Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004, Karen Sullivan wrote:

> When riding horses, I see more problems arise from a rider trying to 
> have an equal partnership....The horse gets confused as to who is really

You added the word "equal" which changes everything!  Few partnerships are 
truly equal.  Quoting from www.dictionary.com:

<<part·ner    ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (pärtnr)
n.

   1. One that is united or associated with another or others in an 
activity or a sphere of common interest, especially:
         1. A member of a business partnership.
         2. A spouse.
         3. A domestic partner. See Usage Note at domestic partner.
         4. Either of two persons dancing together.
         5. One of a pair or team in a sport or game, such as tennis or 
bridge.>>

Doesn't say equal in there.  Two people cannot dance unless one leads and 
one follows, but they are still dance partners.  Every team needs a 
captain.  Even in a 50/50 business partnership it is rare to find true 
equality; one or the other is nearly always recognized by all partners, 
whether overtly or covertly, as the dominant partner.  Even if all 
signatures are required to make a business decision, there's nearly always 
one partner who makes the decisions and the others go along -- except 
perhaps when one other partner's particular expertise convinces the 
dominant partner that a bad decision is about to be made, then the 
dominant partner reconsiders and decides otherwise, but is still the one 
leading the decision-making process!

Same with me and my horse.  We are partners, but I'm the dominant partner, 
have to be for our mutual safety.  I sometimes bow to his greater 
expertise in matters of trail safety or how to get back when we're lost 
<BG> but it's stll always me making the decisions, even when it's me 
deciding that he's right, so we'll follow his advice and go back to the 
left.

We each have responsibilities that make our partnership successful, but we 
are not "equal" partners because that is an unnatural situation.

--
Glenda R. Snodgrass
AERC #M18819
SE Region