Not one horse owner can say they’ve never made an excuse for their four-legged friend at some point. Much like parents do with their children, we often look at our horse with rose tinted specs. We can elaborate an excuse when his halo slips from his head, because let’s face it, it’s better than just admitting he was being naughty and that we’d let him misbehave.
Which one of these excuses have you made for your horse’s behaviour before?
1. He doesn’t like the rain
We’re allowed to be fair weather riders, but they’re designed to live in the wild so…
2. He’s used to a horsebox, not a trailer
That’s why it took two hours and five people to load him on the show field, even though he went in sweet as a nut on the journey here…
3. He’s on some new feed
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All that extra energy explains why he tanked off with you a few times today.
4. He’s not been ridden in ages
In other words, you only gave him yesterday off and he’s come out of the stable like a newly backed three-year-old so you need to ham it on a little.
5. He’s just a novice
Said to the concerned judge who questioned if you had any brakes after your horse decided to jump the white boards and leave the dressage arena mid-test.
6. He’s never seen these fences before
A justification for any stop at any fence, even if it is a 60cm cross pole.
7. He spooked at a bird in the hedge
Said as you re-caught your horse after being dragged at pace across the yard while leading him to the field. What bird?
She’s just as grumpy the other 364 days of the year, too…
9. He’s just well bred
If you provide his fancy-sounding breeding, no one will even question why he rodeo bronked around the arena.
10. He was cut late
That’s why he bites, not because I am overly generous with hand-fed treats.
11. He’s just so clever
I swear he’s not just spoilt and that I let him get away with murder…
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Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
