Why Horses?
Horses are masters at
reading body language,
Horses are prey animals that are driven by an instinct to stay safe and avoid attacks from predators. Because of this, they are masters at reading body language, energy and intentions of other beings around them.
So regardless of your job title, what you are saying or trying to project - when you interact with a horse, they respond intuitively to you based only on this gut-level, non-verbal information you are emitting.
This non-verbal communication makes up 93% of all human interaction and is something we all subconsciously emit, and receive from our colleagues in the workplace. It has a huge effect on how we show up and are perceived, and how others respond to us - but we typically ignore it or aren’t even aware of it!
Being around a horses is like holding up a mirror to this subconscious behaviour. The way they respond when we interact with them, shows (without any judgement) exactly what it’s like to be around you, what it’s like to be led by you, or in a team with you -in the same way that your colleagues experience you.
Vulnerability
There is something about being in the presence of a horse, largely due to their size that induces a sense of awe and vulnerability. Being in this vulnerable state makes it easier to access emotions and admit to blocks and fears you might be holding but not expressing.
This honesty and vulnerability is rarely expressed among colleagues in the workplace for fear of being “found out” for being human. But it is the basis for honest communication and developing trust based relationships in leaders and teams.
Body-based awareness
Horses live entirely in the moment, in a state of grounded presence from which they can respond to the environment around them. They react on a gut-level, listening to the wisdom of their bodies as a guide.
When we interact with them we are invited into this state, becoming aware of our bodies, tuning into our senses, our gut feelings and true emotions.
Research
