09/26/2026
A topic I cannot stay quiet about.
Are We Truly Giving Our Horses What They Need?
We love our horses. We ride them, enjoy them, bond with them, and trust them [at least I hope so]. But loving a horse and meeting their needs are not always the same thing — and sometimes the gap between the two becomes painfully clear.
Caring for a horse isn’t just about feeding, riding, and showing up. It’s the daily, foundational work that keeps them safe, confident, and prepared for the world we ask them to live in.
The Basics Overlooked
Are we giving them:
• the time for real grooming, not just a quick brush
• regular hoof picking and assessment
• a moment to check their body for soreness, swelling, or tension
• consistent routines that support their physical and mental wellbeing
These small habits build trust, awareness, and connection.
Safe, Thoughtful Handling
Every horse deserves handling that keeps both horse and human safe — and prepares them for the professionals who care for them: farriers, veterinarians, trainers, bodyworkers, dentists, barn staff, transport drivers, etc. A horse who cannot be safely led, touched, or asked to stand quietly may be a horse at risk — and so is every person who tries to help and care for them.
Training That Builds a Thinking Horse
Training isn’t just about miles ridden. It’s about also teaching a horse to use the thinking side of their brain instead of reacting from fear or confusion. A horse who is just ridden here and there or simply ignored and never taught, never prepared, never exposed to new skills — may look fine until the day something unfamiliar or even scary is asked of them. And in that moment, their lack of foundation can turn dangerous, and it can happen in an instant!
Partnership — Listening, Adjusting, and Honoring the Horse
True partnership means paying attention to what our horses are telling us. It’s knowing when to ease up on riding, when a training session needs to be shorter, or when a day off would serve them better. It’s recognizing the subtle signs of mental fatigue, physical discomfort, pain, or emotionally overwhelmed — and responding with empathy instead of expectation.
I can attest with my own horse that partnership is built in the quiet moments:
• choosing to hand walk instead of ride when they feel stiff
• slowing down a workout when their brain shifts into reactivity
• giving them time to process instead of rushing for the next task
• letting them know their voice matters
I believe when a horse feels heard, they feel safe. And a safe horse is one who can learn, can think or ask before reacting, and be trusted — because they’ll look to you for guidance instead of reacting in fear or they will know how to handle the situation.
Why This Matters
I knew a horse .... he panicked when asked to load into a transport trailer. He was so fearful he reared and flipped over, struck his head, and died. Not because he was “bad.” Not because he was “stubborn.” But because he was never prepared for the situation. We all know horses can act silly, get hurt, or react in ways we don’t expect — that’s part of being a prey animal. But even with their unpredictability, we still owe them the preparation that could keep them safe. This horse didn’t know how to handle the scenario, and when he couldn’t flee, he fought — all the way to his death. He had no foundational skills to keep him safe in real world scenarios, nor the preparation needed to keep up with human expectation.
My heart and prayers go out to everyone involved and everyone hurting from this sad and unexpected loss.
The Hard Truth
If we choose to own horses, we owe the horse preparation. We owe them safety. We owe them the time it takes to build confidence, understanding, and trust. Period. If we want our horses to live long, safe, comfortable lives, and we want to be safe, we must invest in the parts of horsemanship that happen outside the saddle — we get help by hiring a trainer, we get consistent vetinarian care, we get consistent farrier care, we get the help we need so we can exercise consistent work that shapes a horse’s mind and keeps their body healthy.
Loving a horse is easy. Choosing to give them the preparation, safety, and thoughtful effort they need is what defines true horsemanship.
Lori's Equine Massage uses the hands to feel muscle tension, tightness, spasm areas, and trigger points. Massage therapy helps increase circulation, get more oxygen and nutrients through muscles, which in return gets horses moving and feeling better!
