How to Read “蹴る馬も乗り手次第”
Keru uma mo norite shidai
Meaning of “蹴る馬も乗り手次第”
This proverb means that even those who exhibit problematic behavior or are difficult to handle can be developed into fine individuals, depending on the skill of their leader or superior.
A horse’s kicking is inherently dangerous and undesirable behavior, but with guidance from an excellent rider, that horse can come to perform wonderfully. Similarly, in human relationships, even people who appear problematic at first glance can have their potential drawn out when given appropriate guidance and environment.
This proverb is mainly used in educational settings, workplace human resource development, and parent-child relationships. It’s employed when discussing children labeled as problem children or subordinates considered difficult to handle in the workplace. What’s important is that it doesn’t place blame solely on the other party for problems, but focuses attention on the responsibility and skill of those providing guidance. Even today, this way of thinking is extremely effective when discussing leadership and educational theory, and is understood as an expression of a positive attitude that believes in others’ potential.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb is deeply connected to Japan’s ancient horse culture. From the Heian period through the Edo period, horses were important military assets for the samurai class and also symbols of status.
Horse training techniques were essential skills for samurai of that time. This proverb is thought to have emerged from the actual experience that even horses with wild temperaments or habits of kicking people could serve admirably as war horses when handled by excellent riders.
Particularly during the Warring States period, horse training techniques were highly valued because the quality of horses could sometimes determine the outcome of battles. Many horses called famous steeds were not obedient from the beginning, but were developed by excellent trainers and riders.
Entering the Edo period, horsemanship was valued as part of samurai education, and this expression also came to be used as a way of thinking about human resource development. As a lesson that even problematic subordinates or disciples could be developed into excellent personnel depending on the leader’s skill, it became widely established in samurai society.
Thus, wisdom born from actual horse training experience eventually came to be applied to human relationships and educational situations, which is how this proverb came to be.
Interesting Facts
A horse’s kicking behavior is actually often an expression of fear or anxiety, and it’s known to naturally subside once a trusting relationship is established. In other words, the “kicking horse” in this proverb can be interpreted as representing not simply bad character, but a state where an appropriate relationship has not been built.
Edo period horsemanship texts contain the description “knowing the horse’s heart is the rider’s first duty,” teaching that understanding the other party comes before technique. This is surprisingly similar to modern coaching and management theory.
Usage Examples
- The new employee Tanaka was rebellious at first, but as they say “Kicking horse too depends on rider,” let’s try guiding him patiently.
- That child is called a problem child, but “Kicking horse too depends on rider” – if they meet a good teacher, they’ll surely change.
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has come to be understood in more multifaceted ways. There has been a shift from traditional guidance perspectives based on hierarchical relationships to approaches that emphasize relationships based on mutual understanding.
Particularly in workplace environments, with growing awareness of power harassment, the importance of understanding individual characteristics and providing appropriate environments and roles for each person is being recognized, rather than one-sided “training”-style guidance. There’s a demand for approaches that understand the reasons and circumstances behind problematic behavior and find solutions through dialogue.
Similar changes are seen in educational settings. There has been a shift from the former one-sided labeling of “problem children” to educational perspectives that recognize diversity. With deepening understanding of developmental disabilities, emphasis is now placed on understanding the characteristics behind behavior and finding support methods suited to each child.
On the other hand, in the modern era where SNS and digital communication have become mainstream, there’s also the challenge that building direct human relationships has become more difficult. In screen-mediated interactions, it’s difficult to read subtle changes in others, and building the kind of deep trust relationships this proverb indicates requires more conscious effort.
However, the essential lesson remains valid today. The attitude of believing in others’ potential and continuing to seek appropriate ways of relating is a valuable way of thinking that transcends time.
When AI Hears This
This proverb has been pointing to the most critical challenge in modern algorithm development for 400 years.
The “kicking horse” is essentially a high-performance but unpredictable AI algorithm. Large language models like ChatGPT can enable revolutionary problem-solving when handled properly, but they generate discriminatory responses when trained on biased data and produce harmful content when given inappropriate prompts. This is exactly when they start “kicking.”
The skill of the “rider” – the developers and users – makes all the difference. Google’s image recognition AI incident that misclassified Black people as “gorillas” was caused by the development team’s lack of diversity and biased test data – essentially “rider inexperience.” Meanwhile, DeepMind’s AlphaFold used the same deep learning technology but solved a 50-year biological puzzle through proper design.
What’s fascinating is how unpredictably these algorithms can “act up.” A self-driving car’s AI might perform flawlessly in sunny weather but suddenly make critical errors in the rain. This closely mirrors how a horse might suddenly spook and buck.
In today’s world, how well we can master these “digital horses” has become the determining factor in competitiveness from individual to national levels.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of having the courage to continue believing in others’ potential. Everyone, no matter how problematic they may appear on the surface, surely has something that shines within them.
What’s important is to first examine our own way of relating before trying to change others. When someone closes their heart, the cause might lie in our own approach. Not criticism or imposition, but an attitude of trying to understand becomes the power that creates true change.
In modern society, we tend to seek immediate results, but human relationships require time. Respecting others’ pace, not missing small changes and acknowledging them. And above all, having a warm gaze that tries to find the good within others.
Around you too, there might be people who are misunderstood. It’s up to you to discover their true nature. Believing in the infinite potential each person possesses, why not start a new way of relating from today?
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