Why Horses?

So, what makes horses so special? How do they have such tremendous influence on us?

An unknown writer once said:

"Look back at our struggle for freedom,

Trace our present day's strength to it's source,

And you'll find that Man's pathway to glory

Is strewn with the bones of the horse"

The fates of horses and humanity have been intertwined for longer than humans have been recording history. And yet, we could not be much more different, as far as mammalian species go. A primary difference between horses and humans is that while we are predators, they are a prey animal. Everything in their lives revolves around their survival, and the survival of their herd mates. They see the world, both literally and figuratively, completely different from how we do.

As a prey species, horses evolved to have their eyes on the sides of their head. This allows them an almost 360 degree view of their surroundings, which is critical to detecting potential threats.

Horses are always watching, listening, smelling, and sensing for anything that may be a danger to them or their herd. In the wild, horses who are on their own seldom survive long. The safety of the group depends on the relationship between it's members. If a horse does not follow the behaviors expected by their herd-mates, it could spell disaster for all. Horses must watch and learn from one another, and must act as a cohesive unit. For domesticated horses, the humans they interact with become a part of their herd, even if only temporarily. This means they must also watch and learn what to expect from us. As horses do not have a complex spoken language the way humans do, they rely on other cues, such as facial gestures, posture, body language, and even smelling minute changes in body chemistry to understand what we are thinking and feeling. These keen observation skills often allow them to know our thoughts and emotions better than we do ourselves. As such, horses can act as mirrors to our own inner world. We may convince ourselves that we feel or think a certain way, but horses can always tell if we are congruent between our thoughts and our emotions. As their very survival depends on these observations of complex body cues in others, they are always paying attention.

to be continued...