Do horses know when they are competing?

Question

We have two horses that do Equestrian Jumping and Hunters.

I was just curious if the actually know they are competing when they enter the arena? If they do know, do they enjoy it?

Answer 1

yes, i believe so.  Whenever I compete in horse shows, the horse has to leave home and stay in a different barn.  Then when we go out for the arena, there's tons of other different horses around.  It's such a different atmosphere that the horse has to know that they're at the show.  And the horse goes and warms up in the ring, then stands still a little, then enters another ring alone to jump the course.  It's just such a different routine that I know the horse has to understand that it's competing in a show.  Even when we're practicing in a group at home and then we all do a pattern separately or jump a course or something like that, my mare tries a little harder for me...  she knows there's something different...  she knows it's different than just practicing.  So at least my horse knows when she's competing.

Some horses enjoy it.  My horse does...  she gets really pretty serious about it...  she tries harder.  But this gelding who went to a show with us once...  he really hated it.  He hated leaving home and he was really upset about going in the ring alone and he particularly hated one corner of the ring.  He would toss his head and buck and everything.

I'm sure it depends on the horse though...  you'd have to judge your own horse.

Answer 2

Some do.  Read the book 'Seabiscuit, An American Legend' (not the movie) who clearly knew when he was in a race.  He wouldn't let anyone pass him.

Answer 3

you know what a think that a true competer always knows when there is a compitition.

so if the horse is a true competer and wants to win. she knows that they must beat the other horses in order to be the best.

do they like it? well like i said if the horse is a challanger then im sure they love it. but if the horse is layed back and just wants to ride around for fun then they probably just like riding at home better then riding against others to see who will win.

know wut im saying? lol

-mel

RIP BARBARO

Answer 4

We, also believe that the horses know that they are competing.  One is a good horse can read his rider,  that is why it is important to stay calm and focused on the horse.  If you go into a show ring and your are nervous your horse will respond to it.  Over the years we have had great rides and total failures.  It is not just the horse, but the rider too.  We find that the horses enjoy showing when we are relaxed,  Again, if we are jumpy they do not enjoy it.  We also think it is important to get your horse of the property and get him doing something else,  like trail riding or just at another barn so they can socialize from a distance.  The more interaction they have the more they look forward to it.

Answer 5

I like to think that horses really do know when they are competing. I don't work much with hunters/jumpers, I stick with racing but the idea is still the same. Win. A trainer I used to work for had this little black filly that couldn't win a race to save her life. She was absolutely horrible! One day she was entered to run in a really cheap race and she ended up winning the thing. Well before her win she was a very modest little filly, everybody liked her. Afterwards she honestly did a complete turn around, she was the most cocky, arrogant little thing you'd ever seen. She's actually done a lot better since that win, she's picked up a couple of other wins in better races but now the grooms and her exercise rider can't stand her. Horses know when they are competing, you see the difference between when they win and when they lose. As for your other question, when a horse doesn't want to compete, they make it quite obvious. You can see the difference between a horse that enjoys what it's doing and a horse that hates it.

Answer 6

They know if they are competing, but  it depends on the horse if they like it or not.  Usually if they do bad, they dont and if they do good, they love it.  

I have a pony hunter, jumper and she LOVES showing as much as I do. lol

Answer 7

I have been competing for many years, in showjumping and after that endurance.  I am sure that the horse knows when it is competing, even to the point that if we start at midnight my mare knows that it is a 100m ride and will pace herself differently to an early morning start which just means 50m. As for whether they enjoy it that is definately up to the horse.  In showjumping you soon find out, if they perform worse in the ring than they do practising at home then something is upsetting them.  A horse that loves jumping is very easy to pick, ears pricked, keen, looking for the next jump

Answer 8

Yes, horses know when they are in a competition.  Racehorses especially, because no horse is more competitive than a Thoroughbred in a race!