The Mirror in the Paddock

There’s a mirror that doesn’t show your face, it shows your truth. That mirror is a horse.

When you walk into a paddock, your posture, energy, and emotions speak louder than your words. Horses reflect back what they sense. If you walk in rushed, they may back off. If you’re grounded and open, they may come close. If you're distracted, they may ignore you completely.

I’ve seen it time and time again: someone walks toward a horse with a forced smile, hoping for a moment of magic. The horse walks away. The participant looks stunned, even hurt, but then the realization sets in: they were performing, not present.

Unlike humans, horses don’t fake connection. They don’t tolerate incongruence. They offer an honest mirror, not to hurt, but to show us what’s real.

Being reflected like this is a powerful tool for personal growth. It helps us recognize when we’re not being authentic. And more importantly, it invites us to return to who we really are, not who we think we need to be.