A 'SPARKY' or Electrician (as we call them in the UK) is smart, bright and a beacon of light for horses!
Having just moved my horses, myself and our mass of belongings to a newly built fabulous yard, understandably not everything was quite finished so work was still in progress. For example the electricity wasn't in place yet - not really surprising as when we moved in the concrete had only just set (I couldn't move in quick enough)!
For a few days, a male team of 'sparkies' climbed ladders, straddled stable walls and politely stopped drilling as my horses and I swaggered beneath them.
I watched the men with fascination: two big, burly blokes one a Brit the other South African - surprise me with their great gentleness towards the horses.
Every time they walked past a stall, if a horses head was over the doorway the men stopped, gently stroked the horse's head and spoke to them quietly. They talked to them as if chatting to horses was how they filled their every working day. They spoke with care, consideration - it was almost intimate!
As we humans in the barn, began to exchange polite chit chat the men opened up and began to ask questions. That's when it got really interesting....
In Business there is a useful principle known as the 5 Whys Deep - meaning when you are solving a problem or making a decision you ask "Why" 5 times". It's annoying to go through at first as its reminiscent of being with a toddler whose just discovered the word and now uses it all the time! "Why mummy", "Why..." "Why"... etc. etc.
However if you stick with it the technique ensures you get to the root of an issue and have a thorough understanding of it.
Back to our electricians... one of them demonstrated beautifully the power of "5 Whys Deep" in discussion with my 'clipping lady' who was here giving my guys a quick 'short back and sides' for winter. It went something like this...
At this point I could hear the whole conversation was about to loop around again. Mr Sparky would have gone on asking why until his own dinner appeared!
It was difficult listening to a horse 'expert' stick to the 'stock' answer like a redundant script without stopping to think about what she was saying. Without providing a proper explanation, and without any sense of how crazy she was beginning to sound! I wanted to jump in and offer an alternative more honest view about why the answer is almost always human convenience!
Later on, I had the opportunity to take the curious minded sparky to one side and ask him if he had horses of his own, or rode them? He said no. This was my cue to encourage him to keep asking questions and to not always accept what he was told. I said he could expect to come across two types of horse owner:
Type 1: Does what they do because they've always done it this way and no one has managed to convince them there is another way! (Many won't even listen). They live with tradition born from either old fashioned BHS training or they genuinely don't know any better! They are drawn to gadgets, quick fixes, Bute and new bits!
or,
Type 2: Does many of the things that the Type 1 person does but knows there is a better way and is trying to find it! They live with compromise and try as best as they can to do the right thing for the horse. They know the true 'nature' of the horse and it's and emotional needs. They are drawn to life long learning about horses and the latest thinking surrounding their welfare.
Don't get me wrong, it's winter and so my own horses are now coming in at roughly the same time each day. Most days the older horses (Solar and Essy) are hanging by the gate giving the appearance of wanting to come in. I'm a Type 2 person who used to be a Type 1 who did her BHSAI at the British Equestrian Centre, Stoneleigh. More recently I've learnt to remember that - assuming they are not in pain, or hungry, this (gate groupie) behaviour is usually a result of other horses in the herd being brought in which disrupts herd security and belonging. This then creates the illusion (to us humans) that they all want to come in (which they do but not for the reasons we like to think)!
The test is that if we left all the horses out in their fields with suitable forage and shelter, 24x7, I doubt we'd see any "Gate Groupie" behaviour. The tough piece is letting go of our own human emotion around the thought of being out in the cold, dark and damp winter nights. Of course as Horses aren't actually nesting or roosting animals they are unlikely to share our concerns about warm beds and draft free stables (assuming an absence of pain, hunger or fear).
I can't guarantee that hanging out with Sparkies will always generate such a natural born instinct towards horse needs and horse welfare. In general, I do recommend spending time with non horsey people from time to time, to see what they ask you and what they notice, that we no longer see!
Failing the revelation of any deep new insights you're bound to have a giggle or two at the things they say. As an example, here's my old mum's most recent observation...
"I'm glad to see the horses looking settled in their new home Darling, but do they have to go out wearing those dirty macs....?"
....Rugs, Mother, rugs!
.jpg)