Brought to you by The Plaidcast
Few things create faster judgment in the show ring than a rail or two. A green horse swaps leads, chips, jumps awkwardly, or leaves a fence behind, and suddenly the verdict feels immediate: not careful, not talented, not good enough.
But according to Sonja Ochadlik, an Ireland-based show jumping rider and young horse producer, that snap judgment is often less about the horse and more about how poorly we understand the development process. “I think these are green mistakes,” she says simply.
Learning to tell the difference between normal learning moments and true warning signs is one of the most important and overlooked skills in producing young horses.
What “Green” Actually Looks Like
Green horses are, by definition, inexperienced. Yet many riders expect them to perform as if they already understand the job.
“If you want to be involved in this process,” Sonja explains, “there’s going to be some not-pretty video.” That might include swapped leads, inconsistent contact, awkward distances, or rails that fall without an obvious reason. “We might bonk a rail for no reason,” she says. “We might be ending up in a few awkward spots because our rideability isn’t amazing yet.”
None of those moments automatically indicate a lack of ability. More often, they reflect a horse that is still learning how to balance, read a fence, and coordinate its body with a rider.
One of the most damaging assumptions in modern sport is that carefulness shows up early—or it never will. Sonja’s experience tells a different story.
She recalls a horse who had rails in nearly every class as a four- and five-year-old. “Everybody was like, ‘What are you doing with that horse?’” she remembers. The criticism was relentless, but she and her husband stayed the course.
“At six, it clicked,” she says. The horse went on to qualify for major finals, compete internationally, and later jump at a high level. The rails hadn’t been a lack of talent. They were part of a developmental phase.
“I think people forget that horses mature at different rates,” Sonja explains. “Normally by the end of the six-year-old, seven-year-old year, they’re all sort of evening out.”
Context Matters More Than Results
A single round, good or bad, rarely tells the full story. Environment, travel, rider changes, and show atmosphere all influence how a young horse performs.
Even horses that appear confident in familiar environments may struggle when something changes. “Even just moving locations can shake up a green horse or a young horse a little bit,” Sonja notes. Add travel fatigue, new routines, and new expectations, and inconsistency becomes understandable—not alarming.
What matters more than the result is how the horse responds. Does it try again? Does it recover after a mistake? Does it improve with repetition and clarity? Those answers reveal far more than a scorecard ever will.
True Red Flags to Take Seriously
Reading a young horse fairly doesn’t mean ignoring real concerns. Sonja is clear that not all issues should be brushed aside.
Red flags tend to show up in patterns, not moments: resistance that escalates rather than improves, inability to mentally reset, or signs of physical discomfort that persist despite thoughtful management. These are signals that something deeper may be wrong—and that slowing down or changing direction is necessary.
“The standards are higher than ever,” Sonja says, “and the perfectionism of the end product is higher than ever.” That pressure makes it even more important to distinguish between a horse that needs time and one that needs a different plan.
Fair Evaluation Is a Welfare Issue
When riders misinterpret green mistakes as failure, the consequences extend beyond disappointment. Horses are pushed too fast, sold too quickly, or labeled unfairly before they’ve had time to develop.
In contrast, fair evaluation protects longevity. It allows horses to build confidence, strength, and understanding without being punished for inexperience. “Horses do not take any less time to train,” Sonja reminds us. “And they don’t take any less time just because expectations have changed.”
Progress with young horses is rarely linear, and it’s almost never tidy. Learning to assess development with patience and perspective isn’t lowering the bar; it’s raising the standard of horsemanship.
“If you enjoy the journey with the horse,” Sonja says, “that’s where the value is.” And part of that journey is learning to tell the difference between a horse that’s learning and one that’s asking for help.
Want more insight from Sonja Ochadlik? Listen to this episode of The Plaidcast and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for conversations with the most influential voices in the equestrian world.
