Horse Behavior

End head-shaking on the trail—and at home—with advice from clinician Steve Stevens.

“LADIES’ HORSE.” “PREFERS MALE RIDERS.”“HATES MEN WITH A PASSION!” These descriptions, all taken from real Internet ads or Web sites, are but a handful of the ways we humans describe a phenomenon that might be called gender bias in horses.

Challenge yourself! Have fun and learn interesting facts about horses and equine behavior with Horse&Rider’s Trivia Challenge, featured in The Ride newsletter.

Preventive measures are the best way to make sure you never find yourself on a runaway horse.

Is your mare perfect one day and a demon the next? If so, you’re not alone. Learn steps that you can take to help manage your mare’s moods.

Is your horse starting to cut corners on his maneuvers? Nip this behavior in the bud before it becomes a bigger problem.

Equine aggression in a ridden horse should never be ignored. Learn the causes plus some fixes you can apply from the saddle.

Learn what we really know about headshaking, a complex, confusing, and often frustrating condition.

Perhaps you play with your horse and no harm has come from it—yet. You should realize, however, that playing with horses can lead to trouble. Here’s why.

Wish your hot horse were more level-headed? Here are drug-free strategies to help him be as happy and mellow as possible.

Gain insight into three common problem bits with the potential to pinch, poke, or otherwise make your horse wince. Plus learn how your bit works on your horse’s mouth for a happier ride.

A horse’s eye is a window to his soul—or at least a good indication of how he’s likely to behave under saddle on any given day.

Certain kinds of behavior are clear signals from your horse. Here’s what they mean, and what to do in response.

An owner seeks answers about her gelding’s puzzling behavior.

How does your horse see the world? Take a ride with us and gain a little insight—from your horse’s perspective.

What do you really know about 'natural horsemanship'? Learn how and why it evolved, who are its leaders, and what it can do for you and your horse.

Does your horse panic at the sight of a needle and syringe? Learn why he says "whoa, no way!" to needles and how to solve this frustrating (sometimes dangerous) problem.

Do you make excuses for your horse's misbehavior? If so, you're avoiding the responsibility of training him out of it.

Can you decode your horse's personality to discover what makes him tick? A Q&A with educator and clinician Linda Parelli.

Is there a link between your horse's temperament and the hair swirl or 'whorl' patterns on his head and elsewhere on his body?

The will to win in today's highly competitive show world can lead to brutality. Do you know how to protect your horse? Learn the warning signs of abuse.

Top trainer/clinician Linda Tellington-Jones addresses seven common myths about equine behavior.

The horse trainer gives horse owners 5 steps toward making that horse that is difficult to catch easier. By making it easier for the horse to be caught than to avoid your halter, you can train that difficult horse to be caught easily.