Is horsemanship only some cowboy hooey for the western addicted and the trailriders or is it something all riders can benefit from? From its origin, horsemanship was the interaction between a rider and his horse. It was about reading the horselanguage, it was about a horseman being able to understand the horse’s actions and reactions, and from that utilize it in his work in a good manner. The art of horsemanship has taken some strange turns over the years, and many people are making good money on basically ruin perfectly good horses in the name of horsemanship. They invent methods and techniques that brings on invasive and horrifying results for the horses. The results are a dead broke horse or a killing machine. At cost of many horses, they keep on spreading the shit instead of spread the word about something that could be so great. The art of horsemanship is being toxificated and unpured.
To practice horsemanship you don’t have to own a ropehalter, a cowboyhat or western saddle. The genuine horsemanship is within you. This is where your humanship meets horsemanship. Horsemanship can be practiced within all branches of riding; racing, showjumping, endurance, dressage, voltage, driving, trailriding and western. It is about the interaction with the horse, it is about seeing the horse for what it is – and meet the horses’ needs from what it is, not based on our needs. Then we start humanizing it. A horse is a horse is a horse.
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Foto: Morten Flaten |
I have personally never been a horsemanship apprentice, I use Maritship. Many have asked me what I do, how I do things. I have never been able to answer those questions. I have been told I should give lessons in horsehandling – people want to learn to do what I am doing. These questions – and more importantly – the lack of answers to them, made me think. What am I actually doing? After a long while, studying my own thoughts, emotions and actions when being with horses, dogs and people I came to a conclusion.
I am not doing anything. I just am. That is what Maritship is all about – I am. In every meeting I have - with myself, with horses, with dogs or with others - I just am.
I can’t teach others not to do anything, but I can teach others to be the great they are – and how they can use it with horses, with dogs or with other people. Through being the great you are you can find your own way in the horsemanship world. Then you can develop your own beautiful art of horsesenseship – where both you and the horse still got your spirit, and experience fun and good results.
Think less, analyze less, observe more and act from your heart.
Keep it simple!
