There is a strange habit most humans have of just expecting animals, especially horses, to fulfil the needs of the human - as if the animal should just innately know what those needs and expectations are. My mentor in Dressage told me (decades ago) "When you mount your horse, linger and thank him for allowing you to sit on his back". It was an important lesson, one that is not often taught. Gratitude toward the horse (or dog, goat, cow, etc.) is imperative if one wishes to be in relationship; in rapport with the horse. Simple domination can look impressive to the uneducated eye - a human standing on the horse's back with a leaf blower/chain saw/roto tiller or such loud, scary object engaged - and the horse, still and stunned simply accepting these indignities... what it may have taken over a few hours, days or weeks to "instantly" break the horse will surely have meant over-riding his fight or flight to the point of resignation... impressive to many because their own fear of horses makes such a feat seem a miracle of "training". Skilled handlers really can refine their techniques to the point where almost every horse they get their hands on can have behavior modification to the point of robot-like submission. I may be wrong - perhaps every horse breaker thanks his or her mount for their cooperation, but I sort of doubt it. Some of what I have seen has been pure domination in an aggressive manner. What I love to watch are the horsemen and women who are in rapport and obviously have gratitude toward and love for their horses. My favorite definition of love is: "Love is the active promotion of the wellbeing of the love object", E. Fromm. Someone who loves in this fashion is grateful, too.
