Tracking the Unseen: Recording Your Horse’s Emotional Progress
- Wiola Grabowska
- Jan 6
- 3 min read
When we think about tracking progress with our horses, we often focus on the tangible: improved transitions, better lateral work, or a cleaner jump. While these physical milestones are essential, they’re only part of the picture. What about the less visible, yet equally important, signs of growth—your horse’s emotional state and mental well-being?
Reflective journaling can help you tune into these subtle yet significant aspects of your partnership, fostering a deeper connection and understanding of your horse.
Why Emotional Progress Matters
Horses are emotional beings, shaped by their environment, experiences, and interactions with us. A horse’s mental state can impact everything from their willingness to work to their overall health. Tracking their emotional progress means noticing the small shifts in their demeanour, reactions, and behaviours that reveal how they’re feeling in your partnership.
For example:
Confidence: Is your horse more willing to approach new challenges?
Calmness: Are they able to relax sooner in unfamiliar situations?
Trust: Do they seek your guidance when unsure, or do they hesitate and pull away?
These moments of emotional growth often occur quietly, in between the bigger milestones. By paying attention to them, you’re not just building a better rider-horse relationship—you’re also ensuring your horse feels seen, understood, and valued. Not unlike being in a well established herd...
What to Look For in Emotional Progress
Here are some key areas to reflect on when tracking your horse’s emotional state:
Relaxation and Tension Levels
Are they more relaxed during grooming, tacking up, or groundwork?
Do they stand more calmly for mounting or respond more softly to your aids?
Reactions to Stress
How does your horse handle unexpected situations (e.g., a loud noise or a spooky corner)?
Are they able to recover their calmness more quickly than before?
Engagement and Curiosity
Do they show more interest in their surroundings or the tasks you’re asking of them?
Are they initiating contact or interaction with you?
Body Language
Are their ears, eyes, and head carriage soft and engaged, or tense and withdrawn?
Do they show signs of licking, chewing, or yawning during training as a release of tension?
Trust in You as a Partner
Do they follow you willingly, even in unfamiliar environments?
Are they seeking reassurance from you when they’re unsure?
How to Track Emotional Progress: Using Your Journal to Track Emotional Progress
Your journal already includes prompts and sections designed to help you observe and reflect on your horse’s emotional state. Use these tools to explore how your horse is feeling and responding over time.
Pay Attention to Emotional Behaviours
When journaling, note the small details that offer insights into your horse’s state of mind:
Signs of relaxation: “Did I notice softness in their eyes, a lowered head, or relaxed breathing today?”
Responses to challenges: “How did they approach something unfamiliar—were they hesitant, curious, or confident?”
Moments of joy or curiosity: “What seemed to spark their interest or bring them a sense of ease?”
Look for Patterns Over Time
As you reflect on these entries, start to notice recurring themes:
Are there specific stimuli or situations that your horse consistently reacts to?
Do they seem more at ease on certain days, with particular exercises, or in specific environments?
Are there gradual shifts in their ability to handle stress or engage with new experiences?
Marking Progress with Appreciation
Rather than celebrating milestones in a grand way, take a moment to quietly acknowledge the progress you’ve noticed. This could be as simple as writing:
“They took a calm step toward the scary tarp today,” or
“I saw them relax at the mounting block faster than last week.”
These small recognitions of change not only help you stay attuned to your horse’s growth but also allow you to appreciate the journey you’re on together, step by step.
Reflect on Your Influence
Horses are highly perceptive and often mirror our energy. Use your journal to consider how your actions, emotions, or mindset might be contributing to your horse’s emotional state. Ask yourself:
“Was I patient and clear in my communication today?”
“Did I create a calm, supportive atmosphere for my horse to thrive in?”
Why It’s Worth the Effort
By focusing on your horse’s emotional well-being, you’ll likely notice an incredible shift in your partnership. Horses thrive when they feel safe, seen, and understood, and their emotional progress often lays the groundwork for their physical progress.
The unseen becomes visible when we slow down, observe, and reflect. Through journaling, you deepen your understanding of both your horse and yourself, refining your feel, timing, and approach. This heightened awareness enhances the quality and harmony of everything you do together.
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