’t serve your purpose. A horse this unsound often needs additional veterinary work and supportive care, which gets even more pricey.
Getting To The Point
As you can see, a horse is not “a horse of course” in the sense that one horse does not necessarily equal another. Considering a horse’s body type for what sort of work might suit it is a fine way to begin evaluating a horse. Draft-type horses are typically strong; Thoroughbreds are typically fast with potential to jump well; and Quarter Horses typically do well with western events – these are generalities. Yet you’ll see plenty of Draft crosses fox hunting over fences; plenty of Thoroughbreds leisurely trail riding; and Quarter Horses doing just about everything. The point being, that each horse must be evaluated separately and that nothing should be taken for granted when choosing a horse. The horse you want might come in a different package than you were expecting! For some more ideas on How To Choose The Right Horse check out my post.
