How to tell if Your Horse is A Quiet Quitter
Oct 08, 2022
The startling truth is that your horse likely does not have an interest in your hopes and ambitions. It’s highly likely that your horse is focussed on living their best horse life, motivated by instinct, the behaviours of their friends and the routine of their day.
Does it worry you that your horse is seemingly more interested in their feed times than any schooling programme or quality time you have planned to spend with them? I’m not suggesting we humanise horses and try to view them from our horse rider perspective. I’m posing the question because I think we have a responsibility to our horses to make them feel valued. To engage them and treat them with respect and empathy.
Did you know that horses have evolved to pick up the energy and emotions of those around them? As their friends we will never have to tell them how we are feeling because they know already! Our rider responsibilities go beyond first class horse care and attention to detail. The true horseman will have learnt how to regulate their emotional state in order to be able to offer their horse a consistent standard of communication. Horses are generous souls who will build a lasting connection with their rider and where there is a true partnership built on trust, love, affection and kindness they will work hard to try to understand the questions we are asking them. The motivated horse might always place a higher value on carrots than the 20m circles in their dressage tests but then again the experienced horse knows that the rewards, the bonus for trying to answer the questions is praise. You know you have made a friend when your horse will work with you.
If you notice your horse is a quiet quitter fear not! With time and effort to help your horse feel valued you can begin to change your horse’s outlook and motivation. Nurture your horse’s mental health and emotional wellbeing and it’s likely to have a positive impact on how you feel too. Tell me in the comments about your horse and if their motivation ebbs and flows (that’s completely normal! )
