Anyone who owns, rides, or has been around a horse knows that horses are special. It's actually quite difficult to describe if you haven't experienced them yourself. After all, it can be hard to describe a passion. It's a feeling that can last anywhere from a few seconds to an entire lifetime. 

The horses affect us. Both on an emotional level and on our learning paths. Front page photographer Carolin Felgner describes the horse as her spirit animal, and many of us can relate to this statement. Horses touch our hearts, but they also teach us a lot - if we have the courage to let them do so. 

Animal communicator Ditte Young advises us to talk to and listen to our horses, because we can learn so much from each other. And horses communicate all the time - we just need to turn our senses on. 

And that is precisely what veterinarian and dressage judge Hans Christian Matthiesen advocates; listening to the individual horse and what it needs. Because, as he says, horses are just as different as we humans are. And that's why we need to get to know each individual horse; how it can learn, thrive and perform in the most optimal way. There is no one-size-fits-all system for horses or humans. 

That being said, the horse can do so many things and can take on so many roles. In this magazine you can read about the horse in its role as dressage horse, show jumper and even as stunt horse. But these are just a few of the many things horses can do. When they take on the roles and tasks, we present to them with enthusiasm and willingness, we can't help but feel a great respect and gratitude for these great, magnificent beings.