Why it exists
Beyond impressions: the need for informed assessment
How we describe our horses reflects how we understand them. And how we understand them guides our choices.
Too often behaviour is simplified, tendencies described with rough labels, and decisions made on the basis of superficial impressions. Horse Personality Test is born with a simple goal: to help you observe your horse more consciously and objectively.
It is not intended to replace experience or professional judgment, but to offer a structured tool to reduce bias, recognise real patterns and understand the horse not as a category, but as an individual with unique needs and characteristics.
The framework
Temperament, Character and Personality
To truly understand a horse, it is useful to distinguish three levels: Temperament (innate biological basis), Character (built through experiences and learning) and Personality (the result of the interaction between genetics and environment).
Our test does not label the horse as immutable, but offers a starting point to observe more carefully, recognise the behavioural patterns that influence daily management, and consciously reduce the influence of bias in how we interpret the horse.
Philosophy
Our approach
Observation
We believe behaviour should be observed carefully and with an open mind — not labelled or judged too quickly.
Individuality
Every horse has a unique behavioural profile and deserves to be understood as an individual, not as a category.
Welfare
Better understanding leads to better decisions, better management and ultimately, better welfare.
Part of
Part of Horse First
Horse Personality Test is part of Horse First, a project born from Scuderia 1918 with the goal of putting the horse at the centre of research, practice and decision-making.
Horse First represents a commitment to a more conscious equestrian culture, based on scientific observation, welfare and a respectful relationship with the horse. The test is a concrete tool of this vision: helping those who work with horses to understand better and make more informed decisions.
Foundation
What this project is grounded in
Horse Personality Test is built around the idea that behavioural tendencies matter.
It does not aim to replace professional evaluation, but to offer a more conscious and structured way of observing horses and recognising patterns that often influence daily management and training.
It is grounded in the belief that understanding personality can help support both welfare and performance through more informed decisions.
Vision
Our vision
A better equestrian culture starts with better understanding.
Our vision is to make personality and behavioural awareness a more accessible part of everyday horse management — helping riders and owners build more informed, respectful and effective relationships with their horses.