Desensitize Your Horse - What Does that Really Mean?

If we look at the definition of desensitize and paraphrase, it means to make dull.  The dictionary defines the term as follows:

Definition of DESENSITIZE

1: to make (a sensitized or hypersensitive individual) insensitive or nonreactive to a sensitizing agent

2: to make emotionally insensitive or callous; specifically : to extinguish an emotional response (as of fear, anxiety, or guilt) to stimuli that formerly induced it

— de·sen·si·ti·za·tion noun

— de·sen·si·tiz·er noun

Medical Definition of DESENSITIZE

: to make less sensitive : reduce sensitivity in <desensitize a nerve with a local anesthetic>: as

a : to make (a sensitized or hypersensitive individual) insensitive or nonreactive to a sensitizing agent 

b : to extinguish an emotional response (as of fear, anxiety, or guilt) to stimuli which formerly induced it : make emotionally insensitive <evidence that violence on television desensitizes children to actual violence—Stephanie Harrington>

The question becomes, do we really want to make our horses insensitive, or emotionally insensitive?  Re-read the last line of part b of the medical definition inside the karats ( < > ).  That is a very powerful statement and I believe a reflection of what we see happening with violence in schools and around the world.  Do we want the same fate for our horses?

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