• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Murdoch Method

Horseback Riding Instruction Redefined

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • About
    • About Wendy Murdoch
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • Reviews
  • Clinics
    • Webinars with Wendy
    • 2020 Clinic Schedule
    • Types of Clinics
    • Courses & Workshops
    • Clinic Request Form
    • Participant Feedback
    • Private Intensives
  • SURE FOOT
    • SURE FOOT Pads – Where to Start?
    • BUY SURE FOOT
    • Register Pads
    • SURE FOOT Videos
    • SURE FOOT Case Studies
    • SURE FOOT FAQs
    • Find A Practitioner
  • Resources
    • Murdoch Minutes
    • Free Video Lessons
    • In Wendy’s Library
    • Articles
    • Interviews
    • Recommended Books & DVDS
    • Blog
    • Follow Wendy’s Articles
    • Links
  • Shop
    • SURE FOOT Equine Pads
    • Webinars with Wendy
    • From Wendy Murdoch
    • Veterinary
    • Rare Books
    • The Book Case
    • DVDs
    • Rider Aids
  • Safari
  • Contact
    • My Account
    • Checkout
    • Cart
Home / Murdoch Minutes / Murdoch Minute No. 110: Seeing Like A Horse

Murdoch Minute No. 110: Seeing Like A Horse

by Wendy Murdoch

Photo 1. The horse’s pupil is horizontal.
Photo 1. The horse’s pupil is horizontal.

Does your horse shy at stationary objects? Do you feel like he is trying to avoid work? Does he react to the same object again and again no matter how hard you try to make him face it? Understanding how your horse sees can help you come up with a better strategy for solving shying problems.

Next time you ride, notice how your horse carries his head. Is it up in the air, off to one side or looking out on the circle? If he is a frequent shyer, notice how you react to the situation. Do you hold your breath, tighten your legs or pull on his head? Does he drop his head and then jump to the side, especially when you kick him to go forward? If you force him to face the object, does he get worse instead of better? Perhaps if you experience what it is like to see the way your horse does you will be more understanding next time he starts to shy.

The horse’s eyes, contrary to popular myth, have more cross hemisphere connections in the brain than yours have. In other words, horses transfer information from each eye to the opposite side of their brain quite easily*. You still have to train your horse from both sides but this is not because the information hasn’t transferred. Horses also have a great visual ability to detect motion.

Photo 2. Use your fingers to make slits similar to your horse’s pupils.
Photo 2. Use your fingers to make slits similar to your horse’s pupils.

Unlike your eyes with round pupils, the horse’s pupils are horizontal. See Photo 1. This shape makes his eyes excellent for seeing things far way on the horizon but not very good for seeing things down by his feet. Therefore when you are riding into a corner where there is something on the ground, he cannot see it very well. In order to get a better look, he must line his horizontal pupil up with the object. This causes him to lower and tilt his head to one side. If you punish him at that moment, he will associate the pain with the object, as if the object was the cause of the pain! He will be more concerned the next time because the thing he couldn’t see has bitten him!

To experience what it is like to have horizontal pupils take your thumb and index fingers of both hands and form a slit. See Photo 2. Place the slit in front of your eyes and walk around. Or take a pair of plain glasses and make a horizontal pupil using some tape to block off the top and bottom of the lens. See Photo 3. Put the glasses on and walk around, paying special attention to what you have to do with your head to see objects down by your feet. You will have to tilt your head just like your horse! Walk with your head in the air and you will realize the horse can’t see anything but sky! Walk with your chin tucked to your chest and you can only see a small portion of ground directly below you.

Photo 3. Tape a horizontal opening on a pair of glasses to make them like horse pupils. Wear them to experience what it is like to see like your horse.
Photo 3. Tape a horizontal opening on a pair of glasses to make them like horse pupils. Wear them to experience what it is like to see like your horse.

Now that you have a better understanding of what your horse experiences, you can appreciate why he would shy. To help him overcome his fear, stop far enough away from the object to allow him to lower his head to see it clearly. Check that you are breathing. Wait there until he licks and chews, then walk away. Repeat this step many times until you can approach the object from the side (horse parallel to the object) not head on! Stand near it until he totally relaxes (perhaps 10 minutes if he is really concerned). You may find that he wants to walk up to the object and put his nose on it. You have to be careful he doesn’t give himself a fright at this moment! However, when he becomes curious instead of fearful, you are getting there! Waiting also gives you time to relax and send the message to him that you are not concerned. Horses are very sensitive to changes in your breathing and tension and take that as a message to prepare to flee. When you send calming signals, they can relax as well.

Use this Murdoch Minute to experience what it is like to have horse eyes. When you understand how difficult it is to see things by your feet, you can appreciate why your horse might shy. Give your horse time to evaluate the object from a safe distance where you can both breath, and gradually work toward it until he is able to lick and chew (signs of positive learning). And always remember to enjoy the ride!

* Hanggi, E. B. 1999. Interocular transfer in horses (Equus caballus). Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 19(8), 518-524.

Filed Under: Murdoch Minutes

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Primary Sidebar

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Your Cart

Article Categories

  • Courses & Workshops
  • Horseback Riding Video Lessons
  • Horseback Safari
  • In Wendy's Library
  • Interviews
  • Murdoch Minutes
  • Past Event Archive
  • Podcast
  • Related Equine Articles
  • Reviews
  • SURE FOOT Case Studies
  • SURE FOOT Videos
  • Tails from the Trail
  • Top News
  • Uncategorized

Performance Resources

  • Downloadable Products
  • DVDs
  • FREE Downloads
  • From Wendy Murdoch
  • Rare Books
  • Rider Aids
  • SURE FOOT Equine Pads
  • The Book Case
  • Veterinary
  • Webinars with Wendy

Quick Links

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Register SURE FOOT
  • My Account
  • Checkout
  • Cart

Footer

STABILIZATION! IT’S AT OUR CORE

ALL ABOUT SURE FOOT

RIDE WITH WENDY MURDOCH


Copyright © 2021 The Murdoch Method LLC
All trademarks, photographs, and text on this website are the property of The Murdoch Method, LLC.
Any unauthorized use is expressly prohibited.
Privacy + Terms & Conditions