Do you understand the feelings and emotions of your horse?

Dennis Cappel
2 days ago
2 min read

Clear Mental Horsemanship with Dennis Cappel

Many equestrians spend years learning how to improve their horse’s performance, yet far fewer take time to truly understand how their horse feels.

We often focus on what a horse does, whether they spook, resist, rush, or shut down, without asking what emotion is driving that behavior. Horses are emotional beings, and every response they give us is rooted in how safe, confident, or confused they feel in that moment.

Fear, anxiety, confusion, and trust all look different in a horse, but they are frequently misunderstood as disobedience or stubbornness. A horse that will not move forward may not be refusing; they may be overwhelmed. A horse that rushes may not be energetic; they may be anxious. When we misread emotions, we often apply more pressure, which can increase stress rather than build understanding.

Horses communicate their feelings constantly through body language, ears, eyes, breathing, tension, and posture. These signals are subtle, and if we do not learn to recognize them, we miss opportunities to respond with clarity and timing. When a horse feels heard and understood, they become more willing, more confident, and more connected to their rider.

True horsemanship goes beyond training the body; it involves understanding the mind and emotions of the horse. When we slow down and ask, “How does my horse feel right now?” we begin to build a partnership based on trust rather than control. The more we understand our horse’s emotional world, the better we can guide them not just in performance, but in confidence and peace.

Do you really understand how your horse feels?

Join Dennis live on Wednesday, January 21st, inside the private Cappel Horsemanship FB group. Dennis will explain these concepts in more depth and share examples of how a horse’s feelings connect directly to their behavior, so you can better understand your horse. Build a stronger and more trusting relationship.

Join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CappelHorsemanship

Mindful Riding,

Dennis Cappel - Master Horseman

www.cappeltrainingandshoeng.com