The following is a select list of commonly used terms and definitions relevant to our behavioral evaluation case studies. For a more comprehensive guide, please refer to the Glossary of Terminology and Phrase. This document is designed to provide clarity and support to those who engage our services for their horse's psychological evaluation, ensuring a deeper understanding of key concepts and phrases used throughout the process.

 

Psychological Pace Index 

Psychological Pace Index (PPI) assesses duration of stress accumulation by comparing the horse's rate of interpretation with the pace of physical motion: for how long at each individual gait, walk, trot, canter, gallop, (race pace), a horse can properly and comfortably filter environmental stresses before requiring an intervening reset of mental focus from the saddle before losing efficiency. 

Interpretative Ratio 

This refers to the rate at which a horse processes information (psychological interpretation) relative to their actual physical motion (pace). It measures how much faster the horse's brain processes information compared to their physical movements or the movement of external stimuli.

The efficiency of a horse's sensory system determines their "cushion" capacity by creating the necessary mental space for the body to move through. Horses with high sensory soundness have a greater emotional range, which translates to more fluent physical actions. High-functioning, sensory-sound horses synchronize their psychological processing with their physical movements, effectively clearing space and sustaining uninterrupted athletic performance.

Cushion 

The mentally perceived space where a horse “thinks” they are relative to any targeted obstacle or object. This cushion functions as a mental shock absorber, with its degree of elasticity determining the horse’s ability to mentally handle situational chaos and uncommon stresses without losing athletic efficiency or physical fluency. 

The span of the cushion affects mental fatigue and influences the sustainability of the horse’s physical talent. It represents the perceived distance between the horse and objects, measured in time. The rate and efficiency of psychosensory processing determines the mental space the horse perceives, regardless of actual distance or physical pace.

Self-awareness, depth perception, and adaptation to situational chaos are all influenced by the cushion's span, impacting overall performance aptitude and herd structure. The amount of stress a horse can handle depends on the cushion's elasticity. A smaller cushion means less elasticity, leading to greater cumulative emotional stress and higher risk of mental fatigue. Conversely, a larger cushion indicates more elasticity, reducing stress accumulation and minimizing the risk of mental fatigue.

 

Individual Herd Dynamic/IHD 

Targeted/Primary stimuli detected through zone 1 only, forward aspect. IHD operates primarily through sensory zone 1 and represents the portion of the horse’s psychology responsible for directing emotional energy upon singular targets, whether animate or inanimate. It involves a one-to-one focus of linear expression, from self to a singular point of focus (e.g., A to B or A to C, with B disregarded when not handed off to GHD).

 

Group Herd Dynamic/GHD 

Collaborative/Secondary stimuli detected in zone 2 through zone 6. GHD handles accessory stimuli in sensory zones 2 through 6 and represents the portion of the horse’s psychology responsible for absorbing multiple stimuli simultaneously, both environmental and emotional, within and without the herd structure. This multitasking aspect of the horse’s psychology is tasked with "reading the room" and managing diverse, variable stimuli and is the primary communicator; emotional input to physical action expresses through IHD.

 

Independent Nature 

Horses with elite athletic intelligence, or Independent Nature, exhibit high-functioning sensory soundness, allowing them to process environmental stimuli with minimal need for external input. They demonstrate rapid assimilation to situational chaos, maintaining composure and performance even under pressure. These horses possess heightened emotional communication sensitivities, enabling them to read and respond to human cues effectively. Additionally, they have elevated anticipatory responses, predicting and reacting to changes swiftly, which contributes to their exceptional performance and adaptability. 

 

Sensory Soundness: The measure of an individual’s capacity to harmonize with their environment, mitigate emotional stress and realize contentment through the efficiency of their sensory sequence.

 

The Sensory Egg: The mentally perceived space where a horse “thinks” they are relative to any targeted obstacle or object. This cushion of space between mind and body functions as a mental shock absorber, with its degree of elasticity determining the horse’s ability to mentally handle situational chaos and uncommon stresses without losing physical fluency. Egg is both Depth Perception Range & Scope of Emotional Self Awareness. Psychologically, ‘depth-perception’ is both in and out, up and down relative to the body. Self-Perceived is different than Self-Aware; one is an assumed position; the other is a known position. The Sensory Egg is a crucial component of the sensory sound horse and is charged with the act of herding, a term that is commonly used for mammals, like sheep, cattle, and horses, when they move together in a coordinated manner. 

 

Primary & Supporting: Efficiency in each independent zone relies upon two key senses. The primary sense, serving as lead within its zone is supported by a secondary sense within the same zone.  Accessed to sort diversity of stimuli, the supportive acts as a bridge-point between zones for SLC’s and serves as a naturally occurring checks-and-balances system to mitigate accumulative stressors.

 

Sensory Sequence: The 6-part sequencing process blending the physical world with the emotional horse.  1) Survey → 2) Orienting → 3) Investigatory →4) Absorb → 5) Interpret → 6) Respond

 

Standard Aspect Zones (SAZ): Physically the sensory system is divided into 6 standard aspect zones of sensitivity. Inherently equipped with the tools for emotional awareness within each respective zone, the herd dynamically hi-functioning horse has efficient sequencing ability in all 6 unique areas.

 

 SLC: Sensory Lead Change happens when stimuli identified in one sensory aspect zone is handed-off (like a baton) to another for sequence completion. This psychological transaction takes place between the primary sense of one zone and the supporting sense of any connected zone.