Are there any good scientists who can catch and ride a horse?
As much as I love science, I’m troubled lately by what I see in a lot of equine research.
First of all...
There are so many “facts” out there. One side can prove its argument with Study A, while the other side disproves it with Study B. Or, as one horseman said: “Both base their conclusions on only the facts they know. Neither know all the facts.”
Unless you’re broadly informed on the topic, how do you know whom to believe? Too often, the chosen side has more to do with looks and money than merit and reason.
How else would Linda Parelli’s theory of “Horsenality” stay afloat? It has the look of good science. That her principles have NO basis in horse brain function doesn’t seem to matter.
And how often do you see products endorsed as ‘Clinically Proven?’ Does it matter that the research was funded and promoted by the very company making them?
As you search for answers, the Internet is rife with bias. Your top search results are rarely the most pertinent or valuable. They’re just the ones paying to be seen.
Search engine optimization is as crucial today as Main Street location and neon lights were to brick and mortar storefronts decades ago.
Enter “Should I worm my horse?” into Google. The top result is a warm and friendly horse advice page, designed in soft green and blue hues with links to worming products. It’s
a Pfizer site.
Second of all...
In the horse world, there seems to be two popular corrals: one is steeped in lore, history, and ‘
the way we’ve always done it.’ The other is focused on the next flashy new thing.
Science could be that welcome alternative. Finally, we say, definitive answers. We will find solutions unencumbered by neither old school hard lines nor fashionable trends.
So why are we still grinding our teeth?
It seems these scientists have such poor horsemanship foundations that the very nature of their research is skewed and misguided. When I read articles about cribbing straps, rein-o-meters, and head-shaking surgeries, I get frustrated by what seems to be researchers’ universal lack of basic horse sense.
"Cortisol levels indicate Horse X was under stress..."
Of course, he's under stress! You put him in a stall 24/7, away from his herd, and unable to move on open ground.
Didn't you notice he was a horse?
It’s like they’re trying to pedal a bike with square tires.
Without even realizing it, many of us have far better habits, routines, instincts, and principles than those researchers with big budgets and barns full of equine subjects.
The tipping point for me came after reading
a study by University of Pennsylvania researchers. It measured catch-ability in horses as it relates to human-horse eye contact. After concocting formulas and performing weeks of experimentation, they concluded it really didn’t matter if you make eye contact or not.
Well, DUH.
Only deep in the summary was what us horse folk knew all along: Bringing a horse out of the pasture involves more than just looking at him. It has to do with your attitude and approach.
Or, in the summary's vernacular:
“It became evident to us that the human handler’s body posture and head posture, as well as stride” likely impacted the success or failure of each approach.
Double DUH.
As it happens, Martin Black wrote about catching a horse in the latest issue of
Eclectic Horseman. He never mentioned a word about eye contact.
“A friend of mine once said to approach a horse like you have a full glass of water balancing
on your head. If you think about not spilling the water, your feet will be softer, smoother, and more acceptable to the horse…If the way you walk toward him doesn’t feel good to him, he won’t be expecting anything better next time.”
Score: Common Sense 1, Science 0.
In the end, science in the form of university studies provides just another tool for your horsemanship tool box. Just because the authors have advanced degrees, doesn't mean they rate higher than graduates from the School of Hard Knocks.
So, read, listen, experiment, and have an open mind. The horses will tell us what works best.
Never trust a horse scientist until you see them ride!!! Also dont trust a horseperson who is trying to sell you an astrological weejee (sp?) board to understand what your horse thinks! as Maddy says, common sense rules!
Great article Maddy, sadly, common sense isn't very common any more...
....and I like to invite my Horse to catch ME! :)
Thank you for writing this article, because I think it reflects perfectly one of the big problems we have in the horse world today?.too much information, easily accessed, poorly understood, unsuccessfully communicated, and often derived from questionable sources. Then of course there?s opinion thrown in?and we all know horse people can be just ever so slightly opinionatedJ
Having graduated in the international equine industry from both sides of the fence so to speak, I actually know of a LOT of outstanding horse experts behind the science. In fact, of all the equine science professionals I have worked with, and been privileged to learn from, I cannot think of one I would not consider a knowledgeable, competent horse person, moreover, they far out number the pool of self-proclaimed, delusive horse experts saturating the horse world today
The confusion and misunderstanding really stems from a lack of communication between science and practice. As a result, people who do not have a strong science background understandably misinterpret the ?facts?, and the connection is lost as to how to connect and apply it in a real world setting.
The equine industry is steeped with folklore and tradition, however, research has come a long way in applying objective methods to help explain WHY things do, or do not work, and how we can make improvements for the good of the horse. You are right, if we read and listen, the horse will tell us everything we need to know, but in our ignorance and anthropomorphic bliss most of us don?t have the first clue how to really interpret what he has been silently, and consistently trying to tell at us for years.
Whether scientists do or do not know how to catch a horse and/or ride is immaterial, we are all working towards one common goal?a better understanding, and improved welfare for our equine partners. I agree university studies are a tool for your horsemanship toolbox, but they are an objective, proven (or disproven) adjunct to effective training and management practices, that improve the health and welfare of the horse. Education is a progressive discovery of our ignorance, and the school of hard knocks is one of the best educators out there?but only when you get to that humbling and pivotal place in your awareness, where you understand it doesn?t have to be the case.