Relationships with most creatures involve nonverbal elements. Those become particularly important when your pet weighs up to a half-ton or more, so pay attention โ and learn.
โI work to perceive how our horses are acting, how they feel and the kind of mood theyโre in,โ says Pam Harrison Chambers, M.P.H.โ01, PA-Cโ92. โAll of that helps you learn how to get along with people. You try to observe the situation, listen and read how theyโre feeling without rushing right in.โ
Pam and her husband, Dan Chambers, associate professors in
DMUโs physicianย assistant program, say horses have unique personalities.
Their mare Roanie is the pasture diva who might rub her head on
you if she likes you or, if she isnโt getting the attention she wants, sheโll
show you her backside. Her son, Maximilian, used to snatch Pamโs
hat or pull on her ponytail; when she lost her hair to treatments for
leukemia โ from which sheโs recovered โ
he took to sniffing around her neck.
โThey have very distinct personalities,โ Dan notes.
โSome people would say weโre ruining
our horses by considering them pets,โ Pam adds,
โbut we just enjoy seeing and being with them.
You can tell them anything and they wonโt tell
your secrets, but they sure understand.โ
Photo © istockphoto/Rusm
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