From the horse's mouth

Kelly Eide doesn't really like being called a horse whisperer. Even though she's worked with horses for over a decade, facilitating workshops between man and beast, so to speak - her work is not so much about Robert Redford-esque attempts to get horses to do her bidding as it is about helping people become better versions of themselves through these interactions. While, in the past, she's designed several leadership development courses with horses, she's currently excited for a 'yoga with horses' event ("not to be confused with horse yoga!") taking place at Bab Al Shams tomorrow on November 24. Whether for personal or professional development, if you're ready to take your cue from non-humans, these gentle giants can offer life lessons on the trot.
Out at Al Ruwayyah Stable Riding School & Livery in Dubai, more than a dozen mares and geldings stand grazing at several hay bags spread across the sand paddocks. Most are wearing fly masks and rugs to protect them from pesky flies and accompanying infections. Although it's a bit sunny, none of us are wearing shades. It's Rule #1 if you're trying to establish a connection with horses, I'm told: they need to see your eyes.
The first thing Kelly draws attention to is the horses' ears. Almost every horse on our side of the enclosure has its ears bent in the direction of our voices as we approach the fence. What looks like animals fairly occupied with tugging fodder out of bags becomes a study in self-awareness and constant vigilance. Despite the equine eye's ability to see almost 360 degrees (180 degrees with each eye), for all intents and purposes, you could say they see with their ears.
Horses are prey animals so they're easily spooked and always on the alert for anything that might threaten their security, but they're also mighty curious, Kelly adds, as a white speckled mare named Donkey surveys us from a distance before approaching us slowly, first sniffing then lightly gnawing at Kelly's open hand. Their inquisitive natures are evidenced by the way they can get right up in your space - and your face. "It's how they 'take in' your energy and read you to figure out if they're comfortable enough with you, as well as decide how they'd like to interact with you," she explains, as another named Shadow follows its peer, treading the soil deliberately and sniffing us in turn before letting out a harrumph.
And that gives us our next lesson: feel free to mark your boundaries. "If you're not comfortable with them being that close, you can express yourself by simply holding up your hands, both palms facing outward," says the equus coach. The effect is immediate, as Donkey stops short and does not venture closer. "See how they respect your line?" The non-verbal communication works vice versa too. Later on that morning, when Kelly attempts to coax a chestnut mare named Pocahontas to navigate some field obstacles, the horse repeatedly canters off at top speed to the other end, far out of Kelly's reach. She allows the trainer to approach and stroke her long nose, but refuses reins. You can't put a clock on how long it can take to win a horse's favour, and one can see how this exercise of gaining the creature's trust would benefit someone looking to improve their leadership skills: there is much patience and creativity involved in trying to attain end goals.
Learning to respect equine boundaries is important no matter how qualified you are - because horses are powerful creatures, and foolhardy or careless moves can easily earn you a bite or kick. But such lashing out is usually not a horse's first resort, Kelly clarifies. Displeasure is often expressed with less aggressive behaviour, say, a loud neigh or stomp of the ground.
In a herd, there can be hierarchies - or 'roles', as Kelly prefers to call them - but these aren't based on age or size or colour; horses will follow those they feel safe with and who demonstrate a clear ability to lead. Off in the distance, two of the herd that had been grooming each other have now fallen asleep on their feet, standing next to each other. It's a beautiful picture of mutual companionship that Kelly says offers only one takeaway: "We are better together and stronger together - a really important consideration in a world filled with hate today."
karen@khaleejtimes.com