02/16/2026
“20/20”
I met an equine therapist recently who was explaining to me why horses seemingly stand around so much. It’s not that they are lazy or even tired or anything. She told me that because they are prey animals, and constantly on guard, they have to preserve their energy.
They have to keep their bodies and their hearts as calm as possible so that when a threat arrives they are ready to RUN and protect themselves. If they….dare I say…..”horse around” all day wasting their energy on things that don’t matter they won’t have enough left for the things that do.
This fascinated me, firstly because it hit so close to home. Like “am I actually a horse”? Is this why many of have only 2 speeds? 150mph and zero? And how to we know when we’re wasting our energy on useless distractions and then trying to show up, completed depleted, for the things that actually count?
A horse has to trust you to be willing to be vulnerable around you. To be willing to, for instance, to pick up a leg and briefly limit their ability to run. This horse I met this morning gently closed his eyes as I pet him. He seemed to communicate that for this moment we are both safe in each other’s company. He trusted me and I trusted him. And together we took a deep exhale out and inhale in, taking in the peace that will allow us to get through whatever comes next.