NO SUCH THING Podcast

Episode: Do horses actually hate running? (Remastered)
Hosts: Devin, Manny, Noah
Release Date: December 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this remastered “OG” episode, the trio—Devin, Manny, and Noah—dive deep into a decade-long debate that spawned their podcast: do horses actually like running, or have we all fallen for a myth? What starts as a lighthearted question leads to a thorough exploration of our collective assumptions about animals, domestication, and the stories culture tells us.

The hosts use firsthand observation, delve into media depictions, consult an ex-horse industry insider, and visit a local horse rescue to finally settle whether horses like to run or if we’re projecting our desires onto them.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origin of the Debate (02:44–06:21)

• Devin’s Childhood Observations: Growing up near New Jersey horse farms, Devin notices that horses rarely run when unprovoked. Unlike dogs, who run frequently for pleasure, horses seem content just eating and standing idle in their paddocks.
  • Devin: “To this day, I have never seen horses run in person without humans telling them to do it or forcing them to do it.” (04:14)
• Comparison to Dogs: Devin points out that if you watch dogs in a pen, they often run for fun, but horses, in his experience, don’t — unless prodded.

2. Challenging Cultural Narratives (08:52–11:08)

• Media vs. Reality: The group examines how movies, advertisements, and documentaries glamorize the running horse, which shapes public perception.
  • Noah: “We are kind of led to believe that, like, horses are running all the time… Ride like the wind. Horses like to run.” (09:36)
• The Cheetah Parallel: Just as we mythologize the cheetah’s speed, horse running is a recurring media motif.

3. Questioning Footage and Documentaries (11:29–14:20)

• Are Horses Forced to Run for Cameras? The hosts point out that many “wild horses running” videos are shot from helicopters, which may spook animals into running.
  • Devin: “Horses are running because they’re running away from the damn helicopter.” (13:31)
• Documentary Fakery: They discuss infamous staged animal sequences (e.g., lemmings being pushed off cliffs) to argue that what we see might not be genuine behavior.

4. Beyond Preference: The Animal Perspective (17:17–19:55)

• Do Any Animals Run for Fun? The team debates the challenge of ascribing human pleasure to animal actions. Even for dogs, it’s likely a mix of instinct and release rather than a conscious choice for fun.
  • Manny: “I don’t know how to really talk about animals and the pleasure they perceive.” (17:21)
• Domestication, Use, and Guilt: The hosts suggest society needs to believe horses like running to justify riding, racing, and putting them to work.
  • Devin: “It’s a lot easier to just say, hey, they’re good at this. They like it.... Otherwise, leave me alone, Susie.” (19:46)

5. The Equine Expert: Ren Hurst (25:44–33:19)

• Introduction: Ren Hurst, an ex-horse trainer and farrier, is brought in for authoritative insight.
  • Ren: “Everything we think we know about horses is viewed through the lens of our own domestication, rather than through the lens of actually understanding what it means to be a horse.” (29:10)
• The School That Changed Her Mind: Ren describes leaving the industry upon adopting a Russian school of horsemanship that prioritized the animal’s agency and safety—eschewing all forms of coercion or manipulation.
• De-Domesticated Herd: Now caring for undomesticated horses, she observes a peaceful, cooperative, and calm herd. When horses do run, it’s for play or instinct, not to appease humans.
  • Ren: “These guys run when they play... And you can tell they’re being joyful because they’re playing... I don’t think anyone can say ‘horses love to run’ about any horse, all the time.” (32:18)
• Domestication as Trauma: Ren argues domesticating animals interrupts their development and autonomy, likening it to a form of trauma that society justifies for its own benefit.

6. Synthesis: Horses Do Run—Sometimes (33:19–35:21)

• It’s Individual & Complex: The answer isn’t black and white. Some horses run joyfully, some don’t, and most only run occasionally and with purpose (to play, react to threats or move quickly).
  • Manny: “The answer is horses do like running when they want to run... but when most of the time horses are running, they don’t want to. It’s like a race or work.” (33:19)
• Context Matters: Unprovoked running is rare and usually brief. Conservation of energy is natural for prey animals.

7. Field Report: Visiting Bergen County Horse Rescue (36:43–40:15)

• On-Site Observations: The hosts visit a local rescue in New Jersey. The horses there are calm, mostly still, and not running.
  • Noah: “We see some horses outside...not a single one of them are running right now. In fact, not only are they not running, they are standing completely still.” (37:05)
• Personality & Preference: Staff (Erin and Jen) share that horses have unique personalities and quirks, like knowing their names or not, but generally only move vigorously for short bursts (e.g., play or asserting dominance in the herd).
• Media Mythology: Even at the rescue, experts confirm that movies and TV are misleading about how much horses run.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Devin’s Core Argument: “I don’t think horses like to run. I think horses are good at running... But if horses got to decide, I don’t think most would ever run.” (06:14)
• Ren Hurst’s Paradigm Shift:

  “I have undomesticated my herd... allowed them to be guided by their own intrinsic forces rather than perceived ideas of what’s good for them. That has rewritten my truth around what horses need, who horses are, and what is actually good for them.” (29:27)

• On Projection and Domestication:

  “Domestication is the intentional interruption of emotional development so that someone can control your behavior. That is the essence of capitalism and society as it currently exists.” – Ren (29:51)

• On Authentic Animal Behavior:

  “No healthy animal is unaware of the importance of conservation of energy, especially a prey animal. You’re not going to have horses running around expending energy for no reason, when they might need to run away from a threat.” – Ren (35:10)

• Noah on Field Observations:

  “This is essentially like the equivalent of me trying to beat the crosswalk time... a light little jog and then I’m done after 10 seconds.” (39:14)

• Jen (Manager):

  “People will ask me if horses know their names... 90% of them are just going to ignore you anyway. More like cats.” (38:13)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:44–06:21: Devin’s personal observations spark debate
• 08:52–11:08: Pop culture’s depiction of horses
• 11:29–14:20: The “fake” nature of animal documentaries
• 17:17–19:55: Can animals have fun? Is liking a human concept?
• 25:44–33:19: Interview with Ren Hurst, her background and insights
• 33:19–35:21: Hosts synthesize findings, analyze context
• 36:43–40:15: On-site visit to Bergen County Horse Rescue

Takeaways

• Media Misleads: The idea that horses love running is largely a human projection, reinforced by commercial, sporting, and entertainment interests.
• Reality Check: Left on their own, horses rarely run for fun—they conserve energy and only sprint for play, threats, or brief, purposeful reasons.
• Domestication’s Impact: True autonomy for horses reveals quieter, more peaceful behavior than the narrative of perpetual motion.
• It’s Complicated: Like people, horses vary in temperament. Some enjoy running under certain circumstances, but many don’t, and almost none do it all the time.

Recommended for:
Anyone interested in animals, media literacy, domestication, or just winning their next weird group chat debate.

For more:
See photos, extra notes, and “Do Horses Hate Running?” merch at nosuchthing.show.