How Horses Actually Learn (and Why Most Riders Get It Wrong)

If you’ve ever thought your horse was being deliberately difficult, stubborn, or even spiteful — this one’s for you.

The truth is, horses don’t think the way we do. They can’t reason through problems. They can’t analyze their way out of a confusing training situation. And they definitely aren’t scheming ways to ruin your lesson.

So why does it sometimes feel like they are?

Because we’re training them wrong. Not on purpose — most of us just never learned the actual science behind how horses learn. And once you understand it, everything changes.

They’re Not Reasoning — They’re Associating

Here’s the thing: horses are brilliant at learning associations, but they’re not thinking animals in the way we often give them credit for.

Dr. Andrew McLean, whose research on equine learning theory has influenced trainers worldwide, puts it simply: “We are training reactions or responses in the horse, not comprehension.”

That means your horse isn’t understanding why you want them to move off your leg. They’re learning that when they feel pressure, moving makes it stop. That’s it. No deeper meaning. No analysis.

This isn’t a limitation — it’s actually what makes horses so trainable. They’re incredibly fast learners when we communicate clearly. The problem is, we often don’t.

The Golden Rule: Timing Is Everything

If horses learn through association, then the moment of release — when pressure stops — is the most important part of training.

Think about it:

• You apply leg pressure to ask your horse to move forward
• They step forward
• You release the pressure

In that moment, the horse learns: “Moving my legs = the pressure stops.”

But here’s where it goes wrong. What if you:

• Keep your leg on even after they respond?
• Release accidentally when they throw their head?
• Apply pressure inconsistently, sometimes releasing for the right thing, sometimes not?

The horse can’t figure out what you want. They become anxious, confused, or start tuning out your aids entirely. This isn’t naughty behavior — it’s a completely logical response to unclear communication.

McLean emphasizes that clear training usually only takes about five repetitions to get a horse responding to a light signal. Five. But only if we’re precise about when and how we release.

Conflict Behaviors Aren’t Character Flaws

Ever notice how some horses seem calm under saddle but pace in their stall? Or how a horse might suddenly shy at nothing in particular?

According to McLean’s research, these are often signs of conflict — the horse’s nervous system can’t reconcile inconsistent training signals, so the stress shows up somewhere else.

That “spooky” horse that shies for no reason? They might not be reacting to something in the environment. They could be having what McLean calls “a bit of a short-circuit” — when a horse can’t flee from confusion or stress (because you’re sitting on them), the flight response has to go somewhere. It becomes shying, bucking, rearing, or bolting.

This is why hollow, tense postures are so problematic. Once adrenaline enters the picture, the horse becomes less receptive to learning and more focused on escaping. We’ve all felt this: the ride where your horse gets more wound up instead of settling.

Stop and Go: The Foundation of Everything

Here’s what I wish I’d understood earlier in my riding: all training builds on stop and go.

It sounds almost too simple. But the quality of your horse’s forward and slow responses determines everything else — their relaxation, their suppleness, their ability to do anything you ask.

McLean describes it beautifully: dressage is essentially the most sophisticated development of stop and go. The horse that’s clear on these basics becomes relaxed and problem-free. The horse that’s confused about them shows it in a thousand little (and big) ways.

This is why I’m always harping on getting the basics right before moving on to “fancier” work. It’s not about holding anyone back. It’s about making sure your horse actually understands what you’re asking.

What This Means For Your Training

So how do you actually apply this?

1. Be crystal clear about release. The moment your horse gives the correct response, remove the pressure. No gaps. No delays. Every time.

2. Don’t layer aids too early. Many riders try to introduce seat and weight aids before the horse is solid on reins and legs. This creates confusion. Master the basics first.

3. Stop labeling behavior as “bad.” When your horse does something you don’t want, ask: “What am I reinforcing without realizing it?”

4. Make training predictable. Horses thrive when their world makes sense. Consistent signals mean a calm, confident horse.

5. Recognize conflict behaviors for what they are. Weaving, biting, not standing still — these might be signs of training stress, not personality problems.

The Magic Isn’t Magic

There’s an old saying that great trainers look like magicians — the aids are invisible, the horse seems to read minds.

But it’s not magic. It’s just really, really good timing. Riders who achieve at elite levels understand learning theory, whether they can explain it in scientific terms or not. They get both the mechanics of training and the feel of correct riding.

The good news? This is learnable. Once you understand how horses actually process information, you can become that clear, consistent communicator. And your horse will thank you for it.

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Want to dive deeper into the science of equine learning? My conversation with Dr. Andrew McLean is one of the most-listened episodes of The Elevated Equestrian podcast. Give it a listen and let me know what clicks for you.

And if your horse is stuck in stiffness patterns that won’t budge, I break down the neuroscience of why — and what to do about it — in my course From Stiff to Supple in 28 Days.