20/12/2025
All of this!
Not every behavior issue stems from “abuse”.
Also, when you send your horse off for training, you’re likely going to see less than desirable behavior because holes in their previous training/handling will be revealed, and they will be asked to do an increased level of intense work that will cause a greater response from them.
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Something I hear a lot, so let’s chat about it.
When people talk about young or green horses, I often hear things like:
“He must have been abused.”
“He never did that with me.”
Two very common — and very interesting — comments.
Here are my thoughts.
The number one issue I see with these horses isn’t bad intent or trauma — it’s a lack of education.
The horse isn’t “bad.” He simply doesn’t know how to respond because no one has ever taught him differently.
Could someone have been unfair or confusing to him in the past? Possibly.
But using that as an excuse for dangerous behavior only allows the problem to grow instead of getting fixed.
And as for “He never did that with me” — I believe you.
But I also know this: you likely never asked him to do what we’re asking him to do now.
Pressure reveals holes in training, and a green horse’s lack of education shows up quickly when new expectations are introduced.
Training isn’t about blaming the horse or his past — it’s about giving him the tools, clarity, and confidence to succeed safely today.
