At the moment we - our research colleagues in Linz and I - try to find out how the hearing of the Ponys works. There are not many studies, but they say that the localization of a noise works with a variance which is greater than 20 degree.
My last try with flicking and calling I don't call serious. My Ponys knew that I didn't want anything from them. For that it seems for me, that you have to consider in what kind of situation the Ponys are. So is it a natural or a artificial situation. Therefor my last post with the three videos show an artificial situation. We were moving and I did something by the side what did not affect them. Ponys are made for walking. For them the world was perfect, because we started to walk and from the trail they knew we were not heading home. If I try to translate this, it means: Variety in a very positive meaning.
For the better understanding: Almost every day since more than 10 years I walk or jog with my Ponys, even if it is just for 15 min. Mostly we are in a set of three (or four with me). That's our daily situation and we know the region in a radius about 10 km pretty well. Means that's their territory. I don't ride, I jog or walk with them. According to the direction I choose they know whether it will be a quick round or a longer hike. My be I imagine that, but my impression is that they start to walk faster and the head goes up, if I have time for a hike.
Out of the entire recording of this day I choose 6 sections. They all have different characteristics:
1. The postman comes
First he observes - up the road, down the road - than he focus. I thing that the kink at the end of Moritz ears gives it all a kind of dramaturgy.
2. A roadblock - that's new
There was a tree felling in our village and therefor the passage was blocked. That's also the reason while I was able to walk through our village during the week. Normally I don't do that because of the trucks. The Ponys don't mind, but the whole situation is to dangerous. Cars and trucks are too fast, and to close while overtaking etc.
A Pony is a flight animal, but as I said that's their territory and therefor they don't spoke when they see new stuff, but instead start to explore. So to see in this video, the hooves carries the ears to the place!
3. A car passes
This situation I always wanted to see through Pony eyes. What happens when a car pass? It is heard before seen and it is not really interesting and instantly unimportant when it drove past.
4. Something will happen
This video was a surprise. The Ponys stood a while tied to the horse trailer. Sometimes I was in the house, but also while on the phone walking through the garden - with Stefan Nitz from MakerLounge. I wanted to know if he needs more datas about Pepe's head.
When I clean the paddock my Ponys knew when I'm close to finish. They group together for getting the halter on. In this video I suspect that they hear in my voice that I'm about to leave. I'm in the house and talk to Alexander. There we are again about intention and which powerful signals we are sending via our body, voice etc.
This situation I saw more than once in the videos. When the Pony runs free, occasionally the Ponys stops and 'scans'. When they on the rope, I make the pace, so there is not place for that. When they run free, I have a more natural situation, even though they have to follow the herd.
6. Finale with a view of Point
With this snippet I want to draw the viewer in our situation. Most times it looks like this ... Besides look at the ears from Point.
After scanning so much video material I'm slightly confused. I'm fusing with the Pony while watching through his ears and occasionally there is this 'alien'. In black clothes with a hoodie, inconspicuously and seems to belong to the group. Fascinating hunch ...
