Morality and Horsemanship
Kristi and Vannah
Morality is a complicated creature. Many people try to enforce their sense of right and wrong through rules, shaming, or pressure, but in the horse world, morality cannot be mandated. Horsemanship ethics evolve from the inside out. No amount of criticism or legislation can force someone to adopt a more empathetic, humane approach with their horse. True change requires internal awareness, emotional stability, and curiosity. That is the heart of compassionate, ethical horsemanship.
I genuinely believe most people are doing their best with their horses. “Best” simply varies depending on what someone knows, what they’ve experienced, and how safe they feel. I still see practices that make me ache inside. Some are harmful. Some are misguided. Some are rooted in old traditions or fear-based training. But most of the time, the person believes they are doing what is necessary or helpful. Harm usually emerges not from cruelty, but from overwhelm, frustration, or a lack of understanding.
I know this intimately because I have been there myself. I have done things I would never do today. At the time, I didn’t have the knowledge or emotional bandwidth to see life from the horse’s perspective. I was wrapped up in my agenda, fixated on results, and blind to the discomfort I was creating. My own insecurities muffled my ability to see clearly. This is why humility matters so deeply in horsemanship. We cannot improve until we admit we don’t have all the answers.
Our ability to feel empathy for a horse is directly tied to our own nervous system. When we feel stressed or unsafe, our thinking brain goes offline and we revert to defensiveness or control. When I hear someone call a horse stubborn or stupid, I don’t see a stupid horse. I see a human who has been outsmarted and is now reacting from fear or pride. The horse is simply being a horse. The human has lost access to perspective, creativity, or patience.
This is why I am skeptical of anyone who presents themselves as having complete mastery. Horses are endlessly complex. They are sentient, emotional, perceptive beings with their own preferences, history, and worldview. I often feel as if the more I learn, the more I realize how much I have yet to understand. That humility keeps me curious, and that curiosity keeps me improving.
My personal philosophy has become very simple: do the best I can, help as many horses and humans as I can, and do everything possible to cause no harm. I will never be perfect, but I can be honest, intentional, and willing to grow. For me, morality in horsemanship is not about who is right. It is about who is willing to keep learning, keep softening, and keep creating safety for the horse.
Ethical horsemanship is a lifelong journey. It asks us to stay aware of our own emotional state, to question our beliefs, and to choose compassion over convenience. It asks us to evolve rather than defend outdated ideas. And it invites us to become the steady, trustworthy partner our horses hope for.
If this reflection speaks to you, I explore themes like these more deeply in my new book The Horse Lover’s Guide. It is a collection of lessons, stories, and philosophies gathered over a lifetime with horses, written to encourage thoughtful, compassionate, and joyful partnerships.
Kristi and Saturi
