Animal Communicators - who's convinced?

I'm afraid I fall into the sceptical camp too. and i would certainly never ever pay the kind of costs these people charge to find out!

I just dont get it I suppose, and i've never ever seen any 'changed' horses after they have been out, however, I do see a placebo affect on the owners - an example is a friend of mine, she is a very nervous rider, and frankly her horse is not suited to her, and has bolted and chucked her more times than i can remember (I must point out he never ever tried anything with me or another rider who is now competing him at elementary dressage, while the owner struggles to get him round a w&t confidently), the animal communicator 'had a word' with the pony. the next day the owner came down with renewed confidence, got on the pony and rode him confidently - low and behold he behaved. The owner puts it down to the fact the animal communicator told him to behave - me I put it down to the fact she was far more relaxed and confident on the pony that he didnt misbehave. So it does have its place - although massively over priced if you ask me!
 
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I don't post very often, and do not want to become part of some falling out on here over thoughts/opinions.

but I do wonder about this whole scene. I am not immortal so can neither prove this is real nor a fake, so not commenting on that.

The bit I question is the humanizing of the horse in some of the responses:

e.g. "The horse wants a chocolate cake"
One I heard from a friend on a livery yard "My horse doesn't like his red rug"

For me a horse is a horse, and this is human behaviours being transposed onto a horse.

Their main requirements in life as a species are different to ours as humans and that is in everything not just this topic and we need to mindful of at all times in our dealings with them.
 
I am convinced, having asked an AC to talk to one of mine.

Yes, it was in desperation and I am sure that someone could pick through everything that was said to me and explain it all... But at the end of the day, when you have gone down all the other roads - the vet checks, the professional training, the new saddle - and got nowhere, if £40 for an hour on the phone does somehow make a positive difference, then I think that is money well spent.

I would spend it again. I would also do the vet checks, teeth, saddle and everything else, but I would not discount talking to a reputable AC to see if there was anything else that they could offer. It's another box ticked really, isn't it?
 
Rayado05 said:
I don't post very often, and do not want to become part of some falling out on here over thoughts/opinions.

but I do wonder about this whole scene. I am not immortal so can neither prove this is real nor a fake, so not commenting on that.

The bit I question is the humanizing of the horse in some of the responses:

e.g. "The horse wants a chocolate cake"
One I heard from a friend on a livery yard "My horse doesn't like his red rug"

For me a horse is a horse, and this is human behaviours being transposed onto a horse.

Their main requirements in life as a species are different to ours as humans and that is in everything not just this topic and we need to mindful of at all times in our dealings with them.
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I quite agree with you that horses are not human and have different needs. One of my absolute bugbears is the 'My Little Pony' syndrome which sees horse owners treating their horses/ponies like dolls/babies with unnecessary rugs etc.
However I do believe that at least one of our horses has 'spoken' to an AC, who was uncannily accurate in what she told us. My sister replied to an on-line request for horses for this AC to practise on, because she knew the horse's history and had met the breeder. No money changed hands. Sis e-mailed a photo and got an e-mail reply. She was told some very specific info which couldn't possibly have been guessed and body-language certainly didn't come into it.
A friend later used the same AC, who again gave her very specific info which I really doubt would have been guessed. One item was that the horse likes sausages, which is true - at RC barbeques he's a nightmare, trying to get close enough to steal sausages.

I think the point of the 'birthday cake' story was that the AC involved was unlikely to have known that the next-door pony's owner had provided a birthday cake with candle for her pony, so it must have been the horse which was 'communicating' who told her about it (and said that he wanted one).
 
I have always been a sceptic but I love my girly soo much I would liek to give it a go just to see if anything accurate comes out, if it does I would like the thought that she could tell me if she is happy and what to change.

Does anyone know a good/accurate/affordable AC in the lincs area? I don't want to pay a fortune, one with an accuracy guarantee would be good, I've seen a couple advertise this.
 
I am facinated by the subject having had experience with a clairyoyant a few years ago so would love to try and get some more communication with our new mare. (Dont want to know what the NF has to say:D)Have looked at that site for jackie , has anybody used her ? I think that perhaps I might find £40 to satisfy my own curiosity
 
I used Jackie Weaver for each of the four on the previous page that i said were v accurtae. very impressed she was great.

Spotrock - they can do it from a photo via the phone if you want. I've actually heard lots of them say it's more accurate that way (and means you can't just excuse their correct guesses from things they're picking up when they're at the yard, of course!).

Hedwards - I can see why people mgiht be sceptical in general, but i don't really see why youd disbelieve just because the horse said it wanted a cake! I bet your horse prefers carrots to polos, for example, or dislikes pears, havings its belly groomed, or likes galloping and dislikes schoolwork, etc etc - why wouldn't they then like/dislike aspects of thier tack, some rugs, etc?!
 
I would love to believe it and am still on the fence. I have just had a brief look at Jackie Weaver's website and started to read the first story in the book she has online. You see, this is where I come unstuck. Things are going along nicely and the story seems quite credible. Then the first stumbling block. She mentions the dog 'has a sense of humour.' Sorry, but no they don't. A sense of fun maybe. But then came the point here she lost me completely and stopped my belief totally. She said that the dog was reluctant to get on the weighing scales at the vets because she was afraid that if the truth about her weight was known then she would get less to eat! Well sorry, but that it just ridiculous. I could not use her to do a reading for that reason alone.

However, the reason I am still on the fence is this:

Around 8 years ago a friend of mine had a horse with an ever increasing lameness problem and eventually she was on box rest and unable to move much at all. She had a bone scan that showed up a couple of hot spots on one hind leg, the worst of which was at the top of the femur. The vets were very non commital about it and the site was too deep for xray. My friend sent the horse's photograph to an animal communicator who sent back her reading as an audio recording. She was over an hour away and so I doubted anything could be known about the horse's environment. I was shocked to the core when the lady said the horse described the vet as tall and thin with brown hair and glasses (apparently this lady saw visions of what the horse saw and felt). That was exactly how the vet looked. She also described me and her owner as standing in her box in tears (this was true). She said that her withers were extremely sore. This was confirmed later by a visit from the chiro (probably due to the horse taking the weight forward to ease the pain behind). But she also said that there was a massive pain in her hind leg but that it was better than it was. Sadly for the mare, it did not get better and she had to be PTS when her condition deteriorated. A post mortem showed a complete fracture that would never have healed. It was extremely sad.
 
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Morgan123 said:
I used Jackie Weaver for each of the four on the previous page that i said were v accurtae. very impressed she was great.

Spotrock - they can do it from a photo via the phone if you want. I've actually heard lots of them say it's more accurate that way (and means you can't just excuse their correct guesses from things they're picking up when they're at the yard, of course!).

Hedwards - I can see why people mgiht be sceptical in general, but i don't really see why youd disbelieve just because the horse said it wanted a cake! I bet your horse prefers carrots to polos, for example, or dislikes pears, havings its belly groomed, or likes galloping and dislikes schoolwork, etc etc - why wouldn't they then like/dislike aspects of thier tack, some rugs, etc?!
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I think my problem with it really is that i have never seen any change in any of the horses 'communicated' with, the change i see is in the owner... which is why i think its a placebo effect, which if it works for an owner than fair play - I just wouldnt spend money on it myself - i think the fees are incredibly expensive...(also I didnt mention horses wanting cake etc.)
 
I just hate it when they use words and feelings that only a human would use. Things such as nausea (horses can't be sick). I can stretch to the belief that some people may be able to see images from animals' minds and therefore describe people or other animals. I can stretch to the belief that these communicators may be able to 'see' where the animal is in pain, or what scares it. That kind of thing. I also think that they would be able to see which people the animal likes or dislikes. But when it comes to anything more complicated than that such as the dogs reasoning in my previous example that it would get less food if its owners knew how much it weighed then that is just stupid IMO.
 
maree t said:
I am facinated by the subject having had experience with a clairyoyant a few years ago so would love to try and get some more communication with our new mare. (Dont want to know what the NF has to say:D)Have looked at that site for jackie , has anybody used her ? I think that perhaps I might find £40 to satisfy my own curiosity
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I spoke to Jackie Weaver. It is a very odd thing to try and get your head round - a three way conversation with your horse - but it was helpful for me. I would receommend her.
 
Or that scales meant being weighed?! How on earth would they know what they were used for? Although I have never used one I have heard good things abou Anne Diamond (think that is her name) I am sceptic but also curious! I have heard a few stories of things she has said and noone has known how she knew or pointed things out noone had noticed. There was one where a horse kept saying she hated it at night because there was something watching her and it really upsets her, she can't relax. There was a pretend owl that she could see from her stable window that was used to keep other birds away or something (i don't know what it was used for) but they moved her to another stable where it was out of sight and she was much happier there. Also another horse wanted its old saddle back and when they changed it back it went much better. Iv heard quite a few but cant remember them very well just been like "oooh, weird" and then like "hmm, there will be an explanation like they are all in cahoots to make money out of it" but the weird thing is they are all credible people that you wouldn't think would believe in that sort of thing. i am temted to give it a shot. You would pay £40 for lesson with someone good, this may save you a load of lessons because your horse prefers to work before breakfast or something. I dunno! but I am more and more tempted to just give it a go and then make up my mind!
 
As usual on these threads, I'm drawn strongly towards DQ's side of the fence...

Honestly, I find the whole thing just absurd and it amazes me that so many people are open to the suggestion that somebody can come and have a chat with their animal about their feelings and their past. Horses don't organise their thoughts in the same way as humans, they don't have the same self awareness and they certainly don't communicate in the humanised way that animal communicators claim. IMHO, naturally.
 
I am very open minded on the subject.
I know there are con artists out there who will tell you what you want to hear or fish for info from you.
But I had a reading done for Herbie (After getting a friend to have her pony done first so I could find out if the person was for real ;) ) and it was amazingly acurate and compleatly diffrent from my friends reading. (The woman didn't know we knew eachother) I gave the woman no info on Herbie but she picked up on so much stuff that only Herbs could have told her. She was worried as some of it was prity strange but it was all spot on.
It wasn't that expencive either and if I wasn't happy she would give me the money back. :)
 
Chavhorse said:
Well I will admit to be Mrs Cynical from Cynical Valley until this happened

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=436654

Now strange thing is I ran into this lady again down at my old yard and she said apparently V-man checks in with her now periodically!!!!! I was very "ah right of course" whilst backing away until she said "He says he is not Ted and is getting a bit affronted about it"

He is at the moment using Ted's saddle with a numnah under it with TED sewed on it, now I have not told anyone this so no way would she have known.

My Inner cynic has taken a bit if a bashing I have to say but I have bought him a new numnah to take over with me in December:-))
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Just read your thread, amazing!
 
It's just a bit of fun isn't it, because there's no one better placed to communicate with a horse than his owner IMO

Tell you what though; if anyone would like to send me their bank account number, sort code and their mother's maiden name, I can give you 100% accurate info on what the animal communicator is thinking:cool:;)
 
Hmm, well I'd like to be convinced.
I recently lost my elderly appaloosa, and I got a AC to have a chat to him for me.
I was open ( obviously ) to the idea that it might be true. I had to email her a photo, then she emailed back the "communication"
When I got her email, it was all very general, when Id asked a specific question, she said she wasnt' able to find out, or my horse didn't know the answer.
I could've made some of what she said fit the situation, but not enough to convince me.
Its a shame that she wasn't accurate. I hope that she wasn't setting out to deliberately decieve me ( maybe I'm overly naive ? :rolleyes: ) but I wouldn't spend my money on it again.
Kx
 
Wagtail said:
I just hate it when they use words and feelings that only a human would use. Things such as nausea (horses can't be sick). I can stretch to the belief that some people may be able to see images from animals' minds and therefore describe people or other animals. I can stretch to the belief that these communicators may be able to 'see' where the animal is in pain, or what scares it. That kind of thing. I also think that they would be able to see which people the animal likes or dislikes. But when it comes to anything more complicated than that such as the dogs reasoning in my previous example that it would get less food if its owners knew how much it weighed then that is just stupid IMO.
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I find this quite interesting - so you believe it's possible but you only believe the things that you agree can be true?! What makes you think a dog can't reason like that or a horse can't have a sense of humour? You should meet my mare!

I am interested in the point of view that says that you only believe things you agree with, that seems a bit odd to me?
 
JFTD said:
As usual on these threads, I'm drawn strongly towards DQ's side of the fence...

Honestly, I find the whole thing just absurd and it amazes me that so many people are open to the suggestion that somebody can come and have a chat with their animal about their feelings and their past. Horses don't organise their thoughts in the same way as humans, they don't have the same self awareness and they certainly don't communicate in the humanised way that animal communicators claim. IMHO, naturally.
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See, to be honest I find it more odd when people totally rule it out. I find that bizarre - why COULDN'T people 'talk' to an animal? Noone knows or will EVER know I suspect the full capabilities of the human mind so to totally discount that anyone can communicate with another animal is strange really. Just because YOU can't or you haven't channelled in to it doens't mean some other people can't.

I have never had an animal communicator but I am intrigued by the thought of them and would love for someone to get in to the headof my pony - may explain few things!! Lol

I am open to most things to be honest and I have had a ghostly experience as well and I love the fact we will never know everything about everything or be able to explain all.

Personally I don't believe in a God but millions of people around the world do yet is there any proof of an existence? Nope! Well, not as far as I can tell anway. Doesn't mean there isn't one/some and some people's lives and decisions are ruled by their belief there is a higher being. Personally I find that scary!
 
I think the reality is "annimal commuinicators" are just good psychologists and tricksters or have a knack for picking up things that other people don't realise they're giving away.
Just like apparant "psychics" do etc.

however I would like to see what they'd have to say about the animals I know, would be interesting! but I certaintly wouldn't pay for it unless I had money to throw away.
 
I am open minded - I take the point that at times the AC seems to offering a far too human response - but perhaps that is because that is how they can best explain the feeling? so, my old mare used to have a complete and irrationial hatred of gray horses - so I could humanise that! However I do also accept that there are a lot of charlatans who make money out of other peoples grief and that is particularly prelevant with psychics. In fact a geniune psychic is not supposed to benefit from their gift which rather goes against the whole being paid for it. If you are used to horses I think you can geniunely pick up something from horses quite quickly but that would be more from understanding their body language. I also take the point that most people who go to AC's are - broadly speaking - having a real problem with their horse just as (again being very broad) most people who have readings are in trouble and its normally their relationship.

I think it is incredibly immoral to make money out of someone elses grief or deep worries. I am thinking of psychics in this instance and not AC's but some of the best psychics do not make money out of their gift - they are geniunely trying to help people.
 
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midi said:
I think the reality is "annimal commuinicators" are just good psychologists and tricksters or have a knack for picking up things that other people don't realise they're giving away.
Just like apparant "psychics" do etc.

however I would to see what they'd have to say about the animals I know, should be interesting! but I certaintly wouldn't pay any money for it unless I had money to throw away.
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Midi - most communicators will do a reading via the phone from a photograph. Jackie weaver specifically asks that you do NOT give her more info than their name, their age, and how long you've owned them for. I was specifically making sure not to comment and know others who've done the same, just saying 'carry on' or something. I've seen people suggest that they're con artists who go out of their way to stalk you somehow via the internet or something so they can learn your secrets, but i seriously doubt anyone would be mental enough to bother doing that for £35 whihc is the going rate ;-)!!!! Having FOUR reasings wiht correct, specific, unique facts and the correct personalities for all four does it for me.
 
Morgan123 said:
I find this quite interesting - so you believe it's possible but you only believe the things that you agree can be true?! What makes you think a dog can't reason like that or a horse can't have a sense of humour? You should meet my mare!

I am interested in the point of view that says that you only believe things you agree with, that seems a bit odd to me?
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I don't believe a dog knows what weighing scales are for, no, or that it knows that it may be put on a diet if it is too fat. How could anyone believe that? I have already said that I think animals can have a sense of fun, but not a sense of humour like humans do. What you view as your mare having a sense of humour is your own human interpretation of what she does. I actually do think animals are capable of some thought and reasoning. Dogs can be observed to look thoughtful for example before getting up and going to fetch a toy or chew out of another room. There is no doubt in my mind that the dog has thought about his toy and made a conscious decision to go and fetch it. Or a horse might keep pinching your hat of your head. You might say 'for a laugh'. Or maybe it is because he has learned that it makes US laugh and that they therefore get positive attention and a fuss. They certainly like to please us.

So, when it comes to ACs, I find it hard to take them seriously if they come up with things that animals cannot possibly understand such as what weighing scales are for. But I am prepared to have an open mind when things they say are more credible to me, yes.
 
That's an interesting point of view. I do think a dog can understand what a weighing scales are for. Why not? Dogs have the intelligence of a 2-4 year old child depending on the breed. a 2-4 year old child knows what a weighing scales are for.

Who are we to decide what animals are capable of understanding or feeling? If communicators are time and time again coming up with accurate information, then I think it's only fair that we stretch our own understanding even if that feels uncomfortable. jsut my opinion though.
 
midi said:
I think the reality is "annimal commuinicators" are just good psychologists and tricksters or have a knack for picking up things that other people don't realise they're giving away.
Just like apparant "psychics" do etc.

however I would like to see what they'd have to say about the animals I know, would be interesting! but I certaintly wouldn't pay for it unless I had money to throw away.
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Absolutety and how could someone speak to horse or any animal from it's photo or on the phone! I am amazed that people are taken in by them. It must a license to print money.
 
ladyt25 said:
See, to be honest I find it more odd when people totally rule it out. I find that bizarre - why COULDN'T people 'talk' to an animal? Noone knows or will EVER know I suspect the full capabilities of the human mind so to totally discount that anyone can communicate with another animal is strange really. Just because YOU can't or you haven't channelled in to it doens't mean some other people can't.

Personally I don't believe in a God but millions of people around the world do yet is there any proof of an existence? Nope! Well, not as far as I can tell anway. Doesn't mean there isn't one/some and some people's lives and decisions are ruled by their belief there is a higher being. Personally I find that scary!
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My problem isn't that people can communicate with animals - because people can communicate with them. I do it all the time - I tell my dog to sit and he does, or he barks at the door and I know to let him out, etc. My problem is that I don't see any evidence that dogs "talk" to each other - let alone another species - in the very "Doctor Doolittle" sense that AC seem to claim to communicate with them in.

I'm a scientist, so I do put my faith in things that I can't understand, can't see and can't do - I can't do the scary maths behind theoretical physics, but I believe it's probably correct (ish) - because I can see the rationale behind it. I can't see any reason to believe that horses talk about disliking a rug because of its colour, or as one poster suggests, disliking having another horse's name on its saddlecloth. How exactly does the horse read that? How can it understand our language and our manner of writing things - these aren't innate truths, their societal constructs - we made them up. So how does the horse understand how to read them? I can't read chinese characters, though I've been exposed to them probably as much as horse is exposed to english writing - so how can a horse read?

(Not a dig at the poster of the horse/saddlecloth story, I'm just using it to explain my point of view).

Ultimately, it's not about whether I can do it or not, it's about whether I can see, even vaguely and theoretically, how someone could - and that is where I encounter a problem with things like this. And I feel the same way about alternative therapies too...

Ahh well the religion business is interesting. I don't believe in a god because, like you, I don't see any evidence for one. However, as I scientist, I also have to accept that there is no evidence that there is not a god - and indeed, it is not possible to design an experiment to gain such information, because of the other worldly nature of a higher power. As such I resign myself to atheist agnosticism. I don't actually find a belief in a god scary, as I don't think it's a harmful belief if it's based on mainstream religious beliefs, in so far as the grass roots believers tend to be familiar with them - they pretty much correlate with my own humanist moral code ;) Obviously there are some extremists and nutters out there, but they could equally be atheists as religious nuts (and some of them are) - they're just rationalising in a different way!

And that really is a digression :D
 
Morgan123 said:
That's an interesting point of view. I do think a dog can understand what a weighing scales are for. Why not? Dogs have the intelligence of a 2-4 year old child depending on the breed. a 2-4 year old child knows what a weighing scales are for.
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It's a big leap from knowing that weighing scales tell you how much you weigh, to understanding that if you weigh too much, the vet will advise your owner to cut down on how much you get fed. I think it is generally accepted in the animal behaviour fields that such leaps are beyond dogs - despite the fact that in certain intelligence tests, dogs can rival young children. The behaviourists could be wrong, of course, but without evidence to support that, you might equally argue that dogs are doing calculus in their baskets at night :D
 
Well I'm an arch sceptic, but I think they have a role to play

I used a lovely lady called Isobel Hogton and she helped me twice - once when I was having massive behaviour problems with my ISH and she nailed it, and also told me several dietary and management changes he would appreciate and they all made a huge difference.

She also told me things that only he and I knew, about things that had happened when we had been out together.

But the biggest difference was with our laminitic pony - she visited him when he was very low and had not been on his feet for a few days - it was kind of black. She visited twice, and after each time he was noticeably brighter and more alert, and was up and walking around. It had a direct impact on his sense of well being, and I can swear that pony had given up.
 
Very interesting thread...I am non-commital on the subject really. It is like having 'faith' I almost envy people who do but I do not have it - religious or otherwise. People who do have it find it a tremendous comfort and part of their way of living and i wish them well.
The 3 people who have known my horse as well as I do since I have owned her have all said for goodness sake don't let anyone do anything like communicate or get her to talk to them...it could open up all kinds of trouble...we think she was incredibly badly treated and traumatised at some point and it would not be a pleasant experience for her. Not that they were necessarily believers either....
Someone who does Reiki andactually writes for a paper wanted to try my mare and I refused...she was quite persistent but I just couldnt take the risk.
also, I know everyone says they would love their horse to talk to them...sometimes with my mare I just don't know if I would...she is temperamental and full of attitude as it is...!!! I think i shall just leave her to be a horse in her own right...I think body language and behaviour are goodenough for me!
 
Totally skeptical - as I am about human mediums and other paranormal phenomena. However, I'm open-minded in the sense that I am willing to be persuaded should any evidence turn up to prove it can't all be explained by coincidence and psychology (especially the natural human tendency to want to believe).
 
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