We've all had those moments where we're so distracted or focused that we miss what's right in front of us. This phenomenon is vividly illustrated by a study in cognitive psychology known as the "Invisible Gorilla."
In this experiment, participants watched a video where two teams—one in black shirts, the other in white—passed basketballs back and forth. The viewers' task was to count the passes made by the white-shirt team. Amidst this, a person dressed in a gorilla suit walked through the scene, paused to beat their chest, and then exited.
Astonishingly, half of the participants didn't notice the gorilla at all, highlighting "inattentional blindness." This study shows that when we're intensely focused on one task, we can overlook significant, unexpected events right in our line of sight.
This concept translates surprisingly well to our interactions with horses. Horses, like humans, can fixate on something, making us the "invisible gorilla." The key to overcoming this is building a relationship where our interactions easily capture their attention, rendering the rest of the world irrelevant.
When something else grabs their focus, instead of joining in the distraction, I use it as an opportunity to engage them in a task they excel at, rewarding them when they shift their attention back to me. This method turns the tables; what began as me being the invisible gorilla ends with the external world taking that role. By consistently offering more rewarding interactions, we can teach our horses to prioritize us over external distractions. This approach strengthens the bond between horse and handler by enhancing focus and connection. It also makes training sessions more efficient, productive, and enjoyable.
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