Last Updated on January 12, 2023
Horses have had a relationship with humans for several centuries, and the question of are horses meant to be ridden brings up some strong opinions. Some people might fear digging deep into this philosophical question, afraid of the conclusions they may come to. Let’s dive into the history of humans and horses, and look at what horses like.
History Of The Horse’s Relationship With Humans
The human connection with horses started thousands of years ago in 3,500 BC. Research shows the first horse domestication occurred near Kazakhstan and southern Russia. The use of horses for pulling carts, chariots, and other work are one of the most influential events in society.
As the years passed, horses integrated even more with human life. Working on farms, in war, and in cities, horses allowed society to progress. Even though horses rarely do these jobs anymore, they still play a huge part in the lives of people who enjoy horse riding.
The Horse: The Epic History of Our Noble Companion
Horses And Intelligence
Studies into how horses think and perceive life are one reason the question of are horses meant to be ridden is more prominent. One study found that horses are incredible at reading subtle clues, much better than humans can read signals from a horse. Another study discovered horses are self-aware.
The study found that horses can recognize themselves in the mirror. If this is the case, is it right to ride horses? Are we forcing them to do our bidding, or are they happy to form a riding partnership?
How To Tell If A Horse Is Happy
Horses let us know, some more subtly than others, if they are happy or not. A happy horse will show a relaxed stance, put its ears forward or flopped to the size, or lower its head. An unhappy horse will pin its ears, stiffly swish its tail, and kick.
Those are just some of the signs horses give to express how they feel. This brings us to riding a horse. Riders genuinely believe some horses enjoy ridden work. Some horses get upset, cranky, and exhibit behavioral problems when they don’t get worked.
Are Horses Meant To Be Ridden
A horse that enjoys ridden work, leads us to believe that, yes, horses are meant to be ridden. It, of course, depends on how you define ‘meant’. Meant implies that one of the sole purposes of a horse existing is for riding.
If you change the question to: Is it ok to ride a horse? Then it is easier to say yes. However, riding and working with horses requires compassion and awareness. We must remember to learn and understand what the horse is telling us.
A horse that shows displeasure when ridden might not enjoy the activity, or it could have pain that needs the attention of a vet. Ask yourself why your horse is reacting this way, as while it’s true, many horses enjoy work, some don’t.
In some ways, the horse, human relationship is similar to the one humans have with dogs. Dogs want to please us, and anyone that spends time with a horse sees this as well. Domesticated horses depend on humans for basic care. Horses interacting with us is mutually beneficial.
At the end of the day, if a horse really didn’t want to do something, it can tell us pretty easily! Their power and size alone can overcome any action we try to do to make them do something.
Does Riding A Horse Hurt It
We can develop a good, ridden relationship if we take the horse’s needs into consideration. Poor training methods, ill-fitting tack, and poor riding can cause horse pain. If done correctly and sensitively, there is no reason for the horse to suffer.
To find a balance between your questions of enjoying horse riding and wondering if the horse truly likes it, always give your horse a choice. Allow the horse to express its feelings and find a compromise that works for both of you.
Conclusion
Taking a black and white view, horses are not meant to be ridden. They were not placed on earth to do this job. Wild horses happily lived their lives roaming the land with their herds.
However, after thousands of years, it is difficult to answer this in a black and white way. During this time, humans and horses developed a relationship to coexist. It benefits both species in a positive way.
It is wrong to say that a horse is wasted as a field ornament when someone keeps it simply as a companion and doesn’t ride it. If the horse is happy and looked after, that is all that matters. But it is also wrong to tell someone they can’t ride horses because they aren’t meant to be ridden.
Is horse jumping cruel?
Can’t really say whether horse jumping is cruel or not as horses are using their ability to jump barriers also in the wild. But hunter, jumper and hunt-seat equitation competitions can put horses under immense stress, and sometimes they suffer injuries as a result. These injuries require horses to be carefully assessed and treated, and sometimes, if the injury is too serious, they might even need to retire before their time.
The impact of landings is not as straightforward as it might first seem. Landing on a hard surface can cause damage to the front feet. Jumping stresses tendons and ligaments that support the leg during both push-off and landing. The hooves themselves can also be damaged. It’s important that you learn how to identify the signs of an injured horse.
Why do horses need to be ridden?
Riding a horse is good for both the animal and the rider. Riding every day is important for keeping your horse in peak condition. It also helps develop your horse’s mind, body and spirit and to bond with it’s rider. Riding gives your horse a chance to show off its best qualities, including strength, speed and endurance. And for the rider, riding is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy being outdoors. For those who enjoy riding, it’s a great way to spend your leisure time with your horse.
However, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the horse’s anatomy and how it’s body functions before you get on the horse. In that way you won’t be pushing your horse over it’s limits and will notice and correct any issues before they can develop in serious problems.
Why is it OK to ride horses but not elephants?
Elephants are big and strong and can be overwhelming due to their size and power. They can be very hard to handle and much more difficult to control than a horse. A large elephant can weigh over two cars, and they can stand up to 3.5 meters tall. They have extremely powerful tusks, so be careful when you work with one. Elephants can be dangerous to humans as well as to other wildlife, but they’re also beautiful creatures and working with them can be very rewarding. Elephants are one of the most powerful animals in the world, but they’re also extremely curious. They’re known for their memory, and their intelligence.
Do horses feel pain when ridden?
Recently, researchers have discovered that even subtle signs of discomfort while riding can indicate that a horse is experiencing pain. However, those signs can easily be misinterpreted by a rider as a difficult temperament of a horse.
So what exactly are the signs and symptoms of pain in a horse? And how do riders identify them? It’s a question many people have been asking for years, and it’s an important one to ask, because horses that are being ridden with pain will not perform to their potential. But identifying pain is not as simple as it may seem. It is possible to read facial expressions and body language to identify if an animal is in pain, though. Sometimes the horses themselves are telling us they’re hurt without saying a word. If we keep attention, we should be able to recognize those hints and remove the source of pain if possible. In that way both, the horse and the rider will enjoy their time training and riding together much more.
Michael Dehaan is a passionate horse owner, horse rider, and lover of all things equine. He has been around horses since he was a child, and has grown to become an expert in the field. He has owned and ridden a variety of horses of different breeds, and has trained many to compete in shows and competitions. He is an experienced horseman, having worked with and competed many horses, including his own. He is an active member of the equestrian community, participating in events and teaching riding lessons.