Horses
The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears.
Arabian proverb
The world of the horse takes me beyond myself and the more time I spend with horses the more I learn about “being” rather than “doing”. Horses live in the moment: what’s been in the past might be “remembered” but not dwelt upon: there is no concern for the “future” except that they are always on the alert for their safety, but this is a communal concern for each member of the herd is involved. Horses protect each other. Today we have the advantage of being able to “study” the language and psychology of the horse so that we may work as real partners from a common point of view.
My greatest thrills come from working with my horses at liberty, just in the field with the rest of the herd around about, no ropes and no halters. When I can invite one of my horses to leave his friends to play with me I am on top of the world and humbled at the same time.
Working with foals and young stock is awe-inspiring. My herd is made up of Highland Ponies, Shetlands and a Connemara X Irish cob mare who presented me with a surprise foal. A few of the herd were “rescued” one way or another and with me they have a home for life.
Little Biggar, my almost 30 year old Shetland Pony is the hero of my latest story The Car Park Pony-Kingfisher Book of Horse and Pony Stories 2005. I am a self- taught rider. In the past I played Polo Crosse in Papua New Guinea and I did Endurance Riding in Scotland.
I am interested in all aspects of equine well-being and had I been younger I would have undertaken a career with horses. Instead I am a student of Equine Touch and over the next few years I hope to qualify and be in a position to help my own horses and maybe others with this discipline.
I have been a student of Natural Horsemanship and Monty Roberts provided my first insights into this world. I followed the Pat Parelli programme for a number of years but I’ve been influenced also by people like Mark Rashid, Tom Dorrance and Bill Dorrance. I am now deeply interested in the ethology of the horse and I am working with Friendship Training – training in the open without ropes or halters or whips etc using a “bridging” language and gaining the complete trust and willingness of the horse.
A horse is worth more than riches.
Spanish Proverb
