My thoughts about horse keeping

Stormy wrote about Nevzorov's way of horse keeping. I noticed that I had a lot to say about it in her comment box so I thought I'd write about it.

First I got to mention here too, that Nevzorov's forum was a good place to find information when starting out. I haven't reached that point yet where I'd be inspired to start teaching any Haute Ecole moves to horses. Maybe it will be a step in my path too, who knows.


Mr Nevzorov has written: "Besides the rebuilding of the horse’s entire musculature, herd living makes a horse very primitive and stupid, and returns the horse to the world of primitive ideas and manners."

I don't know if that level of training that Nevzorov does is even possible without regulating or restricting horse's basic needs (as I understand them). If it isn't then for me it is needless.



Stormy wrote: "Can we know for sure that horses prefer a more wild existence?"

Well I think we can know for sure what horses prefer, when we give them freedom to choose. That I don't know if Nevzorov's horses have had. "Would you like to go out and play with your mates or come and learn some Latin?" If they would choose Latin, then I'd be impressed.



"They reveal knowledge that I think doesn't even exist in human perception and therefore cannot be named. Or maybe even should not be named." I wrote on the comment box of my earlier post. That I still believe to be true :)

What is stupid? What is wise? (Is Mr Nevzorov maybe not receiving the wisdom horses share with us when we are able to open our hearts and keep "mental contacts horizontal" as Mr Boone says it..?) I strongly dislike the idea that the intelligence of a horse should be measured in reading and writing. I do think that it is an dashing stunt to show people that horses do have brains, but I am actually hoping to have horses educating me - that is the New World where I'd like to go. Maybe Nevzorov is heading the same way but on a different path.

Olga - the best teacher I could've asked for

Maybe I should point out that I still am on the very beginning of this path and a lot of my writings is just my thoughts of how it should be, NOT how things are with me. So I am not speaking from my own experience, but what my heart tells is right. For me, and from my current point of view.

And this I find to be a good inspiration when planning horse keeping:
Respect Nature

Beginner's quide

I got this idea of making a beginner's guide to "this". (I would also like to find a real name to replace "this" with... ideas?)

It seems to me that more and more people are interested in "this". Usually they are asking what to do and how to start? There are of course teachers like Carolyn Resnick from whom you can certainly find directions with nicely named steps that have circled R after them. So I don't think of this guide as something that isn't invented yet :)

Stormy is telling people to join NHE which is also a good place to start, but with very strict rules that might scare off those who are in the very beginning.

I am also a bit hesitant in recommending anything that even remotely reminds me of "Parelli cult" or any sort of studying where people might forget about learning from horses, instead they think they can learn everything from some honored man/woman (or a computer..).

I had this idea already when I commented in June's blog about how freedom to choose seems to be quite easy way to "teach" horses their freedom of speech.

I just thought it would be nice to try to think of a sketch with some outlines?

(omg NKOTB starting to play in my head..)

step one (we can have lots of fun..)

Be available to your horse. Be around in the paddock, but let your horse decide if he/she wishes to be near or far. Learn to be present in every moment, like your horse always is.


step two (there's so much we can do..)

Learn the art of scratching. Find out what your horse likes about, and not only in scratching.


step three (It's just you and me..)

Be nice to your horse. Give treats. Appreciate and respect your horse. Forget about dominance (-schmominance) and control.


step four (I can give you more..)

Start to suggest action. Mutual playing, working, hiking... what ever the two of you like.


Step five (don't you know that the time has arrived..)

Grow together. Sky's the limit. Now it starts to get visible.


Huh!! Well the lyrics from 'Step by step' actually fits quite nice :D



How do you feel about these? Of course there are a lot of books to read and web pages to browse to get you in the right ground to start growing. But it doesn't look so bad when it has got 5 steps in it?

PS. Also a very good way to start is to read all my favourite blogs, that will most certainly set you in the right mood:

Kris
Lynne
Stormy
June
Máire

And one day I will dance with my horses

Today I've exhausted myself with stupidly arguing about my ways comparing to others. Then from Stormy's blog comments I find a link to Carolyn Resnick's blog where she writes about ways to make a difference.

Well, what to learn about this? Nothing much.

Just kidding. One day I, too, will dance with my horses.

Small changes, big changes

I was worried sick to see, how Olga would react when she and her paddock-friend Dani got company last weekend. Hanna, who has until now stayed with her stallion foal and uncle-Riki, moved in with grannies (Olga is 20, Dani 'only' 19). Hanna has always been leading mare and she does that effortlessly. So I was really worried they would have a huge fight with Olga. Luckily Hanna gave up really easy, few kicks and screams and that was it. Yesterday they were even scraching each others and sharing a pile of hay!



In few months, when the grass has grown, Olga will be moving to new place, which is somewhat closer to where I live, has 7 other icelandics in the same group, and they will be living in larger paddock, open stable with varied terrain. Looking forward to that!

Pigeonholing

Stormy May wrote about different levels on horse-human relationships.

I want to write down my "groups and charasteristics". After this, I will probably hear roulette spinning sounds in my head every time I meet new horse people. Maybe I'll even work out different sounds on different groups ;)

"traditional"

riding school
whips
spurs
bits
stronger bits
do-as-I-say-or-else!
horses are for riding

"natural horsemanship"

dominance
silenced, machine-like horses
pretty words - ugly actions (Ms Parelli-style)
strong judgement on "others"
horses are for riding

"Oneness, Kinship"

Horses "no" is respected, whenever possible (excl. veterinary treatments for example, which are of course made as easy as possible for the horse!)

Horses living conditions are carefully build to be as natural as possible. Friends, space, freedom to choose in whatever possible.

Horses are not meant to be ridden, but can be, if they truly and honestly wish to take a person on their back.

All punishing is forbidden, all force is avoided, all restraints are kept in minimal (meaning that when being with horse, the horse can at any time stop and/or leave.)

*****
I have got 3 cats, 1 dog and 1 horse. They all are equally my pets, and serve the same purpose. They have no duties or responsibilities in our life, I on the other hand do. I want to make sure they have a good life, on their scale. My "salary" is to see them happy, and it makes me happy.

Feel free to comment if you have anything to add to these groups.