hunterseat df: Hunter Seat Equitation is a division that is judged on the ability and the style of the rider. The riders can be judged both over fences and on the flat.
Although true, hunters DO eat, at least the skilled ones do, my name derives from the world of horses.
And because the word hunter is in my name, people automatically think I'm a guy. Not even close.
Whenever I meet someone named Hunter I have to bite my tongue to keep from saying "That's my name, too!"
Although true, hunters DO eat, at least the skilled ones do, my name derives from the world of horses.
And because the word hunter is in my name, people automatically think I'm a guy. Not even close.
Whenever I meet someone named Hunter I have to bite my tongue to keep from saying "That's my name, too!"
Fight or Flight.... or Freeze?
Posted 06-14-2014 at 02:20 PM by hunterseat
Have you ever been so angry you just want to rip someone's head off? In fact you sincerely hope no one tries to get froggy cuz if they jump you're pretty sure you're capable of hurting someone? Your adrenaline is pumping. You're ready to fight. That's all instinct, baby. You're an animal! 
Now let's think back to the last time you had a spider crawl across you... or you came across a snake in the woods. How about a mouse skittering across the floor.
AAAGGGHHH! RUN!!! Did you guess the instinct? Flight. Horses don't do the fight thing too well. They're great runners and their hooves are actually part of their circulatory system. The sooner they get to running, the faster they go. Very efficient!
Fight or flight. Two survival instincts that roll off the tongue. Very familiar.
How about freeze? Ever heard that added on? Fight, flight or freeze. My friend and I were riding our horses on a typical Saturday morning. The barn dogs (every barn has them) tagged along, uninvited. We heard a commotion and hurried over to where the two dogs stood over what looked like a puppy. The puppy seemed to be in trouble. It lay there, chest heaving. Guess what? It froze. It was a coyote pup. The dogs had chased it. As long as it lay there and played dead it seemed to be safe. But it snapped out of it and got the urge to flee. Only took a second. We both cringed.
When you think you're going to die, you freeze. Anger - fight. Fear - flee. Mortal danger - freeze.
Predators choose their victims carefully. When you hear of an abuse victim who didn't seem to want to fight or flee, you can bank on the fact they thought they were going to die. It doesn't take a stronger person to make you think you're going to die. It takes any person with a weapon at your throat.
Where I'm really going with this is: Yesterday I was nearly mauled by a pit bull. There is no doubt in my mind this dog would have put me in the hospital or possibly the morgue. I was walking my two beloved little rag-tag mutts. The 9-pounder was in my arms, after she slipped her collar and thought about running but (guess what) she froze and I scooped her back up. My mix who is feisty to any dog who bows up to him gave a small growl and then basically froze. (thank heavens because that pit would have ripped that old man to shreds!) Aaaaand I froze. It's what you do when you encounter a mean dog. If you know enough.
What if I had been an elderly person who showed fear or worse, tried to shoo the dog away. My dog leash brushed its face (because it was right up against me) and sent the thing into a raging frenzy. My foot was not going to head towards THAT face, though it was a fleeting thought. What if I had been a small child and tried to run away? I froze... and I froze... and I froze.... It felt like an hour. It was probably 15 minutes. I tried roaring to startle the dog with a loud noise. I tried inching backwards but the dog circled behind me. I yelled at the house from where it broke loose. Nothing. Finally 3 ladies down the street got my attention and they said they called the police. I yelled for them to drive a car to me so I could get my dogs to safety. They did. I was safe. Why I'm sad the dog was impounded makes no sense to me. I guess because I hate the person who raised that dog wrong.
This is long and I don't know if I'll run out of words but I have to emphasize this. Teach your children to FREEZE. Don't move a muscle. Chances are they're being intimidated by a chihuahua (the only dog that's ever bitten me) and I learned at 4yrs old, if you run they will bite. Just freeze. It's an instinct that might need to be taught but it's for survival.
The world looks different. I've been victimized. So have my dogs. The big one has a faraway look in his eyes. He's old. He couldn't protect me. The little one seems to have a new joy. She's so stinkin' happy she's alive. I waver between the two. So I'll get pepper spray and try to protect us better and I'll be joyful I'm still alive. Thank God!
Now let's think back to the last time you had a spider crawl across you... or you came across a snake in the woods. How about a mouse skittering across the floor.
AAAGGGHHH! RUN!!! Did you guess the instinct? Flight. Horses don't do the fight thing too well. They're great runners and their hooves are actually part of their circulatory system. The sooner they get to running, the faster they go. Very efficient! Fight or flight. Two survival instincts that roll off the tongue. Very familiar.
How about freeze? Ever heard that added on? Fight, flight or freeze. My friend and I were riding our horses on a typical Saturday morning. The barn dogs (every barn has them) tagged along, uninvited. We heard a commotion and hurried over to where the two dogs stood over what looked like a puppy. The puppy seemed to be in trouble. It lay there, chest heaving. Guess what? It froze. It was a coyote pup. The dogs had chased it. As long as it lay there and played dead it seemed to be safe. But it snapped out of it and got the urge to flee. Only took a second. We both cringed.
When you think you're going to die, you freeze. Anger - fight. Fear - flee. Mortal danger - freeze.
Predators choose their victims carefully. When you hear of an abuse victim who didn't seem to want to fight or flee, you can bank on the fact they thought they were going to die. It doesn't take a stronger person to make you think you're going to die. It takes any person with a weapon at your throat.
Where I'm really going with this is: Yesterday I was nearly mauled by a pit bull. There is no doubt in my mind this dog would have put me in the hospital or possibly the morgue. I was walking my two beloved little rag-tag mutts. The 9-pounder was in my arms, after she slipped her collar and thought about running but (guess what) she froze and I scooped her back up. My mix who is feisty to any dog who bows up to him gave a small growl and then basically froze. (thank heavens because that pit would have ripped that old man to shreds!) Aaaaand I froze. It's what you do when you encounter a mean dog. If you know enough.
What if I had been an elderly person who showed fear or worse, tried to shoo the dog away. My dog leash brushed its face (because it was right up against me) and sent the thing into a raging frenzy. My foot was not going to head towards THAT face, though it was a fleeting thought. What if I had been a small child and tried to run away? I froze... and I froze... and I froze.... It felt like an hour. It was probably 15 minutes. I tried roaring to startle the dog with a loud noise. I tried inching backwards but the dog circled behind me. I yelled at the house from where it broke loose. Nothing. Finally 3 ladies down the street got my attention and they said they called the police. I yelled for them to drive a car to me so I could get my dogs to safety. They did. I was safe. Why I'm sad the dog was impounded makes no sense to me. I guess because I hate the person who raised that dog wrong.
This is long and I don't know if I'll run out of words but I have to emphasize this. Teach your children to FREEZE. Don't move a muscle. Chances are they're being intimidated by a chihuahua (the only dog that's ever bitten me) and I learned at 4yrs old, if you run they will bite. Just freeze. It's an instinct that might need to be taught but it's for survival.
The world looks different. I've been victimized. So have my dogs. The big one has a faraway look in his eyes. He's old. He couldn't protect me. The little one seems to have a new joy. She's so stinkin' happy she's alive. I waver between the two. So I'll get pepper spray and try to protect us better and I'll be joyful I'm still alive. Thank God!
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