On Fri, Mar 02, 2007 at 01:17:20AM -0000, twhjmm wrote: > ANthropomorphism is something I have real bad. It means that I > imprint my human emotions on my horses and pets. But is it always > bad? Can't it be called "empathy"?? > > i was thinking of the sparklers. [...] > > Sparklers are fire, and smoke, and one thing horses instictively > fear is fire. > > I just wish people would think more of animals feelings when they do > things.
having spoken to a woman whose horse actually wore the sparklers, she introduced them slowly, with lots of treats and petting and positive associations. so i think her horse's feelings (and i do think she empathizes strongly with her horse) were not just "instinctive", but rather carefully trained, and trained to be a positive experience. i imagine horses "instinctively" fear having apes on their backs too, but somehow they learn to put up with it for us (most of the time ;) --vicka
