They Knew Before I Said a Word: How God Made Horses to Sense Our Hearts

Somehow they knew!

I was amazed to see the reaction the horses had when I went into their pasture as I did every day. It was my normal routine. But this day was anything but normal: I was in labor with my sixth baby.

One by one, they came to me.

Each horse walked up, lowered its head, and gently smelled my belly. No nosing for treats. No crowding. Just slow, deliberate, almost tender attention. One would sniff, pause, and stay close. Then the next one came and did the same.

They had never greeted me like this before. Every one of them seemed to understand that something important was happening in my body, and they wanted to be near me for it.

I've thought about that day many times since. It's one of my favorite memories, and it says so much about how God designed these amazing animals.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, All of Us

When I think about that day, I think of the psalmist's words about life in the womb:

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it." (Psalm 139:13-14, NLT)

God was knitting a little life together inside me, and His other creations seemed to sense it. I don't believe that was a coincidence. I believe it's a glimpse of the care He put into every part of creation.

"God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good." (Genesis 1:25, NLT)

What Horses Perceive

I'm a horsewoman, not a scientist. But anyone who has spent time with horses learns a few things about how they experience the world.

Horses are prey animals. For their survival, God built them to notice everything. A prey animal that misses a change in its surroundings doesn't last long, so horses are always quietly taking in what's around them.

Their senses are keen. Horses have a strong sense of smell and sharp hearing. Their ears turn toward the smallest sounds, and their noses tell them a great deal about the world and about the people in it. When my horses smelled my belly that day, they were "reading" me in one of the most natural ways they know.

They read body language. Horses communicate mostly without sound, through posture, movement, and energy. They pay close attention to ours too. They notice tension in our shoulders, a held breath, hurried steps, or a soft and relaxed stance.

They respond to our emotional state. Horses often reflect back what we bring to them. If we come in anxious or rushed, a horse may become alert or move away. When we slow down, breathe, and become calm, the horse often softens as well. They can't be fooled by a brave face. They respond to what's really going on inside.

They live in herd awareness. Horses are deeply social. In a herd, each horse keeps track of the others and notices when one is unsettled, hurting, or behaving differently. When we step into their space, in a sense they bring us into that awareness.

None of this makes horses magical. It makes them wonderfully designed. Even in the middle of his suffering, Job pointed to creation as a teacher, reminding us that every living thing is held in God's hand:

"Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish in the sea speak to you. For they all know that my disaster has come from the hand of the LORD. For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being." (Job 12:7-10, NLT)

My horses taught me something that day, and they keep teaching me.

How This Sensitivity Works at The Refuge

This God-given sensitivity is at the heart of Faith-Based Equine Assisted Learning (FBEAP), and it's why I love what we do at The Refuge.

Horses respond honestly. A horse doesn't care what we do for a living, what we look like, or how well we have it all together. They respond to who we are in the moment. That honesty invites us to be honest too: with ourselves, with each other, and with God.

They invite authenticity. Many of us have learned to hide what we're feeling behind a smile. Horses gently encourage us to set that aside. As participants learn to approach, lead, and connect with a horse, they often discover that calm, patience, and a quiet heart open doors that pushing and pretending never could.

They offer a calm presence. There's something deeply peaceful about standing beside a horse, hearing it breathe, and feeling its warmth. In our Equine Assisted OASIS sessions, that peaceful time with the horses is paired with gentle reflection rooted in God's Word. It's a place to slow down, rest, and be reminded of His love and hope.

They build connection. In our Sibling & Family Connection Sessions, the horses help brothers, sisters, parents, and children practice communicating, working together, and building their relationships. A horse responds best when we're clear, patient, and united. Those lessons carry right back home.

Through it all, I want to be clear that these are learning experiences grounded in faith, not therapy or medical treatment. The horses don't fix us. God is the one who restores and renews. What the horses do, so beautifully, is help us notice what's going on in our hearts so we can bring it to Him.

A Refuge for You

I named our ministry The Refuge because of a verse that has carried me through many seasons:

"But you are a refuge to the poor, O Lord, a refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat." (Isaiah 25:4)

Whatever you're carrying right now, whether joy, grief, exhaustion, or questions, God sees you and knows you completely. The same Creator who knit you together in your mother's womb gave horses the ability to notice what we carry.

That day in the pasture, my horses gathered around me at one of the most important moments of my life. I'd love for you to experience that kind of gentle, honest presence for yourself.

I invite you to come out to The Refuge and book an Equine Assisted OASIS session. Come as you are. The horses will meet you there, and so will He.

Book an OASIS Session or email me at the.refuge.equestrian@gmail.com.

With hope, Sarah