The www.azdressage.org
Centerline Vol. 19, Issue 9
September 2019
Arizona Dressage Association
She Talks By Susan Downs Parrish, Ph.D.
Sometimes Maronda nickers to me, but when I say she “talks” I have in mind something other than the usual horse noises. If you press me about what I hear, I’ll start with what I see—a glimmer in her eye or a flick of her ear. The glimmer or flick is equivalent to a wink or a snap of two fingers to get my attention. These gestures are meaningful to me, but it’s the “words” she “utters” that ring in my head. If we are walking on a long rein during the early stage of our warm-up and my mind wanders, she looks back and catches me out of the corner of her eye. At this moment she says, “Hey, Susan, where are you?” Certainly, I would never tell a psychologist or psychiatrist that Maronda talks to me because he or she would squint or smile and say, “You are familiar with the concept of magical thinking?” Ah, yes, magical thinking, a tendency in most children and many adults to infer a causal link between two events only coincidentally related. Superstitious behavior, such as wearing lucky underwear, is a form of magical thinking. An athlete might be more confident when wearing a particular pair of skivvies, and he might perform better, but the under garment isn’t the cause of success. Okay, okay, just don’t tell anyone about your lucky socks. Continued on page 4
Volunteers needed Member’s Only Schooling Show WestWorld on Sunday, September 29th Needed Positions: Ring Steward and Hospitality (breakfast snacks & coffee and volunteer & judge lunches). Please send your interest to Michell at mcombs@ azdressage.org. SEPTEMBER 2019 |THE CENTERLINE | 1