Horse Behavior Q & A: Putting the Brake on "Break"
Hi, Dr. Weiss! I was wondering, is it too late to break in a six-year-old gelding? He is halter-broken and groomed regularly.
—Cassie
Don’t worry, Cassie, it’s not too late to teach your horse how to be ridden. You should have no problems teaching him.
By the way, I would love to use this opportunity to share a little pet peeve of mine: the word “break” when discussing training horses to be ridden…which “breaks” my heart! You see, the term comes from the phrase “breaking [his] spirit,” which is not what we want to do in any way, shape or form. We are simply teaching him or her to accept a rider. By removing the term “break” from our horse vocabulary, we can help decrease the likelihood that someone with little understanding will feel the need to break a horse’s spirit.
—Cassie
Don’t worry, Cassie, it’s not too late to teach your horse how to be ridden. You should have no problems teaching him.
By the way, I would love to use this opportunity to share a little pet peeve of mine: the word “break” when discussing training horses to be ridden…which “breaks” my heart! You see, the term comes from the phrase “breaking [his] spirit,” which is not what we want to do in any way, shape or form. We are simply teaching him or her to accept a rider. By removing the term “break” from our horse vocabulary, we can help decrease the likelihood that someone with little understanding will feel the need to break a horse’s spirit.
Labels: ASPCA, Horse Behavior, Horses
posted by ASPCA at 9:37 AM PERMALINK
5 Comments:
Interesting. I'd never thought of it in terms of "breaking" a horse's spirit, but rather "breaking him in" as in getting him used to the bit and saddle, though I can see how the other meaning could be used as well.
Overall, though, I think perhaps the best way to describe it would be as some kind of "training" - describing the horse as "bit & saddle trained" or "riding trained" - those kind of terms are more neutral and accurately describe what has happened. Of course, getting others to use terms like that is the real trick, eh? :)
I grew up in cattle and horse country where the terms "green broke" and breaking a horse to some people meant just that. I never treated my horses that way. I had loyal and affectionate horses that I loved. I think in the old west (Black Hills) SD that willnot change but it is the way people do this training not terms that count.
How do I get my horse to stop kicking the stall? It wakes everyone up at nite and if I don't stop the problem she's going...
I have a 12 year old appaloosa broodmare . She has had 4 foals and in foal now for late may 2008 foal . She is not trained to ride. We have been bonding as I groom her and walk her . Is it too late to train her ???
A friend of mine just rescued a 6yr old mustang gelding. he has terrible feet and seems to have had his spirit broken. a very sweet horse. is there any way to regain his spirit?
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