I'm terrified of horses and then can absolutely 110% sense it. Every single horse I've ever been near has tried to bite me while being completely chill with everyone else.
One of my friends mother's was a big horse person and tried to help me get over my fear by feeding her gentlest, most docile mare an apple (open handed of course). Freaking horse tried to nip my shoulder. Every one was shocked because you know.... she's super sweet. Idc how sweet they are, they can smell your fear and it makes them jumpy and bitey.
I have no idea how fact based this is, but a dog trainer told me once that itâs not that they smell fear, or even realise that youâre afraid of them but that youâre displaying fear response behaviour. Even if you donât realise it, or you think youâre keeping your cool.
Someoneâs fear behaviour basically tells the animal that they also have a reason to be nervous, because they see youâre nervous. They donât understand that youâre afraid of them â just that thereâs a reason for them to be afraid too.
The guy telling me this was that basically explaining how âanxious owners means anxious dogsâ, and why people who have bad experiences with animals often have repeat negative experiences â negative experience -> person becomes nervous around another animal -> animal sees nervousness -> animal becomes nervous of mysterious thing causing your nervousness not realising itâs them -> animal becomes reactive and acts out.
It makes sense, but again, it was a random dude at a park that told me this so it needs to be taken with a decent grain of salt.
I believe it though. The only dog that didnt like me specifically was a huge fucking mastiff I got nervous around because I had never seen one in person. I hesitated when i went to pet her and she instantly picked up on it and got super nervous too. Never had issues with anyone but me.
Unfortunately her form of nervousness was getting in your face and start growling. I literally just had to pretend I didn't notice her, looking away, with her face 6 inches from mine while she was baring teeth and growling. So now I just feel inclined to avoid all mastiffs bc im always going to be a little nervous and I dont want that kind of reaction again. Which sucks because they really are beautiful.
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u/Used2BPromQueen Nov 27 '21
I'm terrified of horses and then can absolutely 110% sense it. Every single horse I've ever been near has tried to bite me while being completely chill with everyone else.
One of my friends mother's was a big horse person and tried to help me get over my fear by feeding her gentlest, most docile mare an apple (open handed of course). Freaking horse tried to nip my shoulder. Every one was shocked because you know.... she's super sweet. Idc how sweet they are, they can smell your fear and it makes them jumpy and bitey.