Today, current research supports the idea that at least some animals experience a variety of emotions, including joy, happiness, compassion, loneliness and more.
We incorporate SEEKING, CARE and PLAY into the horse empowerment sessions.
In this blog we are going to focus on these three positive emotional systems and how we work with them in sessions.
SEEKING
The SEEKING emotional system is lead by the nose, is self-stimulating and needed for survival. Horses forage for 18 hours a day using investigative behaviour to understand their environment, the world they live in as well as others within it. Touching, smelling, sensing and moving around in a forward curious way. Interested in what they are discovering, sparking enthusiasm and happiness. Investigative behaviour is associated with and stimulates the 'feel good' chemicals and is therefore self rewarding.
During the horse empowerment sessions we have lots of different items for the horses to explore. We can pick up information on the horses emotional state from how they interact so it is a good opportunity to observe and get to know the horse. For example, if they are shutdown, they will have suppression of the SEEKING system and be lacking curiosity. Or if they are lacking trust, they may watch for a bit before choosing to interact and investigate.
CARE
The CARE emotional system of nurturing and caring for, and helps through touch to increase bonds and relationships. Horses rely on social groups for safety and survival. Building bonds is essential for cohesion and cooperation. This can be through licking, grooming, sticking together, grazing, leading, following and mimicking behaviours. This all helps to build trust, strong relationships and pair bonds. Touch stimulates brain 'feel good' chemicals.
During the horse empowerment sessions we use touch (if the horse is comfortable with it) to introduce, get to know, build trust, relationship and bond with the horses.
PLAY
The PLAY emotional system is essential for physical, social and emotional development and for experiencing positive emotions such as joy. It builds on the SEEKING and CARE systems and helps facilitate social bonds. Linked to the SEEKING system - object play is an innate and natural behaviour as they explore their environment.
During the horse empowerment sessions we use different objects for the horses to interact with. Horses love interacting with different objects. Playing and learning as a herd through a shared activity helps re-enforce social bonds. We have seen the herd members encourage curiosity in others when they realise the enjoyment in the activity. We have seen really positive shifts in herd dynamics through our sessions.