Question:Why has my horse become very mean/aggressive with me all of the sudden? She behaves fine with my husband still. I was hoping to use her as a therapy horse beginning this Spring but she seems so dangerous now.
~ Erin
Response from Rose - Dear Erin, my usual clients are more urban dwellers such as dogs. And while dogs are predators who live in packs and horses are plant eaters who live in herds, they do have something in common--both have a social hierarchy.

In the wild the survival of all the members of the herd depends on each horse knowing his/her status. This helps to ensure the safety of all the members, and the leader is usually a stallion. In domesticated situations, where stallions are usually kept separate, the leader of the herd can be either a mare or a gelding. And when the herd becomes a horse with human then it is the human who needs to be the leader.

Erin, what you describe as "mean/aggressive" energy directed at you by Izzy is actually dominant behavior. Izzy is displaying the exact same behavior that an alpha mare would use with a fellow member of the herd. She is telling you that you are not demonstrating good leadership skills and that you are lower in the pecking order than she is. Currently your husband is the one that Izzy perceives to be in charge--and the one that she respects.

Horses, like all animals are very good at reading energy. A good leader is balanced, grounded, centered, has a clear understanding of rules and boundaries, and does not hesitate to draw the line.

In our culture women typically have a more difficult time doing this, we tend to rely solely on our nurturing skills to guide our relationships. Indulgent parenting and the need (different from the desire) to be loved can create the same result --a situation where the parent, partner or leader is not respected.

Despite living in urban/suburban settings, I have had some experience over the years with horses, and lately with natural horsemanship principles through workshops with Peggy Gilmer that brought people and horses together in ceremony.

Peggy has taken an understanding of horses and paired it up with the need for leadership skills in a corporate environment and in the development of life skills for children. Her horses understand their roles as Teachers and serve as mirrors that clearly indicate where work is needed. The responses of the horses are immediate, clear, and flexible--as soon as the student shifts their energy and body appropriately the response of the horse shifts into the desired behavior.

Erin, I understand your desire to help others by partnering with Izzy as a therapy horse since I have a healing practice with my animal companions who partner with me in a similar fashion to assist my students and clients. And from personal experience I can tell you that the first rule of being a healer is working on self, and Izzy is offering you a golden opportunity.

In experiencing the give and take of a balanced relationship with a horse everyone can learn to be clearer in expressing what they desire with intention and claim their own personal power. If you allow Izzy to be your teacher she can help take you beyond where you can go as riding partners--she can help take you to where you want to go emotionally and spiritually--and in the process you can both become more.

To learn more about natural horsemanship and how to apply the principles Peggy Gilmer recommends The Parelli Method and the book The Tao of Equus: A Woman's Journey of Healing and Transformation Through the Way of the Horse by Linda Kohanov.

Rose De Dan,
Animal Reiki Shaman

Disclaimer: Rose De Dan shares insights derived from spirit and through animal communication. Any advice she offers is not meant as a substitute for veterinary care.

Each week, we invite a different intuitive to answer a question from a reader. If you'd like to submit a question for Rose please email her directly.
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