Is it important for your horse to be happy? Think about it. Put yourself in the horse's place. Is being happy important for you? What happens if you are not happy?
It is well documented that unhappy people get sick: physcally and mentally. Not right away, but over time. Then comes the big crash or something changes.
Do you want a happy horse? What difference does it make? How will having a happy horse affect you?
In my opinion, it does matter if the horse is happy or not. An unhappy horse has anxiety which may be shown in behaviours: such as cribbing, weaving, lip flapping, head tossing, and the list goes on. The unhappy horse may be too thin because he is unable to eat (ulsers) or can't get to the food because he is the bottom of the pecking order because the person feeding does not ensure the hay is spread out far enough apart and that there are at least twice as many piles as horses. The boss horses will always have enough food. The Lower order horses will be the ones that are too thin, or die of staravtion. Check it out. Check out a report on horses found dead, almost dead when authoriteis go onto the property.
Other lower order horses won't be able to eat and digest their food because they are running from or keeping an eye out for the horse that likes to attack them. How can a horse be happy when it is constantly running away? Would this happen in the wild? Unlikely. The horse (one of them) would move on. Life is easier if there are friends around and no bullies.
What does an unhappy horse do to show its state of mind? The same as an unhappy person: avoids eye contact, prefers to be left alone, doesn't approach you (being trained to come to you is not the same), doesn't follow you (not trained to follow you), runs away, hides behind other horses, when tied: looks at the wall and not what is going on around, does what you want and expresses no enthusiasm, does't look around. In other words: acts like a machine. Does what he is told to do and that is it.Spooking, bucking, balky, running/racing, are more behaviours of an unhappy horse. Does not repsond to scratching or grooming or is irritated when groomed.
The happy horse is wonderful to have. The horse sees you and apporaches when you have a halter in your hand, ears are pricked, makes eye contact, head is in a neutral position, stands with friends, goes off by herself, is not upset when left alone, shows interest in the world around her when tied, standing or even working. The happy horse follows you around the arena on or off the lead (shows trust in the human), accepts praise, responds to scratching and grooming by tilting head, lifting upper lip, etc. The horse may show exuberance (bucking but not swinging hindfeet in your direction and not enough to unseat you). The horse will do what is leery of (because the horse trusts you) and settle when excited.
To make a happy horse involves more than feeding and giving treats. It is a matter of asking enough but not too much. When working with your horse being predictable, consistent in what you ask and when you work. Your horse is not turned out wet and sweaty to bear the elements. The human looks at the bigger picture and does not dwell on little things. Reward is frequent and consistent and for a reason (being cute is not a valid reason).
In work baby steps are asked for. Progress is gradual.
Good behaviour is expected and rewarded. Bad behaviour is a reason to look for the reason why. Steps are taken to rectify the behaviour(s)…gradually.
The happy horse lives with friends. She has enough food, water and salt and minerals. She lives where she is comfortable/happy.
Having a happy horse is more difficult than having a robot horse, but more gratifying in the end.
tangent points on the wall (fluer de lis) are where the arrows are on the diagram. 