The Power of small gestures.
Trust isn’t built overnight. It’s earned—through consistency, patience, and the smallest of gestures.
As I extend my hand to Nugget, offering him a treat, I watch the flicker of awareness in his eyes. He pauses, reading me as he always does, before accepting. In that moment, I’m reminded of something I’ve seen time and again in medicine: the profound impact of the smallest actions. A reassuring hand on a patient’s shoulder, a few extra seconds spent explaining a diagnosis, a quiet nod that says, I see you.
Horses, like patients, are creatures of perception. They don’t just listen to what you say—they feel who you are. They sense hesitation, impatience, or sincerity long before words are spoken. Nugget knows if my energy is rushed or uncertain. He responds not just to my actions, but to my intent. Patients do the same. In the ER, where chaos often reigns, the ability to offer calm in the storm—to be present, steady, and predictable—can make all the difference.
Small gestures carry weight. They build the foundation of trust, whether in the round pen or the exam room. With every treat given, every quiet moment shared, Nugget and I deepen our bond. And in medicine, with every small kindness extended, we remind our patients that they are not just cases to be solved, but people to be cared for.
Trust is not demanded. It is earned, one small gesture at a time.
Paul Henning, MD