How Far Would You Go?

     When put into threatening situations, people may be surprised to find just what extent they would go to to their own, or even another's, life. I like to believe that, if put into such a situation, I would do the right thing and do whatever it takes to save somebody else's life, even over my own. However, I do believe that in some circumstances, my own instincts would take over and cause me to save myself. I do believe, though, that if the other person was a member of my family, I would not hesitate to sacrifice my own life to save their's. There is nothing that I would not do for my family in a life-or-death situation. Whether it be trying my best to save them from their own self-destruction or physically fighting someone who is threatening them, I would do it for my family. For my friends, I would do many things, though it would not be quite as instinctual to save them as it would be for me to save a family member. I would try my best to ensure their survival, but if I were to fail, though I would miss them and feel guilty, life would go on. Though I am ashamed to admit it, my pets rank high on my lift of beings that I would fight to save if something aweful were to happen. Most people do not get as attached to their pets and ultimately view them as replacable. I however, would even go so far as to risk my own health and well being for that of my pets. Everybody has a different scale of what extent they would go to to ensure the survival of themselves, others, and even pets. Mine is definitely out of the ordinary.

Survivor Synthesis Essay: Horseback Riding

Six-Word-Slant

• Horseback riding; Be prepared. Don't panic.

140-Character-Claim

• Horseback riders only survive dangerous situations that can not be avoided by being prepared and aware of their surroundings at all times.

Essay

          Every year, thousands of people are seen in U.S. emergency rooms because of injuries they sustained during horseback riding and other horse-related activities. Riding atop a large animal that can easily weigh 1,000 pounds, especially a prey animal that is ruled by its fight-or-flight instincts, leaves a lot of potential for something to go wrong and for the rider to get injured. Horseback riders only survive dangerous situations that can not be avoided by being prepared and aware of their surroundings at all times.

          In the first place, being prepared, both physically and mentally, improves a rider’s chances of survival greatly. Valerie Netto, in her article “Horse Safety!” stresses the importance of preparation in making the handling and riding of horses safer. Most people do not realize that being physically prepared means a lot more than just having a horse and a saddle. Having and using the correct safety gear, such as helmets, appropriate clothing, and good quality equipment would also fall in this category. The helmet provides head protection in case the rider falls off. Clothing is a large issue with horse riders. According to Netto, baggy and loose-fitting clothing can “catch on a protrusion such as the saddle horn” and cause potentially deadly situations for the rider. A safe rider wears properly fitted clothing and appropriate boots. Good quality tack can prevent equipment malfunctions that could cost somebody their life. Mark Rashid, in his book “Considering the Horse”, teaches that forcing the horse “into a very tight and uncomfortable circle” by pulling the horses head completely to one side with the reins can “[stop] the unstoppable horse.” A good equestrian learns the correct actions to take if something were to go wrong before actually hopping on a horse. This simple mental preparation strategy can make the rider safer and can give them a sense of comfort knowing that they are prepared in case something tragic does happen.     

 Additionally, when riding a horse, being aware can be the difference between safely avoiding a crisis and getting an ambulance ride to the hospital. According to Katherine Blocksdorf in her article “How to Fall Off Your Horse”, a rider should “try to see the spookies before your horse does so you can divert its attention.” This can prevent the horse from spooking or reacting badly, which can lead to disaster. An aware rider will most likely notice anything unwonted that could spook their horse beforehand, giving them a chance to divert the equine’s attention or go a different direction and ultimately avoiding a potential catastrophe. Valerie Netto also suggests in her article that a rider should “never assume that your horse ‘would never do that.’” This is part of being aware because if a person trusts their horse too much, they would be less likely to stay alert and aware while riding, which could allow them to miss something that, if only the rider had been paying attention, could have easily been spotted and avoided. Another important assumption that people make is that they can ride just any horse. However, a responsible rider makes sure that the horse that they will be riding fits their skill level. For example, a person who is inexperienced at riding and being around horses should not ride a ferine, rambunctious, rowdy, rodeo-worthy horse. Just as Hal, Mercedes, and Charles tried to control and maintain Buck’s skilled team of dogs with very little knowledge of dog sledding in Jack London’s “The Call of the Wild,” some people try to ride and control a horse whose skill level is way above their own, ultimately leading to disaster. Being aware of not only the surroundings, but also the skill level of both the rider and horse can play a large role in having a safe, fun horseback riding experience.          

     Furthermore, a responsible rider learns how to survive when the hard ground summons them and will not take no for an answer. “If you know you are going to fall, try to kick your feet free of the stirrups” and “roll out of the way of your horse’s legs,” Blocksdorf encourages. If not, the person caught on the saddle could be severely injured or dragged by a frightened horse. Breaking the fall with their arms could result in the rider sustaining broken or fractured limbs. YoungRider.com, the website of a popular horseback riding magazine, insists that a rider “let go of the reins” when they fall. What to do with the reins when a fall is unavoidable is a very controversial subject among riders. Some, such as Katherine Blocksdorf, state that “if you are out on trail, you [should] try to hold on to the reins.” However, this could lead to the rider having a broken arm or injuring the horse’s mouth due to the reins yanking on the bit that the horse is wearing. “Many horses put down their heads and graze after you fall, and if your mount runs off someone will catch him eventually. (YoungRider.com)” Being able to fall properly can give the rider a higher chance of survival and can ultimately lead to both the horse and rider returning safely after a ride.         

     All in all, riding a horse is a very dangerous activity to participate in and staying safe while doing so can be an arduous task. Good riders will do everything in their power to possibly lessen the threat of death or injury to both themselves and the horse. This can only be accomplished by being prepared, both physically and mentally, and by staying aware of themselves and their horses at all times. Next time you ride a horse or even consider riding a horse, think about what you can do to make the ride as safe as possible and lessen the chances of anybody getting hurt.

Works Cited

             Blocksdorf, Katherine. "How to Fall Off Your Horse." About.com Horses. About.com. Web. 14 May 2012.                                       http://horses.about.com/od/learntoride/a/falloffhorse.htm.

           "Falling Off Your Horse." Falling Off Your Horse. YoungRider.com. Web. 14 May 2012. http://www.youngrider.com/young-rider-magazine/january-2007/falling-off.aspx.

             Netto, Valerie. "Horse Safety." Horse Safety. InfoHorse.com, 2007. Web. 14 May 2012. http://www.infohorse.com/horsesafety.asp.

             Rashid, Mark. Considering the Horse: Tales of Problems Solved and Lessons Learned. Boulder: Johnson, 1993. Print.

Call of the Wild Review

     The Call of the Wild by Jack London captured my attention at the beginning of the book and kept it all throughout the story with the unique array of different characters portrayed by the author. London really outdid himself making a believable character that fits almost every archetype that one could think of.
     Buck would be the hero. He finds himself thrown into the midst of something he never asked for or deserved and forced to do thing he would have never dreamed of and still made it out on top. He shows extreme bravery in many different situations such as when he fights for his life against Spitz, his rival, or when he jumps in to avenge the brutal murder of his favorite owner, John Thornton. He let nothing stand in the way between him and what he believed to be right.
     Spitz is the aggressive antagonist. He fought until his last breath against Buck and proved to be a formidable foe. Neither one would submit to the other and both wanted the position and the power and respect that came with it. Spitz would do anything and everything to fight or aggravate Buck, including stealing his food, intercepting his hunts, and purposefully stealing his bedding places. Both of these characters are believable because almost everybody has something or someone that gets on their nerves and fights everything they do. For Buck and Spitz, these people were each other.
     On the human side of things, Francois and Perrault are adventurers and tough guys. They practiced tough love when it came to their team of dogs. One had to earn their respect, not just expect to receive it. They were fair and just in their rule over the team, such as when they whipped Spitz for stealing Buck's food or when they scolded both Buck and Spitz for fighting. They didn't put up with any inappropriate or foolish behavior, but neither were they superfluously cruel or mean to the dogs. Though not very demonstrative, they made sure the dogs were healthy and well fed and that they were not suffering in their work. For example, when Buck was new to the team and his paws were all mangled and bloody from the amount of work he had done, they made makeshift shoes for him to wear so that he would not be in pain. Because of these ministrations, Buck was able to keep working at a pace that impressed everybody.
     London used lots of detailing and different personalities in his novel to create realistic and varied characters. I would recommend this exciting and interesting novel to anyone who enjoys animal books or even someone who just enjoys a good, short classic. I found this book enjoyable and I hope that you do too. :)

The Will to Live

     The will to survive is an instinct that none can escape from. It affects every living thing at some point in time and can change the views and actions of even the most obdurate of people. Good examples of the zeal to survive are found in both the story of the Titanic as well as in The Call of the Wild by Jack London.
     The story of the Titanic  is one that is commonly known amongst most people. However, few really realize how the ill-fated ship shows a good example of a human being overtaken by the will to survive. In the movie, there are many different people shown as the ship is going down. Many of them, normally perfectly nice people, resorted to fighting and killing others in order to save themselves and get a spot on the lifeboats. These are very obvious examples of how how the will to survive affects humans. However there were a few that didn't fight to escape death but instead accepted and embraced it. Most would assume that this is because they had given up and no longer had a zeal to survive. I don't believe that this is so. There is a point in every beings life where it is time to die. As confusing as it may sound, death is an ever-existing part of life. They merely accepted that is was no longer their destiny to live and accepted fate. Every person was affected by the will to survive.
     The Call of the Wild is also a good example of the zeal to survive. However, this shows more of how the will to survive affects the animal kingdom. Buck, the main character, is put into many situations where the only options are kill or be killed. He always chose to kill. One such example would be when he was in the final fight with Spitz, his rival. Spitz was winning at first but Buck refused to give up. His will to survive was greater than the temptation to give up. In the end, because he refused to give up, Buck lived and defeated Spitz. Spitz also had a great will to survive, growling and fighting until he physically could not any longer.
     The will to survive affects every living being in the world. None can escape it and most don't want to. It is the instinct that saves our lives in a dangerous situation and guides us when lost. This one little instinct has the power to control the actions of every living thing. So the question is not if it would affect you in a sticky situation. The ultimate question is : How far would it make you go to save your life?

John-John & Marlo (anthropomorphism poem)

Marlo moans and she groans
as they're out on the trail.
She starts wired, gets tired,
and insists that her legs are about to fail.

John-John puts on a show
and screams "Come on! Lets go!"
and to Marlo says, "Get out of my way, slow poke!"
He trots on ahead and gets stuck in the sand.
He yells out to Marlo, "Come give me a hand."

Marlo just laughs and says, "Not in this lifetime.
Watching you struggle is my new favorite pastime."
When John-John gets free, they both scurry on home
and never again did they ever try to roam.
   
               The End :)

Frankenstein's Monster

     The creature created by Victor Frankenstein is actually, with all of his faults and mistakes, more human than Dr. Frankenstein himself. The only thing that the monster wanted was a friend that would care about and understand him. It is in human nature to want to be loved and understood by another human. Victor however, was a solitary being that wanted only his science experiments and research as his companions. At times, he shunned his family and neglected his own health to work on his experiments. In this, Frankenstein's monster shows more human-like qualities than his creator. The creation of Victor also proved that he is more human that his human "father" by showing that he regretted and trying to make amends for his wrong actions. At the end of the novel, he expressed great regret for his part in the deaths of all of Frankenstein's loved ones and was willing to give up his own life in atonement. Frankenstein, though he expressed great guilt for his part in the deaths, never attempted to openly make amends or admit that what he did what wrong and take the consequences. Though, technically, Frankenstein is the human of the two, the doctor, through his actions, proved himself to be more of a monster than his creation. The monster showed regret and longing for companionship, which helps to prove that he is more human than his maker.

Being Human

     Have you ever asked yourself what it means to be human? What makes us different from any other animal? Some would say thumbs; others would say walking upright on two legs. However, there are so many more distinguishing traits between humans and other animal species than just physical characteristics. According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, a human being is defined as being “a man, woman, or child of the species Homo sapiens, distinguished from other animals by superior mental development, power of articulate speech, and upright stance.” My definition of a human is based on the fact that humans have reasoning capabilities and can learn from their mistakes. Also, though people who hold different religious views than I may not believe the same, humans are the only beings who have a soul.

     Humans have an ability to reason, though some may choose not to use it, that far surpasses any ability that animals may have. Only humans can reason through a situation in their head and think about all of the different outcomes that could possibly occur during that same situation. Frankenstein by Mary W. Shelley shows this when Victor Frankenstein is debating on whether or not he should create “a being like [himself].” He processed the situation and knew that something bad could happen, yet still decided that the good outweighed the bad. Animals usually rely solely on instinct to choose what their reaction will be when put in a certain situation. Their primal instincts are what keep them alive and are also what may spur them into protecting their offspring or owners. Humans, though they do have most of those same instincts, can overrule their “wild side” with reasoning and by taking a realistic view on things.

     Also, human beings have a soul, whereas other living beings do not. Humans are capable of feeling emotions that animals can not, such as empathy and compassion. Though some animals are of a more gentle nature, they cannot actually “feel sorry” for another animal. In my personal experience as a pet owner, I have witnessed animals mourning the loss of another, yet they always seemed to move on very quickly and went back to normal within days. Humans hold on to memories and emotions, both good and bad, and sometimes have to work to forgive, while animals are normally quick to forget and move on.

     Though some people say that animals show reasoning ability and can reason whether or not they should do specific actions, this is actually not reasoning at all. It is the result of teaching, not a long, drawn out thought process. Animals can only associate actions with specific consequences after the consequence has already been proven to them, usually repetitively. They do not think things through. For example, if a dog bites a person, it gets scolded. Every time that the dog bites, it gets that same punishment. Eventually the dog will come to associate biting with that punishment. However, this is not proof of reasoning or superior mental development because it had to be taught. It did not just think up and understand what could happen as a result of that action on its own. Only humans have the ability to reason out what could happen if they do something, without actually experiencing it before.

     Daniel H. Pink, in his book A Whole New Mind: Moving From the Information Age to the Conceptual Age, tells what common defining qualities of human beings are. ”Telling stories, demonstrating empathy, and designing innovations. These abilities have always comprised part of what it means to be human.” What it means to be human is a highly debatable subject but most everyone agrees that there are differences between humans and the animal kingdom. In my personal definition of a human, humans have reasoning abilities and, though some people may argue against this, they have a soul. Though these are only a couple of the differences between humans and animals, they alone are enough to put humans in a totally separate class than any other living beings.