The first thing most people consider when they evaluate a potential lesson horse is his appearance. They take in his color, height, weight, markings, confirmation and a hundred other details that, in the end, make very little difference.
The most important quality in a lesson horse is not the shape of his hock or the color of his mane and tail, but his behavioral suitability. Period.
Don’t feel bad if you are guilty of judging a book by its cover, so to speak. Everyone does it, and when confronted with an ugly horse most people feel the instinctive desire to run away. Who wants to look at an aesthetically unappealing animal?
But some of those ugly animals? They’re amazing lesson horses. They are kinder, more honest and more forgiving than their beautiful brethren in the neighboring field, and you are doing yourself a disservice by discounting them.
This does not mean that you should avoid looking at an animal when searching for school horses. However, decide right now that your top priority is behavioral suitability.
On the Ground
The way in which a horse behaves on the ground is a healthy (and usually accurate) indicator of how he behaves under saddle. This is why lesson horse buyers should evaluate the horse for at least ten minutes or so on the ground before seeing him go in the arena.
For your safety, you should ask the horse’s owner to perform several tasks with the horse. Once you’ve seen it done with the owner, you can repeat those same exercises yourself. They include:
- Picking up all four hooves
- Walking in circles both directions
- Standing still for at least 60 seconds
- Walking in a straight line
- Brushing the horse
- Combing the mane and tail
The goal here is to think of all the ways in which a student might interact with his or her lesson horses. Grooming, tacking up, leading, grazing—these are all part of daily life as a riding instructor.
It is also a good idea to make mistakes that young beginners often make. For example, you might see what happens if you toss a lead rope over the horse’s neck or if you trot up to the horse’s head. His reactions won’t necessarily break the deal, but they will give you food for thought.
Interactions With Other Horses
Lesson horses must be capable of interacting with each other. During lessons, they often find themselves lined up with one another or following each other along the rail. An un-socialized horse poses a danger both to other animals as well as to humans.
If possible, observe an equine candidate out in the field or in an arena with other horses. Watch for the telltale signs of aggression or nervousness.
Although you can ask a horse seller about the animal’s socialization, don’t expect to hear the truth. Unfortunately, for every honest horse dealer there are at least four dishonest specimens.
Under Saddle
The last thing to consider under the behavioral suitability umbrella is the horse’s behavior under saddle. This is the last thing you will evaluate because if the horse has passed the previous two tests, you are likely considering him a prime candidate for your lesson program.
How a horse behaves under saddle does not refer to his athletic ability, but rather to his manners in the arena. How does he react to other horses around him? Does he get distracted easily?
Lesson horses should be on their top behavior during lessons because their actions can create either a safe or dangerous atmosphere. A horse that spooks at his own shadow is unsafe both for his rider and for every other horse-and-rider pair in the arena.
Passing the Test
A potential lesson horse doesn’t have to pass every segment of the behavioral suitability tests with flying colors. Indeed, you’d be hard-pressed to find such an animal.
The goal, however, is to find a horse that meets enough of the criteria to be useful as a lesson horse, and to create a safe atmosphere for students. Consider whether you will be able to train the horse in areas where he is lacking; many lesson horses require a six-month boot camp, for example, before they can actually be used in school.
Just remember that behavioral suitability is the most important aspect of lesson horse evaluation. This should be weighted more strongly than any other factor in this series.
More in the Lesson Horse Evaluation Series:
About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Editor in Chief of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. Follow her EquiTips on Twitter.
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About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Chief Equestrian Officer of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. She believes that any horse business can succeed provided its owner practices smart strategy.
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