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In the world of equitation, success hinges not only on rider ability but also on the quality and character of the horse beneath them. Few know this better than trainer Don Stewart, whose equitation riders have stood at the top of the podium time and time again. When asked what makes a great equitation horse, Stewart didn’t hesitate.
“They need to want to do it,” he said. “You can’t make a horse do equitation. They have to be agreeable. They have to be brave. And they have to be careful, but not too careful.”
It’s a nuanced recipe that can’t be boiled down to just movement or jump style. Equitation horses must be athletes, but also partners. They’re capable of adapting, forgiving, and rising to the occasion on high-pressure days.
The Goldilocks Balance
One of Stewart’s most interesting observations is that the best equitation horses aren’t necessarily the best jumpers.
“If they jump too great, the rider can’t sit still enough to be effective,” he explained. “If they jump too flat, the rider can’t look good. It has to be just right.”
This “Goldilocks zone” is part of what makes finding the right equitation horse such a challenge. Stewart has an eye for this balance after decades of experience, but even then, it often comes down to feel.
“You’ll know it when you see it,” he said. “But more importantly, the rider has to know it when they feel it.”
Forgiveness and Reliability
Another trait Stewart looks for is a horse’s ability to forgive mistakes.
“No rider is perfect,” he said. “The really great ones are, sure, but everyone chips, everyone misses. A great equitation horse doesn’t hold a grudge.”
That kind of forgiveness is what allows riders to learn and grow—especially at the junior level. “These kids are under a lot of pressure,” he added. “The horse has to be a partner that helps them out, not one that punishes every error.”
Reliability is also key. Equitation horses don’t just perform once in a while. They show weekend after weekend, often across multiple finals in a single season.
“You need one that can come out and be the same horse every time,” Stewart said. “That’s hard to find.”
Brave, But Not Spicy
Stewart emphasized the need for bravery, particularly when courses ask more of the rider in terms of adjustability and track.
“A great equitation horse will march into any ring and do the job,” he said. “You don’t want something that’s going to peek at a jump or spook at a banner. They have to trust their rider, and the rider has to trust them.”
That said, they also can’t be too “hot.”
“Brave and spicy are not the same,” Stewart laughed. “Brave is about confidence. Spicy is about attitude. You want the former, not the latter.”
The X-Factor
For all the boxes an equitation horse can check on paper, Stewart admits that the truly great ones tend to have something you can’t define.
“There’s a little extra something,” he said. “Call it heart, call it try, call it the X-factor. But the best of the best… those horses just have it.”
It’s what allows a horse to rise to the occasion at Medal Finals or Maclay. It’s what makes them memorable. And for the rider lucky enough to partner with one, it can be a career-changing opportunity.
“When you find one that has all of it, bravery, forgiveness, a good jump, and that extra sparkle, you hang on tight,” Stewart said. “They don’t come around every day.”
To hear more from Don Stewart, listen to episode 320 of The Plaidcast. Subscribe and follow The Plaidcast on your favorite podcast platform for more insight from top voices in the equestrian world.
