Versione italiana Horsewatching is a wonderful activity. But it’s certainly not for everyone! To truly understand and enjoy it, you need to be willing to develop certain qualities and put your perceptual skills to the test. **Patience**—and I’d add a good dose of laziness—is one of the essential qualities for horsewatching. You’re there, watching the horses for hours without anything much happening, then suddenly, in a matter of moments, everything goes wild, and you thank your lucky stars for being in exactly the right place at that exact moment and for having waited for a moment that was truly worth experiencing. **Perseverance** in all weather conditions: whether it’s windy, rainy, sunny, or cloudy; whether it’s hot or cold; whether you’re sleepy, alert, hungry, or numb. Rest assured that if you keep watching them, sooner or later something special will happen! **Wide-ranging attention** is another useful quality for the horsewatcher. By wide-ranging attention, I mean a gaze that takes in broad views, making use of peripheral vision—perhaps not completely in focus, but capable of catching imperceptible movements and dynamics to be brought into focus later with care. This is the gaze that multiplies the opportunities to capture interactions that you wouldn’t be able to detect if you were focusing on a narrower field. **Interest** in everything that happens. Observing horses in the wild or in their natural habitat, means being immersed in a natural setting full of characters. Simple extras who sometimes become the true protagonists of unique scenes! And so foxes, wild boars, toads, finches, redstarts, herons, kestrels, and buzzards, but also choruses of field crickets, cicadas, and swarms of midges enliven the scene and interact more or less actively, giving us a more realistic idea of what a horse’s day is like in his own environment.

I know that title is bit rude, but it’s the only phrase that adequately expresses what I want to say right now 😊 Last week - at least I think it was last week - I posted about sensing weird energy. I think it was last week but it could have been yesterday because time is also doing strange things! I listed examples of the things that had randomly stopped working - mostly electrical come to think of it 🤫 That trend has slowed down a bit, although the TV is still glitching! But now, I have become extra accident-prone 😳 I’ve burned myself several times putting timber into the stove. I’ve pulled a muscle I didn’t know I had at the gym. I’ve bumped my head on, tripped over or walked in to all kinds of immovable objects 😳 It’s getting to the stage that I’m almost afraid to get out of bed 😳 And don’t get me started on the litany of minor ailments the horses are presenting with 😳 Please tell me I’m not alone. And yes, I know it’s temporary. I just wanted a whinge 🤣

I think I was about 12 when I first read and fell in love with ‘The Little Prince’. There’s line that has stayed with me since: ‘You become responsible forever for what you have tamed.’ What do you think about when you hear the word ‘tamed’? For me, it means that wildness has been replaced by control. Autonomy has become dependence. Over time, what we tame will have difficulty fending for itself or surviving in its natural habitat. Our horses and pets are prime examples. We tamed them for our own convenience. They now rely on us for food, shelter and companionship. We control or remove their ability to reproduce. We separate them from their instinctual ways of being and mould them to fit into our timetables and lifestyles. For those we have tamed this is not necessarily a bad thing! Responsible people often treat their animals better than they look after themselves. And this is where it gets very interesting! Every living thing comes into the world with a list of physical, emotional, psychological, and other needs. Most come equipped to find ways to meet those needs. Human beings have stepped in to ensure that the animals in our care never have to worry about them. But here’s the question. While we’re being so responsible for the animals in our care, how are we meeting our own needs? - How much of yourself have you ‘tamed’? - What inner wildness are you keeping under control? - If you could break free from all the constraints of society, work, family etc right now, what would you do?

My first memory of horse-love goes back to when I was about 4 years old and somebody sat me up on a grey workhorse called Dolly. As far as Dolly was concerned she was off duty. Her day's work was done and she had been untacked so her only interest was in eating grass. She only moved to find the next mouthful. But the warmth of her body, her steading breathing and satisfied snorts was enough. I was hooked! Who was your first horse love? Extra brownie points if you have a picture 🙂

Here we go! The year of the Fire Horse is upon us. Expect bold, forward-moving, and transformational energy in al aspects of life and work. And here at Horses Connect we’re more than ready! Over the coming months, you’ll begin to see us stepping more intentionally into a global leadership role. We won’t be getting louder – that’s not our style – but we will be much clearer about what we stand for: Ethical, horse-centred practice Strong professional pathways for practitioners A global community learning with horses, not simply working with them Collaboration (not competition) across the field to strengthen standards, safety, and integrity Many of the seeds for this have been growing quietly for years through our trainings, graduates, programs, and this community. Now it’s time to let some of that growth become more visible. Horses Connect is stepping up to champion the global growth of ethical, horse-centred equine-assisted practice through learning, practitioner pathways, and collaboration across our field. Embracing our Fire Horse Energy means steady momentum, clear direction, and the courage to take the next meaningful step forward together. You’re part of this journey, and we’re very glad you’re here. QUESTION: What is one step you feel ready to take this year that brings your work with horses more fully into alignment with the values you live by?