Like humans, horses have their own specific personalities that can be classified into a few main types. By understanding your companion’s temperament and behavioral tendencies, you can tailor your trainings and riding techniques to best fit the horse’s emotional nature. After all, not all equines are the same; one horse may flourish while performing a specific exercise, and another may become frightened when confronted with the same tasks.
There are lots of tests out there to determine which type of personality your horse has, but many have similar categories. We’ve determined a few of the reoccurring themes of horse personalities and grouped them into: Gregarious, Fearful, Detached, Challenging, and Bombproof.
Gregarious
These horses are the social butterfly at the barn. They love spending time with humans and horses alike, are very playful, and give a lot of forward motion. They react well to most commands, but sometimes may be too excited to pay attention to the task at hand. Outgoing horses are well suited for riders who know how to keep an equine in line. However, equestrians don’t need to necessarily be advanced in their craft, as these horses are usually very willing to accommodate directives with little divergence.
Fearful
In a choice between ‘fight or flight’, these horses definitely favor the flight instinct. More guarded and cautious than others, fearful horses need more space and may become panicked when they are restrained or confined in a small space they are not comfortable with. They tend to keep their heads high (martingales anyone?), and are consistently looking for perceived threats. Consequently, they require a rider who is patient and won’t panic if the horse spooks, so these horses are not ideal for children or beginners. If you stick with these horses and don’t rush them though, they often turn into loyal rides who will try their best to comply with your commands.
Detached
Detached or aloof horses tend to be lost in their own little world and couldn’t care less that you’re trying to go for a ride. They tend to be independent of both people and other horses and may not respond well to commands in the ring. Many people report seeing a glazed over look in their horses eyes, much like the look you used to get during a boring class. Sometimes these horses can be stubborn and will ignore any attempts at engagement, prompting you to want to use a riding crop. Detached horses need a rider with a lot of patience and a firm but steady hand so they can keep the horses attention on the activity.
Challenging
Ah, the challenger. These horses are arrogant, prideful, and will take advantage of inexperience riders to do whatever they want. Challenging horses tend to be a little guarded and wary of others intruding on their personal space. They also tend to be high on the pecking order among other horses and can be bully-ish. Equestrians need to constantly remind these types of horses ‘who is boss’ in the rider-horse relationship. However, if you are up to the challenge and can keep a tight horse rein, these steeds can provide a lot of spirit and won’t shy away from the more brave exercises.
Bombproof
The quiet, bombproof horse is the perfect ride for beginners or those who just ride for pleasure. Nothing can spook these horses, and they can be relied on to perform any duty without complaint. More advanced riders may find them dull, but bombproof horses are great for training riders to gain more confidence.
Understanding your horse’s personality is an important part of ownership and riding. If you’re an advanced rider who’s looking to compete, then purchasing a fearful or bombproof horse would work less for you than a challenging or gregarious horse would. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you get a challenging horse, but you’re just looking for a horse to ride around the trails then perhaps a quite horse would be best suited to you. Just like when choosing a friend, taking into consideration if your personality’s mesh well can be the difference between a life-long friendship and just a fling.