The Difference Between Good Minded & Lazy in a Horse

Horses, like people, have their own personalities and temperaments. The differences between a good-minded horse and a lazy one can be very noticeable. Certain types of riders tend to work better with some horses than others, and sometimes a horse that is fantastic for one rider will not cooperate well for another. It is important to be able to accurately assess a horse's personality and temperament when you ride it.

  1. Good-Minded Horse Defined

    • When someone describes a horse as having a good mind, the person typically means that the horse is generally good-tempered, intelligent and cooperative. A good-minded horse is not necessarily a beginner's horse. Just because a horse is considered to have good mind, it does not mean that just anyone can climb on and go for a ride. A good-minded horse should be easy to work with, fairly easy to train and willing to learn new skills.

    Lazy Horse Defined

    • The lazy horse is the equine equivalent of a couch potato. Lazy horses are generally slow moving, sluggish in response to cues and not eager to learn new or more-difficult maneuvers. A lazy horse may require multiple cues before responding and may require the rider to put a significant amount of effort into keeping it moving along at an appropriate pace.

    Riding a Good-Minded Horse

    • Good-minded horses will often carry riders competently through difficult situations and may figure out what to do in the show ring or during competitions to the point where the rider is simply a passenger. The downside of a horse with a good, quick mind is that it will learn bad habits just as quickly as good habits. A horse typically has to be born with this type of personality, whereas laziness can be -- and often is -- learned.

    Riding a Lazy Horse

    • Lazy horses can be good horses, depending on the rider. Some lazy horses will only behave lazily if they know they can get away with the behavior or that the rider is not experienced enough to counteract the behavior. Lazy horses tend to be passive-aggressive with riders. Such horses are unlikely to buck or bolt and may even refuse to go, refuse to leave the barn or try to scrape the rider off on a fence post or tree during the ride.