That makes sense. Animals are animals and though they may have the perfect pedigree/breeding or be perfect for the job or whatever, sometimes they just don’t want to and you can’t make them. I’ve known some dogs like that too so seems it happens in all species. Hopefully, if they’re good owners, they’ll listen to them and find them another job or retire them and won’t force them. I’ve known some dogs with excellent breeding, could be top winning show dogs, but they just had NO desire to show, hated being in the ring, so the breeders sucked it up and listened to them and they never got their championship. I imagine similar happens in horses.
Anyway, Sarah has another thread about horse training and she had this other one that she started the lessons with but she sold him for this exact reason: he didn’t want to do the barrels. I think from what I understand he is now in a home with kids being doted on and doing what he loves: trail riding. From what she’s said and from what I’ve seen in her other posts, that horse was amazing and they had a real connection and we all needed thought she’d sell him, especially her, but she didn’t want him to just be a pasture pet and wanted him to be happy so she sold him. I think it was the right move even though it was hard. He is now extremely happy. Anyway, that is why she is now looking for another horse because Lightning didn’t want to do it. I think it’s great she put the horses needs/desires before her own and I think this woman probably did the same?
Anyway, she probably was gonna tell you this herself, but I just figured since she hasn’t been back yet and you mentioned horses not wanting to do barrels, I’d just explain she just dealt with basically the exact situation. Except obviously she isn’t quite at the champion level yet since she just started but same principle, horse didn’t want to do it.
I think though at first he did well and seemed to like it but then I think he didn’t want to go fast? Or something like that.
