Telepathic horse

[mulberrymill]

I knew my horse and I had a pretty good understanding, and must admit he often does things that I havent been conscious of actually asking him to do, even though Ive thought about them. Had a lesson today, and my instructor said, try this please, and he did it. She is absolutely sure we have telepathic communication. I did have this sort of relationship with my old boy, but I had him for 25 years, so we kinda grew together, only had this one less than a year and had a pretty rocky start with him.

Does anyone else have this sort of relationship with their horse, just wondered how common it is? Must admit I find it rather special.

 

[Foxhunter49]

Doesn't surprise me at all!

I am sure that animals pick up on our thoughts. More so if you think in pictures.

Try riding somewhere and thinking which way to go at a fork or junction - picture a place ahead down one way and odds on the horse will turn that way without aids.

 

[springer1021]

Yep, I've had one of mine for 20 years and I can just "think" which ride I want to go on and she goes.

My other one is 8 years old and understands my instructor perfectly, if my instructor says leg yield, shoulder in etc she just does it, as soon as she hears the word "canter" she's off and she even know what downward/upward transition means.

It's really handy because if I forget how to do something (which I do all the time, as it goes in one ear and out the other), I just leave it to her

 

[d_morrow]

Henry Blake used to write about this in a very colourful and entertaining way: 'Talking with Horses' and ' Thinking with Horses' are the ones I recall. I'm sure his books would be out of print now but you could probably pick them up second hand.

 

[Littlelegs]

I'm not actually sure. I think it comes down more to their interpretation of body language being more subtle than we can ever replicate. I can do a lot that appears telepathic, that is really just body language. Like I once caught a very scared horse with a group of onlookers who claimed he must have understood me as for 2hrs they'd failed. I doubt he understood me telling him I wouldn't hurt him etc. But me sat on the floor near the horse he had attached himself too, with my back to him & shuffling my bum along till I was close enough to stroke him he did understand. Likewise I can do a fab telepathic/psychic act with my mare. I can think or say it & she'll do it. But me thinking 'lets canter' or 'I'm sad' she picks up the body language. Or random stuff like stepping away from the wall when I approach with a rug is just the habit of good manners, she knows I'll ask her to move over & she preempts it. Ditto if I can say allsorts of random phrases that look good, such as 'watch that stone' & she obeys. But its all body language imo.

 

[mandwhy]

Aww lovely feeling OP. I have had it before with horses and it is very special, I do agree with littlelegs that it is just super subtle body language really, but still amazing! I think my new mare is pretty intuitive actually, so looking forward to developing a real connection. She is super good with voice aids already (realised this on an in hand hack today) and I haven't even started riding her yet

 

[jeeve]

horses are extremely perceptive, so can pick up from the smallest cue, I used to ride a NH trained mare that was extremely sensitive, and I used to think my aids to her.

My gelding can be similar, when in regular work (when out of work and unfit he becomes a little more slug like and lazy, he hears me but can't be bothered).

 

[**Vanner**]

Equine science have been looking at the idea of micro communications where the aids etc are that subtle you look telepathic. Lovely feeling when you and your horse are that in tune.