As prey animals, they have a set of skills that allows them to see things we, as predators, are unaware of. Us humans live through our emotions, our feelings, our beliefs. Most of those are transparent to us - but not to the horses! And that is exactly why horses are such amazing coaches and teachers. They see right through us. When we try to hide our true emotions, expectations, and intentions they notice our incoherent state and that puzzles them, that does mean that something is off and potentially unsafe. The result is that their sympathetic nervous system is activated and they will be on high alert and keep their distance.