The horse is a creature of habit
Everyone, who spends time with horses, knows that they are creatures of habit. Some horses seem to have a “curiosity-gene” and like to investigate things, but most horses do not welcome change, they prefer that things stay the way they are (provided they lead a comfortable life of course!).
Many horse-owners have tried to walk their young or inexsperienced horse in a different direction than usual, and find the horse a bit confused and unsure. Or the bush you have passed many times is one day blooming, and the horse reacts.
Most horse-owners train their horses, they take the youngsters for walks so they can get used to different sights, sounds and smells, and learn that change is nothing to worry about. They take their horses out in trailers to
Who are you?
places with lots of people and other horses and so forth. For most people it is important, and necessary, that the horse is used to many different things, and to some extent, “forgets” his fear of change and his flight-instinct.
What would the horses do if they could decide for themselves?
When my horse are on their “summer-vacation”, the days are pretty much the same, and they go something like this:
First we eat a little
Then we play a little
And then we sleep
And repeat!
To a human it might seem boring - but are they bored? Or are they just doing what they do best: being horses?
Being a herd animal, they do things together. They enjoy eachothers company and they instinctively know that being in a herd is being protected. I have always wondered why, then, are they so harsh when you try to introduce a new member into the herd? A few horses (like my little Indy) are friendly and will welcome any horse, but most horses are mercyless as they try to chase the poor newcomer away. Why? Is it just an instinctive fear of competition for food, although they have never known hunger? Or is that they just don´t like changes?