Lauren Fraser, MSc, FFCP

Your horse is doing something worrying, and you've probably been told he's just being difficult. But why might a horse behave in ways we don't like? Is being naughty one of these reasons? What is a naughty horse? When we use the term 'naughty', it is usually to describe bad behaviour, often in a child or animal. With horses, this sort of bad behaviour might occur when we handle them on the ground, when we ride them, or even when they are just in their stall or paddock. For example, horses...

If your horse is anxious, frightened, aggressive, or behaving in ways you do not understand, it can be hard to know where to turn. You sense you need specialized guidance, but may feel hesitant trusting your horse with just anyone. Here is how to find the right help for you both. But first, an unfortunate reality (with a practical solution). In Canada and the United States, the horse training industry is completely unregulated. This means anyone can provide services as a horse trainer or...

A good first question to ask when a horse is misbehaving is, 'Is this a training problem or a horse behaviour problem?'