I can say for sure regarding my Morgan mare, that she simply WON'T do anything unless she's pretty sure it's in her best interest. She is the kind of horse who could find herself in a very bad home due to her stubborness. She's a fighter, and would probably stand there and fight to her death in the wrong hands. For this reason, she needs a kind alpha human. It's imparative that I'm alpha with her, but it's also super important that she understand that I have her best interests in mind. Given that (very close) relationship, this mare would move heaven and earth for me. This is the kind of partnership you need to win at any competative equine sport. A 'beast' or a 'slave' won't give his/her best. The best horse trainers know this. Look at Hap Hansen and Suzie Hutchinson, they have had incredibly long careers in the show jumping world with a few remarkable horses and in Suzie's case, her horse Woodstock competed on the west coast show jumping circuit into his 20's. I personally saw him turn himself inside out to get out of a bad spot the two of them found themselves in. A coerced horse wouldn't do that for his rider. He would pull a stop and the rider would kiss the dirt. Certainly, you are welcome to your opinion that horses shouldn't be ridden. They are very happy being lawn ornaments, but many horse owners, and many competative riders and a close and caring relationship with their horses.