Descriptors that label a horse – forever…

I’m sure you’ve run across it… “She’s a bolter” or “He’s freaky wild” or “Good on trails but horrible in the arena” or “Witchy” or “He has no sense” or “Could never be a lesson horse” or “Doesn’t like woman/men”…

We hear these kinds of descriptors often. I use them myself. In fact, if I’m being honest here, I have mental descriptors for all of my horses – based on MY experience with them.

But that’s just it… MY experience.

Sure, some of the behaviors are well to be described. For example, if a horse is a bolter, that is something good to know before going out on a ride (hopefully with a qualified trainer).

But, other descriptors are simply perception.

I mean, how many times has a horse who is ONE WAY with you, acts completely different with someone else?! Infuriating…and confusing – but it happens more often than not.

For today, I’d like to use this video as a simple reminder about labels. No one likes them. Everyone can reinvent themselves every day – given the opportunity. Horse or Man.

THE LAB DECOY

This video tells of 6 photographers who were all asked to photograph the same man in the same space.

The difference was that each photographer was given a different descriptor of the man previous to the photo session: self-made millionaire, convict, psychic, fisherman, a hero and a former alcoholic.

Amazing the different photos taken of the same man – from these different preconceived parameters.

Six different, all false, little boxed perspectives.

Just think about that the next time someone labels a horse – or you.

To watch this compelling and insightful (short) video, click here.

This is the man … the photographer was told that the man was a self-made millionaire. Click image to watch the video.

Here he is greeting another photographer who was told that the man was a hero. Click to watch the video.

This photographer is meeting the man she was told was an ex-inmate.

In this still, the six photographers look at all the stills taken and are marveling at how different they are, not knowing that each was told a different story about the man.