On one hand, I have often thought that it is a good thing my horse can't talk. This keeps him from saying he doesn't want to go on a ride today because there are too many flies, it is too hot, too cold, too muddy, too rocky, or he just really needs a nap right now.

I know if he could talk, he would insist he is so tough and fast if I would just turn him loose the first 30 miles he would show me and everyone else just what he can do.

Then, on the other hand, I wish he could verbally tell me when something is hurting and where it hurts.

Our horses' lack of speech doesn't mean they can't communicate with us. They are always whispering to us but so many times we are not paying enough attention to hear what they are trying to tell us or we don't know them well enough to know their signals. I don't believe that our horses always let us know when things are not quite right but many times their warnings are so small that they are missed or overlooked.

I hope when my horse whispers that I hear him. But I believe I have missed signals, ending up with more problems than I should have if I would have heard him.

When it comes to horses talking to us, sometimes they whisper and sometimes they shout. You need to get to know your horse very well before you enter your first ride together, paying close attention to the little signals he is giving you. I have seen horses stop during rides -- and their owners do not realize that the horse is having problems. I believe that this is when the horse has whispered his loudest and has finally decided to shout in order to be heard.

The horse may be trying to tell you something as simple as a hurting back from an ill-fitting saddle or he may be trying to tell you he has a bellyache that really hurts -- and continuing the ride could lead to a life-threatening situation. In the heat of competition the signal can be very slight as the horse is wanting to go. If you are busy talking to your friends or worried about losing your placing you may miss an important message from your horse.

Sometimes if you feel your horse isn't quite right you need to back off in order to get alone. That way you may be able to hear him a little louder.

Little things like not wanting to go down hills can indicate a saddle fit problem or a muscle cramp or leg problem. If you know your horse well, you understand how he reacts in different situations -- so please know your horse well before you enter a ride!

If your horse is not acting like himself, listen very closely. Sometimes horses can be a little lazy and not very energetic when they get bored but you need to know the difference between bored and hurt.

You need to err on the side of caution and take it easy until you get in to a vet check where you can go over him carefully. You should know your horse better than the veterinarian who sees him for less than five minutes, so be sure to communicate your concerns to the vet while you are vetting through. They are at the ride to help you and your horse and if they know what your horse has been telling you, may see something that you missed.

Even though the horse whispers, you must remember that you are the one who makes the decisions -- the brains of the outfit -- so always take into consideration the horse's welfare first. To finish is to win but only with a horse that is feeling well. Sometimes to pull is the best for the horse and the wiser choice. We must remember this is just one ride, and keep your horse safe for the next one.