Comments on: Do Horses Enjoy Jumping?

By: Carole

Carole — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 10:34:11 +0000

I have been around horses most of my life and currently own a horse ranch. It has been my experience that horses are basically lazy. That is why some are hard to catch, because they know they will be going to work. I have seen a few horses that liked to jump but not many. Even those, do not like to do it often.

By: Diane

Diane — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 03:37:20 +0000

Maybe? My first horse, T.Walker/Welch Pony cross, would jump every downed tree he saw on the trail… Even with his head pulled way to the side. My current Morgan, at about 2-1/2 and never ridden at the time, when turned out for the first time in a large arena, charged around and jumped every jump that had been left up be a previous group of riders. I thought he just was surprised by them in his joy of the run. Then he came around and did it all again!

By: Holly

Holly — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 11:22:54 +0000

we had a horse from the farm I rode at that was doing a beginner level class and his rider fell of so the horse left that ring went into the next ring and started jumping the bigger jumps in the ring all by himself.Funniest horse ever. He must have liked it.Its to bad that was before all the cells phones with videos.

By: gottalovehorses

gottalovehorses — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 18:11:53 +0000

I don’t think this test really proved whether or not horses like jumping. More it proves how lazy they are.

By: equestrian4ever

equestrian4ever — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 12:13:24 +0000

I have to agree with Guesswhowhowho, i know some horses that love to jump, the other day in our riding lesson, the mare my friend was riding jumped the ground poles we were trotting over, just for pure joy, i think it all depends on the horse, i also agree with Galadriel, if i were heading to lunch i would take the route that is eaiser, and doesnt require me to do much exersize, its like people making the choice to drive somewhere or walk there, all the same, some will walk because they enjoy it, others will drive because it is eaiser

By: guesswhowhowho

guesswhowhowho — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 21:45:36 +0000

I strongly believe some horses love jumping. (some not;) I was cruising on my horse in an indoor arena, and the horse headed right to the jump set up in the center of the arena, and jumped it. I also don’t believe this test was very accurate.

By: Heather

Heather — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 16:48:23 +0000

I agree with turnandburn, horses are just lazy. I deal with mine right now trying to get them in shape. I ride for an hour then “they are done” I have to force my horses to keep going. They are not barn sour or anything just lazy pure and simple. As far as jumping goes we go trail riding and both my horses love to jump the ditches, logs, whatever. 🙂

By: turnandburn

turnandburn — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 09:42:00 +0000

I don’t know how accurate the study is, because a horse is naturally lazy. They’re going to pick the easiest way to get to the food. It just depends on the horse. My mare prefers jumping weeds to running through them. 🙂

By: s

Sun, 14 Jul 2013 06:56:56 +0000

cool study

By: Gee and Haw

Gee and Haw — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 20:00:14 +0000

Horses will jump if necessary, but I do not think they do it for the fun of it. But I had a young horse, who would jump out of his pen, and when the “horse play” got to rough with the big fellowss, he would jump back in.