Riders seek true connection, which may not always be best

An anthropologist delves into why riders want to know and be known so well by their horses

- ELEANOR JONES

MANY riders are always seeking “true connection” and full mutual understanding with their horses, but this could do more harm than good.

Equine anthropologist Rosie Jones McVey gave a talk at a webinar organised by Intelligent Horsemanship.

She was discussing her recent research on British equestrians’ stances “toward knowing and being known by (animal) others”, which was published in Ethos: Journal for Psychological Anthropology.

Her research involves spending a lot of time with and getting to know people.

“This is about mindsets in human-animal relationships,” she said.

Dr Jones McVey said in the people she worked with, the idea of being known by their horses mattered a great deal.

“People felt it was important their horses knew them in a way other people don’t,” she said. “That their horses really recognised and noticed them.”

She cited riders who said horses do not lie, and that the comparison with human relationships was often raised.