Bonding With Your Horse

Try these techniques to develop a deeper connection with your horse by observing his behavior.

- BY ARNAU GOMÀ FONT AND CATHY LANGUERA

Horses notice and read us long before we even say hello.

This connection is both science and magic. Science helps us learn how horses experience the world: their need for friends, forage, and freedom.

The magic comes when that awareness deepens into connection, and you both move as if sharing thoughts.

OBSERVE THE WORLD

Imagine that you are a horse. Your eyes on the side of your head, you can see almost everything around. Your ears swivel like radars, catching whispers of wind, footsteps, or distant noises. Every step sends signals through your hooves into your muscles, telling you how the ground feels.

Now think about yourself. You notice sounds, smells, or feelings in your body, like the tension in your shoulders or the excitement in your chest. Next time you walk toward your horse, pause for a second and feel your heartbeat. Is it calm or is it racing? Notice your breath. Can you take a big breath and exhale together? Watch how your horse responds. This is your first tiny experiment in noticing how he reads you.

Mini challenge: Stand quietly for 10 seconds before approaching. Which of you was the first to make eye contact? How could you tell? Keep a journal and write down your discoveries!

SILENT LANGUAGE

Every ear flick, half-closed eye, tail swing, and weight shift is a signal. Watch your horse for five minutes and pretend you're a detective. Count how many signals you notice. Can you guess what he's telling you?