--- In [email protected], Robyn Hood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi Anna > > >>>Is it that it mimics eating and thus a soothing, calming memory related > action or is it something physiological? I'll see if I can find more info > on that. > > There is a physiological aspect to eating as well. The eyes, mouth and > salivary glands are main controllers of the parasympathetic nervous system > which triggers relaxation. So letting them eat a bit, whether it be grazing > or a crunchie or bit of grain, does help trigger relaxation. The other > reasons we use food is that it helps them keep breathing more deeply as > opposed to holding their breath and it creates a pleasant experience > association with the activity. >
It's interesting because I was also thinking of the connection or maybe analogy between eating/ loosening the jaw and holding the breath. I noticed when I watched Leslie Desmond that she put her hand in the horse's mouth to get him to chew and loosen his jaw, she said he was holding his jaw and chewing would get him to relax, she also talked a lot about the people holding their breath while working with a horse:) It can kind of make things tense. I moved all of my horses to a new pasture yesterday, each one of them had different levels of anxiety about it, and each showed it in a different way, they realize something different is going on, and getting on a trailer (they all loaded fine, in fact one mule almost dragged me into the trailer which is a change:)), but the two mules got extremely agitated, I decided I would let them eat some grass and it did settle them down a bit, and they completely settled right down when they were let into their new pasture, they just started eating:) I have a feeling I could have done better, I was probably holding my breath. Kim
