Personalities and the Jobs Horses are Asked to Do

Relationship Based Horsemanship

Horses, like people, generally behave from two quadrants, a primary quadrant, and a secondary quadrant. Behaviors, both desirable and undesirable, can be predicted from each quadrant, making strategic decisions and influencing behavior easier. When approached appropriately, we can help horses maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses. The “labels” I’ve used in this diagram relate to horses specifically and are designed to describe each quadrant in as neutral a way as possible, neither good nor bad.

All personality traits have their strengths and their weaknesses.

It makes sense then to take advantage of this knowledge when choosing a horse for a particular job.

That’s why people have been breeding horses over the millennia, to fit a specific region of the world with the work a horse might have to do.

A few examples would be:

• The Arabian horse is renowned for its versatility and stamina over great desert distances. Their athletic prowess and intelligence made them prized horses in the development of other breeds.

  

  HAAP COCOA PUFF (Hasafa)

• The Andalusian horse became the horse of nobleman in Europe. They are prized for their bravery, intelligence, nimbleness, and graceful movement.

  

  DAKOTA LUZ DE CIELO (Lucia)

• The Quarter Horse became the iconic horse of the American west, bred to be the fastest horse at short distances and stand up to long days of work, thus making them ideally suited to move cows all over the American continent.

  

  ALLERGIC REACTION (Maverick)

The physicality of a horse is only one aspect of their suitability for any given job. Their personalities are also very important. Which is why the best breeders breed for the body and the mind.

Having said all that, no personality type is proscribed from doing any particular job. You just have to know that more or your time, patience, and dedication will be needed to accomplish what you want.

From the view of personality only, here are the jobs best suited to specific personalities:

The Curious/Energetic Horse: They like variety. They like to move. They like things to be fast-paced. They dislike repetition, and/or mindless tasks. They are fast thinkers.

• Endurance Riding

• Eventing

• Competitive Trail

• Recreational Trail

• Jumping

• Polo

The Curious/Reserved Horse: They like new environments and challenges. They don’t like to move and need time to think, especially with new tasks. They dislike repetition. They are deliberate and steady.

• Competitive Trail

• Recreational Trail

• Trick Training

• Vaulting

• Teaching humans and other horses

The Vigilant/Reserved Horse: Their primary need is comfort. They like repetition as they want to get things right. Once they trust you, they’ll work their guts out for you. They are calm until you push them too hard. It’s important to understand where their thresholds are.

• Dressage

• Rail Work Competition

• Cutting

• Reining

• Barrel Racing

• Liberty

• Teaching humans and other horses

The Vigilant/Energetic Horse: Safety is one of their primary concerns. They like repetition because it makes them feel safe. They need to move, moving allows them to think. They are movers and doers.

• Endurance Riding

• Eventing

• Barrel Racing

• Dressage

• Liberty

• Teaching humans and other horses

Again, these are guidelines, not dos and don’ts.

Cross-training horses in different areas of endeavor can be very powerful. I occasionally do math quizzes to keep my mind sharp. I don’t enjoy doing this, I’m not naturally good at math. But I understand the positive effects of engaging all parts of my brain.

Your horse might not enjoy learning to do lateral maneuvers, extended trail rides, or tricks, but their ability to do them can enhance their ability to do what they like to do. Versatility can strengthen a weakness that allows them to excel in their area of expertise.

Know what you want to do with your horse, then you can access a horse for her suitability, giving you the best chance for success.

For more information about the amazing horses that have been and are being bred on the HAAP farm, go to www.arabpinto.com

If you have questions for me about any of my posts, please feel free to contact me at isabellefarmer@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/arabpintos