Outspoken horses who express their feelings are regularly labelled and demeaned by humans.

Sometimes there are some lucky horses with the right owners, who notice the horses unhappiness and investigate. They find the problem and fix it.

This is the exception unfortunately, not the norm.

There are also those equines who appear to comply. Chances are high these poor souls initially showed their fear or discomfort, or their unhappiness in what was expected of them.

Un-noticed, unheard equine communication.

Body language that was too small and too subtle for the human,

*because horses generally don’t shout, and

*humans generally don’t listen.

Too few humans notice the horse trying to explain or communicate, so the horse often just. stops. trying.

Nobody notices - or worse, they notice but misunderstand, or notice and ignore.

Then the horse is labelled uncooperative, grumpy, stubborn, trying to evade, or similar disparaging labels that makes the horse the culprit, not the victim.

Horses survive by being in harmony or cohesion with their herd. If disagreements do occur (rare to see in natural herds) then once the disagreement is settled the horses return to their naturally cohesive state. To their safety in getting along.

Similarly with their dealings with humans. Once the horses’ concerns are displayed they tend to APPEAR resolved. Noted and they get along with life, ignored and why bother voicing those ignored concerns again.

So those unheard voices are now stifled.

The horse just goes along with the humans demands in their effort to remain harmonious and hence ‘SAFE’. They acquiesce. Worse - they submit.

They are often not happy, but hard-wiring and the need for herd safety takes over.

The human can now pretend that all is well.

Let’s change this one-sided picture

* Make an effort to HEAR our horses voices

* Treat them like friends whose opinions we value

* Make an effort to help them be truly happy – not just obedient and compliant

And equally as distressing –

“Horses have stopped trying to communicate affiliatively with people as we don’t listen”

Lucy Rees

Part 5 / people focussing on agonistic behaviour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt5BG0V5jnA

Sadly humans also often miss those ’cohesive’ communications that are offered, as well as missing those less cohesive ‘words’ the horse expresses.

Let horses who are not shut down voice their opinion and be heard

Lets celebrate our expressive horses; they can be our greatest teachers

They can teach us humility and respect for others feelings

They teach us all to REALLY listen, listen and ACT on the changes we need to make.

Let's give our horses a better world

Let's make their voices heard.

Written by Vicki Conroy of the PPGA Equine Sub-Committee