Horses are very receptive to the messages conveyed to them by people, therefore communicating confidence and trust is extremely important. Trust is quite a substantial aspect of the horse-human relationship because it allows the horse to utilize you as a secure base from which to explore the world and as a safe haven in times of stress. People benefit in many ways from these strong human-horse relationships. The soft nicker of a welcoming horse can only warm your heart and put a smile on you face. It makes you feel needed and special because your horse is excited to see you.
Horses are loyal, reliable, consistent, sensitive and reactive to our emotions.
Horses are particularly beneficial for children because they provide a sense of responsibility, comfort, companionship, and may play a crucial role in the emotional development of the child. Children can often love and trust pets before they can have similar feelings for adults because the animals satisfy the need for physical contact without the fear of the emotional involvement that occurs in contact with people. Horses are an excellent sounding board because they are sympathetic, nonjudgmental listener with whom a person can openly display their raw emotions without the fear of criticism. They can also contribute to the overall sense of family well being by becoming a common point of interest among family members, thereby drawing the family together. They give us a sense of control and a feeling of success when we are training and riding them.