The horse’s essential role to every day life changed into the 20th Century when the world became industrialized. And yet more than 100 years later, there are those who cannot imagine life without these large, almost always hungry, ever-amazing creatures. What is their “secret sauce?”

That the horse will even allow the human to sit on its back is phenomenal. The horse’s back is his most vulnerable area. He can kick and bite at a ground predator. But a mountain lion in the wild who wants to kill a horse will attack the horse’s back side where he has no defenses.

And yet with the human, the horse is willing. But the element of choice remains. The horse could choose not to submit. He could refuse the jump. He could buck the rider off. A good rider will follow the teachings of original horse whisperer, Ray Hunt (1929-2009) and “make the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy.” That approach puts both horse and rider on the same page so to speak. Every good rider is looking for the dance. But the freedom to choose is what creates the relationship. That is part of the secret sauce.

In the 1980’s and ’90’s, stories circulated widely about therapeutic benefits horses could provide for children with autism and other disabilities. Children who could not speak or make eye contact did so for the first time after a series of horse interactions. “Equine Therapy” establishments blossomed to assist with various physical disabilities and emotional disturbances - PTSD, substance abuse recovery, depression. What is it this wonderful creature offers that can give these benefits?

As animals of prey, the horse knows, not through his mind, but through his body if a predator is around. Horses are genetically designed to get information physically about their environment at any given moment. They are all about BE-ING present with whatever is present. They live in the here and now. And this state of being-ness can be attractive to the human who is so wrapped up in mental processes. Many spiritual practices involve the pursuit of bringing the mind to rest, and learning how to just simply be present in the present.

Artificial intelligence may seek to replicate and surpass human intelligence. But there are forms of intelligence that AI programs will never replicate. There is something special about a living being that transcends technology. Regarding horse training, Ray Hunt famously said, “Feel, timing, and balance. That’s about all there is to it. But there’s one other thing that makes it all work. And I don’t know what that is.” Even Ray Hunt didn’t seem to know what’s in that secret sauce.

It’s been said that the horse, regardless the training, the “taming,” regardless how gentle he becomes, that he never loses touch with the wild spirit of who he really is. Perhaps the main ingredient in this secret sauce is that the horse reflects the part in us humans that doesn’t want to be told what to do, a part that wants to be free, free of restrictions and boundaries, free to express, free to soar. The human’s wild spirit lies dormant, just as horse’s wild spirit lies dormant. But perhaps the horse, by reflection, can help us humans recognize our own wild spirit. Not to let it run free, but to let it be acknowledged, to let it be taken into account as we strive to be the best we can be.

If you live anywhere in the west, you’re likely driving distance from a place where you can visit, perhaps ride, or at the very least just watch some beautiful horses. But remember, that secret sauce can be addictive!