How Horses See Us

This past Thursday, I planned to do a video outside — but — a huge rain event axed my plans.

So I decided to have fun and make a different kind of video to share an insight into how horses see us.

As you know, I’m pretty casual in general, so this video is no different. You’ll have to tell me what you think about how I did with my new high-tech art side of things!

And BTW, the horse’s conformation behind was not my fave, with the hocks way out behind!


VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:

There is a distinct difference between how humans see each other and how horses see us.

For example, humans often communicate verbally with their accompanying body language, of course, but we rely a lot on the words – or at least we think we do!

We, people, also have thoughts, but you can’t see them on the outside.

Horses, though, perceive our energy – which is not seen. They hear our words and see our body language, but their antenna is tuned into our mood. They are prey animals, so that is how they are wired – to be on the alert and stay safe from scary predators.

Interestingly, when it comes to horse and people interaction, and when humans get overly excited, it impairs our ability to read a horse’s energy and body language.

But when we get into a calmer and still on-the-inside state, our horse may feel more at ease because they feel that energy, too.

The other benefit is that humans can perceive a horse more accurately in that more open, breathing, clearer thinking kind of state of mind, body, and emotion.

So there you go! An alert yet lower positive energy output state for people facilitates and initiates our best perception and communication exchange with a horse.

Let me know what you think of my high-end graphics and the message. Have a great week! Please leave a comment for me.

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Comments

22 Comments on How Horses See Us

  1. Judy Robinson on Sun, 9th Apr 2023 1:40 pm

    2. Thank you for this valuable insight. I have followed your advice to “ground” myself when visiting my mare. She will see me from afar and raise her head. At that moment I stop, relax, feel my feet, the air around me and look around. I take a few deep breaths before I approach her again. I think she appreciates my slowing down just a bit.

  2. Terrie Goiney on Sun, 9th Apr 2023 1:51 pm

    3. Love this! Your graphics and insights were perfect for me to understand and reflect on with my connection to my horse. When I’m focused , relaxed mentally on him I feel he lets me know I’m seeing and hearing him.

  3. DeAnna Ball on Sun, 9th Apr 2023 2:00 pm

    4. I was wondering what you would say they see in us. Great news that it is our energy they note first. It is good to feel safe with each other. All the more input one grounded and steady. Amazingly they have a way of matching our energy.

  4. Peggy Fry on Sun, 9th Apr 2023 2:32 pm

    5. love this as well as all your posts! The visual does help to reinforce the message!

  5. Stephanie Koiner on Sun, 9th Apr 2023 2:45 pm

    6. Great video and graphics. I am a visual learner, and the pictures help the words to sink in.
    Valuable insight that was well-presented!

  6. Renee Racine on Sun, 9th Apr 2023 3:04 pm

    7. I really enjoyed this video. The graphics really did help remember the concepts. Not so sure about the horse though, I kept staring at it trying to figure out how it could stand up. LOL!

  7. Claire on Sun, 9th Apr 2023 3:46 pm

    8. Great Post as Always Barb-and a Happy Easter to all!

  8. Kathryn Godsiff on Sun, 9th Apr 2023 5:23 pm

    9. So, so true. I had a narrow vision experience this afternoon when my gelding had a go at my dog. All I could see were his legs getting close to my old girl. When it all calmed down, my vision expanded to take in all our surroundings . I have to admit I was not emitting calm energy during the moment!

  9. Barbara Morgan on Sun, 9th Apr 2023 5:45 pm

    10. I really enjoyed the information. I am also a visual learner, so the pictures and words gave me a better understanding of the topic. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

  10. Maureen Donoghue on Mon, 10th Apr 2023 7:26 am

    11. Great video and graphics! You were able to break down complex and true dynamics in a manner that made it accessible. Thank you!

  11. Elaine Bohlin on Mon, 10th Apr 2023 8:36 am

    12. I think this was a great reminder that when you come to the barn, take a breath, and put aside all the other stuff that’s on your mind, like how much other stuff you have to do, frustration that maybe you are behind and didn’t there as soon as you planned – all the negative stuff that the horse isn’t responsible for and doesn’t understand and perhaps perceives as you are unhappy with him or perceives as a threat or reason to be on edge.

    Being with our horses usually melts all those cares away for us but probably better for our horses if we can start from or at least a little closer to, the wonderful way they make us feel once we are in their presence.

  12. Leeonie on Mon, 10th Apr 2023 2:43 pm

    13. Agreed, love this. Great topics of this nature are being put out there. So much more of working the connecting on an energetic level as horses do naturally. Looking forward to more of your insights.

  13. Carla Whitney on Mon, 10th Apr 2023 2:48 pm

    14. Loved the way a horse sees. Confirms my experience with my “goosey” Woodrow, and my smarty Jewel. Practicing your example has helped me a lot! I have to consistently remind myself of where my shoulders are and are my teeth clenched. I’ve discovered my shoulders go up when lunging….go figure. I would love to see a visual as to what it looks like to see as a horse does. I’ve read and heard they don’t see directly in front or behind, I got that. I wonder if I had horse eyes what would that look like. Anyway, thanks again for all you do. Best to you and yours!

  14. Brenda Cox on Tue, 11th Apr 2023 9:27 pm

    15. I loved this! I have learned through your videos and class how my high energy, type A type personality makes a mare I have so uneasy!! By me clearing my mind, slowing down and just enjoying all about her, watching her and really noticing what’s she’s thinking, the connection is so fantastic!!

  15. Cheri Kennedy on Wed, 12th Apr 2023 2:07 pm

    16. Great insight. I have a tendency to get nervous in competition and other situations with my horse and I try to relax and trust my horse. This helped me see things from his view and how he interprets me.

  16. Carol MacGregor on Wed, 12th Apr 2023 11:33 pm

    17. Hi Barb, Such a great reminder to try to stay calm on the inside which allows me to really “see” my horse. It’s so very true that because our horses are “prey” animals they notice the smallest movements of our body language. Thank you

  17. Caroline Mackinnon on Thu, 13th Apr 2023 10:07 pm

    18. Thanks Barb, a great piece of common sense; be calm, be perceptive and enjoy the time with your horse.

  18. Andy on Tue, 18th Apr 2023 6:18 am

    19. This is an explanation that I can understand!
    I also find it fascinating that something invisible is so powerful/meaningful!
    There are times in my life when I’m feeling overwhelmed and out of control and I need to learn how to calm those feelings. Usually I’m not able to calm myself by telling myself to breathe.
    Thank you for this message!!!!!!

  19. Dawn on Wed, 19th Apr 2023 6:34 am

    20. Energy levels are so important to notice and understand when working around our horses. Thanks Barb for putting this in a simple visual message. I went to a horsemanship clinic recently and the instructor told us to let out our adrenaline through our out breath and not to fidget as you’re standing at the ready cone—just like your advice about how our horse reads us, we have to work on ourselves to be a better partner for our horse.

  20. Deborah Cornland on Sun, 30th Apr 2023 7:07 am

    21. I have actually thought a lot about this over the years. I have observed the different states of my own mind and those of my stable friends and how those states impact our horses. I would go so far as to say that when we are feeling very frazzled and stressed, if we cannot breath and ground ourselves, then it is unkind to expose our horses to our energy. A lot of people say things like ”I was so stressed and I spent some time with my horse and felt so much better.” If we use our time with our horses to consciously ground ourselves that is fine, but if we just throw all of that energy at our horses to let go of it ourselves, then we are doing them a disservice.

  21. Deborah Cornland on Sun, 30th Apr 2023 7:08 am

    22. I have actually thought a lot about this over the years. I have observed the different states of my own mind and those of my stable friends and how those states impact our horses. I would go so far as to say that when we are feeling very frazzled and stressed, if we cannot breath and ground ourselves, then it is unkind to expose our horses to our energy. A lot of people say things like ”I was so stressed and I spent some time with my horse and felt so much better.” If we use our time with our horses to consciously work with our stress energy that is fine, but if we just throw all of that energy at our horses to let go of it ourselves, then we are doing them a disservice.

  22. Randee Fox on Sun, 7th May 2023 5:39 pm

    23. Even after over 24 years, your teachings are still with me. I love this. There are many things I have incorporated automatically, somatically that I leaned from you, when being with my horses even now, at age 70! Thank you always!

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