Recently I’ve been seeing a lot of questions from other writers on how to write horses when they know nothing about horses. I was going to write an article on it, but then I had an idea– why not ask other horse-savvy writers what their advice is?
So today, I am bringing you a panel discussion on how to write horses with advice from ten horse-crazy writers!
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Q1: What are your top three tips for writing realistic horses for a writer who has no experience with horses?
Allie: The first thing I would say is read up on equine behavior. One of the biggest things that irks me when I read equine fiction is horses that act too much like humans. If you write equine fiction, you will mainly attract horse-crazy kids who know their horse stuff, and they can sniff out unrealistic behavior in minutes.
My second tip would be to talk to horse-savvy people, especially those who have actually worked with horses. Ask questions! Horse people love talking about horses, so don’t be shy.
Third tip– read good equine fiction. Know the tropes, read about what’s already been done, and where there’s room for improvement. That’s good advice for any serious writer no matter what genre they write.
Rebecca: Research! Watch videos on horses and horse training; watch movies. See how horses naturally interact with one another and with humans. Read books and articles about equine behavior.
Also, talk to horsey people! We’ll be happy to info dump on you anytime. (Such as we’re doing now 😉
If you can, it’d be great to visit some horses in person, even just at a petting zoo. I do know that’s not always possible, but if you can, there’s no substitute to seeing their behavior in real life.
Skye: First, I would recommend that writers research and read a lot about horses, their behaviors, their tendencies, etc. Before I learned to ride, nearly all the information I discovered about horses was through research and reading books. I still use both those tools, and they help me greatly. Next, talk to people you know who do have experience with horses. One of my favorite things to do is talk to people about horses, and I know others like me enjoy the same! If you have a friend who is an equestrian, I would recommend asking them to read over specific parts of your story depicting horses to ensure its accuracy. This is one of the best ways to make certain that what you are writing is realistic. Third, read good, realistic equine fiction and pay close attention to how the horses act. You can also watch shows or competitions with horses and observe their behavior.
Ruby: One, get to know a horse. Most of horsemanship and riding is based on feel, and I don’t believe you can write a truly realistic horse without understanding the underlying language that takes years to learn. And though you don’t have to master the understanding of a horse, I would highly recommend just hanging out with them, as long as you can.
Two, horses are complicated, and each horse has a different personality! This is where you can have some fun.
And lastly, ask a horse professional all the questions you have! You are likely to get some very good answers, and this exchange will probably be better than researching online.
Hadley: Definitely research! Research different breeds, different styles of riding, different occupations for horses, etc. The more you can learn, the better! Watch videos of different types of riding competitions, like Dressage, Show Jumping, Cross Country, Barrel Racing, Cutting, Sorting, and Roping.
If you’re interested in learning about how horses are trained, watching videos on the Extreme Mustang Makeover competition can be extremely helpful! While this differs from training a foal, you can observe many things about horses’ behaviors and learning processes. If you can, speaking to a vet might also be a great option!
Abby B: As the others have said, research is very helpful. My tip would be to realize that the horse world is very complex, and you can’t hope to learn all about it, no matter how much you research. Also, you may come across conflicting opinions/advice the more you research. But your goal should be to get the basics of equine behavior, care, and riding, etc, which most people agree on.
My second tip would be to watch horse movies and read horse books, yes, but to realize that depending on the film or book, the portrayal of horses is not always accurate! Which is something you’re trying to avoid, so take your tips from them cautiously. Tying in to that, see if you can spot the tropes that are commonly used, so you can avoid them or put your own twists on them. This genre is laden with tropes, so if you break out from that, you automatically stand out.
Thirdly, try to find horse people who are willing to read over parts of your manuscript and tell you whether they’re accurate or not. Or who are willing to answer the specific questions you might have. I think this is invaluable to someone who’s never been around or experienced horses. And of course, if you can experience a horse, take advantage of the opportunity!
Hannah: Yes I love everyone’s advice on this! And as they said, talking to horse people or even a friend who may take lessons is great! Learn as much as you can from them, and ask lots of questions! Talking to people who know horses is one of my top pieces of advice!
Second is to study horses! I can’t say enough about this, I love to [when I can] lean on a pasture fence and just watch horses graze for hours! Even if you can’t go to a local stables, maybe you have a neighbor with horses you can watch? Or even watching horses on youtube/videos, just watch and take notes of all the different ways they react with each other and what they do in the herd or at the barn and in the arena.
Third, read as many books as you can on horse behavior and books already written in the genre that are done realistically and with great and accurate horses, and connect with the authors through their blogs/email lists/other platforms. Ask them how they got their research done for their novels!
Abigail: So many good tips! Here are mine:
- There’s no good substitute for just going and watching actual horses. Horses have a very specific hierarchy within their herd, and when watching them interact in a pasture, you’re usually able to tell relatively quickly which one is the leader. Seeing how they react to someone stealing their patch of grass, getting too close, or even alerting to potential danger are all things that will help you write realistic horse fiction. While you may not own horses yourself, chances are that you know of a property nearby that does! As far as I know, it’s not a crime to just go and watch horses interact with each other for a bit. 😉
- Like others have said, watch out for those horse tropes! You can’t just hop on a horse and know instinctively how to ride, and getting on any horse that you don’t know is extremely dangerous. Horses can have trauma too, and while they may seem docile and sweet on the ground, they could have triggers of past bad experiences once you put a saddle on their back.
- Finally, there are TONS of different methods to train and work with horses. None of them are right or wrong (unless they involve abuse), in my opinion! As a writer, you need to find what method would work best for your plot, characters, and the horse/s. Whether that’s elves using a Liberty approach (working with a horse with no physical attachment to them; e.i. No halter, rope, or bridle), or a western cowboy teaching a horse how to round up cattle using ropes and a saddle, all are fine as long as they are realistic!
Abby P: There’s been tons of good advice on this! Here are my top three tips: 1, ask any friends who have experience with horses. If they’ll let you, maybe even come watch while they care for, ride, and handle horses. There’s no better way to learn how to write realistic horses than to talk to the people who know the real thing! 2, make sure you have the right terminology. This is something that I see come up a lot in books involving horses, including “horse” books! If you’re not sure what exactly something means or if you’re using a word right, look it up or ask one of your horsey friends. It might seem small, but it’s a real game-changer! 3, avoid most of the tropes that horse movies fall into – for instance, most movies seem to think that you can hop on a horse for the first time and know exactly what you’re doing. In reality, it takes weeks to be even relatively proficient, and months or years to learn more skills and actually become a good rider! So, if your characters are getting on horses for the first time, give them that awkward stage where everything seems wrong and they have no idea what they’re doing!
Kirsten: Firstly, remember that horse’s are not always happy angels that want to go on a ride as seen in books and movies. They have negative emotions just like we do, and portraying horses without them or incorrectly gives an audience wrong and unrealistic impressions of equines. Make sure to research horse behavior and the things that bring them happiness, relaxation, and satisfaction versus what causes anger, frustration, and stress. Being able to show both the positive and negative sides of the horse will not only make your writing more realistic, but it also shows that you have taken the time to do your research.
Secondly, as the others have said, research, research, research. If you’re looking to write about a specific aspect of the equestrian industry like jumping or Liberty training, or perhaps you just need to know about basic horse care, make sure you’re researching using the most reliable sources you can. There are a lot of self-proclaimed “horse experts” out there (just take a look on Instagram and TikTok) that have a lot to say about horses, but many have improper horsemanship theory and/or technique. Be sure to check a person’s equine credentials before you rely on them as a research source.
Thirdly, know and understand different horse colors and breeds. There is more out than than just black, paint (white with one or more other colors), chestnut (a coppery color), and bay (reddish-brown bodies with black legs, manes, and tails) Quarter Horses, Mustangs, and Thoroughbreds portrayed in books and movies. Those colors and breeds and just brushing the surface of the world of horses. With some research (I recommend Storey’s Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America by Judith Duston and The International Encyclopedia of Horses and Ponies by Jane Kidd), you will find there are well over a hundred different breeds of horses in the world with different color variations. While I don’t recommend giving your characters an exotic mount, understanding what other horses and coloring are out there will help make you a more rounded and educated writer.
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Q2: What do you think is the most overused trope in equine fiction?
Allie: I don’t know what it is about horse fiction, but horse fiction is like medieval fantasy– it’s been done A LOT. Thus, the plots generally boil down to “Girl meets horse, girl hates or loves horse, girl owns horse by end of book”. There’s often a “save the ranch” subplot. The problem with these sorts of books is that it makes it seem so easy to just buy a horse and become a horse owner. In truth, horses are extremely expensive animals, and if you don’t know about horse care (like most of these protagonists) you can actually really harm the horse. And because a horse is such a large investment, people in the real world don’t buy horses willy-nilly. I’ve wanted a horse for years, but I know now that I’m nowhere near ready to buy one. That trope just irks me because it gives young horse crazy kids the wrong idea about horse ownership.
Rebecca: As Allie said, the “save the ranch” trope can get repetitive and annoying. I also find the large amount of horse stories surrounding racing to be unfortunate, as well. Yes, racing can be interesting. Yes, there have been some incredibly talented racehorses and jockeys throughout the years. But, there are many other qualities that can be attributed to horses besides “they go fast.” What if a story didn’t revolve around a high level racehorse? Or even an athletic horse at all? I’d love to see more books written about an old, pokey school horse, or maybe even a therapy horse!
Skye: One of the most commonly-used tropes I see is ‘troubled teen meets abused horse, they bond and help each other’. Now, I’m not saying this doesn’t happen. Equine therapy is an amazing thing, but it takes time. Most often I see books where it’s over a very short period of time that both the teen and the horse heal. While I’m sure there are some extraordinary cases, this is not the norm. Trauma for humans runs deep and does not disappear over the course of a few days or a week, and horses are the same.
Ruby: I tend to enjoy more nonfictional equine books than fictional, so I don’t know if I can give the best answer here, but I feel like there is a lot of brokenness that is emphasized in horse books and movies. It is just a tad annoying, because there are so many themes of brokenness already written in this genre.
Hadley: In my opinion, “the city girl moves in with an estranged family member in the country, instantly bonds with a horse, and she’s the only one that can ride the horse” is used far too often. Not only is it unrealistic, (bonding doesn’t happen overnight, building trust takes time. And someone that’s never ridden a horse before will not be able to ride a wild horse out of the blue), but it’s frequently used in many horse-centered books and movies. If you want your character to move from the city to the country, fall in love with horses, and learn to ride, that’s totally fine! Just keep in mind that they have to learn. 😉
Abby B: A common trope / theme is “I immediately understand and love this (oftentimes wild or abused) horse and we have an inseparable bond, and I can train it in three weeks.” The city girl who’s never been around horses is the only one who can ride the wild stallion, which is totally, wildly unrealistic. And it gives the false, even dangerous illusion that all you need to train a horse is love and a bond. While being a recipe for fuzzy feelings in a book, in real life that’s a recipe for disaster for both human and horse. It’s a romantic notion that the wild mustang will let you walk up to it because you “understand” it and have a natural gift with horses, it’s also a foolish one. It’s a nice idea that the same wild mustang will let you get on its back while it’s lying down, and when it stands up with you on them, won’t buck you off but take you on a gallop across the field. But that’s all it is, an idea, because a truly wild mustang wouldn’t let you get that close while it was lying down. If you did somehow get on their back, they’d probably buck you off when they did stand.
Hannah: Yeah there are lots…I don’t think this is the most used in equine fiction but is one of the top ones, is where a city girls goes to her grandmother/family member ranch and of course we have the save the ranch subplot, and then she tames a untamable wild/abused horse and save’s the ranch by winning a barrel race competition/other with the wild horse. Because realistically even for an experienced horse trainer, training a wild/abused adult horse is HARD! It takes years and years of hard work and still more before the horse is trained, and not less than a week with apples…
Kirsten: The others have already mentioned the most popular/common tropes that writers tend to use, but I’ll also add the minor trope of, “Horse can do whatever [character] wants them to do in a short amount of time.” You have stories where the main character wants to train their horse to be a jumper, race, or be a trick horse, and the horse instantly shows “natural potential” for whatever the character wants. This simply is not the case when it comes to training horses. It takes time, patience, mistakes, and even some frustration and tears. While horses are intelligent and usually eager to please, there are just some horses that can’t be exactly what we want, or even if they are close, they won’t be perfect.
Abigail: All of the tropes mentioned above are definitely some of my least favorites! For a small one that particularly annoys me though, it’s when the “horse with trauma is miraculously healed with minimal training and work and lives happily ever after”. Unfortunately, that’s just not true. Like humans, horses remember trauma and can have flashback moments brought on by triggers, even after extensive work and training. That being said, they can recover, but they’ll usually always have some memory of that trauma- just like humans.
Also, horses can’t be trained by just anyone. You have to have the knowledge of a trainer and also know how to assess a horse and discover what the best training method is for them.
Abby P: I know it’s been said before, but the most overused trope that I’ve seen in equine fiction is the “troubled/abused girl meets a wild horse, who she immediately tames and can do anything with”. Which is unbelievably unrealistic. Especially because the said girl has usually never even seen a horse up close before. Also, if a horse can’t be trained by actual trainers and people with years of riding experience, one girl talking to him isn’t going to magically make him trainable. And since the girl typically has no horse experience, she wouldn’t be able to even handle a horse properly at first, much less train him to do anything.
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Q3: What do you think are the top three most important things to keep in mind when writing horses?
Allie: One, horses are prey animals. Horses don’t see the world like people do. You can’t just jump on an untrained horse’s back and not expect it to buck. They don’t reason– their instinct is to flee first, ask questions later. A trained horse has these instincts overridden by learning to rely on their rider to be the leader. An untrained horse might accidentally kill you if you try to treat it like a trained horse, just because in their mind, humans are predators.
Second, becoming a horseman (or horsewoman) takes time and experience. There’s no such thing as a “natural” like they show in the movies. To become a good horseman, you’ve got to learn the skills, practice them yourself, eat some dirt, and get up to try again. Everyone learns at a different rate, and every horse is a little different. Even bonding with a horse takes work. A lot of horse fiction doesn’t get this.
Third, horses are sensitive creatures. Someone said once that horses are like a mirror to ourselves– I think that’s pretty true! They sense emotions and can form very deep bonds with their riders and other horses. There are stories of horses dying from heartbreak when their closest horse friend dies.
And trauma in horses digs deep. A horse that experiences trauma is like a PTSD patient– they can have flashbacks to whatever event caused that fear. There’s a horse that animal behaviorist Temple Grandin brings up frequently in her books who had a fear of black hats, especially black cowboy hats, because he’d been abused by a man who wore a black cowboy hat (I recommend reading Temple Grandin’s books on animal behavior, they are excellent, even if there is some evolutionary ideals in them).
Rebecca: There are as many different kinds of horses as there are people. Despite what you’d seen in old westerns, they aren’t just props to take from place to place. They aren’t like cars; they have personality, likes and dislikes, fears, quirks, and sweetness.
Think of meeting a new horse like meeting a new person. You say hello by offering the “horseman’s handshake” by letting them sniff your hand. You talk calmly, give them some scratches, and “introduce yourself” and start to build a relationship with them.
As Allie said, horsemanship takes time. Think of it as being on a two person team, where your teammate doesn’t speak your language. No matter your discipline, you will have to put hard work in… but it will be worth it! Everything will eventually feel more and more natural, and it will be quite rewarding.
Skye: First, their behavior. Research their reactions and capabilities and don’t just write based on what you’ve seen horses do in movies or read in certain books. For example, two of the most common mistakes I’ve seen are: One, the rider mounts their steed and the horse rears dramatically before they gallop away. And two, that same horse and rider galloping across terrain for hours without stop. First of all, horses rear due mainly to fear, confusion, or discomfort, NOT so their exit can appear more theatrical, and horses also cannot gallop through the night without tiring and needing a break. Second, the breed. Always keep in mind what your equine animal’s breed is and their attributes. For instance, if one of your characters rides a Tennessee Walking Horse, but you write that the horse is at a steady trot, this would be inaccurate because this particular breed does not trot. It has a special gait commonly referred to as a running walk. Finally, you do not become an experienced equestrian overnight. It takes time, hard work, and effort. You can’t expect to get up on a horse for the first time and suddenly everything just falls into place. You have to take the time to learn and work towards becoming an accomplished rider.
Ruby: Horses are not humans. Though horses experience emotion (of course), horses don’t think and feel the same way as us! Having a horse understand everything your character says is not going to work in all situations.
Another thing to keep in mind is your readers. Horse people can get very extreme about accuracy and their own opinions, even while reading.
Also, don’t make it seem like your reader is dumb and doesn’t know each piece of the bridle. Maybe they do, maybe they don’t, but please, please write it in a way where you don’t sound snobby.
Hadley: First, each and every horse is unique. Some are bombproof babysitters that you could entrust with a two-year-old. Others are high-strung work horses that constantly need to have a job to do. Much like people, every horse has their own, unique personality! When riding, some horses are “woah horses” (horses that aren’t in any big hurry to move anywhere fast), and others are “go horses” (horses that need to be slowed down often).
Second, every breed is different. Some breeds, like Arabians and Thoroughbreds, are better suited as English horses, while others like Quarter Horses and Paint horses, are typically a better fit for Western riding. This isn’t to say that certain breeds can only be used for one thing, but it would be a little unrealistic to have an Arabian as a barrel horse.
Third, they have an incredible memory and fierce loyalty. Oftentimes, a horse can find its own way back home with or without a rider. A horse’s trust takes a while to gain, but once you have their loyalty, you won’t lose it easily.
Hannah: First remember that horses change behavior sometimes and mostly it’s what is being done around them! A horse may act normal one day but the next day be very flighty and fast, due to cold windy weather. Or a horse may be really lazy one day because the weather is really hot, and they don’t want to work but just stay in the shade, or a horse may just be tired/lazy that day. Also keep in mind that a horse may just spook to a log it jumps all the time because it is just a different flower pot that day on the side. Trust me, horses don’t just need something big to spook them, maybe just a tiny thing that is different than normal in the arena will get them all wide eyed!/fear striking. Also not all horses are like this, some are chill about most things, but even they sometimes get fearful of the everyday stuff…
Second, give horses quirks in your story. I love when horses have different things about them that makes them stand out, from a horse obsessed with chocolate, to a horse best friends with a dog. I love it!
Third, remember every horse is not some paper-cut-out of a “normal” horse, all horses are different and unique just like their coat colors!
Abby B: Well, as others have said, they’re not like humans or dogs. They’re less expressive. But that doesn’t mean they don’t say anything at all! Learning to work with horses is like learning a whole different language and culture, but once you begin to understand it, it’s fascinating. So keep that in mind!
Secondly, they’re very sensitive creatures. And the less they’ve been around humans, the more sensitive they are. So keep that in mind as well. One horse may be okay with you giving them a hug around the neck, but the wild stallion is going to be stressed out and upset the moment you step in the pen with him. It all depends on the horse’s past experience, horses do remember things. And thus, each horse is distinctly different.
Finally, horses are smart. They really are. Even though they do spook at the silliest things, that same sensitivity is what enables them to be really attuned to you. It is literally the coolest feeling when you can just touch the lead rope and they move off of that small aid. You can put weight in a stirrup and they’ll turn just off that. They pick up on the smallest things and are constantly learning about what works and what doesn’t.
And finally, one last thing. Please be original! This genre is filled with tropes and inaccuracies, it’s always a breath of fresh air when something different comes along. Don’t be afraid to break the mold, please do!
Kirsten: Firstly, know that a horse cannot gallop forever to get away from your villain.. Running hard strains a horse’s lungs, heart, muscles, tendons, and bones, and going for too far and too long can hurt the animal, or at worst, kill it. Be mindful of letting your characters gallop over large distances, unless you intentionally plan to force them to look for a new form of escape.
Secondly, remember that horses in the wild spend over 50% of their day eating and only a small percentage socializing with other horses. While it’s super sweet and touching to have a horse cuddle his or her owner, play with them, and come when called, or let’s be honest, the horse cares more about his hay than people. Horses can and will form connections with humans, but remember that they are animals and have the first instinct to eat and survive.
Thirdly, stallions are NOT safe to ride or work with unless you have the proper experience to handle them. Their spirited and majestic appearance makes them first-choice for horse stories, but they are often aggressive and unpredictable. Be careful and do your research before giving your character a wild stallion to tame.
Abigail:
- As prey animals who are constantly on alert for danger, horses are naturally extremely sensitive creatures. Because of this, they are very intune to your body language and your emotions. They know if you’re frustrated with them, or if you are trying to ask them to do something but your heart really isn’t in it. You can’t lie to a horse. 😉
- You also can’t sneak up on a horse! You’ve probably noticed that humans are able to sense if someone walks into the room, and the same thing is doubly true for horses. If your characters are camped out in the woods and the villain is trying to sneak up on them, it’s perfectly realistic to have their horses start becoming nervous and on alert.
- Horses have a calming effect on humans. It’s why they are used in therapy! There are plenty of reasons for this, but one of the coolest is that horses can sense your heartbeat, and our bodies can sense theirs. Because they are larger animals and have slower heartbeats, our hearts naturally want to sync up with theirs, which slows down our BPM (beats per minute). Not to a dangerous extent, of course, but just enough that if you’re anxious and breathing quickly, then go and start petting a horse, after a while your heartbeat will usually slow down and so therefore help calm your anxiety. As someone who has experienced this firsthand, it’s an amazing and realistic thing!
That being said, it works both ways. If you are extremely scared of a horse, then they can tell, and will usually start getting anxious as well. If you’re scared of something else, the horse knows that as well and will start becoming alert, and looking out for a threat.
Abby P: There’s been a lot of great advice about this! Here’s my top three: 1, learning to ride takes a long time – weeks at the very least, and even then, you probably won’t be in a position to train anything. The same goes for training horses – it takes time and patience. These are things that are often overlooked, and will set you apart in your writing. 2, all horses are different. Don’t be afraid to give them personalities! All horses have something about them that sets them apart – one of my horses sometimes licks people, and the other doesn’t care where her feet are – where they land, that’s where they’re staying, regardless of what direction they’re pointed in. 3, pay attention to horse care. Horses can’t gallop forever, but they can keep up a trot or a lope for a pretty long time. They drink gallons of water a day, and need to eat at least every few hours, or risk getting ulcers in their stomachs. The details are important!
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Q4: What is the most common mistake you see writers making in horse fiction?
Allie: Pairing an inexperienced girl with an inexperienced horse. I don’t know why movie makers love to do this so much. Green horse and green rider never make a good combination. The rider is likely to hurt herself (or even the horse) and the horse could be permanently affected. Horses are constantly learning, and they are fast learners. A bad habit created by poor horsemanship can take months or even years to undo. Please, for the sake of both human and horse characters. DO NOT DO THIS!
Rebecca: Yes, my trainer likes to say: green on green makes black and blue. And it’s true. I’ve seen it, unfortunately.
Additionally, don’t be afraid to do something different when telling horse stories. You don’t just have to go with the tried and true racing or ranching stories. Think of Marguerite Henry! She never shied away from the hard (and fascinating!) stories, many of which were based on real life. Have you heard of an amazing, “off the beaten trail” horse story? Research it! Write it! Be bold. Try something new.
Skye: As I mentioned in my previous answer, horses are unique creatures with unique reactions to most everything around them. Most of the time, I see writers ignore or misuse their equine character’s responses to certain situations. Everything horses do has a meaning behind them. If they nicker, they’re happy to see you. If they scream, it’s a cry for help. If their ears are pricked forward, they’re alert. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t take the time to differentiate between the horse’s reactions, but this is key to writing good, realistic equine fiction.
Ruby: Probably the classic rearing up and neighing. It’s a little annoying because it’s so unrealistic…horses don’t rear up and neigh, both at once, that often.
Hadley: I echo everything that has already been said. If I could add anything, I’d say that the horse’s “response” to the character is usually unrealistic. Horses understand many things, sometimes more than we give them credit for. But more often than not, they’re not going to eagerly bob their head when you ask them if they want to go for a ride. Horses have their own signals and ways of communicating, specifically with their ears, eyes, mouths, tails, and feet. I’d recommend doing some research on horse body language to be able to realistically portray your horse’s emotions and thoughts!
Hannah: One of them is definitely a character with a perfect horse!
Where the horse never makes a mistake and does anything from barrel racing to jumping cliffs and advanced dressage moves without any problems…the fact is you will never have a perfect horse! And no horse can do everything asked of them without a problem, give your horse fears, give them a limit, give them something they really enjoy and really don’t. Horses have limits too, you can’t do everything in minutes so don’t make a horse do/learn everything in minutes, sometimes it takes them years to learn! And sometimes they just downright refuse to do it at all.
Abby B: Oh, there’s so many…
One common mistake is thinking that a horse can just go and go forever. That they can just gallop for hours, and that’s simply not the case. Even highly conditioned endurance horses can’t do that. Horses do have to rest, and they do have to eat.
Oh, and the horse rearing up. Rearing up is a precarious thing, the horse can flip over backward with a rider. A horse rears because they feel like they can’t go anywhere else but up, it’s a sign of extreme distress. You can train a horse to rear as a trick, but most horses aren’t trained to do that.
And don’t forget the horse neighs. Neighs aren’t something that a horse does often at all. If they do it, it’s often to another horse, and because they feel lonely. It’s more common for a horse to snort, or nicker. (And nickers sound so much better than neighs. It’s one of the cutest sounds a horse can make.)
Finally, (I know I’ve listed just a bunch of small ones), petting the horse’s nose. Most horses would much prefer to be petted on the neck or shoulder, instead of being randomly touched on their face or nose. The nose is a sensitive place on a horse, so just randomly touching it isn’t very nice to them. And for sure, a scared or wild horse isn’t going to take to that at all.
Kirsten: I echo what everyone else has said. In addition, continuing from what H.C. [Hadley] said in her comment, remember that horses are prey animals and that their first instinct is flight over fight. A lot of times, especially in movies, you will see people trying to catch a wild or scared horse, and the animal is portrayed to be “fighting back” by rearing, kicking, biting, etc. While horses will defend themselves if they feel angry or threatened, in the case of wild and scared horses often portrayed in movies and books, their first instinct is to get away before picking a fight.
Abigail: I definitely agree with everything mentioned above! A couple of small ones that annoy me: First, there’s a common myth that apples and carrots are good for horses and makeup part of their diet. While these make fun treats on occasion, horses really shouldn’t have too many because of the high sugar content. Also, you don’t always have to give your horses grain as part of their food. Horses only need grain when a) there isn’t any grass or hay for them to eat b) They’re working hard and so need the extra nutrients c) they’re older and need more energy and supplements. Grass and hay are the main food sources for horses and they shouldn’t need much more than that except for the above reasons. Continuing on the food subject XD, horses can’t graze just anywhere. You need to know if the ground has been sprayed with harmful pesticides, if there are any dangerous weeds, or if it’s a common place for dangerous bugs like parasitic worms, ticks, botflies, horseflies, and midges.
Abby P: The most common mistake I’ve seen in horse fiction has to be using the wrong words or using the right words in the wrong way. Mostly, this goes for tack, but it also goes for horses and riding in general. Sometimes, every gait above a walk is just called a gallop, or the saddle is the only piece of tack ever mentioned. Unfortunately, there are a ton of examples of mistakes like this, even in books about horses.
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Q5: What are your top three resources for writers researching horses for their book?
Allie: The horse magazines HorseIllustrated.com and YoungRider.com. They’re made by the same company– Young Rider is the teen/tween counterpart to Horse Illustrated. For one, their article database is SUPER extensive, and they write in enough layman’s terms that even people who aren’t extremely horse-savvy can understand them.
My other resources would be How to Think Like a Horse by Cherry Hill and Horse Crazy! 1,001 Activites for Horse Crazy Kids by Jessie Haas. AMAZING nonfiction books. How to Think Like a Horse really helps you get inside a horse’s head and has all the basic horse information you could need. Horse Crazy was written by the very successful equine fiction author Jessie Haas, and it’s full of breed profiles, a horse history, horsey crafts, book and movie reviews, and even a section on writing horse stories!
Rebecca: I recently checked out this massive book from the library called The Encyclopedia of the Horse, which has so much wonderful information about breeds, styles of riding, tack, and history! It’s also alarmingly big, and could probably double as a weapon, if necessary. 🙂
Equine Helper! (both the website and YT have some great training and “horse 101” resources!)
Rose Horsemanship is also very good!
Skye: When I was little, the first non-fiction horse book I ever received was The Horse & Pony Care Handbook by Amanda Lang. It was my older sister’s (another horse-lover) book, and once she finished reading it, she gave it to me to read. This book laid a vital foundation for me which impacted my later equine endeavors. DK The Horse Encyclopedia is another book that contains some helpful information, especially regarding different breeds, their characteristics, and their origin. Lastly, I would recommend this blog, EquineontheMind.com. It has some incredible resources about horse behavior, talk, and more!
Ruby: HorseIllustrated.com! There are tons of fascinating articles here, and it is a good place to research and to find more research tools. Horse Life: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Riding Horses for Kids by Robyn Smith. This is such an amazing book for both beginner and intermediate horse people! I also want to throw in Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry into the mix because this is an absolute classic in horse fiction.
Hadley: Pretty much any book you can find on horse training and/or behavior! There is a documentary called Wild Horse, Wild Ride, that follows several trainers as they compete in the Extreme Mustang Makeover (where they have 100 days to train a completely wild horse), that shows a variety of different horses, and their responses to certain trials and tasks as they learn. There are a couple of bad words in this movie, though, so definitely ask your parents first and watch at your own discretion.
Hannah: The first resource I recommend is the website Horse&Rider.com It has some really good info on horse care/training and other information.
Another great resource is the JSHorsemanship youtube channel, it is filled with info from horse care to riding, most of her videos are for beginners but even more advanced people can still learn from them. And also Equine Helper youtube channel/website is really helpful!
Then if you’re more interested in learning more about miniature horses and their care, The Big Book of Miniature Horses is a really good resource!
Kirsten: I absolutely second the aforementioned book, How to Think Like a Horse by Cherry Hill. It’s a great resource for understanding a horse’s behavior, their “why’s” to what they do, and how certain human interactions can come across as either positive or negative.
I’d also recommend checking out Certified Horsemanship Association’s (CHA) educational videos on YouTube or, if you’re willing to spend the money, purchase their Composite Horsemanship Manual. CHA is focused on promoting excellence in safety and education for the equine industry, and their manuals dive into everything from horse care, behavior and reasoning, common health problems, and different tack (equipment) to riding skills in both English and Western, from beginner to advanced. Their YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@chainstructor) has short videos on different topics like horse health, safety, horse care, and riding. A great place to look if you have specific questions about horses or riding!
Finally, if you DO end up writing a story where you need your protagonist to train a green horse, you can make sure it’s done right by looking into well-known trainers like Ken McNabb. McNabb has a great understanding of horses and works by the principle of, “What does the horse get out of this [training]?” His YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@KenMcNabb) has a great video series called, Discovering the Horseman Within which delves into training techniques and ideas to help you become a better horseman (or woman) AND help the horse become a better mount.
Abby B: I second what the others said about Horse Illustrated, that’s a good, basic place to start. I also would recommend deciding on what discipline your main character is going to be in (dressage, jumping, western, etc.) and going and finding websites/magazines that specialize in that discipline. Finally, Equine Helper and This Esme on youtube have good information as well!
Abigail: All of the above-mentioned resources are amazing! A couple that I love are The Horse Encyclopedia by Elwyn Hartley Edwards (Tons of information on breeds, history, and about everything else involving horses!), and all of Marguerite Henry’s books. While a bit old fashioned, she portrays horses realistically and has some sweet stories to go along with them. Like Abby said, if you’re looking for information on training/working with a horse, you have to decide what they’re going to be doing, and then research that accordingly. Teaching a horse to do barrel racing is very different from teaching them to jump.
Another fun thing to do that is helpful, especially for describing stuff is to go to a local horse supplies store! Dover Saddlery is an English apparel store that has locations all over the U.S. Walking in there and just looking at the bridles, saddles and brushes can be helpful when trying to get a visual of what something would look or feel like. Asking the employees questions about horse stuff is great as well; usually they either own or work with horses and so are extremely knowledgeable about all of the ups and downs!
Abby P: Absolutely Horse Illustrated! Some other good magazines that post their articles online are Equus and Horse & Rider – which is especially great because it focuses specifically on western riding, which is hard to find. All three of those are great resources!
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Thank you all so much for helping out with this panel discussion! I hope that all the writers who read this found it helpful!
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About The Writers
Allie Lynn has been horse crazy since the age of eight and has experience as a part-time stablehand, horse therapy, a Joe Wolters clinic, and three years of riding lessons under her belt. You can find her writing about horses and their severely underappreciated cousins, mules, (as well as how to write them and where to find the finest equine fiction) on her website, EquineontheMind.com.
Rebecca Chisam is a teenage writer from Massachusetts. She loves telling stories and is the author of the middle-grade animal fantasy series, Guardians of the Neighborhood. She is an equestrian and loves jumping, rides along the bog, and Appaloosas. She also enjoys animating and various forms of visual art.
Find more about her work at www.guardiansoftheneighborhood.com.
Skye Lore has wanted a horse for as long as she can remember and has desired to write about them for a long time as well. When she was seven, she first had the opportunity to be around horses when she was introduced to the world of equestrian vaulting. In more recent years, she has also taken riding lessons and does everything she can to learn more about these wonderful creatures including researching, reading books, and attending equine competitions.
Ruby Miner began her writing and riding career at around eleven years old. A dressage and polo rider with four years of riding experience, she loves the feel of perfect balance between horse and rider. When she’s not feeding her horse excessive amounts of watermelon, you might find her writing fantasy, reading fantasy, and getting lost in her own fantasies. You can catch her via her email list, rubyminer.beehiiv.com.
Hadley rode a horse for the first time, bareback and with a dog leash, at the age of eight. She fell in love right then and there, and her obsession has never faded. She has competed in several rodeo events, as well as Eventing. Having ridden over a dozen horses, she is passionate about broadening her horsemanship skills to be a more well-rounded rider. When she’s not in the barn, you can usually find her trying to translate different story ideas from her brain onto paper, wishing she could have more than one cup of coffee a day, or teaching herself far too many languages.
Hannah Peterson first discovered the horse world at age ten and has never looked back, from her imaginary horse stables to her stable of horse characters Hannah has been on the ups and downs of the trail for six years now, she has had two years of horse riding lessons/horse care experience and has several equine fantasy novels written, Besides writing and horses she does a wide variety of hobbies [most if not all involved with something to do with horses] and loves bareback trail riding, history, and goats!
Abby Burrus is a horse-loving, fantasy author who also writes equestrian fiction. She has five years of riding lessons under a professional trainer and has cared for her pony, Shorty, for longer. She loves learning about how to train and understand horses. She also has written equestrian contemporary fiction that, she hopes, will be a breath of fresh air in a genre filled with tropes and unrealistic portrayals (as shown in this article). She also writes wonder-filled fantasy that reaches up to God and glory. You can join her journey at abbyburrus.com.
Kirsten Foster is a historical western writer that writes about horses on just about every page. She is a CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association) certified riding instructor in both English and Western seats with a decade of horse riding and care experience and mentorship under training professionals. Her goal is to share the joy and love of horses and riding with people while making their experiences fun, educational, and safe. She enjoys quiet trail rides through the woods and assisting in training her friend’s horses (and mule!).
Abigail Cash has loved horses from her very first pony ride at age 2, but wasn’t able to start working with them until over six years ago when a friend recommended a free mentorship program at equine therapy ranch. Now, she volunteers at the same ranch and is a session leader to kids who deal with trauma; teaching them to ride, care for, and learn about God through horses. She also helps rehabilitate and train the rescued horses that come to the ranch and is trained in the Liberty method. Besides horses, she enjoys writing fantasy novels and reading yet another book.
Abby Powers has over a decade of horse experience – she started riding in kindergarten and was hooked ever since. She has two horses and has extensive experience in several western disciplines. She writes young adult and middle-grade fantasy, as well as fiction horse books. You can find her at ofhorsesandheroes.com (although the website is currently experiencing some technical problems), where she writes about horses, books, and all things related to them. You can join her newsletter at ofhorsesandheroes.ck.page.