Horses want security more than anything else. As prey animals, they instinctively make survival their #1 priority. This has allowed their species to exist over millions of years in the wild. The horse is unusual in the world of prey animals however, in that he has the ability to give himself and the responsibility of his safety to a human. This granting of trust is something that no other prey animal is willing to do. If captured, most prey animals such as deer or antelope will fight to their death in order to escape. “Heart” is the single trait in a horse that allows us humans to ride them in the first place!
Horses have carried riders through the pages of history into battles, through flooded rivers, through fires and every other frightening or dangerous situation at the mere request of its rider. This virtue of “heart” has sadly allowed the horse to be abused with painful treatment, overwork, starvation and even death at the hands of the humans who could not (or would not) accept the responsibility of the animal's trust.
“Heart” does not mean stamina, physical ability, size, strength, or conformation. In a horse it refers to that wonderful and sometimes magical ability to surrender willingly to a human's wishes. It allows some horses to reach the highest levels of competition, others to win races, and some to pull or carry loads that test their physical limits. If I had to choose one trait in a horse that I was going to train or use for any reason, I would choose “heart” before any other. It's not something you can see, but rather something you feel!
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