There are many ways that Animals and Humans are abused or treated unfairly. Physical violence is obvious, and it draws attention to the need for help and safety. But another type of heartfelt, emotional, and soulful abuse is to be dismissed,
To be treated as though you are unworthy of serious consideration is an overwhelming but silent abuse. This abuse is far reaching to all Beings, and many times the abuser is so confident in their self-absorbed thinking that they do not even notice when it is happening. And the abused slinks away in silence or becomes louder in their attempt to be acknowledged as worthy of consideration. Horses experience this too, and their behavior is similar,
How are Horses dismissed? Here are a few ways.
When we do not acknowledge that they have approached us voluntarily. When we ignore this open invitation to connect as sentient beings, we have dismissed them.
When we ask for behaviors or skills that are not natural to them and then punish or label them as stupid or uncooperative without honest regard towards their effort. Or to ignore their tolerance of our demands or requests, whether they/you were successful or not. This is to dismiss them.
When we ignore their persistence in certain behaviors. Consistent behaviors are a call for attention to the cause of this behavior and chastising them or ignoring this instead of looking for the cause… is dismissing them.
Refusing to try and have an understanding of what their life is like. Is their housing conducive to their natural and instinctual needs? Their emotional needs? Their physical needs? To determine that basic needs of survival are met and that is enough; is to dismiss them.
To never bother to see your Horse as an individual is dismissive.
For those of us who have been in relationships or situations where we were dismissed, we understand how deeply this affects us and the damage it can do.
How do Horses cope with this? They don’t. They persist. They withdraw. They wither, heart and soul. And yet, most of them continue to tolerate their Humans behavior. For self-preservation? Or perhaps with a lingering faith that one day they will be recognized with the eyes of truth. And they will be viewed as worthy of serious consideration.