The Basis for Relationship
It is a remarkable thing that horses and humans can relate at all, much less form lasting relationships. After all, we are so different from each other. I have heard trainers, instructors and other horse professionals compare horses to six year old children and encourage others to treat them that way when interacting with them: students have asked me if I agree with this view. I don't, I think we do horses a great disservice when we treat them like children, and we cheat ourselves out of an opportunity to understand and perhaps form a relationship with a unique and distinct species.
I am so intrigued by our endless human fascination with the prospect of meeting beings from another planet - who are they, what makes them tick, how we communicate with them - while we anthropomorphize other species right here on our own planet. Perhaps we think of them as human because we want to feel close to them, want them to be familiar to us, want them to be like us. I understand the tendancy. But I am at my best with horses when I remember that they are not like me - though we have some things in common (more about this later). Perceiving horses this way serves me well as I then strive to understand and communicate effectively with them vs assuming that I know them already, thereby taking them for granted. Forming close relationships with horses requires that basic ingredient necessary to any relationship of substance - respect. And with respect, we can start building a foundation.
I am so intrigued by our endless human fascination with the prospect of meeting beings from another planet - who are they, what makes them tick, how we communicate with them - while we anthropomorphize other species right here on our own planet. Perhaps we think of them as human because we want to feel close to them, want them to be familiar to us, want them to be like us. I understand the tendancy. But I am at my best with horses when I remember that they are not like me - though we have some things in common (more about this later). Perceiving horses this way serves me well as I then strive to understand and communicate effectively with them vs assuming that I know them already, thereby taking them for granted. Forming close relationships with horses requires that basic ingredient necessary to any relationship of substance - respect. And with respect, we can start building a foundation.
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