(article by Vic Yosco)
Horses are like humans, when we are born we have certain genetics in us that tells us what type
of personality we will have, will we be aggressive , shy, calm, nervous, etc. Horses have a similar
makeup in their genes.
From when we are born our parents are teaching us from when we start to walk right up to the
day we are ready and able. The same goes for horses from when we start them on halters all the
way to whatever discipline we have in store for them. Naturally some horses are more aggressive
than others, some are very smart and some need a lot more work.
The one main reason that causes the aggressiveness in a horse is unjust punishment. This can
range from jerking on the horse’s mouth, riding too hard and asking him to do things that he was
not trained to do, or riding him when he is sore. There are some riders who believe by making the
horse afraid, that this is the safe and obedient way. Most horses resign themselves to this
treatment, but there are some horses that have the willpower to fight back so they become
aggressive.
Another cause of aggression can lie in an incompetent rider. Think about this, you call a horse lazy
because he prefers not to run barrels, jump or travel for miles up a steep incline, but we label that
horse that way, because we did not train him properly. If a timid rider or incompetent rider lets a
horse get away with a slight disobedience, the horse will push you farther until he finds out all he
has to do is lay back his ears and act as if he will rear or kick and then his owners will let him rest.
Then we label him bad.
So when you blow it all away you get down to two truths- that the horse that habitually kicks, bites,
or strikes out at you does so either in fear or of, or because of , unjust punishment or because he
has learned that you are not capable of making him get off of welfare and start earning his keep.
