dunning kruger effect & horse people

The Dunning Kruger Effect & Horse People

The Dunning Kruger Effect describes a human tendency where people of little expertise overestimate their knowledge and ability.  This overestimation occurs because these people don’t have actually enough expertise and experience to know they actually don’t have enough expertise!

It also describes how their confidence plummets as knowledge and experience is gained.  Shakespeare summed it up well - “A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool”!

We have all seen it (…and if you haven’t then you should pay extra special attention to this post). People saying stupid things, doing stupid things, assuming stupid things and getting themselves or horse’s hurt because they are oblivious to the fact they don’t realise the stupidity of their decisions or actions and grossly overestimating their abilities.  As one of my dear friend says “all the gear and no idea”!

However, like it or not, we all start there.  You have to.  If you can dig yourself out of your own blind ignorance, start listening, finding the right guidance and putting in effort the journey of enlightenment where you work out this whole horse riding thing is rather complicated typically ends up the biggest part of the enjoyment of riding horses. Horse’s manage to humble us and can make you a better person as you strive to work better with these beautiful creatures and deeply respect the fact they let you sit on their backs.