[RC] fear vs willfulness - A. Perez
Regarding the quotes below: while there are the horses who do
truly stupid things out of dominance, I'd wager that many if
not most horses that break their necks by flipping themselves
over backwards while tied are reacting out of fear, not
willfulness, and it is crucial to distinguish fear from
willfulness when dealing with inapproiate behavior. Attempting
to reason with or train any creature (equie or human) when they
are in a state of acute panic is pretty much a waste of time.
You need to get them calmed down before carefully,
incrementally desnsitizing them to the fearful stimulous.
Classic signs of fear are trembling, excessive sweating, heart-
pounding, attemped flight... I think most people will know it
when they see it. This does not mean horses are not capable of
willfulness - my horse certainly is, but the difference is
clear. If suddenly given his way during a 'willful' tempoer-
tantrum, he'll immediately commence to grazing. If it is a
panic attack, and he is suddenly given his way, he'd beat-feet
as far and as fast as he could.
To say it's all fear or all dominance is short-sighted. You
have to consider the horse and the context, ans react
accordingly.
"To think that a horse is THAT manipulative seems to me to be
anthropomorphic to the nth degree. My understanding of horses
is that they are hard wired to be scared to death. Period.
They can, and they do. And it has nothing to do with
anthropomorphism, manipulation, or fear. It has to do with
dominance, ... It is deliberate wilfullness, not fearful--it is
calculated. It is no different than stallions fighting to the
death ... But their instinct to be dominant can be so strong
that they will fight with every ounce they have, if they're so
disposed. Horses like this are not the norm (although most
horses have some degree of this instinct), but when you
encounter one, they are dangerous indeed unless you can
establish yourself as the Herd Boss, as several others have
suggested."
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