Equine behavior problems can become very frustrating. For both you and your horse. I believe that horses generally don't just "misbehave". Even horses who are labeled as "naughty", "bad", "nasty", "stubborn", "disobedient", etc. are usually just trying to communicate with us.

If they have become "nasty" or "stubborn" maybe it is because no one has been listening to them and they have learned that this "bad" behavior is the only way to get their point across or to prevent what is bothering them, causing them pain, fear, anxiety, stress, etc.

So, with that introduction, let's take a look at a few reasons why your horse might be "misbehaving". Again, I am not representing this as a complete list. These are just some things to think about if you have having trouble with your horse.


Reason 1: Physical pain or discomfort

A horse who is dealing with pain has no way to tell you that he is in pain except to "misbehave". Since he cannot tell you in plain English, he must tell you in horse language - through his body and behavior.


For instance - maybe your horse bucks. It could be that his saddle does not fit correctly and is pinching him. Or, as was the case in a horse I worked on, she had a vertebrae out of place right where the saddle sat. She was always trying - and succeeding - to remove her rider. Over time, saddle and back problems can become so uncomfortable that the horse can no longer take the pain and begins to try to get the offender off his back.

Or, maybe your horse has pain in his body due to the job he is asked to perform - such as jumping. He may start to resist when asked to jump. I had a client horse one time who had a misalignment in his withers. He began to associate jumping with pain. After he was adjusted, he went back to work without any more complaints.

Sometimes it is harder to figure out where the pain is. He may just seem "cranky" or "off" for no apparent reason. A thorough evaluation of his entire body may reveal some areas of tension and tenderness.

A visit from your veterinarian may be necessary to rule out any physical problem that could be causing a change in mood. Hormonal imbalances or other medical problems can cause a horse to be "cranky" and "unwilling".

I am not going to go into any more examples. I could be here all day, but I hope you get the idea. Investigate before just assuming your horse is being "bad"...you know what they say about assuming.


Reason 2: Communication Problems

Since you speak English and your horse speaks...well, horse, it may be wise to step back, take a deep breath and ask yourself, "Does my horse really understand what I am asking of him?"

A horse that doesn't really understand what is being asked isn't trying to be "bad", he is probably just as frustrated as you are.

This is one of the reasons that I like clicker training so much. It opens up a conversation between you and your horse. It breaks communication down into very small pieces so that your horse is able to understand what you want from them. And it does it in a way that does not use dominance or fear as a teaching tool. Could you learn well from someone who was dominating and threatening? If you did learn, would you want to be around this person? Or would you want to flee from them?

Which brings me to my next reason that horses "misbehave".


Reason 3: Fear and insecurity

You probably know and agree that the horse is first a flight animal. Out in the wild, they are the prey, not the predator. They would rather run from danger than confront it. And, how do they know there is danger? They feel fear. A horse that feels fear and cannot run away from "it" will panic and - you guessed it - "misbehave". This "naughty" behavior is an attempt by the horse to tell you that he really wants to get away from whatever he is afraid of.

Fear is the basis for "spooky" horses. They are usually very insecure and don't trust that you will protect them from the scary circumstance that he has found himself in.


Or, maybe you are the scary circumstance. If you find yourself getting frustrated with your horse, you are probably not working with them in a calm and fair manner.

If this is the case, you need to take a break. Take a deep breath and get relaxed before continuing to work with him.

Horses can read you better than you can read the words on this page. They are all about body language and energy. That is how they kept from getting eaten out in the wild. That is how they interact with each other. They are masters at it. So, you need to become a master at it too.

To learn more about how horses instinctively react during times of fear, stress, or insecurity - read The 5 F's of Instinctive Horse Behavior .

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