Perceptions Are Everything...

From Jim: We come to know the reality of our world through the input of our senses. If we can't perceive it, it doesn't exist for us. We, because of out frontal lobes, can imagine things, but to us they're make-believe, We need to know the difference. We help our little ones with nightmares and and all manner of imaginary fears. Equines, on the other hand, don't spend much time sorting out real and not so real. It there's a chance it's real, that's good enough. If they sense you're afraid, never mind the reason, they believe you and they're fearful. If you're apprehensive, their level of concern rises. For them, fear is a high stakes game with no bluffing. This has real implications for how we feel and behave when we're with horses, donkeys, and mules. When we get out of our comfort zone, we move them out of theirs. It's a "herd thing". Calm, peaceful, firm direction and interaction is reassuring. Emotional noisy blustery behavior is upsetting and really gets in the way of learning and teaching. Horses need to be trained and educated. This makes them useful and safer to be around. They need confidence in us and in how we'll behave. If we show frustration, then we'll see frustration. Get angry, see fear. Get frightened and you'll have your fear and the horse's to deal with. Time is perceived differently by equines. They're not checking their inboxes and penciling us in. They come to things when they come to them, not on some artificial schedule. You can stimulus/response condition their behavior much faster than you can teach them, but you'll get a lesser result in the long run. You can train a horse and never get to know them. They'll hold back most of who they are and you'll be the poorer for it. They will form their perceptions about who you are based on what you present to them. Your understanding of them will come from how open and patient your behavior and attitude is. You cannot escape your perceptions any more than they can. First impressions are lasting. Clear perceptions take time. Perceptions can be hard to change. True for us and them. Take the time to be the horseperson you want them to know and to get to know who they are. Both horse and human will benefit in uncountable ways.