In the film, Nausicaa is shown using a special whistle, which she uses to communicate with the insects. This is where I started to make connections since complimentary training also employs the use of a very special tool, the clicker. A clicker is used to signal when the horse (or any student) has done something correct. A click, which is reinforced with a small reward of food, can be given to the student for something as simple as lowering their head or picking up their foot for it to be cleaned. Very soon, the student will realize that the "click" is a good thing and their ears perk right up as soon as they hear it. In fact many horses quickly recognize the clicker itself as an object of delight.

      Many trainers have found that this response also becomes an invaluble safety measure since the horse responds to the sound so quickly. The click has the power to bring a frightened horse to it's senses because it gives them a feeling a reassurance and lets them know that they are not in any real danger. A clicker trained horse, if frightened, is much less likely to run away with a young rider on it's back if it hears this sound. I myself have been able to prevent dangerous situations if a horse happens to break free (for example if they are frightened by something while I am putting their equipment on) simply by clicking, and they stop.

      Nausicaa, uses the "Mushi-bue"(insect whistle) in a very similar manner. She uses the whistle, that makes a medium pitched, wavering sound, to help insects that have been frightened or injured. The whistle's sound in entrancing but it is not used to hypnotize the insects since this is not a form of mind control. Rather, the sound of the whistle calms the insect so it can think clearly. In other words, it brings them back to their senses

       The best example from the film takes place when a large airship crash-lands on the outskirts of the Valley of Wind. The ship was a transport vehicle belonged to a hostile neighboring kingdom and was carrying prisoners and stolen goods from a recent raid of a mining city. However, on it's journey, the ship crossed the poisonous forests and was attacked by swarms of insects. The engines failed and the ship with all it's cargo crashed burning nearly everything that was on board.

      When Nausicaa and the people of the valley came to investigate, they found that a single insect had survived. Injured and frightened, the creature started emitting a chattering sound which the people saw as some sort of distress signal. Frightened that the sound would call more insects to it's aid, men started to aim their guns at the insect hoping that they could silence it before something even worse happened.

      However, Nausicaa stepped forward, pushing the guns aside (a bit of symbolism there) and advanced slowly towards the creature unarmed. She reached into her pouch and withdrew the insect whistle attached to a string. The whistle started making a humming sound when Nausicaa started swinging it in a circle by the end of the string. Reacting to the sound, the insect stopped calling for help. Nausicaa, with the use of her glider was able to get the insect to fly and lead it back to it's home. This scene is a strong testament to knowledge and cleverness triumphing over brutality, with life-saving results.

A real-life instance:

January 2, 2000:

      Riding class resumed today (New Years Day was a vacation day for the horses as well.) One horse, who is the most popular of all the lesson horses (he is so easy to ride that he is refered to a "push-button" horse) bolted. Recently his behavior has deteriorated and has become unpredictable sometimes. Maybe due to pain?

      Today, there was no question that he took a mad dash to get rid of his rider. The rider made a great effort to stop him buy to no avail. I ran across the ring- he was already gone.         I started across to the other side, knowing this was my last chance to stop him. Try the clicker- would it work? This horse is not one of my regular student so he was not reinforced with the clicker very often but he had been conditioned with it. I clicked it and like magic he stopped immediately! After teaching riding for 20+ years: This (clicker training) is the best thing I've ever learned!

-Mary Waldau

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All text and artwork, unless otherwise specified, by Griffin Waldau. Updated December 20, 2000.

e-mail: griffin@waldau.com

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