16: Horses, Hierarchy & the Myth of “Dominance” (with Lucy Rees)

This is the second of our special English episodes recorded in Spain with ethologist Lucy Rees. Sitting outside the Mahara (an old goat herder’s hut), we dive into one of the most persistent ideas in the horse world: hierarchy and dominance—and why Lucy believes it’s often misunderstood. We explore how “dominance” became a popular model (often from artificial captive situations), why counting aggression doesn’t explain how horses actually live, and what horses are really trying to do in conflict: create distance and reduce pressure, not “win power.” Lucy introduces a different lens: synchrony—the way horses coordinate movement, regulate emotions together, and seek safety by coming together (not just fleeing). We also talk about calmness as a practical skill, how horses learn personal space, and why your “aids” should be backups—not the foundation—when real connection and timing are present