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Somewhere in France there is a grey horse. It is one of a troupe of grey horses that perform conditioned behaviour routines in unison as part of one of Europe’s major travelling horse shows. Those horses are unfettered, free of the instruments of torture that pass for horse tack. The troupe’s human is known around the world for expounding the need for love in a human’s relationship with a horse. Recently I saw that horse and it was indeed unfettered with the exception of a halter. It was standing in front of its human. It held its ears back and the light had long gone from its eyes. It had become a caricature of all creatures who rely for their very existence on the endurance of a daily, deadening, mandatory regime. Yet implicit in its numb surrender there is a call to humans everywhere to help turn on the light again in our horses’ eyes.

Pignon explaining l'amour

Pignon explaining l'amour

Where is this horse with its dull eyes and huddled ears? Hush, it is here at the Horse Event in Deurne, the Netherlands’s equivalent of Equitana held at the country’s foremost equestrian training facility. Sit down, be quiet. It is the object of a demonstration of the power of love in the interaction between horse and human. Before the horse stands a human, dyed and attired to resemble the macho chic equestrian stereotype of a teenage girl’s frenzied fantasies. The man explains his philosophy to the spell-bound audience in French, pausing every now and then to allow the interpreter to do his work. The horse cowers before him, the powerful overhead lights failing to coax a sparkle from its eye. Behind it, the other members of the troupe stand motionless on parade. Then it is over and the Frenchman prances out of the arena dutifully followed by his equine entourage.

Pignon demonstrating l'amour

Pignon demonstrating l'amour

A few hours later I find the Frenchman and his horse in an outdoor round yard. Again, there is a large audience hanging on to every French word as it is stylishly expounded from his lips. Juxtaposed against the language of romance, the Dutch translation is disappointingly prosaic. The man speaks and seeks to have his horse move with him as he does. He cites the need for utter dominance. He speaks of l’amour, of the need for it to imbue the relationship between human and horse. And presumably in the name of that same love he briskly spanks the horse on its tender underbelly five times to get it to yield and move with him. The crowd are entranced. They expect no less. Almost guilty, I am appalled. The myth of Jean Francois Pignon has just shrivelled before my eyes as decisively as the light has gone from his horse’s eyes.

Then there are those who are helping in some small or more extensive way to turn the lights back on in our horses’ eyes.

One of those is Emiel Voest (www.emielvoest.nl). He greets me. We exchange pleasantries. He is giving a demonstration. Vicki and I promise we will be there. Yes, Emiel claims dominance over the horse from the outset. No, he does not have the powerful, authentic, reassuring presence of Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling. But he is calm and clear. And the horse responds. Although nervous and somewhat agitated in front of the crowd, its ears are pricked forward and it is acutely aware of the man in the middle, even responding to some of his more subtle cues. Gradually, it calms down and acquiesces to Emiel’s measured signals and calming presence. He stops the exercise and walks around the arena. The horse follows him, chewing and licking its lips. There is a connection of sorts.

Emiel Voest - there is a connection of sorts

Emiel Voest - there is a connection of sorts

Although the Horse Event supposedly represents an attempt to bring together representatives of the full spectrum of leisure-based, horse-human interaction, it falls short of this goal to the extent that it does not include those trainers who eschew the use of physically and/or mentally violent methods and tools in their training programmes. I define a ‘violent’ method or tool as one which involves the use of physical or mental force, or the threat of using such force. Organised by the Bartels, a family at the heart of the Dutch equestrian establishment, the Horse Event brings together a large section of that establishment as expected. It is therefore no surprise to see that the Dutch dressage community is well-represented.

What is a surprise to see is a dressage rider abandoning all tack (bar blunt spurs used as a jumping aid) to ride her horse with nothing but a cordeo around its neck. Taking a break from competition dressage and jumping with full tack, Marieke van Velzen, and her horse, Otto, joyfully connect with each other and seize the moment. Horse and human happily merge with each other to produce an exuberant organic creation mesmerising the crowd as they move easily and confidently around the arena to perform various dressage manoeuvres, culminating in jumps with the bar being raised progressively to 1.5 metres. Of course, any collection is exceedingly limited but that is to be expected, when collection is taught as the art of spurring a horse at the back to ride it into a bit in the front. Take away the bit and there is no collection to talk of. Sure, next week Marieke will return to the dressage and jumping arenas with full tack and battle gear but the promise of a new way of being with horses is palpably present today. Horse and human are vibrantly alive. A human is turning on the light in her horse’s eyes.

Marieke van Velzen and Otto having unbridled fun

Marieke van Velzen and Otto having unbridled fun

Vicki speaking to Marieke van Velzen

Vicki speaking to Marieke van Velzen

Vicki speaks to Marieke shortly after her and Otto’s display of tack-free horse-human interaction and asks her how it all started. Marieke says that there was a day a few years ago when she spontaneously asked herself what would happen if she took off all the tack, because she felt that she was essentially riding her horse from the seat. There was only one way to find out, so she threw off the tack and it worked. Once people saw this, the word got around and she started to receive invitations to show others. One thing led to another and now this. While they are speaking I am watching from a distance and taking photographs before joining them. During that time I see trailers, tractors, trucks, carriages and horses pass. Otto does not bat an eyelid. All Marieke has on him is the cordeo. The two of them have something special together.

You can find more information about Marieke and Otto, as well of plenty of pictures and videos, on her website at www.onbeteugeld.nl. Unfortunately the website is in Dutch but you can use Google Translate to get a rough translation.

Vanessa Bee demonstrating agility training for horse and human

Vanessa Bee demonstrating agility training

Another way of helping to turn on the light in our horses’ eyes was also demonstrated at the Horse Event by Vanessa Bee, a British woman who has been instrumental in establishing the international horse agility club, an umbrella body for horse agility clubs in 13 countries including the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Australia, Canada and the USA. Both on foot, horse and handler navigate a course of obstacles at liberty or linked by a lead, something which requires clear communication between them along with leadership on the part of the human and trust on the part of the horse. Thanks to the emphasis placed on fun and play, humans also find it easier to acquire the ability to accept a horse’s refusal as an essential part of the relationship between the species.

You can find out more about horse agility at www.thehorseagilityclub.com. The video gives you some idea of how to do agility exercises with your horse. It is relatively easy to create your own obstacles. Materials can be sourced from garden centres, hardware stores and related suppliers. Have fun with your horse by getting it to help you create your agility obstacle course. Their natural curiosity will have them picking up things and handing them to you in no time. Agility exercises and the preparations for them can also help to turn the light on in your horses’ eyes, not to mention your own.

6 Responses to “Turning on the Light – Part I”

  1. Susanne Schadde says:

    Thanks so much for continuing to share your experiences!!!
    If you feel like visiting Switzerland, you are always welcome!
    Susanne

    • Andrew says:

      Dear Susanne

      I am so glad to hear that you appreciate sharing our experiences.

      While it is unfortunate that we did not make it to Akedah, we are really so fortunate to be exposed to so many different people who are actively trying to make a difference in the way in which humans relate to horses, and whom we might otherwise not have bumped into. Despite the sense of loss at times, it all generally seems to be as it should.

      Thank you for the invitation to visit you in Switzerland. We may just take you up on that some time.

      Be well!
      Andrew

  2. Checking in, Andrew.
    I have no comments, feedback or anything of that sort to make this time. Good story and I like your photos. I hope there have been sufficient moments where you did enjoy your day. Looking at Vicky with Dubu in her arms speaking to Marieke van Velzen is endearing.

    • Andrew says:

      Dear Geerteke

      Actually we really enjoyed our day. As you yourself are probably aware, once you accept the situation as it is, it is so much easier to focus more fully on all of the positive things that occur and there was much that did. However, being the kind of blog it is, I did feel that a couple of the negative aspects needed to be mentioned.

      Yes, Dubu does manage to bring out the best in Vicki, doesn’t he. Sometimes I envy him! 🙂

      Take care
      Andrew

  3. I appreciate this write-up — I always enjoy hearing of other trainers that perhaps aren’t as well known in America, such as Emiel Voest. I am going to explore his website now!

    Thank you,
    Hannah

    • Andrew says:

      Dear Hannah

      Emiel is pretty good in relation to the technical aspects of working a horse at liberty and on a lead, although, as I have pointed out in a previous post (http://horsesandhumans.com/blog/2011/09/11/of-horses-and-places/), the type of contact he achieves with the horse differs radically from that which Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling is able to develop. Beyond that Emiel is fairly traditional and does not eschew the use of conventional tack.

      My next post will include an introduction to another trainer who also manages to achieve a magical connection with horses but who does so without the intense dominance of KFH. He is also closer to you than Emiel. It should go live by the weekend.

      Be well!
      Andrew