Bias has been in the news. From police shootings to hiring practices, conscious and unconscious biases have severe effects on those on the receiving end. UCSF (Diversity division) defines unconscious biases as: "social stereotypes about certain groups of people that individuals form outside their own conscious awareness. Everyone holds unconscious beliefs about various social and identity groups, and these biases stem from one's tendency to organize social worlds by categorizing."
Researchers and organizations have put in a lot of effort to raise awareness of these biases and show ways to mitigate and combat them.
As trainers, we of course aren't immune to this. And not just when it comes to our human students. We also have unconscious biases about horses. I have heard a story about a dressage clinician with national credentials who asked the rider of an Arabian upon entering the ring, if she'd ever heard of "purpose bred" horses.
I strongly believe that dressage is for every horse, as its purest purpose is to make the horse more balanced, supple, healthy and beautiful. But I was reminded of my own bias just the other day when I worked with a (new to me) draft cross mare. (For some folks, the word "mare" alone might trigger biases, I happen to be somewhat of a "mare person" and quite enjoy working with them.) Said draft cross is actually quite a nicely balanced horse with a lovely canter, but she initially challenged me with the arsenal that I'm quite familiar with based on previous experience with draft cross mares: Extreme balkiness, pinned ears, kicking at my leg for every slightest suggestion to go more forward and bucking for any more explicit request, and the clear announcement that any "cowboying" would be met with a rear. I had the distinct feeling that it was a test: would I give up or would I get rough? And in that moment I felt my eyes rolling, thinking "typical draft cross mare." My emotional projection wasn't exactly positive anymore. And I wasn't riding that lovely horse who was a bit naughty, I was riding an amorphous group of horses with a bad rep.
And that really took me a bit by surprise. I pride myself in the utmost fairness to the horse. So I took a deep breath, dismounted, and did some groundwork on the lunge. Her initial stance of head high backing up soon gave way to her blowing her nose and stretching, going forward from a move of my arm. After several minutes of that, I could see in her eye that she was going to give this another try. And sure enough, once back on her, she was forward and quite willing to work with me. Which is ultimately all we can ever ask of a horse: To try to the best of his or her abilities to accommodate our requests. I made extra sure to be enthusiastic in praising her for every obedient answer.
Because really, who wants to work with someone who has bad energy and is unhappy or indifferent no matter what you do? Dressage isn't just for the D and F line Hanovarians or Lusitanos and PREs. Dressage is the key to a healthy and beautiful riding horse, no matter the breed, age, or gender.
