Did My Horse Do Evil on Purpose?

“I think my horse did it on purpose.”

“She meant to throw me off.”

“He knew better. He was just being a jerk.”

I’ve heard these words so many times over the years. Maybe you’ve said them too. Maybe you’ve felt them and were too ashamed to say them out loud.

And the hardest one of all?

“Did my horse actually do evil on purpose?”

Let’s stop here for a moment.

That question isn’t silly.

It’s not stupid.

It’s not overdramatic.

That question comes from a place of pain, confusion, and fear.

It comes from someone who loves their horse but feels betrayed.

It comes from someone who wants to believe the best… but has experienced something that made them question everything.

So, let’s talk about it.

First, I want you to hear this:

You are not wrong for asking that question.

You’re human.

You have feelings.

And when we get hurt—physically or emotionally—our brain wants to make sense of it.

Sometimes that means blaming ourselves.

Sometimes that means blaming the horse

But here’s the truth:

Horses don’t understand “good” or “bad.”

They understand safe… or unsafe.

They understand pressure… and how to make it stop.

They don’t plan revenge.

They don’t hold grudges.

Even when it feels that way.

They learn how to make themselves comfortable.

The Science Behind the Horse-brain

Let’s look at what’s really going on—through the lens of equine neuroscience and learning theory, at least as well as we understand it right now. This field of study is relatively new, so we need to keep an open mind and keep educating ourselves.

Your horse has a brain just like you, and yes, it’s even comparable in size. That old walnut-sized brain theory has long been quashed.

The horse brain just works differently, and its parts are designed a bit differently.

We know humans can think ahead and not only that, but we can also imagine how something might make another being feel. We can make choices based on those observations and how it ties into our values or morals.

Horses don’t do that. They primarily react to what they feel in their bodies and unlike humans they are very tuned into their bodies.

They move toward comfort. They move away from pain, pressure, or fear.

The part of the horse’s brain that handles survival (the amygdala) is very active. It’s always scanning for threats. When something feels confusing, unfair, scary, or painful—that survival part of the brain takes over.

This is why your horse might:

• Buck when the saddle pinches

• Bite when they feel trapped

• Bolt when they feel stressed

• Freeze when they get scared

None of those are “evil” choices. They’re not trying to win or get back at you.

They’re just trying to survive.

But my horse “knows better”!

This is where it gets tricky.

I know some people will say, “But my horse knows what I’m asking. We’ve done this a hundred times.” And maybe that’s true.

But let me ask you this:

Have you ever snapped at someone you love, even though you “knew better”?

Have you ever shut down at work even though you “knew what to do”?

Have you ever ignored something hard… because it felt like too much?

Horses do the same thing.

Yes, they learn routines. Yes, they remember patterns. Yes, they can develop habits. But they’re not robots. And when things go sideways, they’re reacting to what’s happening in their body, their nervous system, and the environment—not what we think they should do.

Here’s where you can make a change. You can show your horse that whatever you’re doing is safe. If they are unsure, you can be calm and a place of refuge. Remember, horses do learn (in fact, they are very intelligent) and if they learn you are not trustworthy, they will continue to “do evil” whenever they think something is unsafe.

So, instead of asking, “Why is my horse being bad?”

Try asking, “What is my horse trying to tell me?” or “What does my horse not understand?”

Because every buck, every refusal, every so-called “tantrum” is a message.

Sometimes the message is:

“I don’t understand.”

Sometimes it’s:

“This hurts.”

Sometimes it’s even:

“I’m scared and I don’t know how to tell you.”

It’s not always your fault. But it is your responsibility to listen.

And speaking of scared…are you?

Let’s be real:

This isn’t just about the horse.

This is about you, too.

It’s scary when your horse explodes.

It’s confusing when things fall apart.

And it’s easy to feel angry or abandoned when you’ve worked so hard for connection—and get chaos instead. I’m not accusing you, I’m acknowledging that we all have those moments, and they are valid.

You’re allowed to feel hurt or scared or unconfident.

You’re allowed to cry in the truck.

You’re allowed to sit on the mounting block and wonder if you’re even cut out for this.

But you’re also allowed to shift the story.

So… Did Your Horse Do Evil on Purpose?

Probably not, but if you think they did, where and why did they learn to be evil?

If you feel that way, your feelings deserve compassion—not shame. Just like your horses.

When you stop trying to label the behavior as good or bad—and instead look at what your horse might be experiencing—you start to see patterns.

You start to see your horse again.

Not the monster. Not the villain.

Just a thinking, feeling animal doing their best in a human world.

And that…

Is where the healing begins and the partnership strengthens.

❤️ Want Help Rebuilding Trust?

If this hit home for you, you’re not alone.

And you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.

My new course, Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart, was designed for riders who want to turn confusion into clarity—and fear into feel.

We start with simple conversations, rebuild your foundation, and learn how to meet your horse where they really are.

Because you deserve more than just “riding it out.” You don’t need to “show them whose boss” or “don’t let them get away with that”.

You deserve partnership.

And your horse does too.