The Trusting Bond: Why Horses Allow Us to Ride Them
The Evolution of Horse Riding
Horse riding can be traced back to the domestication of horses, which occurred around 4000 BCE. Early humans realized the benefits of using horses for transportation, hunting, and warfare, and over time, horses were selectively bred to become more suitable for these purposes. This selective breeding resulted in horses that were taller, stronger, and more docile, making them better suited for carrying humans.
As horse riding became more prevalent, new tools were developed to make it more comfortable for both horse and rider. One of the most important of these tools was the saddle. Early saddles were simple pads made of animal skins or woven materials, but over time, they evolved into more complex structures that distributed weight evenly across the horse’s back and provided greater stability for the rider.
Another key development was the bridle, which allowed riders to communicate with their horses more effectively. Bridles consisted of a bit and reins that the rider could use to guide the horse’s movements and communicate commands. As saddles and bridles continued to improve, horse riding became more comfortable and efficient, making it an even more popular form of transportation and recreation.
Overall, the evolution of horse riding is a testament to the ingenuity and adaptability of humans. By selectively breeding and developing new tools, we were able to transform horses from wild animals into powerful, loyal partners that have played a crucial role in human history.
Domestication
With the ability to ride the horse and domesticate it for food, horse-centered cultures emerged in places like the steppes of Central Asia. Horses became very useful for transporting and carrying goods. As riding horses and pulling chariots they could cover vast areas at a good speed making them extremely useful to the developing world. Horses became the partners of humans in so many ways.
The Anatomy of Horses
Horses are uniquely suited to carrying riders due to their physical structure. One of the most important features of a horse’s body is its back. The horse’s back is relatively straight and broad, which allows it to support weight effectively. Additionally, horses have large, strong muscles in their backs and hindquarters that enable them to carry heavy loads for extended periods of time.
The horse’s legs are also well-suited for carrying riders. Their powerful hind legs provide the majority of the propulsive force, while their front legs act as steering and balance mechanisms. Horses also have strong, flexible joints in their legs that absorb shock and help to maintain balance.
Furthermore, horses have a unique respiratory system that enables them to maintain a steady rhythm of breathing even while exerting themselves. This allows them to carry riders over long distances without becoming too winded.
In addition to their physical attributes, horses are also highly trainable and responsive to human commands. With proper training, they can be taught to carry riders with ease and to respond quickly and accurately to signals from the rider.
Overall, the anatomy of horses plays a crucial role in their ability to carry riders effectively. Their strong backs, powerful legs, and unique respiratory system all work together to make them well-suited for this important role. By understanding the physical characteristics that make horses ideal for riding, we can better appreciate the unique bond between humans and these magnificent animals.

training
Horses let us ride them through a process of training. We have to teach horses to allow us to sit on their backs, this is a slow process taken at the horse’s speed of earning the horse’s trust working with them daily getting the horse used to be ridden.
When treated with kindness and respect horses respond to us with kindness. If you consider how big a horse is compared to us, if we did not train it to trust and work with us we most certainly would not be riding it. There is a reason that we ride horses and not zebras, horses have the right disposition to work with us whereas Zebra most definitely do not.
If the rider/trainer treats their horse with love and respect and uses the correct, comfortable equipment that is correct for the level of training and the trainer is aware and educated about the horse’s physical abilities your horse will look forward to its training schedule as much as you do.
There’s a broad continuum of ways to work with a horse, ranging from outright abuse, to force and intimidation. The kind approach to teaching horses to allow us to ride them is when the trainer/rider communicates with the horse using the same “language” horses use with each other, click here to learn how to communicate with your horse.
Most of the behavioral difficulties that occur when training a horse are when the horse doesn’t understand what’s being asked, which means the rider either doesn’t know the language, or has applied too much pressure, or too little release. Any of these will result in an unhappy horse. So it’s not the people riding them that the horse dislikes; it’s the treatment they receive.

The Trust Factor
Trust and communication are essential elements of the relationship between horses and riders. Horses are social animals and form strong bonds with their herd members. When we ride horses, we are essentially asking them to trust us as their new herd leader. This trust must be built gradually over time through consistent training and positive reinforcement.
Training horses to accept riders involves creating a safe and comfortable environment for the horse. Horses are prey animals, and they can be easily spooked by sudden movements or loud noises. It is important for riders to be patient and calm when working with horses, as any signs of aggression or frustration can erode the horse’s trust.
One effective way to build trust is through positive reinforcement training. This involves rewarding the horse for desired behaviors, such as standing still while being mounted or responding correctly to rider cues. By using treats, praise, or petting, riders can create a positive association between good behavior and rewards. This can help to build the horse’s confidence and trust in the rider.
Consistency is also crucial when training horses to accept riders. Horses thrive on routine and repetition, so it is important for riders to establish a consistent training schedule and stick to it. This can help to reinforce good habits and create a sense of predictability for the horse.
Ultimately, the trust and communication between a horse and rider is built over time through patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. By creating a safe and comfortable environment for the horse, riders can build a strong bond with their equine partner and enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding experience riding these very special animals

The Benefits of Riding for Horses
Riding can be beneficial for horses in many ways, both physically and mentally. Here are some of the key benefits:
- Exercise: Riding provides horses with a form of exercise that is both enjoyable and beneficial for their physical health. Horses are natural athletes and thrive on physical activity. Riding can help to improve cardiovascular health, build muscle, and promote flexibility.
- Mental Stimulation: Horses are intelligent and curious animals that require mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy. Riding can provide horses with the mental stimulation they need to stay engaged and alert. It can also help to prevent boredom and reduce the risk of behavioral issues.
- Social Interaction: Horses are social animals that thrive on interaction with other horses and humans. Riding can provide horses with social interaction and help to build their confidence and trust in humans. It can also help to reduce stress and promote overall well-being.
- Training and Discipline: Riding can help to develop a horse’s discipline and obedience. Through consistent training and positive reinforcement, horses can learn to respond to rider cues and perform specific tasks with ease.
- Bonding: Riding can also help to build a strong bond between a horse and rider. The shared experience of riding can create a sense of trust and connection that can deepen over time.
Overall, riding can be a highly beneficial experience for horses. It can provide them with exercise, mental stimulation, social interaction, and training, while also fostering a strong bond between horse and rider. By understanding and appreciating the benefits of riding for horses, we can continue to promote their health and well-being.
do horses like to be ridden?
Horses do enjoy being ridden, some admittedly more than others but the best horses really enjoy being ridden. They will come to you when they know you are fetching them to be ridden and will stand quietly to be tacked up. Horses have very different personalities and prefer different types of riding and they also let you know if they are not wanting to do whatever we are asking of them.
My special mare Rhapsody never really enjoyed being ridden, you could tell when you were tacking her up that she really would rather not be ridden and would be happier out in the paddock with her friends. She was incredibly well behaved under saddle though and never did anything wrong under saddle but her heart wasn’t ever in it and I could feel that when riding her.
Our stallions in particular loved being ridden, they loved the challenge and enjoyed learning new things. Waldemar learned to do an extended trot when he was 4 years old and loved to extend, he would do it when only being asked for a normal trot, he also found collection very easy and would passage happily when also asking for a normal trot.
He didn’t do either from being naughty or disobedient but because he got a lot of enjoyment out of the movements. He was much naughtier on the ground going in and out of the paddock and being handled in the stable, he was cheeky and would bite if given the chance but never put a foot wrong when being ridden. All our stallions loved being ridden.
The Benefits of Riding for Humans
Riding is not just beneficial for horses; it also provides numerous benefits for humans. Here are some of the key benefits:
- Physical Fitness: Riding requires a certain level of physical fitness, including strength, balance, and coordination. Over time, regular riding can help to improve these aspects of physical fitness, leading to greater overall health and well-being.
- Cardiovascular Health: Riding is a form of aerobic exercise that can help to improve cardiovascular health. It can increase heart rate, improve blood circulation, and strengthen the heart muscles.
- Stress Relief: Many riders find that spending time with horses and riding can be a great way to relieve stress and improve mental well-being. Being outdoors, surrounded by nature, and engaging in physical activity can all help to reduce stress and promote relaxation.
- Confidence: Learning to ride and working with horses can help to build confidence and self-esteem. Riders must learn to communicate effectively with their horses, which can be a challenging but rewarding experience.
- Social Interaction: Riding can be a social activity that provides opportunities to meet new people and make friends with similar interests.
- Mindfulness: Riding requires a certain level of mindfulness and presence, as riders must focus on their own body and movements, as well as the horse’s behavior and cues. This can help to improve mental clarity and promote mindfulness.
Overall, riding can provide numerous physical and mental benefits for humans. By incorporating riding into a healthy lifestyle, individuals can improve their overall well-being and enjoy the many rewards of spending time with horses.
reading their language
When your horse greets you at the gate of their paddock when they know you are fetching them to ride them and they put their noses in the halter.
They hang out at the fence watching you riding one of their herd mates.
Horses seek out leadership. If you and your horse are riding alone your horse will seek out a leader and you will naturally be it.
People who love horses and spend many hours with them know after a long ride or intense lesson or jumping a particularly challenging course can see when they untack and look in their horse’s eye and can see the look of satisfaction and being at peace in their eyes.
If you’ve worked carefully with a horse, you should be able to read his mood as soon as you walk into his stable or paddock. A horse you’ve developed a tight connection with will let you know how he’s feeling, physically and mentally. It’s up to you to be able to read your four-legged partner.
The depth of the connection depends greatly on several things, not the least of which is the amount of time you spend with your horse.
We are our horse’s source of food, comfort, and safety. When we ride them our connection becomes stronger through our body contact and we form a close relationship with them.
The depth of the relationship also depends greatly on how well-informed we are. People can own horses for decades without understanding how their horses think, what they’re feeling at any given time, or what their needs might be. They have no explanation for much of their horses’ behavior and frequently do things that are confusing to their horses. Those horses will not have a real connection to their owners.
Horses communicate almost entirely through body language. If we have an interest in a true bond with our horse, approaching them quietly is the best way. Low voices, nickery sounds, cooing and silence are the staples of a horse’s life.
Horses are smart enough to learn voice cues, and that sometimes misleads humans to believe that we need not learn their language. But we do need to do that. Simply controlling eye contact is huge in the horse world and can be put to use in causing a horse to appreciate the time with you. There will be a closer bond with humans who understand their language and social structure.
It is difficult to describe the relationship between you and a horse, it is clean and simple, fulfilling and complicated. Building a trusting relationship with an animal who has a totally different psychology and who is a lot bigger than us, has taught us a lot about communication and how to really listen to an almost non-verbal creature and build a mutually understandable language.
On a personal side as a troubled teenager battling to find a place in the world having a horse to talk to and ride made life bearable, and more than that – made life exciting and gave me something to dream about.

Do horses have empathy?
Horses can also be caretakers to their less experienced riders. They will look after them. I called this dumbing down – they would walk and trot slower and behave much better than when ridden by their usual, more experienced rider.
This shows an empathy that horses have that people have possibly not given them credit for. They must feel the rider’s unease through their bodies and are cognizant enough to understand that and change their behavior because of it.
Train horses to accept a rider on their back with compassion, wisdom, partnership, humility and delight. When taught like this they do want to be ridden and do enjoy it and will look out for their rider.
Everything done when training a horse should be focused on making the entire backing experience as enjoyable as possible for the horse. If they enjoy what they do they will be much more cooperative and will enjoy what they are being asked to do.

ask the horse
In order to get a more accurate answer to this question of whether a horse likes to be ridden is to ask the horse. You might think that this is not possible but horses do communicate very clearly if you know how to read their body language. Horses are very powerful animals and really don’t need to let us do anything to them so they very much do ‘allow’ us to ride them.
Horses will let us know in uncertain terms if they are not happy with something being done to them. They will toss their heads, swish their tails, stamp their feet, chomp on their bit, kick at their girths, and will go so far as to buck and rear when they have definitely had enough. We cannot but understand exactly what they are saying when they resort to this extreme behavior.
Factors such as is the horse well cared for? Well-fed? Offered water when working? Does its equipment fit comfortably? Is it required to work too long to the point of exhaustion? All these things would affect the animal’s willingness and acceptance of its job and its enjoyment of being ridden.
Horses are smarter than most people give them credit for. They deserve to be treated with kindness and respect, and it’s wonderful that people are concerned about their welfare and that they are asking this question at all.
I know for sure that the capacity for our deep bonding with these amazing animals is there. There is a strong connection on some psychic level, this is why so many people have such strong bonds with horses.
Conclusion
In conclusion, horse riding has been a part of human culture for thousands of years and has evolved into a highly rewarding activity for both horses and humans. Horses have been selectively bred and trained over time to become well-suited for carrying riders, and the development of saddles and bridles has made riding more comfortable for both horse and rider. The anatomy of horses, including their strong backs and weight-bearing capabilities, also make them well-suited for carrying riders.
Trust and communication are essential components of the relationship between horses and riders. Horses can be trained to accept riders through positive reinforcement and consistent training, which can create a strong bond between horse and rider. Riding can provide numerous benefits for horses, including exercise, mental stimulation, social interaction, training, and bonding. For humans, riding can improve physical fitness, cardiovascular health, stress relief, confidence, social interaction, and mindfulness.
The fascinating relationship between humans and horses continues to be explored through horse riding and other equine activities. As we continue to appreciate and understand the many benefits of riding for both horses and humans, we can continue to foster a strong and meaningful bond between these two remarkable species. So, let’s saddle up and continue exploring the wonderful world of horse riding!
further reading
Why Horses Let People Ride Them: 5 Reasons


Why Do Horses Let Humans Ride Them? 3 Primary Reasons Horses let humans ride them because they are trained to. Training a horse to allow a human to sit on its back is a long process and begins well before a saddle