Emotions and feelings in horses are complex

Horse feelings emotions and senses

Sadness and emotions

Sad Gelding 

  • deep letting go and apparent vulnerability
  • connecting with owner
  • change of demeanour after session

The owner had newly acquired this 18yr old 17hh hunter type and it was clear that he was a very unhappy horse. He presented as quite depressed and sad, he faced the corner of the stable (as a regular event), was bullied by the other horses in the field, etc. The Vet had given him a health check that was positive. The owner had found out that in the previous year he had been with 5 different owners whilst the previous history remained unknown.

During the Buqi session it became apparent that there was a ‘trust issue’ in play. He was not keen to ‘let you in’ and communicate freely; he was highly reserved. Throughout the session the gelding became very relaxed and at one point became very quiet and still. For the first time the horse connected with the owner by going to her and placing his head into her body – the owner was very pleased with this. There was a moment in the session when the horse suddenly became aware of his vulnerability during a period of very deep relaxation, at which point the horse launched towards me and the owner in an act of defensiveness. On a physical level I found binqi in the left hock, left knee and left side of the lumber area of his back. Considering his age this was not surprising and clearly there was, as yet, no physical symptoms of breakdown in these areas, which would otherwise have been apparent in the veterinary examination. The clearing of binqi from here would have made a positive impact on the joints and therefore his comfort.

The owner described the horse as being more relaxed than usual and more affectionate. She said, 'He became very quiet and happy to be touched during the session - almost as if he was in a trance. He seemed to find great relief from the session. I guess that he is mentally troubled as a result of moving through homes. He seems to have partly ‘found’ himself and seems very different since the visit'.

The physical binqi was indicative of an older horse that has been active in his lifetime and some of which cleared/moved accordingly as seen in his treatment reactions. The session had more of an impact on the emotional being; the evident sadness, finding some peace within self and the connection with owner.