08/06/2026
“He’s getting away with it.”
That’s a phrase I really dislike (although, admittedly, I’m sure I’ve used it myself).
Your horse isn’t robbing a bank or cheating on a test. He isn’t plotting against you.
He’s not a conniving human … that’s why you love him!! 🙃
He’s doing what he’s been allowed, taught, or unintentionally reinforced to do. That’s a very different thing.
OK - evolution rewards low calorie burn and self protection. So, maybe there is instinct to not do something, but that doesn’t mean there is scheming going on!
When we say a horse is “getting away with it,” we place blame on the horse instead of asking the more productive question: Why is this happening?
Is he confused?
Is he anxious?
Is he uncomfortable?
Does he lack the strength or understanding to do what’s being asked?
Or have we simply been inconsistent in our expectations?
Horses aren’t sitting around plotting how to outsmart us. They’re responding to their training, their experiences, and the information we give them.
Changing the language we use changes the way we think. And changing the way we think changes the way we train.
Less, “He’s getting away with it.”
More, “What have I taught him, and what do I need to teach him next?”
That’s where real progress begins.
