Part 1: "Do Horses Want to be Ridden?"-Horses as Non Riding Companions

Thoughts:

"In my opinion, some horses are OK with being ridden, and some are not. The ones that are not I place as Companions or what I call “pasture ornaments".

I am conflicted on the idea that horses do or do not want to be ridden.

I don’t know that horses ENJOY being ridden.

 I think horses enjoy being with humans because of their companionship, love, attention, comfort and care. I think horses prefer to be with humans on the ground. I know very few horses that enjoy being saddled and bridled and ridden. Even when ridden bareback with a bitless bridle; I still think horses prefer for their human to be loving on them on the ground.

 (Of course there are exceptions! Yes, of course there are horses that enjoy being ridden. In my opinion, predominately horses that were bred to be performance horses, and it is in their blood to perform under saddle. I think Thoroughbreds are bred to race, and love to run on the track. However, I think these horses are the exception and not the rule.)

I’m glad that this new wave of thinking of horses as 'nonriding companions' is emerging and evolving.

Thank you so tremendously much to all of you trailblazers, who are paving the way for better treatment and handling of horses in general..."