Communication -Elise Gunteski #9

 

I believe that humans have reached a severe disconnect from animals. I've seen people commit great acts of cruelty simply because "it's just an animal." However, when you watch, the animal responds. 

 I was raised that all snakes were bad. No matter what type or where, I was taught to kill the snake on site. I rejected that after meeting a black snake next to the path I would walk. I would see this snake weekly or more. He never threatened me. In fact, he would join me; slithering alongside for a time. When you made sudden movements you could see him shift backwards. A tiny movement of his weight, just in case. Never threatening, just prepared.

Horses are incredibly communicative creatures. My horse has a rare problem called head-shaking (a mis-fire of the trigeminal nerve) which can cause severe pain when not managed. When I work with him, he signals how he feels or and nerves he may have. When we play tag I can tell what way he will run by the way he shifts his weight. Many people have called him trouble because they did not understand that he was in pain. That was the problem. Those who worked with him believed that he was being naughty or avoiding work. However, the opposite is true. He loves having a job, but he was communicating his pain in every way possible. Now, before I work with him I assess how he feels. He lets me know what he feels comfortable with.