Do horses have ambition?

Just wondering what you all think? I often see posts from people saying they are going to sell their horse because he deserves a better rider and deserves a competition home but do you think it matters to the horse? I think my horse would be just as happy in a field all the time or just hacking as competing.
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my horses ambition in life is to be a lawnmower....

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Ah, he must know my lad then, because his is the same
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get mine all tacked up in the stable, open the door and he turns his bum to you... he thinks if he cant see you, you cant see him! Sometimes i literally have to drag him out of the stable (theres nothing wrong with him).

Dont like going faster than walk on a hack - why bother? The nice juicy piece of grass is a good excuse to stop!

Wouldnt believe he is a tb!
 
its just anthropomorphisism running wild!

Ambition is a human concept. Animals are driven soley by thoughts of personal survival and survival of the species. So, horses only desire those things which lead to their health, comfort and foals. This may or may not involve humans. It certainly does not involve equestrian sports of any kind.
 
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Ambition is a human concept. Animals are driven soley by thoughts of personal survival and survival of the species.

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Absolutely. Horses certainly don't worry where the next rosette is coming from.
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Oh Sidney undoubtably is driven by thoughts of the survival of the species. The problem is he'd like to think he's solely responsible for it - and you try telling him he hasn't got the equipment anymore!!
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Agree they don't care about rosettes etc, but equally I think St Bernard is right above where she pointed out that some do get bored. I think if I couldn't ride my lad, he would definately get bored, in fact after a few days off he becomes a menace to the other horses in the field and takes up escapology. However I think he would be just as happy hacking/even doing groundwork as he is schooling and competing. Just has a rather active mind!
 
thought it was just mine who'd rather stand in his stable all day!
his ambition is to spend 24hours a day asleep... or eating. he even puts himself in his bed on a night!
the other one has 2 ambitions, to go faster than everyone else and to eat everything edible or otherwise!
 
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I think St Bernard is right above where she pointed out that some do get bored.

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Absolutely. My mare adores hacking. She'd never make a field ornament - she'd be bored stiff and get up to no end of trouble.
 
Absolutely not. They have no concept of ambition at all. They might enjoy working and get bored without a job to do but they certainly don't aspire to get to the HOYS!
 
I think because some of us do so much with them when it is time to retire them, like i have done with my boy they don't know what to do with themselves..apart from becoming a lawnmower.
I had to bring him out of retirement and just stick to a couple of fun rides a week with him, i think it keeps them young and gives them a sense of purpose.
 
I agree that it's not ambition, but they thrive on different things. My SJ would never have been happy living in a field let alone a life without jumping. He loved the atmosphere of a competition and when stable at a competition was the only time he would eat everything you gave him. At home he was picky and bored.
 
I agree, I have a very forward going boy who has always worked, He's only 13 now but reduced to a light / happy hacker. He hates it! Trouble is I have very a fine line between riding to much & making him lame or him charging around the field and making him self lame, because he is bored, (He dose not realise he has a problem) I feel so bad for him, He just looks at me as if to say what happened? Why don't we do fun things any more? Its Heart breaking!
 
I caught my horse tucked up in a corner of his stable recently; He was busy jotting down all his goals for next year.
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No, in all seriousness - My horse loves work. If he is not worked he can get really fed up. But I don't believe he ponders achievement or ambition - I think that is ludicrous really.
 
No my horse is only concerned with what he is going to eat next...even if that has to be my coat! Saying that he does seem to enjoy going out on his hacks for a change of scene...it must get boring all this eating!
 
no, this is something that has always annoyed me - how can a horse be too good for someone? too sharp, maybe, too exciteable, too nervous, too big... but too talented? i'm sure most horses prefer a good, fast hack to a dressage test! and i'm certain they don't have ambitions as far as competing goes...
 
no, they definitely don't have ambition, although i think some are very anxious to please and also have the temperament to rise to the occasion and make a huge effort when it really matters, and really love the limelight, whereas others (just like some people) hate the pressure.
i heard a very funny story about a 'horse whisperer' who was summoned by an event horse owner who had a horse with Toddy. the horse in question was very talented but never pulled it out of the bag when it mattered. Apparently the horse whisperer diagnosed that the problem was that the horse lacked ambition... i cracked up when i heard that. what a load of tosh.
 
Its so nice to know that Im not the only one with a tb that doesnt want to go forward.The only thing that really ticks his box is jumping which is laughable when he is a ex sprinter.
 
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