Treat them like they're stupid, you might just get stupid back...

GGWH by Zoë
18 juni 2025

Hey horse lovers,
ever hear someone say, “My horse is so stupid”?

Yeah, that phrase makes my skin crawl too. In this blog post, I’m diving into why that kind of mindset not only holds your horse back - it holds you back too.

Let’s break it down with a simple tool I use often…

THE SCALE OF HORSE CARE

Grab a piece of paper and draw a horizontal line. Mark the left end as 0, the right as 10, and put a big 5 right in the middle.

  • 0 = NEGLECT
     Think: kill pen, starvation, no medical attention, total abandonment.
  • 10 = OPTIMUM LIFE
     This is a horse treated like royalty: great health, enrichment, comfort, care, and training.
  • 5 = BARELY ADEQUATE
     Not horrible but not inspired either. The basics are met like food, shelter, some handling - but there’s a lot of room for improvement.

Where do you fall on this line?

WHY LANGUAGE AND ATTITUDE MATTER

If you constantly treat your horse like they’re “dumb,” guess what kind of behavior you’ll start getting back?

Horses are incredibly intuitive. When we handle them like they’re incapable or untrustworthy, they begin to shut down, or worse, reflect that energy right back at us.

A classic example is leading!
 If you always yank a horse tightly under the chin like they're a liability, how do they ever learn to walk calmly beside you?

You’re not building trust or skill, you’re micromanaging. Then one day you don’t micromanage, and boom, they take off to the nearest feed bucket.

And people are surprised?

LOW EXPECTATIONS CREATE LOW RESULTS

It’s not stupidity, it’s lack of education.
 When we don’t teach a horse how to be around us with clarity and consistency, we set them up to fail. And when we punish them for reacting based on poor or absent training, we become very unfair friends.

This kind of treatment puts a horse down at around a 2 or 3 on the scale and it shows in every aspect: leading, riding, groundwork, and daily interactions.

STRIVE FOR A SEVEN

Let’s be real: 10 is a fantasy for most of us. The kind of luxury care that’s truly top-shelf may not be realistic, but a 7 is absolutely doable.

Seven means:

  • Daily care, no matter the weather.
  • Quality nutrition.
  • Routine hoof, dental, and worm care.
  • Enrichment, social time, and exercise.
  • Respectful, intentional handling.

That’s my baseline. On a good day, I shoot for an 8. And if I ever slip to a 6, it’s probably the one day a year I’m sick and someone else is stepping in.

HORSES LIVE IN DAILY MOMENTS

Seeing your horse only two or three times a week? That’s probably a 6 even if the care is good.

Why? Because daily presence builds trust and memory. Your horse's last interaction with you becomes the first thing they remember next time.

The more consistent you are, the more meaningful and responsive the relationship becomes. Horses know who you are, how you make them feel, and how often you show up. Don’t underestimate their awareness.

WHEN “FREEDOM” ISN’T ACTUALLY FREEDOM

At my stables, we have access to big grassy fields for summer turnout. Beautiful, right? But I stopped using them. Why? Grass sickness, sugar overload, flies, and unpredictable weather made it a net a more negative number.

I’ll never forget my horse Lenny’s face one summer: it was covered in flies. He was miserable. Even the best fly mask wouldn’t stay on for five minutes. From then on, I let him choose. And every year since, when offered the field, he waits at the gate to go back to his big cool and shaded paddock.

That’s informed choice. That’s what a 7 looks like.

HORSES NEED TO GALLOP

Here’s something else: horses are designed to gallop. It’s not just about fun - it’s vital.
 A real, full-body gallop activates their muscles, organs, and circulation in a way no paddock stroll can replicate. I make time for this on rides, especially at the beach. That kind of movement supports physical and mental health.

Letting them run freely on rich grass doesn't count if they’re too fat to move. If your horse is obese and barely breaks into a trot before going back to grazing, that’s not exercise. That’s decline.

EARNED HUNGER, EARNED TRUST

When we really work with our horses - mentally, emotionally, and physically - they build the kind of muscle and mindset that keeps them happy and healthy. And yes, it’s the one time I feel great giving them that well-earned feed.

So, here’s your takeaway…

CHECK YOUR SCALE

Draw the line and be honest.

  • Where are you on the scale today?
  • What small shift can you make to move closer to a 7?

Your horse is ready.
 The question is: Are you?

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Thanks for reading and as always, keep getting good with horses. 🐴