Saltwater Creek Clydesdales and Sport Horses

Saltwater Creek Clydesdales and Sport Horses Breeding Versatile sport horses and Heavies since 2005. Standing Stallion is Benns Jimmy Registered Clydesdale

Dawn and MAV spam
02/01/2025

Dawn and MAV spam

A visit from Shawnee yesterday and MAV happy to get all the bum scratches she would give
31/12/2024

A visit from Shawnee yesterday and MAV happy to get all the bum scratches she would give

27/12/2024

My thoughts on anthropomorphism

While working with Joy this morning I started thinking about anthropomorphism…again. I think about it a lot and I’ve wanted to write this post for awhile but never quite found the words.

Many may disagree with me but I take this opinion from my own understanding of human psychology (I have a Diploma in Human Development which delves in to Developmental Psychology) and also from what I feel in myself to be true, unpopular opinion though it may be.

Firstly we need to understand what anthropomorphism is.

It is the act of attributing human thoughts, feelings and emotions to an animal.

So why is it a problem?

Because it is believed that animals don’t think the same as we do. They don’t have the parts of the brain necessary to produce certain thoughts that we attribute to them. And anthropomorphism could lead to the horse being unfairly treated on the basis of a belief that they have human thoughts and emotions.

My personal opinion is this:

Anthropomorphism is not the problem. The incomplete process of anthropomorphism is the problem.

I also believe that neuroplasticity plays a role whereby the horse brain may be able to enlist other areas of the brain to perform emotional processing tasks since they’re lacking the prefrontal cortex. But that’s another topic for another day.

But anyway, hear me out and then feel free to give your thoughts…politely.

Let’s take the term “belligerent”. A lot of people refer to horses as belligerent.
What does it mean? In human terms, belligerence is when someone is considered hostile and aggressive.

But why would a human be hostile and aggressive?
In psychology terms, a person may act hostile and aggressive when they feel threatened. Their anxiety over the perceived threat makes them act in an aggressive way in order to protect themselves.

Go figure!

So if we complete the same thought process with a horse. Labelled it as belligerent but then extrapolate that further and understated why we can decipher that they feel threatened.

By understanding that they feel threatened we can now change tact and approach the horse with new eyes. We can now present ourselves in a kinder way to the horse. We can do what they need to feel safe therefore removing the perceived threat and down scaling the “belligerent” behaviour.

Let’s try another one.

Bolshy/bolshie

In human terms it means someone who is deliberately combative and uncooperative.

Why would a human be deliberately combative and uncooperative?
Probably because they don’t feel comfortable with the situation and they’re behaving in this way in order to protect themselves, to try and stop it from happening.

So why then, would a horse be deliberately uncooperative and combative?
Probably because they don’t feel comfortable with the situation and they’re trying to keep themselves safe and stop things from happening that they’re scared or anxious about.

So with that knowledge we can adjust our approach so the horse feels safe and comfortable to cooperate.

How about this one; disrespectful.

Why would a human be disrespectful to someone? Probably because that person has offended them in some way, perhaps by their behaviour or something they’re said. Or perhaps because they don’t know any different.

So for a horse we can extrapolate that and understand that perhaps the horse is behaving in a disrespectful way because either A) we’ve offended them or B ) they don’t know any different and we need to show them a better way.

With that information we can repair the relationship and show them a better way.

What about some positive emotions? One I heard recently is pride. That horses don’t feel pride.

Pride is defined as “a feeling of accomplishment or confidence that can be a response to success.”

You think a horse might feel a sense of pride when they feel confident in a new skill they’ve developed?
Confidence is certainly something we attribute to horses with apparently no concern for anthropomorphism.
Confidence is defined as a feeling of self-assurance arising from an appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities.

Certainly we can accept that for horses, though I am unsure why, as equestrians, we seem much more comfortable accepting anthropomorphism when it’s in a positive view versus in the negative view.
Of course I understand that the negative attributions could lead to the horse being unfairly treated. But if we can extrapolate for the positive emotions, why not for the negative?

At the end of the day, the thing humans and horses have in common is our primitive instincts. All human behaviour is driven by an instinct. We have psychology to explain that for us.
But horses have that same part of their brain too. Their behaviour is driven by instinct and if we break it down further, we can use that information to understand WHY the horse might be behaving in a belligerent or bolshy or disrespectful way.

Feelings and emotions give off an energy or aura. We feel it from other humans. And we can feel that same energy or aura from a horse. That’s why we attribute a human emotion or behaviour to it. Because as humans, that’s how we understand it, we instinctively feel it.

The issue, in my opinion, is not anthropomorphism but the incomplete extrapolation of anthropomorphism.

If you’re going to label a horse with a certain behaviour or emotion, it’s important to look at that emotion from a human perspective to understand what drives that emotion and break it down completely so you can use it from a place of understanding for your horse.

Dawn spam she is unscrunching beautifully
02/12/2024

Dawn spam she is unscrunching beautifully

After darkness there is always light. Announcing Saltwater Creek New Dawn Bay Filly born 29 November. Out of Saltwater C...
30/11/2024

After darkness there is always light. Announcing Saltwater Creek New Dawn Bay Filly born 29 November. Out of Saltwater Creek Elenor by Woodlands Park Julius Ceasar. Thanks to Maryann and Ollie from Rainbows End Clydesdales for being friends and supporters. First time Mumma Elenor is Diana’s daughter by Benns Mr Mack so we keep Diana’s and Mack’s bloodline moving forward. ❤️❤️❤️

It is with a very heavy heart that we let you know of the passing of our beautiful mare Diana and her perfect filly foal...
25/11/2024

It is with a very heavy heart that we let you know of the passing of our beautiful mare Diana and her perfect filly foal from birth complications. Thank you Emily from Gympie vet for doing what you could to try to save Diana. Sadly she passed yesterday afternoon. We have her two daughters Elenor and Penny with us still.

15/11/2024

Ringos floor gymnastics routine.
10/10 for control and routine 😂

19/10/2024

SWC George was bred here and has come back for agistment.

I wanted to get a video for his owner this morning and Georgie boy understood the assignment. 🩷

We have a small flock of wild ducks on the property and snapped this picture this morning while feeding the horses
24/08/2024

We have a small flock of wild ducks on the property and snapped this picture this morning while feeding the horses

Young Jimmy is developing into a lovely boy
24/08/2024

Young Jimmy is developing into a lovely boy

Jimmy is looking so amazing I tried to get photos of him today but he followed me around like a puppy dog so not great s...
18/08/2024

Jimmy is looking so amazing I tried to get photos of him today but he followed me around like a puppy dog so not great shots

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Videos

A visit from Shawnee yesterday and MAV happy to get all the bum scratches she would give

Ringos floor gymnastics routine. 10/10 for control and routine 😂

SWC Ringo Starr. What a specimen. Sired by the late Benn’s Mr Mack. With the wonderful Xena being his Dam. What an incredible pairing this was!

SWC George was bred here and has come back for agistment. I wanted to get a video for his owner this morning and Georgie boy understood the assignment. 🩷

When he was in the wrong corner when dinner rocked up. ‘Waaaaitttt, I’m here!’

Do you think she’s trying to tell me something? 😂

Jimmy growing up nicely

McCartney

McCartney so relaxed
McCartney so relaxed

Mr McCartney is such a chill little dude, he is so comfortable with people and very sociable

Ringo learning to wait. By making him wait he has to use his thinking brain to override his automatic I want food thinking. He is holding himself back .

Ringo learning manners at feed time

Every opportunity to provide training should be utilised. I use every opportunity to get the horses listening and understanding what I want them to do. It helps when you begin formal training. Jimmy has learned that I want him in his pen to feed him and Ringo understands he must wait before he eats. When you have big animals it can be dangerous at feed time if they become Bargy and get in your space.

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