No horse, or human, is going to be all left brain, all right brain, all introvert, or all extrovert. In theory a single center whorl shows a horse who has equal parts of all four divisions of the brain. That is the ideal. No extremes, just well rounded and well centered.
Most horses are much more exciting than that. Most horses will show traits they are stronger in than others. That doesn't mean they won't still show the traits of the other brain types, or divisions, those are still there lurking, waiting to make life interesting. Sometimes those traits are even going to tone things down and make a horse less complicated.
A high whorl shows an extrovert temperament. When we look at horses who are extroverts we can usually tell by whorl placement and head shape if the horse will be a left brain extrovert or a right brain extrovert.
A whorl set to our left looking at the horse shows left brain traits. So do wide ears without much curvature. Straight or convex profiles, thick mane, and thick bone also show left brain traits.
A whorl to our right facing the horse shows right brain traits. Especially when combined with a dished profile, very narrow ears, and thin bone and mane.
By combining all of these things we can tell which of the very different extrovert types a horse will fall into. But what about the messy middle? What about the horse with the convex profile and very narrow ears? What about the horse whose ears are curvaceous, wide in the middle but tippy and pointed?
That is where we get to the spectrum. There is also the just straight up extrovert horse. The horse who shows all the extrovert traits, all mixed up one very fun horse. The one who is both right brain and left brain. Both worried and emotional and calm, curious, and into everything. The horse can be spooky and reactive, while still being dependable and trustworthy. Those multiple personalities aren't reserved only for multiple whorls.
A combination of all the different temperament traits is what creates a horses own unique personality. Having that combination doesn't make the horse crazy or difficult, it is what makes the horse normal. An even combination of traits keeps horses rounded. It is the extreme influence of one trait over the others that causes neurosis and difficult temperaments.
Straight Up Extrovert
by Noche Miller
on Monday
Everything is on a spectrum.
No horse, or human, is going to be all left brain, all right brain, all introvert, or all extrovert. In theory a single center whorl shows a horse who has equal parts of all four divisions of the brain. That is the ideal. No extremes, just well rounded and well centered.
Most horses are much more exciting than that. Most horses will show traits they are stronger in than others. That doesn't mean they won't still show the traits of the other brain types, or divisions, those are still there lurking, waiting to make life interesting. Sometimes those traits are even going to tone things down and make a horse less complicated.
A high whorl shows an extrovert temperament. When we look at horses who are extroverts we can usually tell by whorl placement and head shape if the horse will be a left brain extrovert or a right brain extrovert.
A whorl set to our left looking at the horse shows left brain traits. So do wide ears without much curvature. Straight or convex profiles, thick mane, and thick bone also show left brain traits.
A whorl to our right facing the horse shows right brain traits. Especially when combined with a dished profile, very narrow ears, and thin bone and mane.
By combining all of these things we can tell which of the very different extrovert types a horse will fall into. But what about the messy middle? What about the horse with the convex profile and very narrow ears? What about the horse whose ears are curvaceous, wide in the middle but tippy and pointed?
That is where we get to the spectrum. There is also the just straight up extrovert horse. The horse who shows all the extrovert traits, all mixed up one very fun horse. The one who is both right brain and left brain. Both worried and emotional and calm, curious, and into everything. The horse can be spooky and reactive, while still being dependable and trustworthy. Those multiple personalities aren't reserved only for multiple whorls.
A combination of all the different temperament traits is what creates a horses own unique personality. Having that combination doesn't make the horse crazy or difficult, it is what makes the horse normal. An even combination of traits keeps horses rounded. It is the extreme influence of one trait over the others that causes neurosis and difficult temperaments.