How Happy Is Your Horse?
We expect a lot from our horses. We put them up in stalls, climb on their backs, put metal in their mouths, and expect them to run, jump, slide, and spin at a moment’s notice. Sometimes it’s hot, sometimes it’s cold, and sometimes the work is very hard. Most of the time our equine partners step up to the plate and give us everything we ask for, even on days when they may not feel so great. That’s right. Horses are forgiving creatures, and they generally aim to please.
How can you tell if your horse is unhappy? There are certainly times when your horse is anything but shy about expressing his feelings of discontent. He’ll exhibit bad behavior like bucking, bolting, and rearing, or may simply refuse to move at all. At other times, he may not be so obvious, and recognizing those subtle signs that your horse isn’t happy can make or break his future. Sure, with enough force and training tricks even the unhappiest of horses can usually be convinced to get to work, often with a
