I'm in my mid-50s now and have spent a significant part of my life studying horses and all their diverse behaviours. The horses themselves have generously shared with me during that time that forming a strong bond with these magnificent creatures relies on our ability to make them feel safe. This understanding is shared by all the skilled horse greats, such as Tom Dorrance, Ray Hunt, Buck Brannaman etc..as horses are instinctively attracted to those who create this unspoken connection.

So, how can you help to make a horse feel safe?

Safety for horses begins with living in a beneficial environment replicating their wild ancestors' behaviour. Therefore, feeding processed pellets and keeping equines confined in a stable probably won't yield the best results because horses are highly perceptive and can sense when their fundamental needs are unmet. Sadly, I still see so many horses that are depressed or angry, with their owners being completely unaware of these needs.

So, the most beneficial thing we can do for any horse is to allow them to be themselves and behave and live like a horse. This enables them to live with other horses and enjoy outdoor time to run, play, roll, and groom each other, with ample turnout whenever possible. Their diet should mimic their natural food sources, focusing more on raw, unprocessed whole foods and on hay rather than farming grasses. This approach is essential for their physical and mental health, laying the groundwork for a happy and successful life for our equine partners. 

Once these basic living needs are being fulfilled, we can also help horses feel secure in our presence by maintaining a calm and relaxed demeanour.
This means projecting a trustworthy presence, communicating that "I've got your back, so you can focus on being a horse while I handle everything else."

This mindset should be evident in all our interactions, including setting clear boundaries to ensure safety and being aware of protecting your personal bubble of space whilst providing consistent rules to guide the horse on what's expected of them in our human world. This is important as horses don't understand human concepts of right and wrong; they act in ways that ensure their survival, which we can use to persuade them to adopt our ideas and ways of thinking to help turn them into a trustworthy companion.

The horse in the photo is called Reuben. Initially, he was quite challenging due to his past mistreatment, which left him angry and fearful. His previous caretakers had cut his tail off through the bone purely for aesthetic reasons and didn't give him the respect he deserved as a stallion. Despite his impressive size at 17.2 hands, he needed reassurance from me. By projecting a calm, parental presence, I helped him relax. Without that, he can become anxious, which can be uncomfortable and dangerous. Fortunately, thanks to his improved lifestyle and our growing bond, he is now as calm as can be and a wonderful friend to be around! :)