“My treasures do not clink together or glitter; They gleam in the sun and neigh in the night.”
-Arabian Proverb
answering the question: how do I establish respect with my horse?In short, you can't. There have been theories circulating in the equestrian community that suggests horses are incapable of learning and practicing respect when it comes to humans. I'm here to prove those theories with my favorite subject: psychology. In my last post, I touched lightly on the differences in neuroanatomy between humans and horses. The main difference is the power of the frontal lobe. Humans have an incredibly advanced frontal lobe so much that it has enabled us to create intricate societies where things like credit scores and french press coffee exist through a process known as executive function. Without executive function, horses and other animals, as well as primates, live much simpler lives driven by instincts.
An article from Harvard University clumps executive function and self-regulation skills together. These two mental processes depend on three different brain functions: working memory, mental flexibility and self-control. These brain functions are defined as follows:
When trainers talk about respect in the equine industry, they are referring to a horse abiding by human standards of personal space or authority; or the self-control brain function outlined as one dependent of executive function. To 'teach a horse to respect you' is assuming that the horse already possesses the building blocks of understanding what respect is. As we study anatomy and the functions of the equine brain, we know that these assumptions are falsely based on human ideals. When we talk about respect in the human world, we find a lot of definitions. Respect doesn't have one definite definition that can truly sum up the entire essence of the word. There are a lot of complex ways humans show respect. For instance, in the human world, we respect others' belongings by returning them to where they belong or returning them in the same condition as they were found. We respect others' privacy by knocking before we entire their living spaces. We respect our friends and family by being truthful and trustworthy people. These are all unwritten rules that we have created as a society. You will find that different communities have different standards of respect. For instance, in some cultures, it is considered rude to make direct eye contact whereas, in others, it is considered rude not to. In other words, respect and the parameters of respect are very much human concepts that do not come from innate knowledge. We are taught respect and how to respect through generational teachings and pressures of societal expectations. Respect can be taught to humans because humans have the neuroanatomy that can process what respect is. Horses and other animals do not have the neuroanatomy to process all of the aspects that go into the idea of respect; therefore, horses cannot be taught to respect, they can only be taught the specific pressures they associate with what humans believe are reinforcements of respect. By nature, horses make decisions based off of their predominant emotion: fear. Fear is what has helped horses survive as a species for as long as they have. Horses are first and foremost survivors. They are going to act in any way they see fit to ensure safety and survival --these actions do not necessarily include self-control. This can be proven by a horse who sees food as a high-priority resource. You know this horse. Almost every single equestrian has come across this horse at least once in their lifetime. You may also know it as the "lead mare" or "herd leader" (which I will get into in my next post). This horse is usually seen chasing others away from the communal hay bale or slurping up the last bits of whatever its pasture mate couldn't finish of its breakfast. The fact of the matter is that this horse knows that food means survival and is willing to put up a fight with other horses on the slim chance that the last little crumbs can optimize its chance at survival. This horse is certainly not acting off of self-control --it's operating off of instinct. What we see when we seek respect from a horse is, in actuality, the horse responding to a learned behavior taught through pressure. Horses are associative thinkers. They learn by making associations. When they associate the pressure of a lead rope with the close perimeter in which they are standing in regards to their handler, they are most likely going to open the distance between themselves and their handler to avoid that learned pressure. We cannot teach a horse something it is anatomically incapable of processing. What we can do, however, is alter our training practices to better fit the abilities of equine cognition. Instead of asking for respect, try asking for their attention. You often hear that wherever the head goes, the feet go; I have yet to find a scientific argument that proves otherwise (if I do, you will be the first to know). When working with flight animals, one of the most powerful things you can possess is its attention. A flight animal lives in the future; always thinking of what is going to happen and what it needs to do to protect itself when that thing happens. By having and holding the flight animal's attention, we are taking its mind away from the future and returning it to the present. The present is important. The present is where you are and that is where you are interacting with your horse. The present is where your horse is in its most impressionable state. We cannot change the past and we cannot alter the future. If can influence what the horse is thinking of in its most present state, that is all we can really ask for.
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Leave a Reply.About CassidyCassidy Payne is a lifelong equestrian and animal welfare activist. With over 16 years of experience in the equine industry, Cassidy is retired from competing on multiple levels, from A-rated shows to local schooling shows. She is now focusing her efforts on training her horses with the Principles of Learning Theory in Equitation. Archives
March 2023
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Photos used under Creative Commons from NathalieSt, mikecogh, Joanne Goldby