REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPNES

UNIVERSITY OF ANTIQUE
SIBALOM, ANTIQUE
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION- GRADUATE STUDIES

COURSE SUBJECT: LINGUISTICS 210

DESCRIPTIVE TITLE: DESCRIPTIVE LINGUISTICS
COURSE FACILITATOR: PROF. GRACE PASTOLERO

Reflection Paper
by: Pera Joy G. Seguera

Horses whisper softly. Answering each question posed as honestly as they are
able. They start out trusting humans understand that behavior and body language have
meaning. Horses believe people are consciously aware of what they communicate with
the silent language of their body. They notice posture; emotions, energy, intention and
anything else people transmit. They assume we do too. They respond to our body
language-based input as part of a conversation, answering the questions we ask. They
don’t distinguish whether our question was asked consciously or unconsciously.

As Martha Graham once said – “the body says what words cannot” – in fact,
studies show that if body language and words don’t match, we’ll believe the body
language over the words every time. Horses naturally, instinctively communicate with
each other in this non-verbal language of the body. They assume we do too.

Horses start out believing humans understand their language and so they
respond honestly to our input. Imagine the confusion when they discover that what we
are saying with our body often doesn’t match what we actually want them to do? Think
about how important it is to a horse that they be capable of accurately assessing the
body language of those around them? In the wild it might mean their very survival, to be
able to distinguish the difference in body language between a hungry lion and a sated
one. Can you imagine what it must be like to doubt those instincts, to second-guess
what their senses tell them?

Over time, horses who don’t want conflict with humans learn to ignore what our
body language and emotions are actually saying. Instead, they learn to pay attention to
cues or aids we contrive to take the place of the more instinctive, subtle body language
horses naturally speak. It’s easier for us to condition our horses to respond to particular
cues than it is to clean up our own body language so we can communicate on their
instinctive level. It’s easier to ask them to change their behavior to suit our needs.
 The findings enhance our understanding of how animals can communicate using
body posture across the species barrier, and are specifically helpful for informing horse
handlers and trainers about the ways horses perceive human body language.

Reading a horse's body language can also help the savvy owner identify subtle
signs of lameness or discomfort. Alternate resting of the hind legs is common and
should not ordinarily be a cause for concern. However, resting of the front legs is not
normal, and if your horse is pointing a front foot or only touching the ground with a front
toe, it's time to investigate the cause.