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Trust and Play: How Mustangs Teach Us to Let Go and Have Fun

Some people come to the ranch seeking calm. Others come looking for clarity. But sometimes, what they find—when they least expect it—is joy.


Big, unstructured, laugh-out-loud joy.


It sneaks up on you here. One minute you’re breathing deeply, focused on grounding your energy. The next, a mustang has picked up your hat, flung it into the air, and is trotting off like they’ve just won the Kentucky Derby. And suddenly… you're laughing. Not politely. Honestly.


That moment? That’s healing too.


What Play Looks Like in the Herd


If you spend any time watching horses in a healthy herd, you’ll see it: play. There’s the mock sparring, the sideways hops and spins, the tug-of-war over buckets, the gentle nips followed by quick retreats. It's energetic, engaged, and full of nuance.


But it’s also a sign of something deeper: trust. Horses only play when they feel safe—when their basic needs are met, and when their relationships are secure. Play is not just a break from routine; it’s a declaration: "I feel safe enough to explore."


That’s just as true for us as it is for them.


Letting Go of "Doing It Right"


Humans tend to show up to the pasture with a plan. We want to get it right. To be calm. To be present. To do the work.


But horses aren’t grading us. They aren’t interested in whether we have our act together. They’re reading what’s real.


And sometimes, what’s real is goofy, playful, lighthearted energy that doesn’t need to do anything. Horses—especially mustangs—respond to that. They’ll grab a cone, toss a rope, investigate your shoelaces, or playfully dodge when you go to halter them. Not out of resistance, but because they’re inviting you to engage in a different kind of dance.


When a Mustang Invites You to Play


We’ve seen it so many times. A person comes to Zenhorse® carrying the weight of something heavy. They expect stillness. And they get it… eventually. But first, one of the horses—Skye, Emma, or maybe one of the younger, sassier mustangs—locks eyes with them, lowers their head, and starts to play.


It might be a nuzzle that turns into a nudge. It might be your scarf suddenly becoming a toy. It might be a shared rhythm—step, pause, look, breathe—that turns into something lighter.

And just like that, something shifts.


Tears turn to laughter. A guarded posture softens. The breath deepens. Trust begins to take root—not just with the horse, but within.


Because what the mustangs are really saying is: "You're safe here. You can come out now."

 

Why Play Matters in Healing


Play isn’t frivolous. It’s essential. It activates the parasympathetic nervous system. It builds resilience. It supports emotional regulation, connection, and release. It creates space for joy, spontaneity, and creative problem-solving.


But our culture often treats play like a reward—something we’re only allowed to have once the work is done. And the trouble is… the work is never done.


So when do we play? Often—we don’t.


We hold out, hoping for a finish line that never comes. But the mustangs remind us that play isn’t the opposite of productivity—it’s a vital part of well-being. It brings us back to ourselves—to the parts of us that remember how to move freely, laugh easily, and connect without agenda.


That’s what the mustangs teach us: That play isn’t separate from the healing. It is the healing.


An Invitation to Play


So here’s your invitation—today, this week, whenever the moment comes: What would it feel like to let go of control and meet the moment with curiosity instead? What if you didn’t need to be serious to be sincere? What if softness and silliness were part of your strength?

If a mustang offers you a playful moment—take it. If life tosses you a cone… toss it back.



 
 
 

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