Horse-man-ship Mentality - Treats, Training, and Truth: A Perspective on Rewarding Horses

Dennis Cappel
May 5
2 min read

Horse-man-ship Mentality - Treats, Training, and Truth: A Perspective on Rewarding Horses

By Dennis Cappel, Master Horseman

Giving treats to horses can be as divisive a topic as politics. In many ways, they're not so different. We live in a world where parents want to be best friends with their children and where discipline is often dismissed as outdated or harsh. But let’s pause and ask—is it really so unreasonable to expect good behavior?

Will our horse stop liking us if we correct behavior we don’t want? Does every action, even the wrong ones, deserve a reward?

Here’s a perspective on treating horses that I believe can lead to a truly respectful and rewarding relationship between horse and human.

The one thing horses want more than anything else? Peace and freedom. When they have those two things, they’re content. Everything I do with a horse is built on this fact. It’s the foundation for creating a clear mental picture and reading the horse accurately.

When you know exactly what you want your horse to do—how you want them to act, respond, and feel—you can set it up so that the instant they do the right thing, they get what they want most: release.

That release is their reward. And it means something to them. It’s not empty. It’s not sugary. It’s not a bribe.

This kind of training builds respect, clarity, and a connection rooted in mutual understanding. Compare that to a horse constantly given treats regardless of behavior—pushy, nosy, maybe even a little rude. That kind of unearned reward creates a sense of entitlement, and with it, the drive to take, rather than give.

In many ways, it’s no different than a broken welfare system—where reward is given without contribution, and motivation is completely eroded.

Horses thrive on clarity. They crave peace. They respect fairness. If you give them that, you’ll build something real.

Mindful Riding,

Dennis Cappel - Master Horseman

www.cappeltrainingandshoeng.com