Overview

It has long been accepted that horses — and other domesticated animals too — can be trained to respond to our requests. How those requests are made, however, is a source of debate: Ask or tell? Firm or soft? Positive or negative reinforcement? Perhaps even more interesting is when we question the degree to which we expect horses to read our human behaviours. In general, we just 'act like us' and expect them to 'get it'. It is a testament to the horse's great patience that he usually keeps trying until he does!When we understand the function of both the human brain and the equine brain, we can to communication with horses on their terms instead of ours. And by meeting horses halfway, we not only save valuable training time, we achieve other goals too: we develop much deeper bonds with our horses; we train them with insight and kindness instead of force or command; we comprehend their misbehaviour in ways that allow solutions; and we reduce the mistakes we often make while working with them.  In this illuminating book, cognitive scientist and horsewoman, Janet Jones, describes human and equine brains in collaboration. She explores the horse's way of thinking, as well as human brain function during athletic mastery. Mental abilities — like seeing, learning, fearing, trusting, and focusing — are discussed from both the human and horse perspective. Throughout, true stories of horses and handlers attempting to understand each other — sometime successfully, sometimes not — help illustrate the lessons. 

Full Product Details

9781570769481

Table of Contents

Reviews

In praise of Horse Brain, Human Brain Teenager Janet Jones lost consciousness in Scottsdale, Arizona, after being thrown from a horse. She had bouts of amnesia for years. Jones pulled herself up and went to school. What could have been a debilitating injury instead energized her to become a leading voice in understanding grey matter. Now, 40 years later, she has a degree in cognitive science, authored three books, and never lost her interest in horses. Finally, she has written the book the horse world has been waiting for: Horse Brain, Human Brain. It is a game changer. Dr. Jones draws on her experience as a trainer and a scientist to share cutting-edge ideas on how to understand horses. Her book is not simply about training horses, it is about how to understand them. Jones examines all five of the horses' senses. (Hearing, for example: horses can't hear as low as us, but they can hear higher. Or sight: they see yellow and blue sharply, but red and green both end up sort of grey.)I have often thought people give horses too much credit for some things and not enough credit for others. How smart are horses? And in what ways? Jones draws on many recent studies to explain. The prefrontal cortex, for example, is a part of the brain reserved for advanced decision-making. In humans it is 33% of the brain, in monkeys it is 15%, in dogs and cats it is 5%. And the prefrontal cortex in horses? 0%. In other words, horses do not dream of winning blue ribbons, nor do they plan the evening before to step on your toes. Dr. Jones is a self-proclaimed horse nerd. You will be too after reading this book;Tik Maynard, Trainer, Eventer, and Author ofthe Middle Are the Horsemen For all my equestrian life I have lived off the statement; Know your horse, ' not only as a species but as an individual. In se Brain, Human Brain the author's understanding of this principle is abundantly clear. The last chapter of her book should be read first, last, and then read again. It's a wonderful summary of horsemanship.Eric Smiley, FBHS, Olympic Equestrian, FEI Judge, and Author of Two Brains, One Aim You need this book. Whether you have spent your entire lifetime around horses, or just patronize a local barn, or even only are curious about the horses you see standing in a field as you drive past--this authoritative and reader-friendly book will help you get to know horses. We all need this information. When I was a child, it was common knowledge that horses had brains 'the size of walnuts, ' and that they were stupid and unfeeling beasts of burden. In recent years, we have come to realize that this isn't true. Now neuroscientist Janet Jones' myth-busting, heart-warming book delves deeply into the truth about the complexity of horses' inner lives. Readers learn how horses experience the world in which they live and about how we humans can, using this understanding, improve our treatment of these magnificent beings. Wendy Williams, Author of The Horse: The Epic History of Our Noble Companion and The Language of Butterflies: How Thieves, Hoarders, Scientists and Other Obsessives Unlocked the Secrets of the World's Favorite Insect Can a highly evolved predator species live in harmony with a highly evolved prey species? For the student of this human-horse relationship, there are many answers and musings and strategies to be found in Janet Jones' intriguing Horse Brain, Human Brain. The idea that the burden of tolerance lies upon he who has the greater understanding applies thoroughly to the book. There are many riders and trainers who, for all manner of reasons, try to push the burden of tolerance onto the horse. Then, when the horse, with a brain that is dramatically different from ours, resists out of noncomprehension, some people crank up the pressure. It reminds me of the idea that the best way to get a point across to someone who only speaks a foreign language is to shout. Horse Brain, Human Brain gets right at the 'understanding part of things, because until our brains grasp what the horse's brain grasps so differently, it is easy to think the horse is saying, 'No, when what he is really saying is, 'I don't get what it is you want.This book explains the difference. Denny Emerson, USEA Hall-of-Fame Inductee and Author of Know Better to Do Better and How Good Riders Get Good It is difficult to convey just how much I adore this book! I can only imagine that I would have made far fewer mistakes along the way, had I been armed initially with the information packed into this book. The Literate Equine This is a well-written book that explains in an approachable manner the vagaries of the equine and human mind. Dr. Jones adds warmth and humor to her teachings and there is something to learn here for even the more advanced riders. The differences between the evolved thinking and brain development in horse and human, and therefore the accommodations that horse owners and trainers can implement to best understand and thus train the horse, are documented here in a science based reality. The explanations are keen and succinct, and the anecdotal experiences shared by the author of her history working with horses, brings another level of understanding for the reader. This book is a welcome addition to the world of horses, and will no doubt have horse owners changing up some of their own behaviors and expectations around their horses, and encourage trainers to listen to what the horse is telling them rather than using force or detrimental methods to manipulate their horse's attitude or habits. Well worth a read, for riders at any level. Catskill Horse

Dr. Janet Jones has written the book the horse world has been waiting for: Horse Brain, Human Brain. It is a game changer. --Tik Maynard, Trainer, Eventer, and Author of In the Middle Are the Horsemen You need this book. Whether you have spent your entire lifetime around horses, or just patronize a local barn, or even only are curious about the horses you see standing in a field as you drive past this authoritative and reader-friendly book will help you get to know horses. We all need this information. --Wendy Williams, Author of The Horse: The Epic History of Our Noble Companion and The Language of Butterflies: How Thieves, Hoarders, Scientists and Other Obsessives Unlocked the Secrets of the World's Favorite Insect Horse Brain, Human Brain gets right at the 'understanding' part of things, because until our brains grasp what the horse's brain grasps so differently, it is easy to think the horse is saying, 'No, ' when what he is really saying is, 'I don't get what it is you want.' This book explains the difference. --Denny Emerson, USEA Hall-of-Fame Inductee and Author of Know Better to Do Better and How Good Riders Get Good For all my equestrian life I have lived off the statement 'Know your horse, ' not only as a species but as an individual. In Horse Brain, Human Brain the author's understanding of this principle is abundantly clear. The last chapter of her book should be read first, last, and then read again. It's a wonderful summary of horsemanship. --Eric Smiley, FBHS, Olympic Equestrian, FEI Judge, and Author of Two Brains, One Aim Horse Brain, Human Brain: The Neuroscience of Horsemanship completes my trifecta of horsemanship references, which includes Tom Dorrance's True Unity and Ray Hunt's Think Harmony with Horses. Dr. Jones' book presents facts that are supported by real-time scientific research. It is written so perfectly that virtually anyone can use it as a tool to understand how horses view the world. It's a must for professional farriers to keep in your home office and another for your truck. --American Farrier Journal If there was ever a book whose time has come, it has to be HORSE BRAIN HUMAN BRAIN by Janet Jones, PhD. Jones is a cognitive scientist who applies brain research to the training of horses and riders by using the principles of working with horses at the neurological level, that internal space where the brains of two different species interact. ...The book is an absolute gem of thoughtful, intelligent observations about the complexities of cross-species communication. --Horse Journals I was expecting to need a scientific dictionary to read this book, but in fact, it read brilliantly, really easy to understand without having previously studied any kind of equine science. When it says it's written in plain language, you can believe it. There is even a convenient glossary at the back for quick reference. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I was drawn into the fascinating facts and managed to finish the whole book in just a few days.... I'll definitely be recommending this one to my horsey friends at the barn. --Horsemanship Journal It is difficult to convey just how much I adore this book! I can only imagine that I would have made far fewer mistakes along the way, had I been armed initially with the information packed into this book. --The Literate Equine This book is a welcome addition to the world of horses, and will no doubt have horse owners changing up some of their own behaviors and expectations around their horses, and encourage trainers to listen to what the horse is telling them rather than using force or detrimental methods to manipulate their horse's attitude or habits. Well worth a read, for riders at any level. --Catskill Horse If the idea of reading about equine neuroscience seems intimidating, Dr. Jones's writing will put you at ease. Her experience, combined with her prose's mastery and clarity in Horse Brain, Human Brain is destined to make this book one of those dog-eared tomes covered in sticky notes, pen marks, and horse dirt that can be found on horse lovers' bookshelves everywhere. --Horse Network

In praise of Horse Brain, Human Brain Teenager Janet Jones lost consciousness in Scottsdale, Arizona, after being thrown from a horse. She had bouts of amnesia for years. Jones pulled herself up and went to school. What could have been a debilitating injury instead energized her to become a leading voice in understanding grey matter. Now, 40 years later, she has a degree in cognitive science, authored three books, and never lost her interest in horses. Finally, she has written the book the horse world has been waiting for: Horse Brain, Human Brain. It is a game changer. Dr. Jones draws on her experience as a trainer and a scientist to share cutting-edge ideas on how to understand horses. Her book is not simply about training horses, it is about how to understand them. Jones examines all five of the horses' senses. (Hearing, for example: horses can't hear as low as us, but they can hear higher. Or sight: they see yellow and blue sharply, but red and green both end up sort of grey.) I have often thought people give horses too much credit for some things and not enough credit for others. How smart are horses? And in what ways? Jones draws on many recent studies to explain. The prefrontal cortex, for example, is a part of the brain reserved for advanced decision-making. In humans it is 33% of the brain, in monkeys it is 15%, in dogs and cats it is 5%. And the prefrontal cortex in horses? 0%. In other words, horses do not dream of winning blue ribbons, nor do they plan the evening before to step on your toes. Dr. Jones is a self-proclaimed horse nerd. You will be too after reading this book. -- Maynard, Trainer, Eventer, and Author of the Middle Are the Horsemen For all my equestrian life I have lived off the statement 'Know your horse, ' not only as a species but as an individual. In se Brain, Human Brain the author's understanding of this principle is abundantly clear. The last chapter of her book should be read first, last, and then read again. It's a wonderful summary of horsemanship. --Eric Smiley, FBHS, Olympic Equestrian, FEI Judge, and Author of Two Brains, One Aim You need this book. Whether you have spent your entire lifetime around horses, or just patronize a local barn, or even only are curious about the horses you see standing in a field as you drive past--this authoritative and reader-friendly book will help you get to know horses. We all need this information. When I was a child, it was common knowledge that horses had brains 'the size of walnuts, ' and that they were stupid and unfeeling beasts of burden. In recent years, we have come to realize that this isn't true. Now neuroscientist Janet Jones' myth-busting, heart-warming book delves deeply into the truth about the complexity of horses' inner lives. Readers learn how horses experience the world in which they live--and about how we humans can, using this understanding, improve our treatment of these magnificent beings. --Wendy Williams, Author of The Horse: The Epic History of Our Noble Companion and The Language of Butterflies: How Thieves, Hoarders, Scientists and Other Obsessives Unlocked the Secrets of the World's Favorite Insect Can a highly evolved predator species live in harmony with a highly evolved prey species? For the student of this human-horse relationship, there are many answers and musings and strategies to be found in Janet Jones' intriguing Horse Brain, Human Brain. The idea that 'the burden of tolerance lies upon he who has the greater understanding' applies thoroughly to the book. There are many riders and trainers who, for all manner of reasons, try to push 'the burden of tolerance' onto the horse. Then, when the horse, with a brain that is dramatically different from ours, resists out of noncomprehension, some people crank up the pressure. It reminds me of the idea that the best way to get a point across to someone who only speaks a foreign language is to shout. Horse Brain, Human Brain gets right at the 'understanding' part of things, because until our brains grasp what the horse's brain grasps so differently, it is easy to think the horse is saying, 'No, ' when what he is really saying is, 'I don't get what it is you want.' This book explains the difference. --Denny Emerson, USEA Hall-of-Fame Inductee and Author of Know Better to Do Better andHow Good Riders Get Good

Dr. Janet Jones has written the book the horse world has been waiting for: Horse Brain, Human Brain. It is a game changer. --Tik Maynard, Trainer, Eventer, and Author of In the Middle Are the Horsemen You need this book. Whether you have spent your entire lifetime around horses, or just patronize a local barn, or even only are curious about the horses you see standing in a field as you drive past this authoritative and reader-friendly book will help you get to know horses. We all need this information. --Wendy Williams, Author of The Horse: The Epic History of Our Noble Companion and The Language of Butterflies: How Thieves, Hoarders, Scientists and Other Obsessives Unlocked the Secrets of the World's Favorite Insect Horse Brain, Human Brain gets right at the 'understanding' part of things, because until our brains grasp what the horse's brain grasps so differently, it is easy to think the horse is saying, 'No, ' when what he is really saying is, 'I don't get what it is you want.' This book explains the difference. --Denny Emerson, USEA Hall-of-Fame Inductee and Author of Know Better to Do Better and How Good Riders Get Good For all my equestrian life I have lived off the statement 'Know your horse, ' not only as a species but as an individual. In Horse Brain, Human Brain the author's understanding of this principle is abundantly clear. The last chapter of her book should be read first, last, and then read again. It's a wonderful summary of horsemanship. --Eric Smiley, FBHS, Olympic Equestrian, FEI Judge, and Author of Two Brains, One Aim Horse Brain, Human Brain: The Neuroscience of Horsemanship completes my trifecta of horsemanship references, which includes Tom Dorrance's True Unity and Ray Hunt's Think Harmony with Horses. Dr. Jones' book presents facts that are supported by real-time scientific research. It is written so perfectly that virtually anyone can use it as a tool to understand how horses view the world. It's a must for professional farriers to keep in your home office and another for your truck. --American Farrier Journal If there was ever a book whose time has come, it has to be HORSE BRAIN HUMAN BRAIN by Janet Jones, PhD. Jones is a cognitive scientist who applies brain research to the training of horses and riders by using the principles of working with horses at the neurological level, that internal space where the brains of two different species interact. ...The book is an absolute gem of thoughtful, intelligent observations about the complexities of cross-species communication. --Horse Journals I was expecting to need a scientific dictionary to read this book, but in fact, it read brilliantly, really easy to understand without having previously studied any kind of equine science. When it says it's written in plain language, you can believe it. There is even a convenient glossary at the back for quick reference. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I was drawn into the fascinating facts and managed to finish the whole book in just a few days.... I'll definitely be recommending this one to my horsey friends at the barn. --Horsemanship Journal It is difficult to convey just how much I adore this book! I can only imagine that I would have made far fewer mistakes along the way, had I been armed initially with the information packed into this book. --The Literate Equine This book is a welcome addition to the world of horses, and will no doubt have horse owners changing up some of their own behaviors and expectations around their horses, and encourage trainers to listen to what the horse is telling them rather than using force or detrimental methods to manipulate their horse's attitude or habits. Well worth a read, for riders at any level. --Catskill Horse If the idea of reading about equine neuroscience seems intimidating, Dr. Jones's writing will put you at ease. Her experience, combined with her prose's mastery and clarity in Horse Brain, Human Brain is destined to make this book one of those dog-eared tomes covered in sticky notes, pen marks, and horse dirt that can be found on horse lovers' bookshelves everywhere. --Horse Network If you want to develop your working partnership with your horse, I suggest you first read Janet [Jones's] book [Horse Brain, Human Brain]. It was only after reading it that I made the connection between my earlier, unsuccessful, and later, more successful training efforts. --Iceland Horse Quarterly

"""Dr. Janet Jones has written the book the horse world has been waiting for: Horse Brain, Human Brain. It is a game changer."" --Tik Maynard, Trainer, Eventer, and Author of In the Middle Are the Horsemen ""You need this book. Whether you have spent your entire lifetime around horses, or just patronize a local barn, or even only are curious about the horses you see standing in a field as you drive past―this authoritative and reader-friendly book will help you get to know horses. We all need this information."" --Wendy Williams, Author of The Horse: The Epic History of Our Noble Companion and The Language of Butterflies: How Thieves, Hoarders, Scientists and Other Obsessives Unlocked the Secrets of the World's Favorite Insect ""Horse Brain, Human Brain gets right at the 'understanding' part of things, because until our brains grasp what the horse's brain grasps so differently, it is easy to think the horse is saying, 'No, ' when what he is really saying is, 'I don't get what it is you want.' This book explains the difference."" --Denny Emerson, USEA Hall-of-Fame Inductee and Author of Know Better to Do Better and How Good Riders Get Good ""For all my equestrian life I have lived off the statement 'Know your horse, ' not only as a species but as an individual. In Horse Brain, Human Brain the author's understanding of this principle is abundantly clear. The last chapter of her book should be read first, last, and then read again. It's a wonderful summary of horsemanship."" --Eric Smiley, FBHS, Olympic Equestrian, FEI Judge, and Author of Two Brains, One Aim ""Horse Brain, Human Brain: The Neuroscience of Horsemanship completes my trifecta of horsemanship references, which includes Tom Dorrance's True Unity and Ray Hunt's Think Harmony with Horses. Dr. Jones' book presents facts that are supported by real-time scientific research. It is written so perfectly that virtually anyone can use it as a tool to understand how horses view the world. It's a must for professional farriers to keep in your home office and another for your truck."" --American Farrier Journal ""If there was ever a book whose time has come, it has to be HORSE BRAIN HUMAN BRAIN by Janet Jones, PhD. Jones is a cognitive scientist who applies brain research to the training of horses and riders by using the principles of working with horses at the neurological level, that internal space where the brains of two different species interact. ...The book is an absolute gem of thoughtful, intelligent observations about the complexities of cross-species communication."" --Horse Journals ""I was expecting to need a scientific dictionary to read this book, but in fact, it read brilliantly, really easy to understand without having previously studied any kind of equine science. When it says it's written in plain language, you can believe it. There is even a convenient glossary at the back for quick reference. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I was drawn into the fascinating facts and managed to finish the whole book in just a few days.... I'll definitely be recommending this one to my horsey friends at the barn."" --Horsemanship Journal ""It is difficult to convey just how much I adore this book! I can only imagine that I would have made far fewer mistakes along the way, had I been armed initially with the information packed into this book."" --The Literate Equine ""This book is a welcome addition to the world of horses, and will no doubt have horse owners changing up some of their own behaviors and expectations around their horses, and encourage trainers to listen to what the horse is telling them rather than using force or detrimental methods to manipulate their horse's attitude or habits. Well worth a read, for riders at any level."" --Catskill Horse ""If the idea of reading about equine neuroscience seems intimidating, Dr. Jones's writing will put you at ease. Her experience, combined with her prose's mastery and clarity in Horse Brain, Human Brain is destined to make this book one of those dog-eared tomes covered in sticky notes, pen marks, and horse dirt that can be found on horse lovers' bookshelves everywhere."" --Horse Network If you want to develop your working partnership with your horse, I suggest you first read Janet [Jones's] book [Horse Brain, Human Brain]. It was only after reading it that I made the connection between my earlier, unsuccessful, and later, more successful training efforts."" --Iceland Horse Quarterly ""It is incumbent upon us to discover how best to communicate with our horses in order to handle, train, and ride them in the kindest and most humane way possible. Reading Horse Brain, Human Brain is an excellent start."" --US Dressage Federation Connections"

Author Information

Janet Jones, PhD, applies brain research to the training of horses and riders. She earned her PhD from UCLA and taught the neuroscience of perception, language, memory, and thought for 23 years. Janet trained horses at a large stable for many years, and later ran a successful horse training business of her own. She has schooled hundreds of inexperienced or difficult horses and competed in hunter, jumper, halter, reining, and western pleasure disciplines.

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