Why we crave CONNECTION with horses

We often speak of our connection to horses in spiritual terms. They are powerful, beautiful creatures that have an uncanny ability to sense our emotions and meet us exactly where we are at. For many of us, they are healers, teachers, and best friends. We can’t help but be drawn to them, and it’s no wonder why.

There is something incredibly special about the bond between humans and horses. It is a relationship built on trust, respect, and love. When we open ourselves up to this type of connection, we tap into something truly magical. Horses have the power to transform our lives in ways that we never thought possible.

If you’ve ever felt a deep connection with a horse, you know what I’m talking about. There is nothing like it in the world. If you haven’t yet had the privilege of experiencing this type of bond firsthand, I urge you to seek out opportunities to do so. You won’t regret it!

We all crave connection, whether it’s with other humans or animals

It is a universal truth that connection is an innate need for every human being. We long for connection with our loved ones, and connection between us and the natural world around us. When it comes to connection with animals, there is perhaps none more profound than the bond we share with horses. The connection that develops between human and horse feels almost spiritual; the touch of their velvety muzzle or the sound of their whinny can be comforting and reassuring in moments of need. To ride or even just take care of a horse can provide an unparalleled sense of connection – one that satisfies our deepest yearnings in life for companionship, warmth, and acceptance.

Horses are particularly special to us because they share so many characteristics with us

Horses are particularly special to us because of their incredible capacity for connection and understanding. They mirror our own human traits, such as emotions like trust, vigilance, joy and even grief. Their presence is particularly calming and grounding, providing a much-needed sense of security amidst all the chaos in the world. The bond between horse and human is unique, ever-evolving and incredibly powerful – it’s no wonder why so many of us crave connection with these majestic creatures. Horses remind us that the most powerful relationships come from the heart – not from words or rhetoric or expectations. They remind us that we can learn, grow and be changed through a deep connection that transcends simple understanding.

They’re social creatures that need companionship, just like we do

Horses are undeniably special creatures, not only for their immense strength and remarkable beauty, but also for the amazing connection that can form between them and us. That magical bond is something we deeply crave, both in ourselves and in our animals. After all, why do we find such joy and comfort when around horses? It’s because they too have a profound need to connect with others. Unlike us humans, they don’t have the luxury of spoken communication; it’s through nonverbal communication that they give love and compassion to their human companions. It’s beautiful really, how even without language they manage to echo our emotions so simply by being tangible; it almost seems spiritual. As conscious beings, we are all born with the innate desire to connect with one another, whether human or horse. By understanding this need in each other, we can ensure positive relationships between man and beast.

Horses have an incredible ability to sense our emotions and respond in a way that helps us heal

Horses have an incredible and almost miraculous ability to not only detect but respond to our emotions, offering us a sense of comfort and understanding when we need it the most. They provide unconditional acceptance, understanding, and companionship, indicating that they are truly connected to us on a deeply spiritual level. In this way, horses are one of the few creatures on earth that can help us through emotional distress in ways no other creature could. The power of human connection with horses is unlike any other—it helps us heal by allowing us to feel truly seen and understood.

Forming a bond with a horse is like entering a different realm of understanding. When we form that special connection, the level of emotion, love and harmony between humans and horses is even more powerful than any other relationship we have. Through caring for our equine friends, we are able to tap into something tender and sacred – an inner spiritual connection that many of us crave in our everyday lives. This powerful connection transcends all boundaries, fulfilling us with an intense feeling of joy and peace, far beyond what words can express.

There’s something about their presence that makes us feel calmer and more at peace

Horses are uniquely captivating creatures, and their presence has the power to stir something deep within us. Our view of them is often tinged with a hint of mysticism, as though there’s something magical in their being that speaks to our very souls. This connection we share is almost spiritual; it grounds us in an unfamiliar place where we can feel calm and at peace. Horses are versatile animals who can take on a seemingly infinite number of tasks and roles, and yet with us they are gentle companions, allowing us to explore the depths of understanding and connection between animal and human.

In conclusion

We all crave connection, whether it’s with other humans or animals. Horses are particularly special to us because they share so many characteristics with us. They’re social creatures that need companionship, just like we do. When we form a bond with a horse, it’s unlike any other relationship we have. There’s something about their presence that makes us feel calmer and more at peace. horses have an incredible ability to sense our emotions and respond in a way that helps us heal.

Here are some tips on how to connect more deeply with horses

Take the time to observe – Spend a few moments observing your horse without any expectations or agenda. Notice the little things such as their movement, breathing pattern and behaviour. This will help you to gain insight into how they are feeling and will make it easier for you to connect with them on a deeper level

Listen with your heart – Listen to what your horse is telling you, not only with their body language but also with their eyes. Horses can give us a wealth of information if we just pay attention and take the time to really listen.

Find stillness – Connecting deeply requires us to step away from the chaos of our everyday lives and find a sense of stillness. When we quiet our mind, we open ourselves up to the possibility of forming deeper connections with horses.

Show patience – Horses are sensitive creatures and need time to adjust to new environments and people. Give them space and be patient with them as they learn to trust you.

Communicate non-verbally – Horses communicate mostly nonverbally, so it’s important to learn how to read their body language and energy. This will help you better understand them and develop a deeper connection.

Spend time together – The best way to form a deep bond is to spend quality time together. Doing activities such as grooming, riding, or even just cuddling and enjoying each other’s company can help deepen the connection between you and your horse.

Practicing Reiki with your horse is another way you can connect more deeply

Reiki is an energetic healing system that uses spiritual energy to reduce stress, promote relaxation and wellbeing. It can be used to help both humans and animals, allowing us to connect with our animals more deeply.

Practicing Reiki can be a wonderful way to connect more deeply with horses. It helps us open our hearts and minds to the wisdom that comes from our equine friends, allowing us to become open channels of healing energy. By creating a loving, healing space for our horse, we can help create an atmosphere of peace and trust between ourselves and the horse. This helps us to build a deeper connection and understanding, allowing us to be more sensitive to the horse’s needs. Reiki helps us recognize how our own emotions can affect the horse and vice versa, enabling us to foster a more meaningful relationship with them. In turn, we become better stewards of their health and well-being. Ultimately, Reiki helps us to create a more meaningful connection with our horse and deepen the relationship we share. With practice and patience, Reiki can help unlock a beautiful bond that can be treasured for many years to come.

About the Author – Julie Abrahams

Julie is the founder of Four Winds Reiki, a business dedicated to helping horse lovers create a happier, healthier life that they love, in harmony with horses. Julie has combined her lifelong love for horses with many years as a Reiki teacher and transformation coach to create a unique range of courses designed for horse lovers who want to learn how to improve their own and their horse’s health and wellbeing, and for those who want to connect spiritually with their equine friends and build a strong relationship with their horse based on trust, respect and understanding.

The courses are open to all horse lovers and take place at Julie’s property on Wallanbah Road, Bucca Wauka at various times throughout the year.

PHONE: 0404 470 571

EMAIL: Julie Abrahams

WEBSITE: www.FourWindsReiki.com.au

Mid North Coast, NSW

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Hay Species

What is best for the horse?

Pasture and hay are the main types of forage/fibre that are VERY important to the healthy digestion of all horses, ponies and livestock. We all should be aware that horses in a natural environment would be eating for 16 to 20 hours each day. Sometimes due to time of year, drought, flood or health reasons such as laminitis, adequate pasture is not available and therefore hay is the main source of fibre available. The choice of hay is extremely important and very much dependant on the individual horse’s health, weight, work load and age, to name but a few parameters.

Depending on the individual horse and its workload and requirements, a horse should be eating between 1.5 to 2.5% of its weight in fibre each day. This equates to 7.5 - 12.5kg of roughage (hay and / or pasture) per day for a 500kg horse. An overweight horse is best suited to being fed around 1.5%, whereas a young horse or a broodmare are best suited to around 2.5% of their bodyweight.

There are MANY different hay types in Australia that horse owners choose to feed their horses. Again, this is very much an individual horse and human decision, and availability will often dictate what you are able to feed your horses and livestock. Droughts and rain are the biggest determining factors of hay and pasture availability.

Lucerne

Lucerne can be a controversial hay to feed horses. Some swear by it, others have had horses appear to go ‘nuts’ when on it and others have had issues with scouring. To the right type of horse, fed in the correct amounts in conjunction with other hays such as pasture, it can be a valuable forage source.

Feeding Lucerne alone as the only forage source is not recommended by Equine Nutritionists as the protein generally exceeds what is required as well as the Ca:P and Ca:Mg ratio being unbalanced.

Lucerne has the advantage of being highly palatable and can boost a diet of energy, protein and calcium if required. It is also good for weight gain and is high in essential amino acids.

Excess protein however, can be a problem in performance horses in training, especially due to the increase in urinary ammonia for stabled horses thereby possibly resulting in respiratory problems. Other problems with excess protein are that it can contribute to dehydration due to water loss through increased urine product, or excess heat production of the digestive system can contribute to hyperthermia.

Lucerne is certainly not recommended for good doers, and although it may typically be lower in sugar/starch, it can increase the risk on laminitis due to contributing to obesity.

Because Lucerne is so highly palatable, we recommend 2cm, 3cm or 4cm sized holes depending on the type of horse and its requirements. Lucerne is recommended to not be fed more than 1/3 of the daily hay diet. Therefore, if feeding 3 biscuits of hay, one biscuit of lucerne with 2 biscuits of another hay such as pasture hay is ideal.

Grass / Pasture Hay

Not all grass or pasture hays are created equal. They differ very much in species of grasses contained within them. For example, ryegrass and clover hay is typically very high in sugar and starch and not recommended for laminitic prone horses or ponies. It can also contain endophytes.

Grass hays are popular in Australia and can also contain native species which are more typically lower in sugar. The best way to determine sugar/ starch levels is to get your hay tested. I personally now use Feed Central in Toowoomba, QLD as this is easier than sending to Equi-analytical Labs in the USA.

In addition to ryegrass, grasses can include, but not limited to, wild oats, phalaris, cocksfoot, prairie grass, red grass and a multitude of native grasses. Rhodes and Teff grass hays will be discussed further on.

There are so many factors that influence the sugar / starch content of hay. These include the time of day cut, how old the plant is (ie; just starting to produce seed head up to having a mature seed head), rain/weather damage, nutritional status of the soil, drought or adequate rain and many other factors.

Grass hays can be high in energy and protein, but are generally not as high as legumes. In addition, poorly made or more fibrous grass hay is often not as palatable for horses.

For any horses or ponies where sugar content is important, it’s advised to get the hay tested before feeding. Physical appearance tells you nothing about the sugar and nutritional levels of the hay.

When deciding what hay net size to choose, palatability and sugar content as well as the work load or health status of the horse or pony all come into play.

Rhodes Grass

Speaking with Equine Nutritionists, Rhodes Grass seems to be one of the best hays in terms of general mineral balance and sugar levels. This is because it is well balanced and doesn’t require much diet ‘tweaking’ to ensure you are feeding a balanced diet.

Although it is a C4 sub-tropical pasture species, it is low in oxalates. It can be quite a consistent and reliable hay when you are searching for a low sugar/starch hay for laminitic or IR type horses and ponies as it is generally less than 10% ESC + Starch.

Its digestibility declines as the plant matures, and more than 10-15% seed head result in less nutrient dense hay and and ADF (Acid Detergent Fibre) content over 45% is too high which means it becomes more of a ‘chew food’ rather than nutrient dense hay. This can still be ok if you are just wanting fibre for your horses to eat and are supplying them with a balanced hard feed daily.

Therefore, it is recommended to get tested just so you know both the sugar levels and nutrient levels of the hay.

Teff Hay

Teff is another grass species that is ‘typically’ known as low in sugar. However, as mentioned it still comes down to the soil nutrition the hay was grown on, time of day the hay was cut, if the plant was stressed before cutting v’s having had a shower of rain on it a few days before cutting and many other factors.

I know a few years ago in an area a few hours from us there were some laminitis prone horses that were getting sore feet from Teff off one particular farm. Turns out this hay was cut in the afternoon when the plant was at its highest sugar level. Time of day of cutting has huge implications on sugar level of plant.

Teff can be low enough in sugar for laminitic or Cushing’s horses, but don’t assume that it is. It needs to be tested so you don’t get caught out. Some horses aren’t keen on eating it.

Depending on the palatability and sugar levels of the Teff, you may be able to use 3cm or 4cm sized nets, perhaps even 2cm for those really gutzy horses and ponies as it is a fine hay that will easily come through the holes.

Oaten or Cereal Hay

Cereal hay (oats, barley, wheat) can vary a lot in both nutritional profile and sugar levels. It can be stalky and not very palatable to soft, and highly palatable and full of sugar, to everywhere in between. Therefore, when deciding on a hay net size, you need to take these things into consideration. We had an old horse eating oaten hay in a 3cm Large Hay net, alongside her pasture hays, because it is nice and soft and palatable. Cereal hay is something to watch with horses. It can be very high in sugar. Wheaten hay can be an issue too, particularly if bearded. If cereal hay is made off a drought stressed crop, it WILL be high in sugar.

Depending on the palatability and sugar levels of the Cereal hay and the condition and health status of the horses that are using it, will help you determine what size hole hay net to use.

3cm and 4cm would be the most popular hay net hole sizes for oaten or cereal hays! Again, the only way to know what your hay is really like is to get it tested!!

Soaking hay?

Soaking hay can be great to lower the sugar and starch levels of a hay for those overweight or laminitic prone horses and ponies.

It is recommended to soak for half to one hour before feeding, maximum!! Soaking longer than this can drive excess iron back into the hay which is not good for metabolic horses and ponies and in warm, humid conditions can make the hay go rank and not be healthy for the horses.

Take home message!

Forage is critically important in maintaining a happy, healthy equine. Natural grass and pasture changes so much during the year such as availability, nutritional levels, and sugar levels, therefore hay is very much required for many horse and pony owners to make up for deficiencies of fibre/forage during these times. So many factors influence how hay turns out in terms of sugar and nutritional levels.

• Time of day it is cut (morning means it will be lower in sugar, than if cut in the afternoon/evening).

• If the hay gets rained on after cutting then this will reduce the sugar levels by leaching out some of the sugars, but too much rain may damage the hay so much that it has less nutritional benefit. We are fortunate to get around 10 to 15mls of rain most times we cut hay which works wonderfully to reduce sugar levels. The key is to rake the hay at the appropriate times so that it dries and does not get mouldy before baling.

• Cutting the day after a cloudy day generally means lower sugar hay due to decreased photosynthesis overnight.

• Balanced nutrition of the soil that the hay is grown in. If the soil is of poor quality, then this impacts on the quality of the hay that will be produced.

If in doubt, enlist an Equine Nutritionist:

• They will help you test your hay and balance your horses’ diet and take the guess work out.

• Although this might cost a little to get done, it soon pays off when you aren’t buying supplements you don’t need and only buying what you do need.

There are many factors to take into consideration when purchasing a slow feed hay net and every situation is different. If in doubt of what size hole suits your individual needs – 4cm is the best place to start.

Please ring me on 0418 282 097 or email me on admin@gutzbusta.com.au to discuss your individual situation and requirements if you still aren’t sur www.gutzbusta.com.au