We Can Learn From Peacemakers
In wake of all the political dissention, not to mention those nasty ads, new research reveals how we can learn how to get along better by studying horses. Welcome to Mondays Open Range, I’m Susan Allen and I’ll be back to tell you about an interesting study from Europe. Ulysses S. Grant once said “ a horse can be made to do almost anything if his master has intelligence enough to let him know what is required” Therein lies the problem, many of our peers not only lack the brain power to communicate with a animal but worse, with their fellow humans. Our equine friends have much to teach us about group dynamics when observing them in a herd. Just like high school, with horses there is a pecking order, and yes there often is a bully, but unlike young adolescents, European researchers discovered that when a horse is picked on in the herd, others will quickly come to comfort it, becoming what these scientist dubbed “a peace maker.” In the study horses were observed in conflict, kicking, biting, chasing each other and yet over forty percent of the time and within ten minutes, a third animal showed the "picked on" pony comfort and offered the outcast reconciliation and a way back into the herd. Wouldn’t that be something to see in Junior high! And most interestingly, the role of comforter constantly changed from horse to horse. The scientists believe this represents important evolutionary mechanisms to help keep the group of animal cohesive. Me, I’d like to think the good Lord provided yet another example, peacemakers from the animal kingdom to not only humble us but enlighten.
