OYT Ranch and Horse Medicine Horses in Winter

Horses are large and powerful, which create a unique opportunity for participants to overcome fear and develop confidence. Accomplishing a task involving the use of a horse causes the participant to face the natural intimidation that is experienced when dealing with such a large animal. For instance, it is not uncommon for a participant to complain that “the horse is stubborn” or “it doesn’t like me.” But the lesson they learn is that if they change their behaviors and modify their emotions, the horse responds differently. These experiences provide wonderful metaphors which can be applied to intimidating and challenging situations in life.

Horses require work, whether in caring for them or playing with them. In an era where immediate gratification and the “easy way” are the norms, horses require participants to be completely engaged to be successful, a valuable life skill.

The horse is a prey animal and we humans are predators. In order for the horse to survive, it forms a herd as protection against predators. Each member of the herd must have an acute awareness of and sensitivity to their surroundings. When we enter the arena, pasture, round pen, stall of a horse, the horse's acute sense of awareness acts as a mirror to what is underneath the surface of our behaviors revealing our true intentions and thereby creating a pathway for growth and learning.