08/11/2026
What‘s the quality you value most in a horse?
This is a simple video, but it is one of my favorite videos of Bilbo because it reveals so much about him.
This was his first time ever seeing tunnels like this. The tunnels run underneath a very busy freeway. It’s dark, claustrophobic, and loud, with the sound and vibration of the constant traffic overhead. He was being ridden solo, so he’s not leaning on the confidence of another horse. Bilbo gaited right up to the tunnel, entered it without hardly changing his tempo, and calmly went through it.
Training and exposure absolutely matter. They build confidence and teach a horse how to handle the world. But every once in a while, you come across a horse that just has an exceptional mind to begin with. They’re naturally sensible, willing, trusting, and able to process something new without reacting to it.
When I say Bilbo is one of the best-minded horses I’ve ever worked with, this is a good example of what I mean.
To me, the quality of a horse’s mind is the most important quality he can have, and Bilbo definitely has a fantastic mind!❤️