I would think that trail horses might be among the happiest, being able to move out in the world and have lots of scenery to observe.
Also cow-ey horses that get to work cows are probably having the times of their lives.
I know my OTTB is in 7th heaven when she gets to gallop!
Pasture pets?
Endurance…trail horse w speed
I think it’s likely that horses in many disciplines are their happiest selves when they’re provided good care including turnout, and working in a way that suits them. One horse’s ring schooling nightmare is another busy minded horse’s dream, and one horse’s happy home on the range is likely another’s wide open scary place.
It’s one of the reasons I so look forward to exploring with my mare this summer. I don’t know what will make her the happiest version of herself, and I look forward to the journey of trying to figure it out. Unless it’s western gaming (she seems to really like the little bit we’ve played with it, albeit in an English saddle). If that’s the case, she’ll have to be her second-happiest self
depends on the horse. The horse my daughter leases is happiest on trails and even though she is not for beginners in the ring, she is the go to on trails for beginners.
really do not think any one specific discipline for most horses is the most fun other than maybe there are some horses who are happy just doing one thing. Our guys enjoyed doing multiple disciplines as they would tire of the same thing everyday. Maybe it was just our horses but they never forgot anything so day, after day, after day, after day repeatedly doing the very same thing was not fun for them…they would do it if we wanted to but were they happy? not really.
They adjusted with the tack used, lengthen strides, shortened strides change headset with discipline
Some jobs are just boring and auto pilot is used, showing in Class As was around and around, reverse and around and around… we had one horse who could do a class by herself as she knew the voice commands and followed the ring steward’s gait changes … you could put anyone who could seat in the saddle on her and come out with a ribbon , usually blue
Her first time doing a competitive trail ride at the first P&R vet check she thought all those other dudes were below her class as she proudly squared up, head up, ears forward ready to be judged, after all she was lined up with saddle removed so this must be the championship class… one of the vets asked me "What is she doing?.. oh she thinks this line up so she is ready to be judged. It was not long that she too was dropping her head and learned to control her breathing and heart rates… is she alive was one vet’s comment when he checked her
The ones doing the job they are best suited for.
I bought a jumper bred mare. She is happiest doing dressage. I am a hunter… now I am a beginner dressage rider with her.
I don’t think it’s by discipline, I think it’s by what that particular horse is suited for.
My OTTB was never happier than when she was jumping around a big course.
Yes, what they said above me… a horse doing what it is best suited for.
Some horses like to work, some horses like being a pasture puff. Some horses find trail riding totally scary, other horses find ring work to be torture.
Agree. I think horses in general are happy doing what’s easiest for them. Temperament and natural aptitude play a role in what’s easiest for any particular horse.
Also, their living situation probably effects their happiness more than discipline. I mean, you’d think trail horses must be living it up, but in my area a lot of trail horses are kept stalled 24/7 because their owners don’t want them getting even the slightest scratch. I’ve walked through those barns and those horses do not look happy.
Yeah. I’d say mine are happiest when turned out 24/7 on good grass and the only thing I ask them to do is walk up to the barn to get their dinner. :lol:
I think we rechristen this to more sound like a REAL discipline. How about “Pasture Eventing”? 
G,
Woodrow was happiest when out on the trails, Ruby liked the arena, Zephyr loves to jump, Apache loves his pasture but enjoys the odd trail outing, Spud, well, we’re figuring out where his happy place is.
Professional Equine Landscape Artists.
Broodmares that are pasture bred. They are so happy with their foals!
Horses that are treated well and loved by their owners. I don’t think this is discipline specific at all. Some horses thrive on leave me alone and some thrive on having a job. No, horses don’t “need” jobs I get that and I know someone is going to come along with that comment - but some do seem to do best with something to do and less prone to injury when kept a bit active.
I currently have trail horses who have been repurposed from other disciplines, and they all seem to like their jobs. I typically ride a couple hours a day, have an interesting variety of terrain, and we have cattle to make things even more interesting.
I do have a retired cutting horse, who absolutely loved cutting. He was excellent at it, and really loved tracking a cow and controlling it. I had a cutter, who did a good job in the show pen and was very correct, but you could tell he did what was asked of him because he was a good boy, not because he enjoyed it.
I know I like my chosen discipline because I feel no pressure from it other than to keep my horses fit and healthy enough for the terrain we cover. There is no pressure to go into a show pen and have an outstanding run because I have laid out tons of money for training, show expenses and travel.
I think it really depends. My first thought was also trail horses, but then I thought about all the trail horses who sit around doing nothing for a week or two, then are taken out and ridden hard on trails once in a while. They’re probably not too happy about that.
My horse, who does eventing and a little bit of everything, clearly loves trail riding. She likes to go at a marching pace and looks all around, more than any other horse I’ve ridden. Not in a spooky way, just in a checking out the scenery way. She’s always just as happy to go out as to return, or go alone or with friends.
I really think it depends. My mare hates schooling in a ring. She will ride in a ring and we do, but I just don’t think she understands why we have to go round in all those circles :lol:. She is happiest on trails or where her brain has to think…i.e. she seems to really enjoy obstacle work.
I am not sure what my gelding is going to like best. I originally had decided I was going to do dressage with my mare, but she just doesn’t enjoy it. So, I adapted. I keep horses for…well…horses. So I have no trouble changing my plans if it is what makes the horse happiest.
Upkeep and treatment also help determine a happy horse. Mine are out 24/7 and get to just be horses when I am not working with them. The difference in their personality and behavior is light years different than a lot of the stalled horses at the barn.
But I am sure if you asked my mare, that she would prefer to be a Professional Peppermint Taster. You know, try the peppermints just to make sure they are suitable for other horses
I’m sure it’s dependent on the horse and the job it’s best suited for :yes:
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