Why are people afraid of horses? And is it worth it to be afraid of these animals?

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Some people are panicky afraid of horses: if they decide to approach them, then on bent legs, holding out a cracker in a trembling hand. Why are people afraid of horses, is it worth it to be afraid of these animals and what to do to overcome the fear of a horse?

Photo: picryl.com

Why are people afraid of horses?

First of all, it is important to note that fearing horses is a completely normal reaction of a person with a developed sense of self-preservation.

A horse is large (even a not very large animal weighs 400 - 500 kg, but there are horses that weigh a ton!), "Armed" with large teeth and strong hooves. And besides, the horse behaves quite differently from those animals to which we are accustomed. The horse’s body language is very different from the body language, for example, of a dog or cat, and its “speech” is somehow strange. And a man is wary of everything that is not very clear to him.

Therefore, it is not at all surprising that many people are afraid of horses.

Should you be afraid of horses?

Horses rarely deliberately do harm to people, however, in the legal language they are considered a "source of increased danger." What is the reason for this?

As already mentioned, even the size of the horse makes it potentially dangerous.

In addition, the horse is a victim animal, in nature always ready to run from the threat or, if there is no way to run away, fight to protect its life.

And if a horse is frightened, it can make a sudden movement or break loose and, by running away, accidentally harm a person. And she won’t even notice how she knocks a person down and runs over him.

A horse is frightened if it hears harsh sounds, sees something suspicious, or some object suddenly touches it. And the vision of these animals is arranged in such a way that they do not see anything directly in front of themselves and behind them. And if you approach a horse, for example, strictly from behind, and then touch it, it is quite possible that it will hit you with a hoof - just from fear.

Horses compete for a resource - including the treats you hold in your hands. So if you appear in a freely walking herd with a bag of carrots, the animals will begin to “divide you” and, pushing each other away, can accidentally hurt you too. And what for another horse - just a friendly touch, for a person can turn into a serious injury.

Photo: pixabay.com

In addition, if a horse is mistreated, it can perceive people as enemies and take preventive measures to protect itself from communicating with this frightening two-legged object.

So treat horses, especially strangers, with caution is definitely worth it.

What to do in order not to be afraid of horses?

Since people are mostly afraid of horses because they don’t understand them, the answer is obvious - observe how horses behave. Moreover, not only under the saddle in the arena, but also among relatives, during free walking. Observations will give you valuable information about the behavior of animals and help you learn to “decipher” their body language.

And of course, follow safety precautions, especially when dealing with unfamiliar horses.

Many (including, I admit, myself) sin that when dealing with familiar horses that are adequate and loyal to humans, they begin to neglect the basic safety rules and in dealing with other animals. However, if you, for example, can slightly pull your horse by the tail so that it goes “back to front” and be safe, the same trick with another horse can lead to intensive care.

Photo: maxpixel.net

Horses are amazing animals, very smart and able to interact with people. To be afraid of them means to deprive yourself of the opportunity to discover their amazing world. However, prudent caution can save your health and even save your life.