This isn’t a real term. It’s the best phrase I can come up with to describe something I see too much of: horse owners who loudly and dramatically express extreme love for their horse but don’t back it up with the time, effort, and care their horse actually needs. It bothers me to no end.

As a trainer and instructor, I come across people with a wide array of financial resources, physical abilities, and equine knowledge. I’ve noticed a pattern of behaviors in Performative Horse Owners that pretty consistently manifests like this:

1. Frequently claims, profusely and dramatically, to care for their horse no matter what – meaning that if anything should happen to make the horse unsuitable for their desired activity, they would still love and care for it just the same. Their horse is PERFECT and THE CUTEST.
2. Has significant financial means that they publicly lavish upon their horse — though their resources aren’t so vast that horse ownership is completely inconsequential.
3. Makes decisions about their horse’s physical care that have more to do with human needs than horse needs.Complicated care such as expensive supplements, “luxurious” amounts of bedding, massages, and frequent blanket changes seems to be necessary for their generally healthy horses. This care is often “performed” for maximum awareness of those around them.
4. Makes decisions about the care of their horse that have more to do with their own lifestyle factors than their horse’s physical and emotional requirements. While the care their horse doesn’t need is often “performed,” when their horse truly needs something that would be inconvenient to provide, it tends to go by the wayside. Cleaning their horse’s run-in in very hot or cold weather, or changing bandages on a strict schedule, are two such examples.
5. Time and energy are not directed toward bettering their horsemanship. The thing that would really help their horse the most is often neglected, as time and energy are instead funneled into unnecessary, time-consuming, expensive care.
6. When the horse is ultimately physically or emotionally unsuitable for their goals, it is discarded or no longer given much attention. I have seen this light switch flip surprisingly suddenly and completely. This scenario — a horse no longer being a suitable riding partner (most often) — is, in my mind, the truest test of whether someone really loves their horse, or is just performing love for their horse.

I wasn’t sure I should write this. I’m still not. But I have seen this pattern repeat over and over, and it really troubles me. Not only does it feel hypocritical — more importantly, the horses suffer. 

When I take on a new client or boarder, I am most wary of those who theatrically emphasize their love for the horse, versus those who have a quieter, more practical sensibility that truly seems to put the horse first. And to be clear, most of my clients, horse friends, and acquaintances fall into this second category of thoughtful, serious horse owners — thank goodness!