I didn’t find the connection, —it found me. Somewhere between the dust kicked up at dawn and the quiet thunder of a heartbeat bigger than mine could ever dream to be. See, a horse doesn’t lie. A horse doesn’t sugar-coat your spirit or buy into the small-talk stories you tell the world to sound strong. No— a horse walks straight through your walls like they were never built to stop anything except yourself. I met mine in the space between fear and freedom, hands shaking, heart racing, trying to convince myself I knew what I was doing. He just looked at me— that slow, steady, ancient look— like he’d already read the chapters I was too scared to open. And in that moment, I learned something. Connection isn’t a rope. It isn’t reins. It isn’t who sits higher in the saddle or who weighs more in the fight. Connection is the breath you release when you stop trying to impress something that already knows the truth. It’s the way he steps forward when the world steps back. It’s the way his ears flick like he’s tuning in to the frequency of your unspoken prayers. It’s the rhythm your heart finds when his hooves hit the ground in perfect, pounding harmony. He carries my weight —yes— but he also carries my silence, my storm, the kind of hurt I only admit when the wind is loud enough to steal my confession. With him, I am unhidden. Unmasked. Unbreakable in a way that has nothing to do with being tough and everything to do with being trusted. Because real connection? It isn’t learned. It’s earned. In the sweat. In the patience. In the thousand small yeses you whisper without ever opening your mouth. And one day— without warning, without fanfare, without any moment Instagram would notice— he looks at you. Not past you, not around you, not through you— at you. And you feel it. That invisible line. That quiet bond. That unspoken vow that says: I’ve got you. Not because you forced it. Not because you bought it. Not because you demanded it. But because you showed up honest. Human.

One of the most underrated foundations of good horsemanship is proper saddle fit. A well-fitted saddle keeps your horse comfortable, protects their back, improves their movement, and sets you both up for success—whether you’re trail riding, training, or just enjoying time together. Here’s a simple, clear breakdown you can use the next time you tack up: 1️⃣ Saddle Placement Matters Don’t set the saddle too far forward. Slide it gently back until it settles naturally behind the horse’s shoulder. This protects their scapula and allows free movement through the front end. 2️⃣ Check Shoulder Clearance You want 2–3 fingers of space between the top of the withers and the gullet. Too tight = pinching. Too wide = the saddle drops onto the withers. 3️⃣ Look for Even Contact Set the saddle on with NO pad first. Run your hand underneath the panels on both sides: ✔ Even pressure ❌ No rocking ❌ No bridging (a gap in the middle) ❌ No pressure points A good saddle should sit level—front to back. 4️⃣ Spine & Channel Clearance Make sure the channel (gullet) clears the spine the whole way down. There should be daylight from front to back and no pressure on the spinous processes or ligaments. 5️⃣ Tree Fit & Shoulder Movement When you press lightly on the pommel, the saddle should stay stable—not slam down on the withers. Ask yourself: - Can the shoulder rotate freely underneath? - Does the saddle stay balanced when you girth up? - Does it sit the same with you mounted? Tacking Up the Right Way 🐴 → Start Clean Your horse’s back should be clean and dry. Dirt = rubs. → Pad First, Then Saddle Place the pad slightly forward and slide it back with the hair. Then place the saddle on top—never plop it down. → Check Billets & Girth Alignment Billets should hang straight down. The girth should sit in the horse’s natural “girth groove,” not behind it. → Girth Up Gradually Don’t crank it tight all at once. Tighten slowly as you go so the horse can breathe and stay relaxed.

Horsemanship isn’t a destination — it’s a lifelong journey. No one starts out knowing it all, and truthfully, none of us ever really “arrive.” Every horse we meet teaches us something new. Every setback, every quiet moment in the barn, every mistake that humbles us — it’s all part of becoming better for them. 💛 Taking your horsemanship into your own hands means being brave enough to keep learning, questioning, and growing. It’s realizing that our horses deserve our effort, our patience, and our willingness to do better tomorrow than we did today. And here’s the thing — even if you think you “don’t know enough,” your presence, your honesty, or your encouragement might be exactly what someone else needs. Sometimes helping people help horses is as simple as sharing what you’ve learned, offering a listening ear, or reminding someone that they’re not alone on this path. Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep helping people help horses. 🐴💫

“The horse doesn’t fix you — but together you walk the path toward healing.” “Horses reflect what we carry inside before we say a word.” “Horsemanship meets therapy when the rider learns to lead their own nervous system first.” 🎯 Lesson Goal To explore how equine-assisted interventions (EAI) and therapeutic horsemanship support psychological, emotional and physical rehabilitation — understand why it works, how it works, and how you can use its principles in your own horsemanship and barn community. 🧠 The Science & Evidence 1. Psychological and Emotional Benefits - A randomized controlled trial of 100 people with substance use disorders found that after 6 weeks of equine-assisted therapy (EAT), participants had significant improvements in emotion regulation, self-efficacy and self-esteem compared to controls. - A scoping review of 36 studies on mounted equine-assisted therapies showed positive contributions to various participant populations (youth/adults) in emotional regulation and wellbeing. - Therapeutic equine programmes report that “the environment of the horses contributes to relaxation and an ability to be in the present.” 2. Mechanisms & Why It Works - Horses as large prey animals respond non-verbally to human emotional states; this gives immediate bio-feedback to the human’s nervous system. - Interaction with horses can result in physiological co-modulation: humans and horses begin to sync in heart rate/brain-wave/hormonal rhythms, promoting calm and connection. - Being with horses requires presence, movement, non-verbal communication and trust — all key skills in rehabilitation of trauma, anxiety or physical deficits. 3. Scope & Limitations - Evidence is promising but still emerging: many studies note design limitations, small sample sizes and need for more rigorous research. - Equine-assisted therapy is best viewed as adjunctive — meaning, it complements other therapeutic processes (mental health treatment, physical rehab, counselling) rather than replacing them.

“When you walk into the stall, you’re not just meeting a horse — you’re meeting a mirror of your own energy.” “Horses don’t ask you to talk your problems out. They ask you to show up and they’ll reflect what you bring.” “Better horsemanship includes better self-care: your state matters just as much as your cue.” 📚 The Science of It 1. Emotional mirroring & feedback Horses are highly sensitive to human body language, emotional states, and non-verbal cues. They act as “mirrors” of our internal state. For example, research states: “Horses are keen observers … they act like a bio-feedback mechanism in their ability to detect a person’s emotional state.” 2. Physiological co-regulation Studies show during human-animal interaction there can be measurable coupling of heart rate, hormonal responses (like cortisol, oxytocin) and other physiological markers. This means that when you calm yourself, it can help calm your horse — and vice-versa. 3. Psychological benefits of equine-assisted interaction From grooming to leading, working with horses has been shown to: - improve emotional regulation and reduce anxiety/stress. - boost self-esteem, confidence, sense of achievement. - provide a safe, non-judgmental space to process feelings and build trust. 4. Caveats & research gaps - A systematic review found evidence is promising but limited; many studies have small sample sizes and varied designs. - This means while horses can have strong positive effects, they’re not a guaranteed “cure” — they work best as part of a holistic approach (training + care + mindset). 🧠 Why This Matters for the Horsemanship Community - If your internal state affects your horse, then your mental-health habits become part of your horsemanship practice. Your presence, energy, and clarity matter as much as your technical skill. - Horses can help us see ourselves — our guardedness, our tension, our joy, our bad patterns — because they respond to it. When you notice your horse reacting, that’s a signal for you too. - By prioritising mental wellness (breathing, mindset, rest, reflection), you actually build a better leader for your horse. That’s *no bucks given† horsemanship — you’re showing up for both of you.