What does a horse think about switching riders? Can the confidence, respect, and understanding that one rider builds in a horse be transferred to another rider? This is a common and important question in horsemanship—especially for riders looking to hand off their horse or buy one that’s already “well broke.”
The short answer? Not entirely. While a horse may retain some foundational training, their confidence, willingness, and responsiveness are directly influenced by the quality of the rider they’re paired with.
Let’s dive deeper into what happens when a horse trained by an experienced rider is handed over to someone less skilled.
Building a Confident Horse: Rider #1
Imagine a competent rider works with a horse consistently for a couple of months. This rider has decent timing, clarity, and feel. They know how to correct unwanted behaviors like leaning on the bit, and they reward the horse at the right moments. The horse, in turn, learns what kind of horse to be—light, responsive, respectful, and calm.
Through this process, the horse develops confidence, gains trust in the rider, and becomes mentally balanced.
Switching To Rider #2
Now let’s switch riders. Say another rider—less experienced and with duller timing and less awareness—takes over. This rider doesn’t notice when the horse starts leaning on the bit. Instead of addressing it, they pull or hang on the reins. The clarity the horse once had starts to fade. He begins to guess, gets confused, and eventually dulls out or becomes reactive.
This isn’t because the horse is misbehaving. It’s because the quality of communication has changed. The horse is receiving different messages, and without proper leadership, his understanding begins to break down.
Horses Reflect the Rider
Even the most well-trained horse will begin to regress if ridden consistently by someone who lacks the necessary skills. You might notice:
- Heaviness on the bit
- Spookiness or buddy sour behavior
- Resistance to cues
- Head tossing
- General lack of responsiveness
A horse doesn’t automatically “know what to do.” If a rider pulls back while kicking forward, sits unbalanced, or provides conflicting cues, the horse becomes unsure—and unsure horses look for answers through trial and error, often resulting in problem behaviors.
For more insight, read the blog: Horses Acting Weird — What’s The Root Cause?
Think of it like this: Would you expect someone with no training to hop into a plane and fly it smoothly just because the plane is in perfect condition? Of course not. The airplane still requires a skilled pilot to operate correctly.
Horses Will Try—But They Can’t Do It All
Many horses are kind enough to try to fill in the gaps for an inexperienced rider. But it takes a toll. They become less light, less mentally present, and more confused. Over time, the refinement and responsiveness that were once there begin to fade.
It’s common in human nature to look for shortcuts—to do just enough to get by. Unfortunately, that mindset doesn’t work well in horsemanship. We often put more effort into learning a new smartphone than into learning how to clearly and kindly operate our horse.
Case Study #1: Sassy the Mare
An experienced rider starts a young horse named Sassy. After 60 days, Sassy is respectful, responsive, and confident. She isn’t buddy sour or spooky and doesn’t toss her head.
Then she’s switched to another rider with less skill. A few months in, Sassy begins tossing her head, becomes buddy sour, and starts ignoring cues. The rider decides she must be a “bad mare” or in need of calming supplements.
What really happened? The new rider couldn’t provide the same clarity, consistency, and feel. Sassy’s confidence dropped, and her self-preservation instincts took over. She no longer felt secure under this rider, and her behavior changed accordingly.
Case Study #2: Robbie and the Finished Horse
My father-in-law, Robbie, once rode one of my finished horses. He’s not an experienced rider, but he was able to ride comfortably—stop, go, turn, and manage the basics.
Watching closely, I noticed a few moments where the horse was slightly heavy to Robbie’s leg, but Robbie didn’t pick up on it. While it wasn’t a problem in the moment, if he kept riding that way for weeks or months, the horse would gradually lose its lightness and responsiveness.
The difference is, Robbie is the type of person who would put in the work if he chose to keep riding. He’d invest in learning and developing his horsemanship, and that’s what makes the difference.
The Bottom Line: It’s About the Rider
You can’t separate a horse’s behavior from the quality of the rider they’re partnered with. Horses need:
- Clear communication
- Consistent cues
- Confident leadership
- A rider who has some awareness and takes responsibility
If we want our horses to be reliable, confident, and enjoyable to ride, we have to step up and become better horsemen and women.
I used to think the best way to help horses was to get them to understand more. But now, it’s clear:
The best way to help horses is by helping the people who ride them understand more.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve got a horse who was once light and responsive but is now becoming difficult, don’t jump to blame the horse. Instead, look at your own skills, timing, and feel. Your horse is your mirror. The more you improve, the more your horse will too.
Visit BuckarooCrew.com for resources to help improve your horsemanship.
Let’s stop expecting horses to carry the whole weight of the relationship. It’s time we take responsibility and become the kind of riders our horses can willingly follow.
