Horse Sense

A miniature horse giving therapy to humans.

Horse Sense

The man looked great!  He was standing there, doing his best cowboy impression, right down to his newly purchased boots.  To those judging him from the outside, the way he looked, he was the real deal.  At least, right up until the miniature horse in the corral with the man, his wife and daughter walked up.

The horse headed straight for the man until his nose was at the human’s leg.  Then, the horse turned smartly, lifted his tail and dropped a load of dung right on top of those new boots!  That action brought the family’s first horse therapy session to an abrupt end.

Lest you think this was a coincidence, the same occurrence happened during the next two sessions.  And, that third session brought the desired therapeutic result.  The daughter in the family finally opened up to reveal that she was being abused by her father.  The horse had been right all along!

Horses have what some would call super powers when it comes to reading emotions and people.  I knew a little about this by growing up with horses in my family.  I was told that our “horses could sense my fear” and that the way I felt would impact my ride as well as my relationship with them.  But, I had no idea as to the extent of their true natural abilities.  Now, I know just how little I still know about these amazing creatures.

Horse therapy is now used globally to assist human individuals and families through difficult emotional and social issues and that has made me think really long and hard about the common term, “Horse Sense.”  Perhaps every one of us could benefit from having and using our own common sense and, when we’re lacking in that area, we could look to the “horse-source” for more.

Horses use more than their eyes to judge character.  The way a person’s apparel and the style in which they dress is meaningless to a horse.  A horse’s first impression of a person is felt.  They can read human energy and they know exactly who a person is on the inside as a result.  They rely on this instinct for the protection of themselves and their herd.  They teach us that what’s most important about other is who others are internally.

Horses stay away from those who, they sense, are not good on the inside.  In fact, they will become immediately agitated, turn their backs, buck and run away.  They know that the traits of those they associate with, rub off on them.

Horses know who to rub with.  A young girl who was grieving the loss of her parent walked into a horse therapy corral not knowing what to expect.  In a couple of quick-minutes she had the therapy-horse’s head resting on her shoulder, as the horse snuggled right up to her neck to offer comfort and support.  They know that physically showing love and comfort can lift those that are hurting the most.

Horses live with each other, comfortably, within the social rules of their herd.  They watch each other’s foals and correct the behavior of those that break with what’s good for the whole herd.  They know having a strong, cohesive society that protects their young, middle aged and aged members is essential to their survival and health.  They how to give space to all sizes, age and temperaments of horses.  They know that they must have food and range (homes) for their growing young, and they teach their foals how to be successful adults, so they can live successfully in the herd.

The man looked great, but his (herd) family life was a disaster!  He was standing there, doing his best cowboy impression, right down to his newly purchased boots.  To those judging him from the outside, the way he looked, he was a real dad.  At least, right up until the miniature horse in the corral with the man, his wife and daughter walked up.

The miniature horse headed straight for the man until his nose was at the human’s leg.  Then, the horse turned smartly, lifted his tail and dropped a load of dung right on top of those new boots!  That action brought the family’s first therapy session to an abrupt end.

In the end, it was horse sense that allowed the family to begin a healing process.  Now, and in the end, living with horse sense will allow you and me to give space to all sizes, age and temperaments of people.  After all, we know that all people must have food and homes, in which to live, so we can teach our children how to be successful adults, and live successfully in our growing herd.