What does 'work ethic' in a horse mean to you?

[LadySam]

I would call that generosity, not a work ethic, but maybe it's just semantics?

Yes. I think it's just semantics. Or perhaps a catch-all term. If a person in their job turned up and did their job willingly or enthusiastically, did whatever was asked of them, tried hard and stayed until the work was done instead of running for the door asap, we'd bundle all those characteristics up into a neat bundle and call it a good work ethic.

There are horses who have similar characteristics, so I don't see why we can't describe horses as having a good work ethic. Of course it's silly to ascribe 'ethics' in the truest sense to a horse, but it's a descriptor we understand.

Some people want to debate how the horse has that ethic - has it been trained, is it a natural tendency, etc - but to me that is irrelevant in terms of using this description to describe a set of behaviours. Trying to figure out the horse's motivation is where the anthropomorphism can creep in, I think. As with people, whether someone's good work ethic was instilled in them by their parents, or if they were inspired by something else, or if they just like to be useful, it doesn't really matter. It's there or it isn't.

 

[DabDab]

Yes. I think it's just semantics. Or perhaps a catch-all term. If a person in their job turned up and did their job willingly or enthusiastically, did whatever was asked of them, tried hard and stayed until the work was done instead of running for the door asap, we'd bundle all those characteristics up into a neat bundle and call it a good work ethic.

There are horses who have similar characteristics, so I don't see why we can't describe horses as having a good work ethic. Of course it's silly to ascribe 'ethics' in the truest sense to a horse, but it's a descriptor we understand.

Some people want to debate how the horse has that ethic - has it been trained, is it a natural tendency, etc - but to me that is irrelevant in terms of using this description to describe a set of behaviours. Trying to figure out the horse's motivation is where the anthropomorphism can creep in, I think. As with people, whether someone's good work ethic was instilled in them by their parents, or if they were inspired by something else, or if they just like to be useful, it doesn't really matter. It's there or it isn't.

Fantastic answer, completely agree

 

[rachk89]

I agree with DabDab.

I think a good work ethic is a horse who genuinely enjoys their job, is willing, and tries.

I definitely think there are horses who are naturally slower paced (or lazier if you will), horses who have different attitudes and horses who don't want to do certain jobs. In my experience of horse ownership I've had horses that aren't forward and are intrinsically lazy, and horses who aren't keen on certain jobs such as dressage, but absolutely love (and thus have a good work ethic for) jumping.

Horses, like humans, have their own personalities! However we do anthropomorphise them, and I agree that problems with the horse and rider can affect work ethic.

In agreement here. Its quite obvious my horse doesn't want to be a dressage horse, but wants to jump. He gets excited just seeing jumps in the arena, it took ages of flatwork around jumps to get him to behave without thinking he can jump everything in there when he pleases. I still have had him "spook" at things and oddly enough make a beeline towards a double. A normal horse would go around it, its not as if there wasnt any room to go around. His ears are always forward when jumping, he gets excited just doing polework. He'll work forever on jumps, but he's quite happy to stop on dressage work. He'll do it grudgingly, but sadly its not what he loves. I have a plan for that though since I hate jumping him.

 

[Irish gal]

In agreement here. Its quite obvious my horse doesn't want to be a dressage horse, but wants to jump. He gets excited just seeing jumps in the arena, it took ages of flatwork around jumps to get him to behave without thinking he can jump everything in there when he pleases. I still have had him "spook" at things and oddly enough make a beeline towards a double. A normal horse would go around it, its not as if there wasnt any room to go around. His ears are always forward when jumping, he gets excited just doing polework. He'll work forever on jumps, but he's quite happy to stop on dressage work. He'll do it grudgingly, but sadly its not what he loves. I have a plan for that though since I hate jumping him.

Rach I think you have identified the source of your horse's problems. He is clearly in the wrong job and all the vet exams and x rays in the world aren't going to change that.

Isn't it a pity now that you have a jumper on your hands when that's not where your interest lies. I'm not being in any way critical saying this but I think you've put your finger on the problem yourself.

Horses are just like people in that they have talents in certain directions and the trick is to work with those talents to bring out the best in them. We recently sold a Grand Prix show jumper who comes alive when he sees a fence and locks on to it. He's a machine x country and hunting but there is no way we would have sold him to a non jumping home. It would have been a complete waste and without a jump to lock on to it wouldn't have been much fun for him either.

Horses for courses as the old saying goes...

 

[fburton]

Fascinating thread. Thanks to ycbm for asking the question.

 

[rachk89]

Rach I think you have identified the source of your horse's problems. He is clearly in the wrong job and all the vet exams and x rays in the world aren't going to change that.

Isn't it a pity now that you have a jumper on your hands when that's not where your interest lies. I'm not being in any way critical saying this but I think you've put your finger on the problem yourself.

Horses are just like people in that they have talents in certain directions and the trick is to work with those talents to bring out the best in them. We recently sold a Grand Prix show jumper who comes alive when he sees a fence and locks on to it. He's a machine x country and hunting but there is no way we would have sold him to a non jumping home. It would have been a complete waste and without a jump to lock on to it wouldn't have been much fun for him either.

Horses for courses as the old saying goes...

I know but he still has to do the flatwork or the jumping will never improve. He has a natural talent for it, but its inconsistent. He clears them fine but the method is never the same. Its just lack of understanding, but he'll get there.

 

[Leo Walker]

There's a difference between them loving their job and have a work ethic .

Although it's not a term I use, to me it would mean a horse who is "on side" and attempts what is asked of him/her - it's not a measure of the level of schooling but more an indication of willingness probably due to the trust and confidence they have in their rider. So a green horse could have a good work ethic as could a more experienced horse.

yep we used to just call it 'trainability' in a horse or the amount of 'try' a horse will give you and how generous they are in listening and working out what you are asking.

These sum it up for me. I think mine is pretty special. He loves his proper job which is driving, riding and schooling in particular is something he finds a bit odd. But he is incredibly keen, and tries his little heart out even if he thinks it is ridiculous. He enjoys learning and loves it when he learns a new thing. He wants to do it and he wants to please you. From the moment you get on hes there ready to go, and that applies whether its a pro riding him or a child just out of a riding school, or me working him in hand. It doesnt matter, hes there, on board and trying.

I've never had one quite like him before, and he certainly hasnt been like this with previous owners. But with them his saddle didnt fit, his legs were sore from mites, his back was sore, etc, etc and he wasnt treated particularly well in at least one of the homes. Its such a shame as hes still the same horse, its just hes been given a chance now to be the horse he always should have been.

Makes me wonder how many other horses there are just like him but not being given the opportunity to be what they should be!

 

[Irish gal]

I know but he still has to do the flatwork or the jumping will never improve. He has a natural talent for it, but its inconsistent. He clears them fine but the method is never the same. Its just lack of understanding, but he'll get there.

There are jumpers out there who can't abide flatwork, there's no rule saying he has to have it. Plus you say "he clears the jumps fine, but the method is never the same". The method doesn't matter it's leaving the fences up that counts.

I don't want to put you on the spot but in your previous post you said 'I hate jumping". Can I ask you is there a reason you won't consider selling the horse into a home where there's a job he likes i.e. jumping/ x country and get yourself a horse who likes the same discipline you do i.e. dressage. That would seem the logical solution, then you might both be able to enjoy yourselves

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I wouldn't call it work ethic. It is more about generosity, motivation and willingness.

For example I know of ponies who are generally motivated to do whatever it takes for an easy life. That might mean working in it might mean avoiding work depending on the skill of the handler. I know of horses who do as they are asked because that is what they are trained to do and others who just want to please.

My mare is a total trier, a complete teachers pet who always wants to get the right answer. If she doesn't understand what you are asking she will just throw all the moves at you in the hope that she guesses right. She learns dressage tests and jumping exercises and hacking routes and loves to get it right. It isn't work ethic though.

yes, this. I love lusitanos, they are just like Kat's mare. I also love Exmoors, Exmoors need a reason as well as to 'like' what they do and I respect that ethos too.

really interesting thread

 

[milliepops]

Makes me wonder how many other horses there are just like him but not being given the opportunity to be what they should be!

Zillions, I'd bet.

I've got one... Kira was pretty shut down, very anxious and generally rather difficult when I first got her. She's found her happy place in the arena - lucky for me as it turns out we share the same preferences in life.
Sure, it's not all plain sailing but she is a real people pleaser and eats up the work she's given willingly. Seems to like getting things right, so I try to make sure she always has an opportunity to do so Her expression has totally changed, she's got a softer eye all the time and shows a bigger personality than I thought she would have when we started out together. Love it.

 

[Goldenstar]

These sum it up for me. I think mine is pretty special. He loves his proper job which is driving, riding and schooling in particular is something he finds a bit odd. But he is incredibly keen, and tries his little heart out even if he thinks it is ridiculous. He enjoys learning and loves it when he learns a new thing. He wants to do it and he wants to please you. From the moment you get on hes there ready to go, and that applies whether its a pro riding him or a child just out of a riding school, or me working him in hand. It doesnt matter, hes there, on board and trying.

I've never had one quite like him before, and he certainly hasnt been like this with previous owners. But with them his saddle didnt fit, his legs were sore from mites, his back was sore, etc, etc and he wasnt treated particularly well in at least one of the homes. Its such a shame as hes still the same horse, its just hes been given a chance now to be the horse he always should have been.

Makes me wonder how many other horses there are just like him but not being given the opportunity to be what they should be!

Lots is the answer to your last thought .

 

[teacups]

Rachk89, I have this great image in my head of your horse, spending hours in the field thinking of ways to train/encourage you into more of a 'jumping' work ethic! <g>

 

[SEL]

I know my mare has underlying health issues, but if she was in an office she'd do what you want her to do (& pretty quickly too - she's bright) and then go back to surfing on forums, having extended coffee breaks and gossiping with her mates.

 

[DiNozzo]

My horse has what I would call a good work wthic.

During last summer when he was in full work, he would come to call, march up to his stable, stand quietly whilst I tacked up, and then marched off after mounting to either the lane or the arena- he wanted to work. His whole attitude was bright, happy and affectionate. He had no schooling to speak of, but in three months learnt to canter, his mediums, and started simple changes (that might not seem a lot, but I'm still learning to school and had never sat on such a blank book!)

Then before christmas, work picked up and I couldn't ride so much, just the odd hack. He stopped coming to call, stopped being so affectionate, and started napping (no vet issue, was fully checked).

Coming back into work he changed into the happy pony that he was last summer.

 

[Goldenstar]

There are jumpers out there who can't abide flatwork, there's no rule saying he has to have it. Plus you say "he clears the jumps fine, but the method is never the same". The method doesn't matter it's leaving the fences up that counts.

I don't want to put you on the spot but in your previous post you said 'I hate jumping". Can I ask you is there a reason you won't consider selling the horse into a home where there's a job he likes i.e. jumping/ x country and get yourself a horse who likes the same discipline you do i.e. dressage. That would seem the logical solution, then you might both be able to enjoy yourselves

I agree with this I am about to part with my favourite horse .
He loves flat work but although he jumps his heart is not in it .
He's done his job to well he was the horse I bought to get me going after my accident .
He is going on loan to hack it's the perfect job for him and he can do it long term.
It's a home that will see him out .
I am looking for a horse who loves to do what I want ATM.

 

[Luci07]

Some horses would happily hack every day and that would keep them sweet and interested. Some thrive on variety and going out to parties. I don't think of it as a work ethic so much as a break in normal routine. However, at the end of a long winter and a lot of schooling in the dark, even my most generous horse was exiting the yard at the weekends at high speed! And yes, even when trying to make it different and changing it, all my horses have needed to get away from then school. I was at a yard which was pretty perfect in terms of care but severely limited in terms of hacking. Thought mine would cope but he turned into an unpleasant oik, so we had to relocate!

 

[Wagtail]

It's not a term I like to apply to animals because they really have no concept of work. Some seem to enjoy it, others would rather not, but it has nothing to do with ethics. So I never use the term. I say 'this horse really enjoys his work,' or 'this horse does not enjoy his work.' However, I firmly believe that ALL horses, if given the choice of turnout on lush grass in a herd, would rather do that than be 'worked' by a human, no matter what people might say to the contrary. The older I get, the more experienced I get, the more I believe this, and the more conflicted I have become. The way I justify it is that we all have to work for a living. We all have to do things we'd rather not. In the wild, horses would rather not have to fight, flee from preditors, search for food or water. We save them from having to do that and in return they do a little bit of work for us (in the case of leisure horses), or a lot of work for us (in the case of competition horses). They don't understand why this is, of course, and some of them struggle with it. It is our duty to find out why a horse is reluctant to be worked. There is always a reason. Laziness is very rarely that reason.

 

[ycbm]

I agree with this I am about to part with my favourite horse .
He loves flat work but although he jumps his heart is not in it .
He's done his job to well he was the horse I bought to get me going after my accident .
He is going on loan to hack it's the perfect job for him and he can do it long term.
It's a home that will see him out .
I am looking for a horse who loves to do what I want ATM.

Me too. I sold my magnificent black hunter with brilliant dressage paces because all he wanted to do was be a magnificent black hunter an stuff the dressage paces He was miserable not being allowed to jump huge things when I gave up hunting, so he went to a man who wanted to jump huge things.

It's the only fair thing to do, if the horse is re-homeable, isn't it?

 

[rachk89]

There are jumpers out there who can't abide flatwork, there's no rule saying he has to have it. Plus you say "he clears the jumps fine, but the method is never the same". The method doesn't matter it's leaving the fences up that counts.

I don't want to put you on the spot but in your previous post you said 'I hate jumping". Can I ask you is there a reason you won't consider selling the horse into a home where there's a job he likes i.e. jumping/ x country and get yourself a horse who likes the same discipline you do i.e. dressage. That would seem the logical solution, then you might both be able to enjoy yourselves

Well he does have to be good at flatwork. Jumping involves a very small portion of actually leaving the ground. The rest of the time you're doing flatwork essentially, setting the horse up for the jump, leaving the jump correctly and heading off to the next one, lead changes if necessary, tight turns etc. His problem is he gets so excited, he doesnt listen to the rider and he'll take charge at the last moment. Problem with that is, he doesnt know what he's doing with his legs and he'll get too close to the jump or too far away, he'll do big leaps over them to compensate, sometimes he'll misjudge how big it actually is and just clear it. He used to knock the poles all the time, but has stopped doing that.

I cant jump him, but I know plenty of people who can. Even if I like jumping, I'm not the right person to jump him, he needs a professional. An amateur cant jump him, they cant react quickly enough for him. He might be suitable for an amateur in the future, but right now he really isnt. And what professional is going to want an 8 year old horse with zero competition experience no matter his potential? He isnt sellable, and I wouldnt sell him to an amateur, he's too much horse. It would be very easy to sell him to the wrong person and I dont want to see him in the state he was in when I bought him again. Selling him is an easy solution yes and it may work out ok, but I dont want him to suffer for it. He's happy where he is, he's well fed, well looked after, he just needs to jump more.

I can do the flatwork with him, I'll just have to find more ways to make it interesting for him, probably just use poles every time randomly so he has some fun (not doing jumping in the dressage saddle I just bought). But I've got half an idea to share him with someone I know who can jump him and would probably like to, so if circumstances allow it, that may happen. If not, I've got other people near by who can jump him for me still once a week to keep him happy.

 

[Irish gal]

What I learn so much from is listening to the training methods of top horse people. I'm very lucky to work with some of them selling their horses and then there's others we can all follow through interviews.

If you listen to these guys there's a common thread in terms of how they train and that doesn't matter if it's show jumpers or race horses. First they find out what the horse likes and what he's good at. For instance he has to actually like jumping big jumps for them to train him in that direction. A jumping producer told me recently that he wouldn't even attempt to channel the horse in that direction if the horse didn't really enjoy it himself, because if he didn't enjoy it he would never be capable of achieving great success.

It's the same with Aidan O'Brien. When he's interviewed he often just talks about the horse's temperament. Recently he said of one 'she's a very determined filly, she knows her own mind', and explained how his job was to channel that determination into winning races. That's his real skill, working with the horse's own innate personality and abilities.

If we're open to learning, then we could do worse then following the advice of some of the best horsemen and women operating today. It's certainly good enough for me anyway...

 

[honetpot]

Horses are I think have very simple motivations, herd companions, food and not so much in the UK, to reproduce. We can not be their herd companions so we have to habituate them to make being with us a safe and mainly pleasant experience, which often ends in extra food or a tasty food.
So the deal is you do this, you trust me to do that and I keep you safe and fed. Depending of the drives of the animal you may have provide more support with herd company, or reward with a tasty treat. Some types who seem to have stronger survival instincts, usually ponies the deal has to be tuned to reflect this. Having seen horses that seem to have no 'personality' or seem to obey their owners even when it costs them in social interaction with herd companions and lack of food, I can not decide in its breeding, habituation or just the lack of survival instincts. A horse that puts up with three hours of the same hard work in a school on its own and then gets little to eat you have to doubt whether if it has any survival instincts left at all.
My only surprise is when human who are adaptable, refuse to realise a horses limitations for what ever reason. We tend to use human terms to describe their behaviours, but they are not human, they are not like a chimpanzee or apes who have many who we are closely related. So to me a horse with a 'good work ethic' has accepted or has learnt to adapt the deal , what we should be thinking is it in the horses best interests.

 

[rachk89]

What I learn so much from is listening to the training methods of top horse people. I'm very lucky to work with some of them selling their horses and then there's others we can all follow through interviews.

If you listen to these guys there's a common thread in terms of how they train and that doesn't matter if it's show jumpers or race horses. First they find out what the horse likes and what he's good at. For instance he has to actually like jumping big jumps for them to train him in that direction. A jumping producer told me recently that he wouldn't even attempt to channel the horse in that direction if the horse didn't really enjoy it himself, because if he didn't enjoy it he would never be capable of achieving great success.

It's the same with Aidan O'Brien. When he's interviewed he often just talks about the horse's temperament. Recently he said of one 'she's a very determined filly, she knows her own mind', and explained how his job was to channel that determination into winning races. That's his real skill, working with the horse's own innate personality and abilities.

If we're open to learning, then we could do worse then following the advice of some of the best horsemen and women operating today. It's certainly good enough for me anyway...

Yes, but he cant be doing jumping every day can he just because he likes it? You'd sour him for jumping or ruin his joints, likely both.

He has to do both flatwork and jumping, he has to do hacking, he cant just do one thing because he prefers it. Yeah we could jump him every day and he'll be lame by 10. Jumping him once a week is enough and he's going to get that, even though its not me jumping. I dont see the problem with that.

He's getting better at jumping too because of the work I put into him with flatwork. I did lots of bending work with him for ages, going to tiny circles in walk, trot and canter. Because he's able to do that, he's able to move around a course quicker than most horses his size, he can do the tight turns other big horses struggle to do. We're working on collection and extension with him, so he knows how to lengthen and shorten his stride for jumping. If you dont do these things, you'll fail at jumping because without those things, you cant get yourself out of trouble during a course. You cant get a quicker time taking a short cut so you lose on time. You put him into a course now, he'll get round maybe, but badly. And it wont happen everytime, it will be luck if he leaves them all up. Point of training is to make it skill, not luck.

 

[milliepops]

What I learn so much from is listening to the training methods of top horse people. I'm very lucky to work with some of them selling their horses and then there's others we can all follow through interviews.

If you listen to these guys there's a common thread in terms of how they train and that doesn't matter if it's show jumpers or race horses. First they find out what the horse likes and what he's good at. For instance he has to actually like jumping big jumps for them to train him in that direction. A jumping producer told me recently that he wouldn't even attempt to channel the horse in that direction if the horse didn't really enjoy it himself, because if he didn't enjoy it he would never be capable of achieving great success.

It's the same with Aidan O'Brien. When he's interviewed he often just talks about the horse's temperament. Recently he said of one 'she's a very determined filly, she knows her own mind', and explained how his job was to channel that determination into winning races. That's his real skill, working with the horse's own innate personality and abilities.

If we're open to learning, then we could do worse then following the advice of some of the best horsemen and women operating today. It's certainly good enough for me anyway...

^^ great post... though it depends on the rider having the skill to do that as well...

My little horse who was a square peg in a round hole, and who has now found a square hole, is now stuck with me forever because in order to play to her strengths I have pretty much had to give up on trying to 'make' her enjoy hacking or jumping etc. She is a happy bunny in the school, and the rest is done under duress. She's the wrong type for dressage, really, so I basically have an unsellable horse now because who wants a 14hh welsh to do higher level dressage . (not a problem tho, I want to keep her).

Suppose I wasn't a dressage rider. I would have a totally USELESS unsellable miserable horse then. (in fact that's how I got given her). you can see how people get themselves stuck into a corner.

 

[Irish gal]

Rach I never said the horse should be jumped every day. I'm sorry you're in the predicament you're in with the horse. If it was me I would gift him to a good, trustworthy professional and if they can turn him around and sell him on then good luck to them.

I would then go out and buy myself a horse that ticks all the boxes for me and is beautiful. This is such an expensive hobby with so much work involved that everybody should really have a good horse they love - otherwise what's the point!

Milliepops your mare sounds delightful, wasn't she lucky that she found you. And I'm sure she's not unsaleable to a talented younger dressage rider.

This is why it's so important to take the time to buy the right horse, so that people don't end up stuck with the wrong ones and not enjoying themselves.

 

[rachk89]

Rach I never said the horse should be jumped every day. I'm sorry you're in the predicament you're in with the horse. If it was me I would gift him to a good, trustworthy professional and if they can turn him around and sell him on then good luck to them.

I would then go out and buy myself a horse that ticks all the boxes for me and is beautiful. This is such an expensive hobby with so much work involved that everybody should really have a good horse they love - otherwise what's the point!

Milliepops your mare sounds delightful, wasn't she lucky that she found you. And I'm sure she's not unsaleable to a talented younger dressage rider.

This is why it's so important to take the time to buy the right horse, so that people don't end up stuck with the wrong ones and not enjoying themselves.

Thats what you would do. I dont have the funds to have wasted all the money I've spent on him, nor the funds to go out and buy another horse. If I give him away to someone else for free, I've lost all that money and got no money to buy another one. Thats just not even remotely realistic in my situation. I dont have the ability to get 5 grand to go and buy another horse, not after giving away the one I have.

I'll keep going with him as he's happy and I am when he behaves. I do love him and thats why I wont sell him. He's gonna get to do some working hunter next weekend and will no doubt do some jumping during the week leading up to it for some practice.

 

[milliepops]

Milliepops your mare sounds delightful, wasn't she lucky that she found you. And I'm sure she's not unsaleable to a talented younger dressage rider.

This is why it's so important to take the time to buy the right horse, so that people don't end up stuck with the wrong ones and not enjoying themselves.

hehe well that's nice of you to say, I'm rather fond of her now (luckily!) but most of the dressage ponies these days seem to be little WBs...we will just muddle along together

But def agree about finding the right horse, someone I know has just been through a load of heartache having bought very much the wrong horse and having to move it on again, real shame for her and the horse but absolutely the right decision. it's an expensive (and potentially dangerous!) hobby so it's miserable if you don't have a well matched horse.

 

[AandK]

A trainer once said she admired that all my horses had a great work ethic so I asked her want she meant
To her it meant they come willingly into the school to train knowing and understanding what's going to be expected they are not stressy and are always generous with their forwardness.

If I did use the term, I would use it to describe a horse who seems willing to do the work he is being asked to do. For me, then, a horse lacking work ethic would be a horse who for some reason is not willing to do what he is being asked to do. And his owner should ideally be finding out why and fixing it.

The above I guess. While I think 'worth ethic' is not quite the right phrase, maybe attitude to work...? For me it is a horse that is keen and willing to learn, and one that takes on board what it has learnt i.e. learns quickly with out too much repetition.
ETA, to add to the above, a horse that enjoys what it does, I think they are cabable of enjoying their work. I think a lot of horses muddle along doing a job they don't enjoy persay, because that is the one their owner wants them to do. e.g. horse does not enjoy dressage but has to do it because it is good at/enjoys jumping and the owner wants to event, rather than just show jumping.

 

[Damnation]

Work ethic..

For me, it doesn't fit.

If a horse is "underperforming" there is usually a reason. Fear, Lack of confidence or understanding or Pain.

If a horse decides it "doesn't like" something, then one of the above can usually be used to explain it. If there is a trainability issue then again one of the above can usually be used to describe the reason.

To use an example that has been used on a previous page, yes I believe a horse can look at the arena and decide "I don't like to go in there". But it isn't a lack of work ethic, is it because the saddle doesn't fit and when asked to work in the arena the saddle pinches? Is it because the horse doesn't know what you want? Is it because the rider yanks on their mouth or constantly kicks them?

If a horse is comfortable with a rider who empathetically trains them and "explains things" to them in a way they understand then yes you will have a horse with what is perceved as a "good work ethic".

 

[scats]

Work ethic..

For me, it doesn't fit.

If a horse is "underperforming" there is usually a reason. Fear, Lack of confidence or understanding or Pain.

If a horse decides it "doesn't like" something, then one of the above can usually be used to explain it. If there is a trainability issue then again one of the above can usually be used to describe the reason.

To use an example that has been used on a previous page, yes I believe a horse can look at the arena and decide "I don't like to go in there". But it isn't a lack of work ethic, is it because the saddle doesn't fit and when asked to work in the arena the saddle pinches? Is it because the horse doesn't know what you want? Is it because the rider yanks on their mouth or constantly kicks them?

If a horse is comfortable with a rider who empathetically trains them and "explains things" to them in a way they understand then yes you will have a horse with what is perceved as a "good work ethic".

I genuinely think, however, you can get some horses who are, by nature, a bit lazier and prefer to do the bare minimum.

Diva is a fabulous pony in that, if a competent rider gets on her and works her, she can move beautifully and works fantastically. But she is equally happy to trundle about like a slug if she thinks she can do.

She is one who is reluctant to go in the school (I assume my reply on a previous page might be one you are referring to), yet when asked to school out hacking, she is much more willing. I think the difference is that she finds the hacking part easier. She may be asked out hacking to do some schooling work, but in general it is interspersed with lots of walk breaks, some gallops, flying over some logs etc.

Her school work is kept interesting and well paced, and she has walk breaks when needed, but I liken her to a child with ADD, she simply cannot stay focused on the job and a vast amount of time is spent with her sight-seeing and me reminding her that she needs to listen. She goes in there once or twice a week at most, but she simply does not find it as entertaining as flying around the countryside. I suspect because she finds school work more effort. However, she is never lazy or naughty in the school and always gives me her best work, but given the choice, I think she would choose hacking.

She categorically is useless over showjumps, however, she simply does not seem to enjoy it at all, or see the point. As a result, although we do polework, we don't jump in the school. It's not her thing and I'm not particularly bothered either. Jumping cross country fences, however, and she absolutely flies them. You wouldn't think it was the same pony watching her over a show jump compared to a fence out across country.

The hooligan, by comparison, thrives on being asked questions and given a challenge and he is much easier to keep focused in the school.

 

[TheHairyOne]

I also dont think its quite the right term for horses. I think it mostly comes down to their personalities (for lack of a better word) which we then influence through training and management.

I have a horse who is economical with his energy, or a lazy git when he's made me work too hard. He does everything I ask, but without doing anything more. As an example, I jump a 1.10 fence. I can then get off, put it down to 50cm's and he will jump it exactly the same way. Doesnt touch poles if he can possibly help it, but doesnt clear them by any more than is needed. He is the same schooling, obedient, but for better marks inside the boards needs to be a lot sharper and appear to have more energy. He is the same XC, jumps anything (but ditches but thats my problem!) but has his own speed in between.

He does all this with his ears pricked and his eyes bright. Do anything really exciting and he squeals, but still doesnt really change his default energy expenditure.

My other horse by complete contrast is a busy thing, always on the go, but can competely overboil with it all. And has his days when he just doesnt want to play. Few and far between, but they are there.

Both live the same way, both completely different, both fantastic for different reasons. Combine them and i would have perfection.