Through the Eye of the Horse. 

A horse’s eye holds a universe of knowing. It sees, not just with vision, but with instinct. It reads movement, intention, hesitation—long before a word is spoken. 

As I look into Nugget’s eye, I wonder what he sees in me. Does he catch the flicker of doubt, the weight of my thoughts, the way my breath shifts before I even realize it? Horses notice everything. They read the story we tell before we know we’re telling it. Patients do, too. 

In medicine, seeing is more than looking. It is noticing the way a patient grips the edge of the chair, the pause before they answer, the fatigue in their voice that speaks louder than their words. It is understanding what is left unsaid. 

Nugget’s eye reflects back not just the world around him, but the world within me. In his gaze, I see patience, curiosity, the quiet demand for honesty. In that moment, I remember—whether with horses or with people—the best healers are the ones who truly see. 

Paul Henning, MD