How your horse’s personality shapes training

Eventing asks one horse to move between dressage, cross-country and showjumping, so its qualities matter in every phase. A horse may be careful over fences, quick to respond to the leg, startled by flags or comfortable beside another horse. These responses influence how lessons are planned and when a rider needs more time before asking for speed or trust.

Horse personality is best treated as a pattern of behaviour, not a permanent label. Temperament combines inherited sensitivity with learning, handling, pain, fatigue and context. A quiet horse can become animated in a busy arena, while a steady horse may resist if the saddle pinches. Watching the whole horse over time is more reliable than deciding it is simply bold, lazy or difficult.

Good training begins with a baseline and changes when the evidence changes. Note what the horse does before, during and after work, then adjust difficulty and recovery rather than repeating a programme that no longer suits. Dom and Jimmie Schramm, the emerging eventing riders behind Schramm Equestrian in West Grove, Pennsylvania, compete in a discipline where adaptability matters as much as fixed plans.

Read the horse before the session

Record the horse’s behaviour in familiar situations. Notice its eyes, ears, muzzle, breathing, muscle tension, pace and willingness to follow. A video or written note after grooming, saddling and a brief arena session can reveal patterns that are easy to miss. Keep observations objective: describe what happened rather than attaching a motive.

Compare the horse across contexts. A horse that backs away from a water hose may cross a muddy track willingly, while one that pulls towards other horses may settle alone on the lunge. Eventing adds contrasts: observe behaviour on the flat, over a small fence and near music, flags or spectators. Stable habits and situational responses both shape its profile.

A sudden change deserves a practical check before it is called a personality shift. Look for sore muscles, ill-fitting tack, dental discomfort, hoof changes, heat stress or an unfamiliar environment. Persistent changes in appetite, gait or willingness should be discussed with a veterinarian, and sessions kept within what the horse can comfortably perform.

Match training to temperament

Sensitive horses need lower arousal and clearer thresholds. Introduce flags, traffic and arena distractions gradually, keep sessions predictable and reward the calm response that follows a cue. Use positive reinforcement to acknowledge a correct try and precise pressure-and-release to help the horse find the answer without creating a fight. The aim is confidence built on successful repetition, not fear of making mistakes.

Sociable horses can be distracted by people, other horses or their rider. Channel that engagement with precise cue-reward timing, then ask for a transition while the horse is listening. If it looks towards the arena entrance, regain attention through a familiar exercise rather than repeating a demanding cue at greater volume.

A bold horse may rush fences, so relatedness, waiting and adjustable pace need patient practice. A resistant horse often needs a simpler question, cleaner release and brief pause before trying again. A laid-back horse may need clearer rhythm and motivation rather than more pressure. Each needs an exercise it can understand and answer, not a battle of wills.

Build a rhythm the horse can trust

Consistency builds trust and supports clear rider-horse communication. Use the same voice cue, lead-rope position, reward marker and release for a task, especially while the horse is learning. Boundaries such as yielding the shoulder or standing quietly also need predictable responses. Predictability reduces the mental effort needed to understand what happens next.

Build familiarity gradually through habituation. If a horse tenses at a coloured fence, walk past, reward the approach and repeat before adding a jump. The same process applies to arena entrances, flags, music, water and spectators. Short, successful exposures may settle a horse faster than one demanding session, and resting before fatigue changes behaviour protects each repetition.

Tie daily observations to the plan. Note the exercise, terrain, rider, duration and response, then review the pattern weekly. One horse comfortable with raised poles may need a new challenge to stay engaged, while another benefits from familiar work. Personalised programming is purposeful progression based on the horse in front of you, not constant novelty.

Adjust workload before behaviour breaks down

Training load is more than session length. Intensity, duration, frequency, terrain, surface, rider fitness and recovery all contribute. Cross-country schooling and jumping place different demands on joints, muscles and confidence than flatwork. Account for competitions, long journeys and stable duties so demanding work does not quietly stack.

A busy calendar can leave little room for recovery. A practical guide to avoiding overtraining can help when paid work and horse care compete for the same hours. A rest day may mean complete turnout, while a lighter day can mean walking, stretching and low-intensity schoolwork. The right choice depends on the individual horse.

Watch for changes in resting heart rate, appetite, sleep, gait, attitude and recovery time. A horse slower to settle, uninterested in food or increasingly tense at familiar work may be signalling that the programme is too heavy. Reduce load, check basic care and seek veterinary advice when changes persist or appear suddenly.

Plan for Australian conditions and travel

Australian weather can alter a plan quickly. Melbourne’s changeable conditions, Sydney’s humid summers, Brisbane’s subtropical downpours and Perth’s dry heat affect horses differently. Cold rain can leave deep footing, while heat and bright sun increase fatigue and fluid loss. Early sessions, shade, water and an appropriate cool-down are common practical responses.

Competition travel adds another layer. Many Australian eventing horses reach rural venues outside capital cities after hours in a float or trailer, sometimes overnight. They may arrive tired, dehydrated or unfamiliar with the footing. Stable safely, offer water and hay, allow time to settle and avoid adding a full session simply because the calendar has another free day.

The local market reflects those realities. Tack shops and feed merchants stock fly rugs, cooling equipment, boots and supplements, while feed labels commonly use kilograms and distances use kilometres and metres. Club competitions and commercial events provide practical networks for advice, but equipment should be fitted for the horse rather than selected because it is popular locally.

Follow welfare law and biosecurity rules

Welfare responsibilities in Australia operate through state and territory legislation. Victoria’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, New South Wales’ Animal Welfare Act and Queensland’s Animal Care and Protection Act are examples of the frameworks applying to owners, riders and organisers. Equestrian Australia and its state branches add discipline rules, while welfare codes and event conditions guide daily care.

Biosecurity matters because horses move between farms, clubs and competition grounds. Organisers may require vaccination evidence, health declarations, stable cleaning and isolation for horses showing fever or nasal discharge. Requirements differ by destination and event, so check current conditions before travel. Keep vaccination records, use clean footwear around unfamiliar horses and report illness promptly.

Training choices sit within these obligations. A horse that is stressed, lame, dehydrated or unwell should not be pushed to meet a schedule, and medication should not make unsafe work acceptable. When in doubt, pause and ask a veterinarian, qualified farrier or eventing professional to assess the horse rather than guessing from temperament alone.

Turn personality into a training plan

Choose one clear behaviour to improve, define it in observable terms and decide what the horse must do before receiving a reward or release. Match the exercise to that temperament, the stage of learning and the available footing. Record what changed and keep the next step small enough for the horse to repeat successfully.

Review the plan regularly and in changing conditions. Consider whether the horse’s attention, recovery and willingness are improving, whether the rider is asking clearly, and whether rest or travel has altered the load. Personality informs the starting point, but performance, welfare and objective notes determine when progression is appropriate.

Dom and Jimmie Schramm’s eventing updates and rider contact details are available through contact Schramm Equestrian. Choose one behaviour to observe, one cue to refine and one recovery measure to protect, then begin the next session with a plan built around the horse in front of you.