Healing Beyond the Surface 

Pain is not always obvious. Some wounds don’t show. Paul Henning MD horsemanship provides insights into understanding and addressing such hidden pains, especially when it comes to animal care.

As I stand beside Tax, resting a hand on his neck, I can feel the tension in his body. He shifts uncomfortably, his eyes soft but weary. His ulcers aren’t something I can see, but they are there—wearing on him, changing the way he moves, eats, and interacts. It’s a lesson I’ve learned in both the barn and the ER: suffering often hides beneath the surface, and true healing begins with recognition. 

Horses, like people, don’t always express pain in ways we expect. They compensate, adjust, and sometimes grow distant. Tax isn’t limping, but he’s not himself. Just as a patient might smile through discomfort or downplay their symptoms, horses mask their vulnerabilities out of instinct. It’s up to us—the horseman, the physician—to notice the subtleties, to ask the right questions, and to look beyond what is immediately visible. 

Consoling Tax is more than offering comfort; it’s about showing him I’m paying attention. That his discomfort is not ignored, and that healing will come, not just through medicine, but through patience and care. It’s the same with patients—sometimes, the most powerful treatment is simply letting them know their pain is seen and their experience matters. 

Healing is never just about the symptoms. It’s about trust, time, and understanding what lies beneath. Contact us to learn more about Horsemanship and Medicine.

Paul Henning, MD