Do horses enjoy "work"?

[sarahlev]

Thanks guys! Seems that excuse is worn out then!

I think you've sussed me gill! I've put a thread on the PC board about losing focus. I expect the horses knew my heart wasn't really in it, just felt I "should" do something with them.

[varkie]

Depends on the horse, depends on the work, depends on the handler/rider doing the work.

My black mare loves to work - virtually all work - with the right handler / rider. With the wrong handler / rider she can become quite difficult, if they're not soft enough or don't ask the right way. For me, she loves to do virtually anything. She is very bright, loves to learn, and tries to please me. She will work for praise alone.

My coloured pony finds schooling a bore. SJ too much like hard work. Lungeing like a punishment. But take her hacking or driving, and she loves it. Take her XC, and she's virtually unstoppable - she's called Peni Rocket for a reason! I can make her enjoy schooling or SJ a bit more by how I do it, or by use of treat / reward. But it's just not really her thing.

I think most horses / ponies will have some form of work that they enjoy, be it hacking or jumping.

I also wonder if sometimes we're too focussed on our horses/ponies having to enjoy their work 100% of the time. Real life isn't like that. No ones life is 100% happy. I am not all that happy when I'm washing up / hoovering / cleaning the loo. But I have to do it, it's part of life. So I make it as bearable as possible - radio / CD on, and then I just get on with it. And I kind of feel my horses lives have to be like that too. I won't make them do something they absolutely utterly hate. But if it's just not their favourite thing, then I will try to make it more enjoyable, but to some extent they have to lump it. Everyone has to do things they don't like, to live or to work. And it's no different for my horses. They have 23 hours a day where I make them as happy as possible - however they like it, in or out, rugged or not, with constant access to friends & food. I don't therefore think it's unreasonable that in return they spend one hour a day doing something for me that isn't necessarily their favourite thing.

[christi]

when i arrive with saddle and bridle , my horse puts her head right into her bridle lol so i take it she enjoys our hacking,
Although i have to say she is just as happy wandering abut her fields eating and being a horse. she also Loves spending time in her stable.

im glad shes a very content wee horse . as for months of the year due to our hellish winters here shes not ridden .

[claire]

The pony I used to have didn't really enjoy school work, until the jumps came out, and hacking out well she loved it. She went from quite an uninterested pony to so responsive, she was always first out of the yard!

[tomrabbit]

Jan 8, 2011 20:03:45 GMT 1 Leanne said:

I think my cob wouldn't miss work much as he just loves to eat.

When he is out he does enjoy looking around and is interested in new places. He's really forward going when he's well.

But he would rather just eat food and grass. He's happiest when is stomach is full and having a food.

Yep, I can relate to that, Leanne!

Sarahlev, I used to worry enormously about my highland pony's happiness in his 'work'. I remember writing on a thread a couple of year's back how guilty I felt about not providing the stimulation he clearly needed, as he only seemed to be full of beans when we were doing something new/exciting like going to the beach, or entering a competition. Then somebody pointed out (I think it may have been LizP, but not sure) that my interpretation of his 'enjoyment' of new experiences could have been flawed. As he is naturally laid back and calm, when he is on his toes with pricked ears this could in fact be worry/alarm rather than happy excitement. I had never considered that possibility before! It's so easy to project human emotions and values onto them.

I would agree with what Varkie says. I do my best to ensure my pony's comfort and wellbeing for 90% of the time, and in return I expect 10% back from him. Honestly, I don't think he 'enjoys' work in the way we experience enjoyment. I think he tolerates it. He would much rather be mooching around a lush, grassy field with some similar minded companions. But we have a deal, a partnership if you like. He accepts that work is part of the deal, and agrees (mostly!) to go along with this, and to be honest, I feel quite humbled by this. After work I give him a little food treat and say thankyou (yes, I really do say it. I'm odd like that!). He enjoys the treat!

I also agree with those who have said that the rider's 'enjoyment' passes onto the horse, I guess in the same way that our fear passes on. When I am motivated and energised, I find it easier to motivate my pony, and I choose these times to school. When I am depressed or lethargic, it just isn't going to happen, but as he needs his exercise, I go on a comfortable hack and don't ask much of him. When I have a lesson with my inspirational teacher, both I and my pony are energised and motivated, and I think we 'enjoy' our work, but that's really just my perspective because I love my lessons.

Having said all this, my daughter's horse, whos natural state is one step below red alert, does seem to relish work, and appears dull when he's out of work. Does he enjoy work? She thinks so, and that's the important thing for their relationship.

So I think I would say that 'enjoyment' is what we, the riders, experience when working with our horse goes well, and it feels like our bond is good. I think horses 'enjoy' getting it right, whatever 'it' is at that time, and they pick up on our pleasure, so in that sense, they can 'enjoy' work.

[nich]

god yes! my 2 were so bored during the snow. i did my best with walks in hand, and obstacles in the school, which my iberian particularly enjoyed. but even my semi retired Autumn - when i put the dually on and attached long lines last week, she grew, got strong, and towed me round the resting summer fields! Brio watched fascinated, i would swear she felt she was missing out, galloping down the hedge line to watch us, then running back up doing handstands all the way as we returned! when i turned autumn out afterwards, she was very 'look at me' to the waiting 3 girls. I never have problems catching, they never nap or show reluctance. but I don't school in a menage that much, that can get dull for them IMO (may just be I am dull of course!)

[mags]

I think horses enjoy variety. Most horses, even kept in a field with companions, can get bored. I know for a fact that mine does, and anything that gets him out and doing stuff is then enjoyable.
On the other hand, he can be quite nappy at times. To me, that says that there's really something else he'd rather be doing at that time (hang out with his friends, at home, eating?).
I try to make work enjoyable for him. It's not much fun riding when you have an unwilling partner.

[annabelle h]

Physically, mine is working harder than he has for years - and he loves it. In light work he is, well, fine to catch but seems a tiny bit grumpy at being got out of bed. . Now we are really working, he is positively desperate to be caught. :-)

[jennyb]

That's very interesting Annabelle. Gazdag is normally brilliant to catch, but recently (co-inciding with the cold weather and less work) has been walking off, and most recently, inciting his field mate to have a good old run around when we appear with headcollars and be difficult to catch! It's quite funny really, we do laugh at them as they are very entertaining, but I'd imagine that's what's behind it. Must get the schooling resumed soon.

[annabelle h]

Lol Jenny - sounds like he is either in holiday mode or has energy to burn! Roll on more schooling.

[booboo]

I like your post Varkie.

Until last year I would have perhaps argued that horses don't care as long as their phsyical and mental needs are met and I would have said this could be by mooching in fields with friends etc.

I now feel that in their natural sate they'd be travelling great distances, meeting all sorts of different things and challanges, so while this might seem 'stressful' or 'harder' than being pampered having lazy days in a field, it is perhaps a bit boring. I wonder, if like humans, these mental 'stresses' aren't provided they'll create them themselves?

One thing thats shaped my thinking was doing a 5 day long distance ride last year. Just me and my horse. We usually just hack about a couple of times a week but this was quite a journey. I have to say he really blossomed over the week. Really 'came into himself'. Its difficult to explain how but its like he really put his back into it and seemed very balanced and strong in mind, body and spirit. He is a polo pony from Argentina so probably worked quite hard. Certainly the 'spanish barb' blood in his genetic make up came out during our journey.

So yes, I would say he enjoyed his work. In fact now I wonder if he is dreadfully bored over the last couple of months of pretty much being yard bound (albeit with pals, out 24/7)

[gem]

Diesel loves work - i tried to turn him away over the winter but he has sulked terribly he is always eager to learn and loves new things, and he will thrive when he learns new things, he will be in full work for the first time this year