The Power of Choice

A Friendly Conspiracy Theory

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I think the most important question facing humanity is: “Is the universe a friendly place?” ~ Albert Einstein

Everyone who is anyone out there talking about training horses will at some point address the importance of trust. But not everyone who waxes poetic about gaining the trust of the horse actually works with horses in such a way that they gain it. Rather, they systematically condition the horse to be so much more afraid of what may happen to them if they think for themselves and do not comply, that they become like mindless robots or puppets on a string. It’s what animal behaviorist, Dr. Andrew McLean, calls learned helplessness. This is not a term only applied to animals, it is also very much part of the human condition.

When such methods are applied humans, it’s a pretty close, if not exact, cousin of what we call gaslighting. When applied to horses, all too often it’s called training for safety; making the wrong choice uncomfortable, the right one pleasant. Sounds good, but results are very mixed.

One problem with this, apart from the long list of questions in regards to ethics and animal welfare, is that robots inevitably malfunction, and the strings on a puppet wear out. Minds break under pressure, including the minds of horses.