A topic I haven’t yet come across in the equestrian world, even though I believe it’s extremely important to talk about.

In human society, we’ve defined a wide range of cognitive and developmental disorders: impaired reasoning, reduced intelligence, attention disorders, neurodivergence, or disrupted learning processes. We understand that individuals with such diagnoses have certain limitations, and (ideally) we adapt to their abilities and offer support.

For some mysterious reason, however, we assume that every horse is born fully functional and ready to perform for humans. Yet in my therapeutic practice, I meet horses that show signs of various mental/cognitive deficits and neurodivergence. I’ve met horses I would clearly place somewhere on the autistic spectrum, as well as horses that showed signs of intellectual disability.

These horses are not to blame for their condition. They cannot perform at the level of their healthy peers. They may struggle to concentrate, maintain attention, or learn; they may find it difficult to form social bonds with horses or humans; they may be emotionally unstable or unpredictable. But that does not mean they are “bad.” They are simply different.

Owners of such horses often face enormous pressure from others. They are criticised for not training or educating the horse properly, they move from trainer to trainer, trying everything possible on various scales of pressure to make the horse function “normally.” But such a horse will never be “normal.” We have to accept this and offer support.

Cognitive function can also be influenced by:

👉 Aging – degenerative changes in the brain or nervous system.
👉 Chronic pain/physical discomfort – pain can occupy attention and reduce the ability to concentrate.
👉 Neurological disorders – infections or degenerative diseases of the central nervous system.
👉 Metabolic disorders – diabetes, Cushing’s syndrome, hormonal changes affecting the brain.
👉 Lack of stimulation – a horse long-term without proper enrichment.
👉 Stress/anxiety/depression – psychological factors can slow reactions and reduce concentration.

Mental deficit
(also called intellectual disability or developmental delay) refers to reduced cognitive abilities compared to the typical population – an actual limitation of brain function (learning, memory, orientation, problem-solving, adaptive behaviour).
In horses:
🟢 it may result from real neurological or developmental damage (trauma, birth hypoxia, CNS infection, etc.),
🟢 the horse struggles to learn even simple patterns, repeatedly forgets previously learned responses,
🟢 behaviour may appear “slow,” uncoordinated, confused, or illogical,
🟢 the horse often has trouble adapting even in a routine environment (1,000 times and still the first time),
🟢 sometimes reactions are disproportionate (no clear link between stimulus and response).
This is not “stubbornness” or “disobedience,” but a limit of the nervous system—similar to a human with intellectual disability.

Neurodivergence
refers to a different way of functioning of the nervous system, not necessarily a deficit. It’s a different way of processing information (autism, ADHD, hypersensitivity, PTSD, trauma-related nervous-system reorganisation).
In horses, it is not reduced intelligence but a differently tuned nervous system:
🟢 they are highly sensitive to stimuli (light, sounds, touch, environmental changes),
🟢 they may show non-standard reactions—freezing instead of fleeing, or overly intense responses,
🟢 they learn differently: they respond better to gentleness, consistency, and safety but may “shut down” under pressure or stress,
🟢 they often show functional dysregulation—their nervous system shifts between activation and shutdown more quickly and sensitively,
🟢 they respond more to emotional tone and felt safety than to classical training,
🟢 they may struggle with social behaviour—difficulty forming bonds with horses or humans.
Such a horse can be perceptive, intuitive, and intelligent, but requires an approach that respects its neurophysiology.

– A horse with a mental deficit will learn the basics but will never be reliable in complex tasks, may react slowly or seem “absent,” and needs a simple, consistent environment.
– A neurodivergent horse is sensitive to emotional nuances but easily overwhelmed, reacts to micro-movements of the body, and needs a strong sense of safety and predictability.

he most important principle is that every horse is unique, and we must adapt to its needs as much as possible. The recommendations below are simplified for reasonable text length.

(a horse whose nervous system functions differently—extreme sensitivity, trauma, hypersensitivity, unstable regulation)
Our primary goal is to support nervous-system regulation → so the horse can stay present and feel safe even in mild activation. It doesn’t matter whether the exercise is successful—what matters is that the horse remains calm and mentally present.
If the horse does not feel safe (shifting on the polyvagal traffic light from green to orange or red), we pause the training and focus on returning to a regulated state. A neurodivergent horse is usually unable to function or think when pressured, overwhelmed, or feeling unsafe.

(a horse with real neurological or developmental limitations—post hypoxia, injury, CNS degeneration)
We simplify and stabilise the horse’s environment as much as possible. We build and maintain routines, repeat the same activities where the horse feels safe and comfortable, avoid overwhelming it, and train only within its limits, setting aside our own ambitions.

– work calmly,
– set clear boundaries but punish as little as possible—and never for misunderstanding an exercise or for slower reactions,
– support social needs—provide a suitable herd or tolerant companions, as both mentally impaired and neurodivergent horses may struggle socially,
– create safe routines that bring predictability,
– be a stable anchor and source of safety,
– praise, support, and love them, even if they are more complex and “different.”

And above all—have understanding and patience.

So what next? Let’s talk about it. Let’s explore and study it. Let’s help these horses and their owners—and stop punishing them for what they cannot do. Every horse has its place in this world, even if it’s not the one we originally imagined for ourselves.