Pain or Behaviour? I Think We're Asking the Wrong Question

There has been a lot of discussion recently about pain and behaviour in horses. When a horse becomes difficult to saddle, reluctant to be caught, anxious or resistant under saddle, the conversation often divides into two camps. One says it's pain. The other says it's behaviour. I think the real question comes before either of those. In this first episode of Field Notes in Motion, I share why I believe physical discomfort should always be considered before we begin trying to change behaviour, and why resolving pain doesn't always resolve the behaviour that follows. Along the way, I tell the story of a beautiful bay mare whose first saddling experiences left more than physical scars. Her story reminds us that behaviour isn't always about what is happening today. Sometimes it's about what has been learned through experience. This isn't a conversation about choosing between pain or behaviour. It's about learning to ask better questions. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Have you ever discovered that understanding the cause of a behaviour changed everything? If this way of seeing horses resonates, there are more Field Notes like this. You are welcome to subscribe and stay with them. 🍃 Connect with me 📝 Field Notes on Substack https://substack.com/@rachelwindchaser 🌿 Join The ReWilding Circle on Facebook   / therewildingcircle   🌍 Website https://rewild.windchaserranch.com/ 📖 The Principles of ReWilding | Horsemanship from Nature https://rewild.windchaserranch.com/th...