I started my career with horses working at a riding school in Sydney. The owners of the riding school would invite folks from a local disability organisation to come on a Sunday each month to ride some of the school horses. I was on hand to help with catching horses, explain the saddling process, assist with mounting and leading the horses and riders around the arena. It was a lot of fun, and I made some good friends. The students loved it. The horses seem to love it too.
But what surprised me was how well the horses adapted to the riders. The students had poor balance, and many were severely limited in their mobility. Yet, the horses adapted impressively well. Even the horses that were more difficult to handle for most of the riding school's clientele seemed to melt when touched by some of these students who had no feel. I remember one fellow who was incapable of touching or stroking a horse gently when saying hello. He always had to slap it hard. Yet the horses would seek him out. I know if I had patted the horse that hard, I would have received a painful love bite on my arm.
I wondered what the riders were offering the horses that made them feel comfortable and relaxed.
Over the years, I also had experience working with young kids and their horses. I’ve done some horse handling for them and even taught some riding skills to these future Olympians. I find the response of horses to toddlers the most interesting.
Despite the kids having no feel, no sense of timing, minimal control of their limbs, and out-of-control energy, the horses seem to take care of them. If they were an adult or a teenager acting the same way, most of the horses would have taken them out the back and given them a good slap. But with little kids, all is forgiven, and everything is okay. It’s like they become the minder for the tiny human.
I know I am generalising a lot. I know there are some horses that are not so forgiving of children. But I also have seen it enough to be convinced that for many horses and many young ones, it is a real thing.
I don’t know why.
My guess is that many horses can read and accommodate a child’s intent. A horse sees a bundle of energy on two legs running to pat them, and they feel no reason to run away because it’s just a pat. Or a horse that will let a small child lead it and quietly follow over a puddle or pole, despite refusing to do such things for an adult.
I have some friends with small children, and from time to time, they send me photos or video clips of their kids leading or riding mum’s horse. It always makes me smile, and I am always gladdened to see the terrific bond forming between the horse and child. It’s obvious that more is happening between them than the horse just tolerating the kid.
I wish I understood more about the secret language between horses and children or horses and folks with disabilities. I know there is something going on that I could learn and would help me get along better with all horses. Something important is happening that I am not seeing.
