General

Horse whisperers take the approach of love and kindness. They don’t lean in and speak in a special equine language, they let the horse run free in a pen. When she stops they signal the horse and if she stands they will pet her like her mother did, with soft body contact. When she wants to run away they let her run it out. When she tires of that she’ll come back for more petting. The process repeats, the horse learns to trust them and then they begin to work together in a positive relationship. What is the “traditional” approach? To “break” a horse? Whips, fear, beating - often ending in sending the horse for slaughter when it is too traumatized to be of use. Why do we treat horses this way? Do we treat people this way? Can we see the same approach in our homes and schools? Do we control our children with fear tactics? Isn't that how the education system began?

By Angela Abraham, @daisydescriptionari, March 26, 2015*.

Found in Are you awake yet? - first draft, authored by Daisy.