When a horse’s confidence gets rattled

Dennis Cappel
Feb 3
2 min read

Clear Mental Horsemanship with Dennis Cappel

People often correct the reaction without understanding what the horse lost in the process – Confidence!

A horse’s confidence can get rattled in a lot of the same ways ours can, suddenly, unexpectedly, and sometimes without anyone doing anything “wrong.” One situation that I do not think gets enough attention, especially from the horse’s perspective, is when a rider comes off.

Maybe a horse turned out from under a person, they crow-hopped a little, or maybe they just got scared, and the timing worked out wrong. The rider fell off. These are unfortunate circumstances, but they happen.

What is important to understand is what that moment can do to the horse’s mind.

When a person comes off a horse during a moment of fear or flight, it can create anxiety for the horse the next time they feel someone on their back. They start anticipating the problem before it even happens. You will often see them get tight, look around more, or feel like they are waiting for the next shoe to drop.

Because of that, it does not make a lot of sense to me to be in a hurry to get back on, especially if the rider has been hurt at all. Getting back on just for the sake of getting back on is usually driven by the rider’s desire not to lose their confidence, and I understand that. It is an admirable instinct.

But it makes more sense to slow down and address the groundwork first.

If we take the time to prepare that horse properly on the ground, we can re-bolster their confidence, rebuild their trust in us, and create an environment where it is much safer for a person to step back into the stirrup. When that preparation is done well, the outcome of getting back on is almost always better.

All we have really done is take the horse’s perspective into consideration and in doing so, we have also given the rider a chance to settle down mentally and physically. Whether it is subconscious or very intentional, when a person sees a horse that is relaxed, comfortable, and confident, it makes getting back on feel a whole lot better.

That sets the stage for a far more positive outcome for both the horse and the rider.

Mindful Riding,

Dennis Cappel

www.cappeltrainingandshoeng.com