b'THE EMPATHETIC HORSE OWNERMSc, equitation science consultant in Stafford, U.K. As equestrians were good at displacing our own emotions onto our horses, she says. Were at risk of overstating their cognitive abilities and assuming what they can and cant know and feel, without relying on science to confirm that.Jealousy and fidelity are good exam-ples, says Australian science-based trainer Andy Booth, who is based in southwest-ern France. Sometimes a rider will tell me her horse didnt work well for her be-cause he was upset about seeing her rid-ing another horse, he says. Or Ill hear that the horse performs well because he loves pleasing her so much, and then one day he doesnt perform well and she takes ARND BRONKHORST/ARND.NLit as a sign that hes angry or vengeful or less faithful or doesnt love her anymore. But horses just dont function that way. Nonhorsey people can also anthro-pomorphize, which can affect how the public views equestrian activities, becauseIn extreme cases of empathy, individuals like the activists that interrupted Marc Houtzagers show people imagine themselves not in thejumping round at the 2019 FEI European Championships view humans use of horses as cruel.horses skin, but as a human stepping in for the horse, Ashton says. While thispeople toward a horse-centered ap- horses and listening to their responses, could make equestrians more aware ofproach, rather than an anthropomorphicThompson says. We dont always have welfare concerns, the anthropomorphismor speciesism one, says Ashton. to follow their response, but we should at could warp the public image of whatExcessive empathy and anthropo- least be consulting them and interacting horses are experiencing.morphic language might not help ourwith compassion.The concept of anthropomorphismhorses, but if you come from the horsesThese conversations can occur surfaced on a world stage at the 2019 FEIperspective, every decision becomes thethrough very brief moments of mindful-European Championships in Rotterdam,right decision, rather than a projectionness, says Thompson. We can go into The Netherlands. Two shirtless Dutchof ourselves, she says. Its not about ourthe paddock and put a halter on a horse animal rights activists ran onto the showemotional needs being met or not met byand lead them off to work. Or we can go jumping course as Marc Houtzager andour horse, but about our horses needsinto the paddock, check in with the horse, Sterrehofs Calimero approached thebeing met by us.and just spend 30 seconds being mindful third fence. Painted on their skin were theA horse-centered approach uses scien- and wondering how theyre doing. Its like words: Stop horse slavery.tific evidence to reveal a horses needsasmeeting and greeting the way we try to do Theyre not the first to present thisopposed to what excess empathy makeswith other humans but also often fail to idea. When empathy leads to full-on an- us think he needs, Ashton says. A horsesbecause were so busy.thropomorphism, it equalizes horse andsense of security is based on the conceptSuch dialogue also means avoiding human rights, says Lucius Caviola, a PhDof predictability. Can he control the pres- pressuring the horse to perform at higher candidate specializing in the psychol- sures he experiences? Can he have hislevels than hes capable of or ready for, or ogy of effective altruism at the Univer- ethological needs for feeding, movement,pushing him to make faster progress to sity of Oxford, in the U.K. In cases likeand social company met? True empathyfit our own schedules, says Thompson. I the Rotterdam championships, peoplefor the horse would mean our decisionshope I am having conversations with my accuse the horse industry of what theyare driven by these objectives rather thanhorse where I am listening, not inventing call s peciesismessentially, showingby our own.what I would like to hear, she says. prejudice against nonhuman species, heFor Thompson, healthy empathy says. They view the use and detainmentinvolves considering the horses needsRealistic Expectationsof horses as cruel, and they describe itthrough time spent listening and observ- Empathy doesnt mean we should cater with emotionally charged words.ing. These efforts, she says, will encour- to everything the horse wants, our sources age empathy, while peeling back the biassay. You might feel like the horse doesnt Taking a Horse-Centered Approach of our own projections and assumptions. want to work today, but I have days where Empathy becomes a healthy part of theWe need to be developing a form ofId rather be hanging out watching movies horse-human relationship when it guidescommunication where were askingthan working, too, says Ashton. If were TheHorse.com|The HorseNovember 201925Untitled-17 25 9/25/19 9:38 AM'