I feel for you about 'horse people'. 'Horse people', or those that consider themselves such, seem to feel the need to dominate the horses they are around, and I think that transfers over to the people they're around, too. There's also a certain cockiness and overbearing self-assuredness when you do have expertise in a field, be it with horses or medicine or whatever.
Horses do have a social hierarchy, much like dogs in a pack only not so obvious to the outside observer. I think horses just agree to let us think we're in charge. If you fall asleep in the saddle, the horse doesn't need you to know when it's time to go home - or to tell them where home is.
My sister's husband is a professional wrangler, and he has told me some horror stories of beating horses in the face with their reins (or a chunk of firewood if it's handy) to 'show them who's boss', to prove to them he's the dominate herd-leader. Personally, I think that's bullshit & seems more like a reaction from anger or fear.
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branchandroot
Re: Horse Hierarchy
Date: 2007-04-23 02:13 pm (UTC)Horses do have a social hierarchy, much like dogs in a pack only not so obvious to the outside observer. I think horses just agree to let us think we're in charge. If you fall asleep in the saddle, the horse doesn't need you to know when it's time to go home - or to tell them where home is.
My sister's husband is a professional wrangler, and he has told me some horror stories of beating horses in the face with their reins (or a chunk of firewood if it's handy) to 'show them who's boss', to prove to them he's the dominate herd-leader. Personally, I think that's bullshit & seems more like a reaction from anger or fear.