Why Does My Horse Do That?
- Dennis Cappel
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Clear Mental Horsemanship with Dennis Cappel
This is one of the most common questions I hear from riders.
Usually, it comes up when something isn’t going the way they hoped. The horse won’t stand still, he braces against the leg, he feels stiff, he spooks, he pushes into your space, and the first reaction is:
“Why does he do that?”
The short answer?
*Because he can.
Horses do what horses do out of instinct and survival. They aren’t sitting around planning how to frustrate you. They are responding to what they feel in the moment. Every reaction, good or bad, comes from a place of self-preservation.
The key for us as riders isn’t to stop instinct. The key is to understand it.
When we become more familiar with horse behavior, when we get better at reading their body language, their tension, their breathing, their expression, that’s when everything starts to change.
*A horse that feels unsure will protect itself.
*A horse that feels trapped will brace.
*A horse that feels pressure without understanding will resist.
*A horse that feels worried may look stiff, pushy, or fearful.
But none of those reactions mean he’s trying to be difficult.
They mean he’s trying to feel safe.
If we can learn to recognize what the horse is feeling before it turns into unwanted behavior, we can redirect that instinct instead of fighting it. We can use their natural responses to our advantage.
When a horse feels understood and comfortable, he will choose the right thing far more often. But when he feels like he has to protect himself, he will protect himself. That’s why horses do the “unwanted” things.
The real question isn’t just, “Why does my horse do that?”
It’s:
“What is my horse feeling right now?”
When you start there, you stop battling behavior, and you start building communication. This is where real progress begins!
Mindful Riding,
Dennis Cappel
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Thank you Dennis for this. Sarah from Vermont
Really like the article, a horse that was pushed and now has no forward, thoughts on that??