Horse Sense
In the
1800s, the term horse sense came into use.
I believe at first, the label was given to horsemen with the
knowledge and skill to handle horses well and help others do the
same but soon grew to cover those that made sound judgments and
decisions.
The
ability to make good judgments or decisions.
Merriam-Webster Learner’s Dictionary’s definition of horse sense
Practical knowledge and good judgment about ordinary life.
Cambridge Dictionary’s definition of horse sense
Practical knowledge and experience are
an important part of horse sense and the ability to make good
judgments and decisions.
Good decisions and judgments are possible without knowledge, but
they are a lucky guess.
Everyone is entitled to his own
opinion, but not his own facts.
Daniel
Patrick Moynihan
Opinions are not facts.
When beliefs, emotions, and misinformation support opinions,
horse sense disappears.
How do we know if horse sense is being
used?
By results!!!
Horse Sense
& Free-Roaming Horses
Free-roaming horses managed using horse sense
will be “Healthy horses on healthy ranges.”
Results show the Kaimanawa
horses[1]
in New Zealand, and the ponies on Assateague
Island[2] are
managed using horse sense.
The same can’t be said of the Konik horses ( Oostvaardersplassen
Nature Preserve)[3] in
the Netherlands, where a 30% annual death loss is not
uncommon. Results show horses and the range suffer at the Kosciuszko
National Park[4] and Alpine
National Park[5] in
Australia.
Experience, history, science, and an
understanding of nature are needed to manage free-roaming horses
successfully. Horse sense, critical thinking skills, and
practical knowledge are required to develop successful
management programs for free-roaming horses.
[3]
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/27/dutch-rewilding-experiment-backfires-as-thousands-of-animals-starve