Blog 3: Hold Your Horses: They Might Be Teaching You More Than You Know
Let’s get one thing straight—when you spend time with horses, you’re not the teacher. You’re the student.
For years, centuries really, horses have been quietly guiding us toward becoming better versions of ourselves. They do it without saying a word, without judging, without preaching. But if you slow down, breathe, and listen with more than just your ears, you’ll begin to realize horses teach us more about ourselves than any book, seminar, or TED Talk ever could.
The Oldest Teachers in the World
The relationship between humans and horses runs deep. In fact, it’s ancient. All the way back in 430 BCE, Greek philosopher and horseman Xenophon wrote about this unique bond. He said, “The golden rule when dealing with horses is to never approach them with anger.” And wow, does that still hit home today.
He goes on to explain that “anger is devoid of forethought that will often drive a man to do things which, in a calmer mood, he would regret.”
Pause for a moment….how many of us have snapped at a loved one, spoken too quickly in a meeting, or lost our cool at a child….only to regret it later?
Now imagine this: you’re working with a horse, and you come in hot, loud, frustrated, and tense. The horse senses it immediately. They don’t respond with defiance or disrespect. Instead, they pull away. They disconnect. They wait for your energy to shift. That alone is one of the first and most profound lessons: control your energy, or you’ll lose connection.
Sound familiar? It should. It applies to our kids, our spouses, our friends, and our coworkers. Horses just happen to teach it faster and more gracefully—than most humans.
Why Horses Are Master Self-Awareness Coaches
If you’ve ever worked with a horse, even briefly, you’ve likely felt it. That moment when the horse reacts in a way that makes you go, “Whoa… was that me?” Yes, it was.
Horses are prey animals, which means they’re hardwired to read body language, energy, and intention. They pick up on the tiniest of cues: your breath, your stance, your emotional state and reflect it right back to you. If you’re nervous, they’re cautious. If you’re centered, they feel safe.
Working with horses reveals what’s really going on inside us, even when we think we’ve got it all together.
It’s not always easy to admit, but here’s the truth:
They don’t just respond to who we say we are, they respond to who we actually are.
What Horses Can Teach You About Everyday Life
Once you open yourself up to the idea that horses are here to teach (not just trot), you begin to see how relevant these lessons are to everything:
- Emotional Regulation: Horses won’t follow tension. Neither will people. Learn to calm your storm before inviting others in.
- Authenticity: Horses know when you’re pretending. So do humans, even if they’re less honest about it.
- Presence: Horses live in the moment. Work with them, and you will too. That’s where healing, growth, and real connection begin.
Just the Beginning
This is only the first step in a beautiful journey of growth, empathy, and rediscovery. Whether you’ve been around horses all your life or have never touched a saddle, one truth remains:
Spend time with a horse, and you’ll walk away changed.
In our next post, we’ll explore what legendary horsemen like Ray Hunt and the Dorrance brothers discovered in their decades-long journey with horses, how the horse is always the teacher, and how those lessons ripple out into every relationship in our lives.
Until then, take a breath. Be kind to yourself. And remember….the horse is always listening. Are you?
Are You Ready to Learn From a 1500-Pound Teacher?
Join us for an Equine Assisted Learning experience and see what your horse has to say about you. You might just leave the barn a better human.
Contact Emily Mann today, ride@horsepower.org or call the office 336.931.1424.