Want to Learn Feel? Read This...
If you want to get great with horses, there are 50 million different techniques and methods to employ, but only one skill you really need.
That skill is simply called ‘Feel’.
Real talk, good horsemanship is hard to learn. It just is. It takes immense study and practice before it is fun and by that point, you realize that you’ve only just begun.
It is uncomfortable when things aren’t going as hoped, and because horses are usually over a thousand pounds, more sensitive and faster than any human, it can get pretty scary, and even dangerous, quickly!
In the process, you are hard on yourself, chalking up slow, shaky progress to a lack of natural talent. You get frustrated and consider giving up on your dreams, especially if something scary happens or you get hurt.
To make matters worse, you are worried that you aren’t doing right by the horse.
That’s why starting with ‘Feel’ matters so much, and the good news is anyone can learn it! You don’t need 10,000 hours of practice or a special talent. In fact, having a beginner’s mind is advantageous to the process.
We’ll show you how.
Origin of the Term
‘Feel’ might sound funny if you haven’t heard it before, but it's common in horsemanship. Bill Dorrance, a great western horsemanship master, wrote about it in his brilliant book, ‘True Horsemanship Through Feel’
The Art of Feel is like the holy grail of horsemanship, speaking to a nearly mythic level of intuition and understanding.
You’ve probably experienced this in some area of your life: artists tap into the ‘zone’, musicians sink into the ‘pocket’, and you may have heard of ‘flow state’ psychology.
One of the most amazing things about working with horses is that they are already experts in ‘Feel’. We believe humans are too, but the natural abilty has been obscured by modern societal pressures.
We’ve seen that when people learn ‘Feel’ with horses, they feel more flow in other parts of life too.
This is one of the many ways horses are so healing for humans. Horses help reawaken this skill that is lying dormant.
Socrates said it best, “All learning is remembering.”
Techniques and methods are important to learn, but they are proxies to guide us to the one thing we actually need: Feel.
What’s Blocking Feel?
Here are 5 common mistakes that block most people from developing Feel:
Overthinking and Analytical Approach: Overanalyzing actions blocks innate intuition.
Tension and Lack of Relaxation: Physical and mental tension hinders communication flow. In horsemanship, we call this Brace.
Misuse of Aids: Dependence on tools like bits or spurs without understanding their proper use can block Feel and harm relationship.
Complacency: Lack of continuous learning, equinimity and adaptation leads to stagnant progress.
Lack of Mindfulness: Not being present and responsive disrupts the connection with the horse.
It’s not your fault if you feel like you missed the memo on Feel. There is a lack of good information about how this really works.
Many horsemanship methods, even ‘natural’ or ‘holistic’ methods, blow right by Feel, treating it like a special gift ot talent only available to the chosen few. This is totally false!
Let's look at 5 proven steps that will put the elusive art of Feel within reach.
Before we dig in, we just want to say, we’re glad you are here!
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So thank you for being on this weird, awesome journey with us.
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Back to The Art of Feel!
Here's How to Awaken Your Natural Sense of Feel, Step by Step:
Step 1: Embrace Mindfulness
Ray Hunt, a prolific horseman and student of Tom Dorrance said, “Horsemanship begins within.” It is essential to be present and fully engaged when working with horses.
We call this ‘Radical Presence’.
Why it's important: Mindfulness helps you tune into a horse's subtle cues and understand equine language and culture. On a scientific level, mindfulness helps you regulate and co-regulate your nervous system which is fundamental to communicating a sense of safety and comfort to the horse.
Examples:
Breath Awareness: Practice breathwork at home and around horses; you’ll be astonished at the results.
Somatic Awareness: Body language is an integral way horses communicate. Practice these grounding and sensory awareness using mindfulness to be speaking the language of the horse in no time.
In our programs, we teach over a dozen equine-specific mindfulness techniques, breath work, and visualizations. Here’s one of our favorites to get you started: it’s called coherence breathing.
This means inhaling for 5.5 seconds, and exhaling for 5.5 seconds. You can download free breath apps like ‘Kardia’ on your phone to help mind the time and create a daily habit.
Try this for 5 minutes; you’ll love how you feel afterward!
Step 2: Prioritize Natural Aids Over Artificial Aids
Many people go wrong by relying too much on artificial aids instead of developing their natural communication skills. When mis-used, these aids can block Feel and impose our will on the horse.
Note: It is a mistake to say all artificial aids are bad. In the right hands, many are helpful tools that can articulate communication and elevate partnership.
Examples of Natural Aids:
Visualization: Visualize what you want to see happen first. Dressage maestre Dominique Barbier has his students study sketches of correct equitation to develop ‘pictures’ in their minds. Olympic athletes use this method too.
Body Language: Use your posture and movements, paying attention to your feet, to communicate with the horse. Have fun, this is the same as learning a new language to connect with a culture you admire!
Step 3: Continually Seek Learning and Improvement
Remember that the journey of mastering horsemanship is ongoing and transformative.
Invoke the power of “Beginner's Mind”, as coined by Zen Buddhist teacher Shunryu Suzuki, who said “In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few.”
Curiosity keeps us exploring. Fortunately, The Joy is in the Journey.
Examples:
Learn from Mentors: Find someone who you respect that has done this work longer than you, and don’t be shy about asking questions or seeking help. Seasoned mentors can help turn decades into days and save you from making mistakes that will set you back.
Join a Community: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” - African Proverb. The art of Feel is deep water. Find a community that shares your passion. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how this accelerates your progress and keeps you from giving up on your dreams.
Technique #4: Groundwork
One of the biggest problems people face when learning about horses is ‘task-overwhelm’.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed managing your body, paying attention to the horse's face, feet, and body simultaneously, managing your rope and/or aids, all while taking direction from your teacher?
If so, you know what task-overwhelm feels like. I know I have!
Groundwork lets you chunk things down into manageable pieces.
You can work at liberty using your visualization, intention, and body language; or you can work on a lead rope or longe line to feel subtle sensation through the line.
Pro tip: Taking lots of breaks, and for a lot longer than you think, helps the horse learn faster! It keeps us from getting lost in task-overwhelm, win-win.
Here’s how it works:
Start with Leading Exercises: Practice leading your horse with a halter and lead rope, focusing on clear communication and boundaries. Groundwork starts the second you enter the horse's vision, let alone haltering and leading them.
Use Longe Lines: Use specific techniques and sequences with the longe line. You can also try liberty work.
Incorporate Obstacles: Introduce ground poles or cones to enhance your horse’s balance, biomechanics, and attention. Make it fun and interesting for both of you.
Groundwork is the best way to improve your connection and develop your skills.
That's why we teach dozens of techniques, a groundwork masterclass, and pages of step-by-step checklists to create clarity and reduce overwhelm in the Equine Attunement Academy.
Remember to go slow, go back a step or take a break if you are feeling brace or tension, and less is more.
Be gentle with yourself while learning. This is hard at first, love yourself and keep going!
Technique #5: Equine Bodywork
Feel is as much a science as it is art, and Equine Bodywork is the ideal way to practice both!
The art of ‘feel’ is like intuitively ‘knowing’ or feeling a flow state.
The science of feel is kinesthetic—how it actually feels through your hands and fingers, and trying to understand what that means through an anatomical, physiological, and biomechanical lens.
Feel is a skill that you can learn, develop, and improve. That’s why we created four ‘tactile acuity training lessons’ to help our members feel things better through their hands in the Foundations of Equine Assisted Healing program.
Practicing Equine Bodywork is one of the best ways to develop ‘feel’ and understand horses.
If you struggle with ‘task overwhelm’ (like me and pretty much everyone else!), you’ll love the simplicity of bodywork even more.
We encourage our students to integrate relational groundwork with bodywork, as this is often the missing piece that makes everything click.
Here’s how it works:
Start Simple: The goal of bodywork in the beginning is relational connection, not technique-centric muscle therapy.
Be Conversational: Look at bodywork as a conversation between you and the horse. When you do this, you start to connect the feeling under your hands with the responses the horses give you. ‘Feel’ becomes conversational!
Be Flexible: Have a clear intention, maybe ‘to release tension and develop feel’. Have some techniques and sequences in mind, but be ready and willing to pivot and change your approach.
Hopefully these tips give you a solid insight into ‘Feel’ and how you can develop it for yourself.
This newsletter was a little longer than normal because this is so important, but we’ve barely scratched the surface!
If you take the lessons in this newsletter and put them to work for you—they will make a huge difference.
You just might find the art of ‘Feel’ coming alive under your hands quicker than you thought possible!
This is a FUN, interesting, and endless topic. You are welcome to share your own insights, questions, or feedback in the comments below.
That’s all for now. See you next time, and as always, May the Horse Be With You!
PS—When You're Ready...
Ready to lead your first equine-assisted healing session? Download our First Session Template—discover how to build rapport, safety, & trust on day one, without overwhelming your client and horses! 100% free, but only for a limited time—Check out a new approach to first sessions, no matter your experience level. Get Your First Session Template Here!
P.P.S. Ready to take your practice further? Join the priority waitlist for The Foundations of Equine-Assisted Healing—a complete course and 12-session coaching experience. This program takes you on a journey of self-discovery and skill mastery—giving you the tools, techniques, and confidence to create lasting impact for both horses and clients. Join the Priority Waitlist Here
