A horse whinnies, kicking its hooves, and throws its muzzle over the gate, huge black eyes staring right at me. Hot air huffs from wide nostrils, as if to say I’m annoying him. Animals are sensitive to emotion, especially horses. Centuries of being prey have ingrained their flight response, tuned to read the rest of their herd for any signs of danger. It’s unsurprising that my anxiousness sets him on edge, making him restless, head swinging back and forth, tail whipping his sides. If I unlatched the gate, he’d be a mile away in a minute.
