Written by Kota Aranda
One of the first things people notice is how slow everything feels.
Not in a frustrating way. Just different.
People are used to moving with purpose. Getting somewhere. Doing the next thing. That rhythm doesn’t translate well around horses.
I see it right away when someone is new. Their steps are quick. Their hands move a lot. They’re already thinking about what comes next.
The horses notice it too.
Horses don’t wait for explanations.
They respond to what’s happening in front of them. How fast someone approaches. How directly. How much space they take up without realizing it.
When someone moves quickly, even with good intentions, the horse reads it as pressure.
Not danger. Just pressure.
That changes how the horse stands. Where they look. Whether they step forward or away.
None of this is dramatic. It’s constant.
We don’t tell people to move slowly as a technique.
We slow down because it’s the pace horses already use with each other.
When you watch them closely, they don’t rush unless they have to. They adjust their distance. They pause. They read what’s happening before they act.
When people match that pace, something shifts.
Horses stop bracing. They stop watching as closely. They stop preparing for the next move.
That’s when interaction becomes possible.
A lot of people think slow movement means hesitation.
They worry they’re doing something wrong if they aren’t acting quickly or confidently enough.
What they don’t realize is that rushing looks like uncertainty to a horse.
Stillness looks clearer.
A person who moves slowly but intentionally is easier for a horse to understand than someone moving fast and trying to be confident.
You can see the difference when someone approaches a horse for the first time.
Fast steps. Straight line. Hands already reaching.
Versus a slower approach. Angled. Pausing when the horse shifts.
The horse decides very quickly which one makes sense.
That decision sets the tone for everything that follows.
Some people don’t like this pace.
It feels exposed. Like there’s nowhere to hide behind activity.
Slowing down means noticing what you’re doing with your body. How you enter a space. Whether you’re waiting for permission or trying to take it.
That isn’t what everyone comes here for.
And that’s fine.
Moving slowly around horses isn’t about control or compliance.
It’s about communication.
If someone can’t slow down enough to be read clearly, the horse has to work harder. That’s not fair to the animal, and it doesn’t lead to a better experience.
So we keep the pace where both sides can stay honest.
That’s where things tend to go right.
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