22/08/2026
HAULING YOUR YOUNG & INEXPERIENCED HORSE...
Your horse's first few shows aren't about winning.
I think we've created some pretty unrealistic expectations for young and green horses in the horse industry, especially when we start hauling them to shows, barrel races, rodeos, clinics, and other busy environments for the first few times.
We expect them to walk off the trailer, stand tied quietly, ignore 100 other horses, handle loud speakers, tractors, kids running around, flags blowing, people everywhere, warm-up pens full of chaos... and then go into the arena and perform like they've been doing it their entire life.
And when they don't? Too many people immediately think something is wrong with the horse.
We need to quit expecting PERFECTION.
They've never seen this environment before. They're learning alot... and we can't expect them to perform really well when their looking everywhere. Their first few trips should be about gaining experience and understanding what's expected of them, not proving how good they are at home on the pattern.
Quit expecting perfect EMOTIONAL CONTROL.
New horses, new sounds, new smells, new pressure, and completely new surroundings can be a lot for a young or inexperienced horse to process. Their nervous system is trying to take all of it in... give them the extra minute they need.
Don't get frustrated... be there to help them.
Quit expecting INSTANT FOCUS.
If your horse is looking around, distracted, nervous, or unsure, that doesn't automatically mean they're disrespectful or ignoring you. Their brain is taking in an entirely new environment.
Let them process it, then help bring their attention back to you instead of immediately getting after them for not paying attention.
Quit expecting a FINISHED PERFORMANCE.
Your first few trips aren't supposed to prove how good your horse is. They're supposed to help MAKE your horse good... there's a BIG difference.
Sometimes the best "run" you can have with a young horse has absolutely nothing to do with the clock. Maybe they stood quietly at the trailer, relaxed in the warm-up pen, walked through the gate confidently, or simply handled the pressure better than they did last time.
THAT'S PROGRESS.
Quit expecting ZERO SPOOKS AND ZERO MISTAKES.
Mistakes are part of learning. We can't preach about exposing horses to new things and then punish them for not already knowing how to handle those new things.
Every mistake gives us an opportunity to teach them something. How WE handle those moments has a lot to do with what that horse learns from them.
And quit expecting an experienced horse's mind inside a young horse's body.
Confidence isn't created in one weekend, and exposure is a PROCESS... not an event. It takes repetition, good experiences, proper guidance, and TIME.
Your young horse isn't necessarily being "bad." They're showing you exactly where they're at mentally and emotionally... PAY ATTENTION TO IT.
Every haul is a classroom. Every warm-up pen is a lesson. Every trip through the gate teaches you something, and every run gives you information.
IT'S DATA... NOT A VERDICT.
If we want confident, durable, willing horses that can handle pressure for YEARS, then we've got to be patient enough to build them instead of constantly testing them.
Some days you go to win, and some days you go to learn. With young and green horses, sometimes the biggest WIN is simply hauling home a better, more confident horse than the one you unloaded that morning.
What expectations do YOU think people put on young horses way too soon?
Drop your thoughts in the comments...
SHARE this with somebody hauling a young or green horse this weekend. They will appreciate the reminder... I had to remind myself of this very thing yesterday. I had to tell myself to slow it back down and be a better leader.
BETTER HORSES START WITH BETTER EXPECTATIONS.
📖 Jeremy Anglin ❤️
📸 PCH Acknowledge Me aka Groot 💙
