05/31/2026
Today I read something that broke my heart.
My hope is that, somehow, something good can come from the events that led to the injury of horses by a teen who appears to have lost empathy, lost connection, and perhaps lost sight of the impact our actions can have on another living being, and that these animals are omnipresent beings, a beautiful gift to be held in heart and care, a reflection of our capacity to connect to ourselves in love and of healthy mind.
I am not here to spread anger or judgment. I am here to reflect.
For much of human history, horses have carried our burdens, served our needs, and stood beside us through both our greatest accomplishments and our greatest struggles. Yet too often, they have also experienced misunderstanding, neglect, or treatment that failed to recognize them as the sentient beings they are.
That is why I am grateful to be part of a growing movement that seeks something different.
A movement that creates space for horses to be seen, heard, understood, and valued not only for what they can do, but for who they are.
I am not criticizing athletic horse sports, riding disciplines, or performance events. The horse world has made tremendous strides over the years in understanding welfare, behavior, training methods, and the importance of supporting the physical and emotional well-being of horses. There are many dedicated horsemen and horsewomen across every discipline who deeply love and care for their animals.
What I am expressing is gratitude.
Gratitude that Equine-Assisted Learning and other equine-assisted services continue to expand in communities across the country. Gratitude that more people are discovering the profound lessons horses can teach about trust, boundaries, self-awareness, emotional regulation, accountability, bettering ourselves as people, in honesty and character.
I am especially grateful that this work reaches people who may be struggling to find their place in the world. Teens at risk, people facing anxiety, grief, or life transitions. Horses offer something unique, an opportunity to reconnect with ourselves, with others, and with the qualities that make us most human.
What I appreciate most about the Equine-Assisted Learning community is that it is not built around competition. As this field grows, organizations often celebrate one another's successes because every new program, every new partnership, and every new participant represents another opportunity for healing and growth. The mission is larger than any one barn, instructor, or organization.
We are not competing, we are working toward a better world:
A world where horses are understood, protected, and supported and people find their way back.
A world where horses are not simply tools for human achievement, but partners in helping us remember our humanity.
The world is in great need of that.
And on a lighter note, here is a video of our herd leader enjoying a moment of play.
Healthy environments make space for moments like these. Joy, curiosity, connection, and play are signs of well-being. Yet pressures, expectations, stress, and life's challenges can slowly squeeze these qualities away.
We may never fully understand what experiences shaped this teen's choices. We cannot know what was lost along the way or what disconnected her from empathy and healthy expression. The truth is, many humans experience this, sometimes in large ways and sometimes in small ones.
Our world often pushes for results, performance, achievement, and outcomes.
But horses remind us of something different.
The real gift is not always found at the finish line.
It is found in the journey.
It is found in feeling safe enough to play.
In being connected enough to experience joy, In sharing moments rooted in trust, love, and connection.
Watching a horse simply enjoy being a horse is a beautiful reminder that healthy minds, healthy relationships, and healthy environments make room for these moments.
Perhaps the real win is not what we accomplish.
Perhaps the real win is preserving our capacity for empathy, connection, joy, and love along the way, while holding space for others to do the same.
And horses have an extraordinary way of reminding us what that looks like. 🐴❤️
Rebecca
(horse Dakota).
