Does Your Horse Have a Place they Particularly Dislike?

I’m sure most horse owners will realise their horse is keen to approach some environments, and reluctant to approach others, but this preference is not often considered as part of a training plan.

Researchers in France studied the effects of horses having a good or bad experience in a specific environment to see how it affected their learning.

They found that horses – like humans – build strong associations between their surroundings and their experiences. And these associations can influence not just their emotions, but also how they learn and respond to training.

What does this mean for horse owners and trainers? It is vital to consider the environment you train in may have an effect on how your horse learns. If you want a more adaptable, easy-to-train horse, it’s worth paying attention to the locations where your horse has had positive experiences. Training in these areas can help create a better learning environment. Conversely, horses that have been stressed in a particular location may struggle more with training tasks and show less cognitive flexibility.

I should mention that if your horse has had a bad experience in a particular environment and is reluctant to approach this area or becomes anxious there, it is possible to change how they feel. I'd recommend contacting a qualified behaviourist if you need help.

Study: Fortin, M., Valenchon, M., Lévy, F., Calandreau, L., Arnould, C., & Lansade, L. (2018). Emotional state and personality influence cognitive flexibility in horses (Equus caballus). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 132(2), 130–140. https://doi.org/10.1037/com0000091