05/20/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EPmya2GHA/
All behavior is communication…this is true
But we have to decide where to draw the line
In the same way that people yelling, hitting, or abusing each other is communication, and speaks to an unmet need, we don’t have to allow ourselves to be harmed.
We often look at them as signs of pain, and often they can be but - Many of these behaviors come from a lack of structure - people and animals both learn to get their needs met through deregulated behaviors. It’s an important foundational piece missing- someone failed them in their education.
Abuse is often looked at as an active harming of a horse - physically harming the horse etc
But another, more prevalent form of abuse is depriving the horse of structure, limits and education in the quest to make ourselves feel good, to feel like the horse’s friend above actually helping them.
In the quest for connection, many people misunderstand a horse’s needs and produce a frustrated horse who becomes dangerous.
Connecting with the horse should never produce more dangerous encounters between horse and human- this is a huge misconception.
A horse is a horse, born for movement and structure-
If we can’t provide either, we have to seriously reconsider our relationship with horses
