Letter to the Editor: Reclaiming the Value of the Unrideable Horses

[Wandering Eyes]

In the horse world, value is too often measured in miles ridden, ribbons won, or jumps cleared.

Success is frequently defined by performance, competition, or potential. But there's an entire population of horses–older, injured, sensitive, or simply different–who remind us that value has nothing to do with being under saddle.

These are the horses who work in-hand. They don't need to be ridden to be remarkable. They don't perform in the arena, but they show up in ways that are often quieter, more profound, and more enduring. And yet, too often, they are treated as second-class citizens–dismissed as “pasture pets,” or seen as burdens instead of beings with purpose.

Let's be clear: horses that can no longer be ridden–or perhaps never were–are not broken, useless, or lesser in any way. In fact, they may be among the most emotionally intelligent, communicative, and impactful animals in the herd. Freed from the physical demands of carrying a rider, they often shine in ground-based partnerships. They offer connection, responsiveness, and presence that sometimes surpass that of their saddle-bound peers.

These horses excel at relational work. They are therapy partners, educators, and confidence-builders. They teach children how to lead with softness and elders how to stand tall. They model boundaries, trust, and forgiveness without ever needing to be mounted In equine-assisted programs, they help humans navigate grief, fear, and trauma–not by carrying them, but by walking beside them.

We often talk about listening to horses. In-hand work demands it. With no bridle to control and no saddle to stabilize, we're asked to meet the horse at eye level, both physically and metaphorically. We learn to cue with breath, intention, and the lightest suggestion of energy.

We become better horse people–and better humans–because of it.

At sanctuaries and aftercare programs like This Old Horse, these animals thrive. They transition from overlooked to irreplaceable. Some are former athletes whose bodies could no longer meet the rigors of competition. Others were never trained for riding but possess a kind of wisdom that cannot be taught. All are teachers in their own right.

And the people who love them? The ones who don't ride, but brush manes, walk quietly alongside them, share space, and listen with reverence? They're just as real, just as passionate, just as connected as any equestrian in a saddle.

There's a stubborn myth in the horse world–that if someone doesn't ride, they're not a “real” horse person. That myth is outdated, and it's time to put it to rest. You don't need to ride to matter in a horse's life. And a horse doesn't need to carry you to be meaningful in yours.

If we believe horses are healers, then we must believe in every kind of healing they offer–ridden or not.

The industry, and our culture, must do a better job of honoring the whole horse–not just the rideable ones. Let's build space, funding, and programming not as pity projects, but as partnerships of purpose. Let's stop measuring value in saddle time and start honoring all the ways horses show up for us–and all the people who show up for them, no matter how.

No labels. No hierarchy. Just connection, compassion, and belonging.

After all, the most meaningful journeys often don't require a saddle.

–Nancy Turner, Founder of This Old Horse

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