By ADA HAENSEL, M.Ed

In our word-focused world, we often forget that communication extends beyond speech. At Speaking of Horses, our equine therapists demonstrate that profound communication can happen in silence—and true listening involves more than hearing words.

Nature’s Nonverbal Experts

Horses, as prey animals evolved on open grasslands, communicate almost entirely through body positioning, facial expressions, energy, touch, and occasional vocalizations. This sophisticated nonverbal system allows them to coordinate movements, establish social hierarchies, express needs, and maintain safety without speaking.

Their listening involves their entire being:

• Eyes scanning for tiny changes in posture
• Ears constantly rotating to track sounds
• Skin feeling shifts in air pressure
• Nose gathering chemical information about emotions
• Nervous system attuned to energy shifts

Authentic Communication

Perhaps the most profound lesson horses offer is their insistence on authenticity. They respond not to our words or conscious intentions, but to our embodied truth—our actual internal states. A nervous rider pretending to be confident will find the horse responding to their nervousness, not their facade.

For children with communication challenges, this creates a uniquely supportive environment. Horses don’t judge or have expectations for how communication “should” happen—they simply respond honestly to what’s genuinely communicated.

Therapeutic Applications

Our therapy horses demonstrate extraordinary listening skills:

• Phil detects hidden emotional states, refusing to move until riders acknowledge their true feelings
• Blink naturally respects personal space boundaries with touch-sensitive clients
• Whinny matches his movement to riders’ internal rhythms, helping regulate their nervous systems

Lessons for Human Communication

From our equine partners, we learn to:

• Listen with our whole bodies, not just our ears
• Create safety through predictable responses
• Honor silence as meaningful communication

The ultimate gift horses offer children with communication challenges is being truly heard. When a horse responds appropriately to subtle communication attempts, children receive powerful feedback: “I hear you. You matter. Your communication works.”

This creates communicative confidence that transfers to human interactions. As one parent shared: “My son spent years in therapy being encouraged to use his words, but it always felt like he was performing speech. With the horses, he finally feels listened to—even when he’s not speaking.”

At Speaking of Horses, we’re not just teaching children to communicate—we’re learning from horses how to listen effectively. They show us that authentic presence matters more than technique, connection precedes communication, and understanding requires attunement beyond words.

The next time you interact with someone who struggles with traditional communication, try listening like a horse: with your whole body, without agenda, with respect for silence, and with attention to the many ways meaning can exist beyond words.

About Speaking of Horses

Speaking of Horses operates as a nonprofit organization dedicated to making equine-assisted speech therapy accessible to children from all backgrounds. While we accept insurance, including Medicaid, the costs of providing this specialized therapy far exceed typical reimbursement rates. The care and maintenance of our therapy horses, specialized adaptive equipment, facility upkeep, and accommodations like our sensory corner and mounting ramp all require resources beyond what insurance covers.

Our program is made possible through the generosity of donors and community supporters who understand the value of patience, connection, and meeting each child where they are. Consider supporting Speaking of Horses through a donation that helps create the time and space for more children to find their voices at their own perfect pace.

Your contribution directly supports the unhurried, child-led approach that makes these breakthroughs possible. To learn more about supporting our mission or to make a donation, please visit our website by clicking here or contact us directly.

This article originally appeared in the The Plaid Horse and is published here with permission.

There are more informative articles in our section on Health & Education.

Everyone wants stability and control when setting off on an adventure with their four-legged friends. Your season of safe journeys begins with many crucial safety checks. Equine Guelph is excited to announce the next online offering of Horse Trailer Safety, to help you check all the important horse boxes.

Expert instructor, Dr. Rebecca Husted, Course instructor, Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue specialist and volunteer fire fighter, Husted has responded to countless roadside incidents and instructed others on rescue procedure for horrific accident scenes involving horse trailers.  Her expertise will serve course participants well to help them avoid becoming a trailer accident casualty.

“WAY too many private horse owners tell me ‘they didn’t know’ after an incident with their horses and trailer/transport. Hauling horses is a serious responsibility,” says Husted.  “Due diligence is required to make sure your set up is safe and emergency preparedness is essential.  This course will ensure you know how to effectively check your own rig.”

A quick video with Husted explains the importance of maintaining the flooring in all types of trailers.

Designed to provide horse owners and caretakers with essential knowledge and skills for the safe transportation of their equine companions, the Horse Trailer Safety course is a part of Equine Guelph’s ongoing commitment to equine welfare and education. Participants will gain valuable insights into various aspects of horse trailer safety; from making sure you are set up with the right towing package to pre-trip, post-trip, annual inspections and everything in-between pertaining to emergency preparedness.

“Course content and real-life scenario discussions were nothing short of phenomenal – it really did feel as close to being in a classroom as anything on-line could have. What a fantastic course – so many excellent resources to take away. Course management, instruction, content and pace were just perfect. Fabulous, rare opportunity to have instruction from industry experts Rebecca Husted and Kevan Garecki.”  – Betsy Sayers, Handy Horse Docs, Griffith ON – Horse owner

Whether you are looking to purchase a truck and trailer in the near future or want to minimize your risks while driving, this two-week online course will be well worth the investment. Register today at TheHorsePortal.ca for Horse Trailer Safety.

This article originally appeared on Equine Guelph, The University of Guelph and is published here with permission.

You can find more informative articles in our section on Health & Education.

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