It's a crisp March day at Wicken Fen, and I've despatched Anna Louise and a cameraman to join a Learning Wild event. For those not in the know, Learning Wild is an initiative Bonny Mealand and Dr. Emily Kieson created for equine enthusiasts of all kinds and open to anyone interested in learning more about equines and how they fit into our lives – and us into theirs.
As I edit the footage, I can't help but wonder: Are we about to witness a revolution in our understanding of our four-legged friends?
It's about understanding the intrinsic being of who they are, the animal they've evolved to be
Breaking Down Barriers: The Learning Wild Approach
Mealand and Kieson aren't your average horse whisperers. These women are on a mission to challenge every preconception you've ever had about horses, and judging by the participants' wide-eyed expressions, they're succeeding.
"It's about understanding the intrinsic being of who they are, the animal they've evolved to be," Mealand explains to a rapt audience. It sounds simple enough, doesn't it?
The Stallion Myth: Debunked
As the group approaches a herd of Konik ponies, Dr. Kieson drops a bombshell. "Half the time, you don't know who's the stallion and who's the mare," she says, gesturing to the peaceful herd.
Gone is the image of the aggressive, snorting beast of our imaginations. Instead, we see what Kieson calls "deliberate kindness" as stallions interact gently with their foals. It's a far cry from the 'alpha male' narrative we've been fed.
The Learning Wild participants are in for another shock as they observe the herd dynamics. Forget the idea of a dominant stallion ruling with rearing and biting.
"You go out there," Kieson explains to the group, "and you can't even tell who's the stallion and who's the mare, and there are multiple stallions, multiple family groups, all in that same grouping."
The Silent Disco of Equine Communication
As the day progresses, Mealand and Kieson guide the group in observing the subtle dance of equine communication. It's like watching a silent disco – there's clearly a lot going on, but we're only just learning to hear the music.
"It's really about creating communication within there. What does this one like versus what this one likes?" Mealand explains, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. The participants lean in, straining to catch every nuance. It's a horse chat room, and they're being let in on the secret code.
In the domestic world, we isolate them... It's no wonder that they're expressing frustration and a lot of stress behaviours.
The Uncomfortable Question: Are We Doing It All Wrong?
As the sun begins to set over Wicken Fen, the mood shifts. The Learning Wild event has been eye-opening, yes, but it's also raising some uncomfortable questions about our treatment of domestic horses.
Dr. Kieson doesn't pull her punches: "In the domestic world, we isolate them... It's no wonder that they're expressing frustration and a lot of stress behaviours." I feel uneasy about the environment where I previously kept horses (standard stabling and turnout). Are we guilty of equine oppression?
A Call for Change: Rethinking Our Relationship with Horses
Before anyone can suggest a mass liberation of riding school ponies, Mealand and Kieson steer the conversation towards practical solutions.
"We need to learn more about who they are, and who they want to be," Kieson insists, "in order to really create environments that support them in that." It's horse-centered design, if you will, and the Learning Wild participants are hanging on every word.
When you go out, and you study wild horses or free-living horses of any kind... what you see is peace. You see harmony. You see tranquillity.
The Unexpected Zen of Wild Horses
As the event draws to a close, Anna captures a moment of reflection. The participants silently stand, watching the Konik ponies graze peacefully in the fading light. There's no galloping, no bucking—just tranquillity.
Mealand's voice is soft but clear in the footage: "When you go out, and you study wild horses or free-living horses of any kind... what you see is peace. You see harmony. You see tranquillity." It's a poignant end to a day that has challenged everything these equine enthusiasts thought they knew.
The Takeaway: A New Understanding
As Anna and her cameraman pack up their gear, the Learning Wild participants linger, clearly reluctant to leave.
Mealand and Kieson's initiative is clearly more than just a day out with some ponies. It's a call to reconsider our entire relationship with horses.
And isn't that the point? In a world where we thought we knew it all, Learning Wild proves that we're only just beginning to scratch the surface when it comes to horses. Who knew that a windy day at Wicken Fen could be so... revolutionary?
Learning Wild: Exploring the True Nature of Horses at Wicken Fen