The link between speed and stress in equine behaviour - My first mount charged his jumps with enthusiasm. He never backed off. I believed he was a “brave” jumper — passionate about jumping, just like me! Every time we approached a jump, his head would lift, ears would lock forward, and his pace would quicken. I assumed the jumper ring, with its emphasis on speed, was a more suitable match for my spirited jumper than the slower-paced hunter ring. But once we entered the competition arena, his eagerness became an issue.
