Knowings come from direct experience in that moment, delivered to us as an impulse to act, words 'out of the blue', an image aka one of the languages of intuition (inner tuition).
Russ wanted to reassure Vicki that being a good listener is the most important skill - not years of being with horses. In fact, years of experience can get in the way of letting a new knowing find a landing place - we can think we have seen it all and miss the uniqueness of this moment with this being.
He is doubly lucky because he as two special women caring for his well-being at all levels. He hasn't always known care and withdraws into himself for protection. But he showed the playfulness and energy he wants to share when he feels safe.
His wisdom for Vicki was that the 'truth' in any interaction is in the energetic conversation between the beings. Vicki doesn't regard herself as an experienced horse-woman and this means her thought world can get a bit noisy with 'should' questions - this immediately pulls her out of the direct experience she is immersed in and into analytical thinking. When we absorb teachings from books, videos or past experience we build our storehouse of potentials and patterns but not knowings. 