"Soon we’ll need consent just to pet a horse."

This sarcasm touches me deeply. Behind the mocking and ironic tone of the remark, the question remains relevant and deserves a pause: what is, at its core, our relationship with living beings?

In our societies, we have often learned to view what surrounds us through the lens of possession, domination, or control. Many of the ills of our civilizations are rooted in this thirst for power. The ego and the need to protect or decide for the other may feel reassuring, but don't they cut us off from what is essential?

What would happen if we changed our perspective? If we saw ourselves no longer as "masters," but as co-inhabitants of a planet where every living being has its place?

Imagine for a moment if we exchanged :

This question, too, is often asked with a hint of superiority.

But for me, it’s the wrong question. The real question is : what is the value of obtaining a true "Yes"?

Obtaining consent is :

For anyone who takes the time to observe and understand their interactions, doubt quickly fades. Between themselves, horses have a rich language made of micro-signals. During mutual grooming (allogrooming), for example, they propose, accept, or refuse.

But for this language to be expressed with us, the framework must allow it:

Is consent possible without true freedom of movement and spirit?

This is a practice I explore every day with my horses.

When I offer a kiss on the nose to Thor, I stay attentive: if he turns his gaze or his head away, I don't insist. He might need space at that moment, or perhaps he simply doesn't like kisses. Why would I take it as an insult?

For my part, I also often need space. Interestingly, the horses "crowd" me less than they crowd Aurore, for example; they adapt to who I am.

In the same way, when Aron approaches to breathe into my nose, he is proposing an exchange or asking for support. I almost always accept, but if I can't, I move my head away. He respects my choice without insisting. If he is capable of such delicacy toward me, why shouldn't I be toward him?

Turning one's head away is not a rejection; it is punctuation in our conversation.

In our society, is it really so absurd to ask for the other’s opinion? Whether it is a different person, a woman, a child, or an animal, the principle remains the same: respect begins where we recognize that the other has a say.

Sensitizing our children to this concept means teaching them respect for their own bodies and those of others. It also prevents many accidents by helping them understand that an animal is not a toy at their disposal.

By awakening younger generations to the respect of another’s choice—whether it is a classmate, a dog, or a pony—are we not offering them the keys to a more fairer and peaceful society?

Ultimately, is asking for consent a technical constraint, or the foundation of an authentic conversation and a harmonious relationship?

"Giving space to the "no" allows the "yes" to become a true promise of freedom."

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