What are the signs that a horse has genuinely bonded with its handler versus simply being well trained?

The distinction between a well-trained horse and a genuinely bonded horse is something Warwick Schiller, Pat Parelli, and Clinton Anderson all address, and it matters practically because a well-trained horse without genuine bond will show different — and sometimes more dangerous — behavior patterns than a horse that is both trained and bonded. A well-trained horse without genuine bond executes its learned responses reliably within the conditions it was trained in, but breaks down when those conditions change significantly. It performs its stops, turns, and yields correctly in the arena but becomes a different horse at a new location, in traffic, or after time off — because the behavior was built on repetition and pressure-and-release without the relational foundation that makes it generalizable. A genuinely bonded horse shows several specific behavioral signs that distinguish it from the merely well-trained horse. It voluntarily seeks the handler's company in situations where other options are available. It shows visible relaxation — not just stillness — in the handler's presence. It orientates toward the handler when uncertain rather than away. Its behavior in novel environments is significantly better with the handler present than without, because the handler is providing genuine regulation rather than just control. Clinton Anderson describes the bonded horse as one that meets the handler at the gate — that comes toward the handler when given the choice rather than moving away or standing neutral. Parelli describes it as a horse that chooses to be with the handler at liberty, following willingly and maintaining proximity without pressure. Schiller describes it as a horse whose nervous system visibly settles when the handler approaches — whose breathing slows, whose head lowers, and whose eye softens at the mere approach of the specific person it is bonded to. All three trainers note that genuine bond and good training are not mutually exclusive — the best horses are both. But bond without training can be dangerous, and training without bond produces a horse that is reliable only within narrow conditions.