Learn about the subtle cues indicating horses like the work they do

In late July 2024 amidst the backdrop of France’s prestigious Palace of Versailles gardens, the world’s top equine athletes surged, sweated, and soared.

After torrential rain drenched the eventing cross-country course to its roots, 62 Olympic steeds thundered across mud-beaten paths, trudged through foot-deep water complexes, and sailed—seemingly effortlessly, even eagerly—over 45 baroque jumps stretched across 3.2 miles of skill-stretching terrain.

To the thousands of spectators cheering from behind the safety ribbons, these horses showed every bit as much vigor, drive, and passion as their riders going for the gold. Surely these horses love their job, right?

Certainly, horses can enjoy their work, say equitation scientists, but the signs aren’t always clear or obvious.

Does Your Horse Enjoy His Work?

People often anthropomorphize about horses’ enthusiasm for their jobs and assume horses have the same motivation to succeed and work toward goals that they do, says Julie Fiedler, PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne, in Australia. “They tend to project a human work ethic onto their horses,” she says.

Therefore, recognizing the horse-specific signs of enjoyment during work matters, she says. Can you spot them?

1. He’s easy to catch, groom, and tack up.

If your horse comes right up to you to get haltered, he probably associates you and your work sessions with something attractive or pleasant, says Australian equitation-science-based trainer Andy Booth, who is based in Chamadelle, France. If you’re always chasing your horse in the fi eld while bribing him with a feed bucket, or if he’s turning his rear end to you when you approach the stall door, he’s most likely made an aversive or unpleasant association.

Hard-to-catch horses aren’t the problem; you are, says Booth. “Be less of a pain,” he says, quoting the late horse trainer Ray Hunt. “Then maybe your horse will start liking to spend time with you again