What Do Horses Experience as Followers

Happily following my directions even with a large audience.

I recently joined a salsa dancing class with my husband. Traditionally in this dance the female is the follower and the male the leader. This placed me in the position of follower. We were taught some steps, which were fairly easy to master, then directed to do these steps with our partner. My job was to wait until my dance partner gave me a pressure cue then on his direction move my body either forward or back, left or right, in a turn etc. I found this extremely difficult. I found letting go completely of my own agenda and only following my partner to be the most difficult part of learning this dance.

Then of course being me, my mind went straight to the horses. What do horses experience as followers? I realised that understanding this was a huge piece of the puzzle that I hadn’t previously considered. It’s such a huge piece I was a little shocked that I hadn’t really thought about it before. To physically feel it gave me an insight into a whole new dimension of understanding. 

When horses live in natural herds, leadership is fluid. A horse may follow one moment and lead the next, depending on who has the best information or who is in the optimal position to influence the group. Following is not passive; it’s a conscious choice based on trust, clarity, and emotional safety. This makes being a follower feel secure rather than stressful. 

When we ride, things are different. We become the primary source of direction, pressure, decisions, and sometimes confusion. This can create significant challenges for the horse, especially when the rider’s cues or intentions lack coherence. The issues that arise from this forced follower role are often misunderstood as “disobedience,” when they may be expressions of discomfort, uncertainty, or unmet needs.

To follow confidently, a horse needs clear, consistent communication. Under saddle, we are the one controlling pace, direction, and emotional tone. But we are complex beings. We carry tension in our bodies, our minds drift, our hands become uneven, or we issue conflicting signals without knowing it. When leadership becomes inconsistent, such as a tight rein paired with a driving leg, a wobbly seat paired with a request for straightness, or if we experience a sudden emotional shift, our horse is left trying to decipher meaning where clarity doesn’t exist. This is mentally exhausting and can erode trust in us. A horse who hesitates, resists, or “shies for no reason” may be responding to unclear leadership rather than challenging it.

Being a follower in a herd doesn’t mean giving up one’s body; it means aligning movement with others. Under saddle, the horse doesn’t have the same choice. We influence their balance, restrict their natural patterns, and sometimes override their instinctive reactions.This loss of agency can be deeply uncomfortable.For example:A horse may want to adjust their stride on uneven ground, but rein pressure stops them.A horse may sense a genuine environmental threat, but we might push them forward anyway.A horse may find a bend or gait transition physically difficult, yet we demand repetition.When horses are denied the ability to communicate discomfort, they may shut down (becoming “quiet” or “bombproof”) or escalate (through tension, rushing, or evasions). Neither response is a sign of good following, they are symptoms of compromised agency.

A herd animal depends on their leader to assess risks accurately and keep them safe. Under saddle, the horse cannot easily flee or defend themselves, yet they must still process the environment. Imagine noticing everything, a fluttering bird, a shift in wind, a distant noise, but not being able to respond freely. This internal conflict may create emotional pressure. A calm, balanced rider can offset that load. A nervous, frustrated, or unpredictable rider increases it dramatically.

Following is an act of trust. Trust only emerges when the horse feels: understood, safe, physically comfortable, and their concerns are met with clarity rather than force. A horse who willingly follows does so not out of fear, but out of trust gained through consistent, quiet attention.

Develop a listening posture. Notice how the horse adjusts their breathing, how their ribcage swings, how their ears tune in and out, how their stride lengthens or shortens in response to the rider’s internal state. When riders communicate from a place of empathy and steadiness, horses step into the follower role more naturally and without fear.

The core issue with riding is not that the horse is asked to follow. It’s that we often don’t consider the psychological and physical weight of that role. There are things we can do to help our horses;

• offer clear consistent cues.

• allow our horse to express opinions without punishment.

• lead with emotional steadiness.

• keep our horse’s balance and comfort as high priorities.

• develop softness before asking for obedience.

When we ride with awareness of what it feels like to be the follower, we become the kind of leaders horses willingly choose to follow. It’s quite a different world that horses live in. For me it's a journey of understanding their reality from as many perspectives as possible.

Suzy Maloney B.Eq.Sc.Dip.Couns.

Happy Horses Bitless

ConsiderateHorsemanship

Email: suzy@happyhorsesbitless.com

Web: www.happyhorsesbitless.com

FB: Happy Horses Bitless Bridles

Lismore, NSW, Australia

Ph: 0401 249 263