By Holli Smith

The world is full of diversity but none so glaring as the contrast between predator and prey. Brain function, physical structure and social behaviors between these two groups vary greatly. The basic survival instinct that drives them may be the same but the way different species achieve that can seem extreme.

As prey animals, horses are always alert to danger and slightly on edge. They can’t afford to be anything else. They constantly scan their surroundings, run when the other guy runs and often sleep standing up. As prey animals, they react first and investigate curious new things second. Working with them is always unpredictable because you never know what might scare or startle them -- one day they can be perfectly calm and the next wound up and ready to explode. Simple things that we would never notice, sometimes even things we do, can cause them severe stress and anxiety.

By our very nature, we two leggeds, are a mixture of both predator and prey. However many of us lean one way a little more than the other. It’s often said that women are primarily more prey like, men more predatory, and while there may be some truth in that, there is a lot more individuality involved in it. Prey minded people tend to be more sensitive and in tune, more aware of feelings and vibes, whether they are male or female. And while most of us can feel aggression or compassion coming from others, and sense when someone means to do us harm or is afraid of us, the more predatory among us just don’t care as much.

Getting to know where we fall into the spectrum can be advantageous, not only to us, but to our horses. When we believe we are victims, and think everyone and everything is out to get us, our horses take that as truth. They will feel they can run roughshod over what we ask of them and do as they please, because they sure aren’t going to follow the guy that gives off the ‘I’m the first to get eaten’ vibe. On the other hand if we stalk into their paddocks, staring intently with chests puffed out and our ‘I’m gonna get you and make you my slave’ vibe flowing, they might run around in circles trying to stay out of our way.

Body language, energy and intent matter in everything that we do, but when we enter a horse’s world, that is what we’re judged on, how they get to know us and establish relationships with us. Most domesticated horses have been around enough humans to realize that we aren’t a huge danger but there is still a small part of them that will be asking ‘do you prey on us or are you like us? Can I trust you or will you hurt me?’ A trusting horse will do almost anything you ask.

Spending time with horses can help us find that balance between predator and prey within ourselves and, as a result, assure our horses and ourselves that we do not need to be dominated or feared, but respected.