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Cover Photo Nuno Oliveira schools a young Lusitano cross developing self-carriage in piaffe at home in Portugal.

(Photo by Stephanie Millham/BEA Archives) Sign and share the petition at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ justsayyesto401/ On behalf of all of us at Horses For LIFE may the gift of the horses be with you always.

All material copyright protected by Horses For LIFE Publications. Please contact us for information, suggestions, comments and submissions at equestriansquest@horsesforlife.com or 1-306-383-2588

TWO FREE ARTICLES THIS ISSUE: “KERBRECH; BOOK EXCERPT” AND “BECAUSE OF LOVE” Subscribe to read the full 292 page Issue!!!

We recognize and salute Dresssage &CT for their incredible contribution and as the inspiration for Horses For LIFE with the welcome blessing of Ivan Bezugloff Jr. the editor and founder of Dressage &CT.

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Eleanor Russell Last Interview Judging

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Eleanor Russell On Judging This is one of the last interviews that we did before Eleanor passed away, on a subject that was quite close to her heart. As a past judge herself, she was quite concerned about judging today.

It was very important to Eleanor to do this interview. We had many discussions on this subject long before we even did the interview.

She was concerned at so many different levels.

She was concerned that the lower level judges were being bombarded with armchair critics, which she didn’t think was fair to the judges. She truly hoped that by doing this interview she could help people see how hard it was to be a judge, and that the judges deserve their support and respect.

But she also was very concerned that we had too many judges who don’t have the kind of riding experience that she felt would make for a good judge.

And of course, she wanted all judges to be brave. To be willing to mark the horses the way they saw it, although she was concerned that this was getting harder and harder to do because of the guidelines that the judges were being given from above.

A few weeks after we did this interview, we came out with Volume 56 with a photo essay on Isabel Werth and the disconcerting amount of rollkur that was being shown in the ring. We talked about it in this interview. I was trying to help Eleanor understand why there was so much “judge bashing” as she phrased it. Her very reason for doing this interview was to hopefully help make it stop, but when she saw the article she was very upset that this was being allowed 16

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Conversations with a Master Nuno Oliveira

By Stephanie Grant Millham

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An Interview with Nuno Oliveira he grey stallion walks calmly on loose reins, occasionally mouthing his bits with a gentle clink. Quietly the rider picks up the reins without changing position, though his mount grows suddenly animated, collecting himself for a canter depart. A moment later – again with only the most discreet aids, barely visible to those in the gallery – horse and rider skip down the long side of the arena in a series of fluid flying changes every stride.

Another walk on loose reins follows; then the rider establishes collection again and the stallion lifts into a majestic, effortless passage – high, cadenced, with almost incredible suspension – that seems as if he could hold it forever. The figures that follow – circles and half pass – are executed in the same never-faltering rhythm of the passage.

“Enough,” murmurs Nuno Oliveira as he drops the reins again and offers the expected sugar upon

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The Flexible Horse Horses For LIFE

This horse demonstrates the bend from the base of the neck, the lateral bend of the axis and the longitudinal bend of the atlas, as he reaches back to grab and play with the tassle of the lunge whip.

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So bendable that he is quite capable of bending his neck to the point that he is able to look out straight behind himself.

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The Horse wh NOT bend She was shocked. She simply didn’t understand. How could a horse with those kind of marks - a Grand Prix horse - lean through the corners. The rider had to be soing something wrong. But sadly this has become the norm not the exception.

Calm forward and straight... have these perhaps become the 28

ho would Part 3 WEGames

most dangerous four words ever spoken. As ever since they were originally uttered, straightness had become a mantra without understanding and equitation as it was known in the past, has become a thing of the past.

There are those who would say that the masters of the past gave too much attention to bend - to the point that the Lipizzan horses of the

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Horses that lean but don’t bend through the corners

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Note the level of both of the rider’s shoulders

Spanish Riding School were ‘always’ ridden in plie.

They were always working laterally, their heads always directed towards the audience.

In those days it was not just piaffe, but a piaffe to the right or a piaffe to the left. A courbette to the left or a courbetter to the right. Everything was recognized to have a bend and every movement was trained in both bends.

Today straightness is the what we have decided to look for instead and somehow through the process, training practices are used today that would never have worked in the past. Training practices that stop the horses from bending. But yes they are straight as they push out behind from mechanicaly overbent polls.

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Kerbrech on Straightmess

METHODICAL DRESSAGE of the SADDLE HORSE From The last teaching of Franรงois Baucher As recalled by one of his students: Franรงois Faverot de Kerbrech And DRESSAGE of the OUTDOOR HORSE recalled by one of his students: General George de Lagarenne Xenophon Press 2010 Translation by Michael L. M. Fletcher All rights reserved.

Published by Xenophon Press LLC, 7518 Bayside Road, Franktown, Virginia 23354-2106, U.S.A.

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Foreword to the Translation The teaching of François Baucher was in constant evolution. Every new discovery would eclipse the old one, but if some techniques could change, the principles and objectives were maintained. He published several editions of his book, Method of Equitation. His Method became known as First Manner and Second Manner. The Second Manner appeared for the first time in the twelfth edition in the last part of the book that he called New Equestrian Ways.

The Second Manner of the Method was fully exposed by General Faverot de Kerbrech, a loyal student of Baucher in his book Dressage Methodique du Cheval de Selle, D’Apres les Deniers Enseignements de Baucher. There exist translations in English of the books exposing Baucher’s First Manner but none of the book by Faverot de Kerbrech.

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Michael Fletcher has applied himself with great determination in translating the aforementioned book in great detail and a precision which is always difficult demanding because there are terms and words difficult to translate. Michael Fletcher has done it in such a way that all of these words and terms become very clear for the reader to understand.

I have known Michael Fletcher for many years, first as my student and later as a constant auditor of my clinics in the USA. We owe him thanks for the possibility of now being able to study in English for the first time the Second Manner of Baucher’s Method.

I wish to express my gratitude to Michael and hope that this remarkable book, now written available in English, receives the accolades it deserves.

- Major Miguel Tavora

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Editor’s Note: This is not actually the first English translation, but the second. But Michael has truly done an outstanding job in creating an easy to follow and understand version. Something that can be quite difficult when translating, especially older pieces. He was so enthusiastic about this translation, about bringing this kind of material to English speaking equestrians all around the world and was looking forward to doing the same with other important pieces. Sadly, Michael passed away unexpectedly in February before he even had a chance to become known for his amazing work in bringing us not only this but other, as yet unpublished, works to the English equestrian public.

Richard Williams of Xenophon Press had this to say about Michael: “I was thinking tonight about whom I have learned most from in the past 2two years. Ironically, I was living in the middle of nowhere, of course my horses, my wife, butwith, of course, my wife and horses, and strangely it was Michael bringing me these 3three manuscripts that I learned the most from. He wanted to come to our farm to ride and/or study.

“Strangely, because I find myself immersed now in seeing his life’s work through to completion, and I realize that I have learned an incredible amount from pouring over these works repeatedly in the utmost detail. He was an amateur horseman but loved them horses as a species and as individuals. This I know, not from knowing him personally, but from our passionate exchanges by email and on the telephone. He became a very good and well- trusted friend.

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“His persistence in presenting three impressions of Baucher’s work and legacy, some of the pieces completely in agreement, others neutral, others vehemently against, let allowed me tome understand the innovations of Baucher, the experimentation, the constant questioning and evolving of one’s own understanding throughout one’s own lifetime.

“Many view Baucherism as being dogmatic, but in my understanding, he was anything but dogmatic. His understanding grew and evolved with him as he gained more wisdom.

“Of course it is easier to invent or learn a system, and stick to it unyieldingly for the rest of one’s days. Baucher’s constant quest of of a better way is what should inspire each of us to grow and enrich our understanding so that we grow both older and wiser. This is not to say that we should re-invent our horsemanship every 5-10 years; instead, we should be open to acquiring deeper and clearer understanding. The horse, and the feeling he gives, will always tell us when it is right and when it is not. The horse is final arbiter.

“These are my immediate thoughts about Michael. I never met him, but he taught me so much. For this I will always be grateful.”

Richard F. Williams Xenophon Press

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We are pleased to share this excerpt on ‘The Straight Horse’ from the new book:

III. THE STRAIGHT HORSE How to shift the weight of the neck towards the opposite shoulder.. - When the horse is light and in the ramener (or “on the bit”), a halftension on the right rein in the direction of the left haunch should bring, without changing the lightness, the end of his nose to the right, and lift, arch, and shift his neck to the left because of the inclination of his head.

The right shoulder is thus lightened, preparing it to be lifted; on the other hand, with the weight of the neck being shifted to left, the forehand has a tendency to “fall” to the left; that is, to move in that direction and the croup is flexed towards the right. The horse is then slightly bent in a circle, the end of his nose and his haunches to the right.

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The half-tension on the left rein should produce the inverse effect in perfect symmetry.

It is necessary to strive for this result and to repeat these effects on the reins often, at the halt and at all gaits, to accomplish these “inclinations� with equal facility to both the right and the left, as they frequently find their application in dressage.

One of the greatest of equestrian difficulties is the achievement and conservation, without fail, of strict straightness of the horse in his shoulders and haunches.

This condition is essential for the horse to be in balance.

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But, nearly all horses are more or less bent to one side, whether by a natural predisposition, or by bad habits acquired when they began to be ridden.

The consequence of this bend is to throw more weight on to one shoulder, and to make the opposite haunch arch forward.

The horse thus finds himself physically well disposed for defense against, or at least for resistance to, certain effects of the rider. It is, therefore, important to correct this unruly attitude as soon as possible.

How to straighten a horse. The simplest and most practical way to accomplish straightness is to teach the horse to take up the opposite bend at the will of the rider.

It is then, in being able to make these two “inclinations� with equal facility to the right and to the

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left, that one may come to straighten a horse that has a tendency to bend himself to one side; but these inclinations must be obtained by the hand alone, with the horse remaining light and having his head placed (in ramener).

It is important to try not to use the legs. For example, in the diagonal effect which acts on the hindquarters and displaces them, the horse’s hindquarters often revert to their original position when the action of the opposing leg ceases, which constitutes work without result.

To sum up, the rider must not, in the above case, mobilize the croup around the forehand. It is the transfer of weight from one shoulder to the other, produced by the indirect rein, la rêne d’appui, that is closer in similarity, but more subtle so as not to make the horse turn, to the modern 4th rein effect, the counter-rein of opposition in front of the withers, than to the modern 2nd rein effect, also called “rêne d’appui.” (Licart, Assiette et Emploi des Aides, Fédération Française de Sports Équestres,

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undated, pages 13-16), that bends the horse slightly in the direction opposite to his original inclination.

It appears, in fact, that the haunches, like the end of the horse’s nose, are shifted to the opposite side while only the shoulders, in yielding to the hand, are slightly inclined in the direction in which the weight of the neck has been brought to “fall.�

This method, given to counter the particular tendency of a horse to take on an imbedded bend, in no way relieves the rider from paying constant attention to placing and keeping his pupil very straight in the shoulders and the haunches at all gaits, at the halt, and in the reinback, despite the demands of training.

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From METHODICAL DRESSAGE of the SADDLE HORSE From The last teaching of Franรงois Baucher As recalled by one of his students: Franรงois Faverot de Kerbrech Published by Xenophon Press LLC, 7518 Bayside Road, Franktown, Virginia 23354-2106, U.S.A. http://shop.xenophonpress.com/

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How to Find the Natural Posture of the Rider Horses For LIFE

Natural Posture for the Rider BREATHE LIFE INTO YOUR RIDING by Jenny Rolfe NATURAL POSTURE FOR THE RIDER from TOP –to- TOE During a lesson you may be instructed to ‘place your shoulders back’ or ‘push your heels down’, to help you achieve a correct ‘rider’ position on the horse.

Unfortunately, a position can be totally ineffective without an understanding of core mobility, energy flow, balance and release of tension. An awareness of core breathing can support the essence of good posture and have a profound influence on the whole body.

Over years of teaching, I have learnt that the foundation for an effective and connected rider begins on the ground. I spend hours teaching riders how to become more self aware, using exercises and techniques akin to Chi gong and Tai chi. When the rider is tuned in

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At the End o

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of My Rope

with Carlos Tabernaberri

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At the End of my Rope With Carlos Tabernaberri

At the end of my rope, what is it I see – just an ordinary horse or a soul that needs me?

At the end of my rope, is there fear or real trust, frustration and pain or understanding to gain?

At the end of my rope, just how would it feel, to be me – not my horse – at the end of that lead?

Through my eyes I would see; through my body I’d speak, to make all of my fears disappear.

At the end of my rope, what now do I see? Is it simply a horse, or a reflection of me?

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Have you ever stopped to think what it feels like to be at the end of your rope? By that I don’t mean being at your wits’ end or lacking patience, I mean being clipped on at the end of your lead rope. Having little say in matters, and expected to follow as the rope is tugged or jerked, shaken, held tight, tied – without complaint. And without the ability to speak or to express your concern, fears or pain.

If you’ve never taken the time to do that, it will be hard to learn how to see things through the eyes of the horse.

Many of the people I work with see what they want to see at the end of their lead rope, and that usually involves the horse as a means to achieving a goal. Now don’t get me wrong, I believe in having and achieving goals. But what if achieving your goal isn’t in the best interests of your horse? Are you willing to sacrifice his wellbeing in the pursuit of that goal?

And how do you know?

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Those are tough questions. Thankfully, a good way to find out the answers is also fundamental to training and working with horses – Versatility.

Versatility in training gives you the tools to find out what your horse excels at. With that information, you can acknowledge and work with his abilities. After all, success is about pushing the boundaries of our natural abilities, not fighting them. Constantly working to the best of our abilities is what eventually helps us to realise our full potential.

Our horses deserve no less.

So just how do you go about practising versatility and how do you create a versatile horse? You’d be surprised at how much fun it can be. And you might be surprised at the effect it can have on you.

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Versatility is…present perfect Training in the present is awareness. Training in the future is anticipation. Only humans train in the

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Editorial: The Missing Element

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Editorial: The Missing Element A fun-filled afternoon. That was the plan anyway. An advanced student - a veterinarian and her instructor planned to while away the cold winter afternoon, warm in front of the tv, watching the endless DVDs of trainers and instructors from around the world. Their main focus was on classical work, but they were open to watch anything that was in the pile of unseen DVDs. But first the tv quit working - then the computer DVD slot wouldn’t open, and then where were the silly speakers? It was a comedy of errors that took determination to resolve, but eventually a brand new monitor was picked up and an alternative computer and speaker were set up and the watching could begin. It was almost as if it was a portent of what was to come.

The agreement was that we would watch each

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and every DVD, or at least as many as we could in the time remaining. We would give each DVD enough time to truly be sure that our impression of the work was accurate, but if we both agreed, in the interest of time we would flip one out if we couldn’t take it anymore, and put the next one in.

The first DVD brought promise with the opening credits. The ride was not too bad, but then the ground work showed such serious flaws that we literally couldn’t take it. Out popped the DVD and the next was inserted. That was so boring that I think it went far longer than it should, just because we both zoned out! Out it goes and the next gets popped in. This from an instructor whose work that I had liked before, although I did have a few reservations. Well, you would have thought that each following DVD would build upon the earlier ones and each one would show us better and better work! Well, at least that was my expectation, and I was surprisingly disillusioned.

Unfortunately the sheer talent that I had seen in earlier DVDs was not to be seen and basic flaws in the training system were too apparent to be dis-

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missed. It was truly disheartening. Out it came and the next DVD was inserted. This one, in fairness, showed some of the better work that I had seen in the past from this same trainer. Interesting to note how and where his training worked and where it didn’t. The instructor beyond a doubt is an incredibly talented horseman. But watching one of his students, it seemed that the training system was one that had flaws that many times he could overcome naturally, but they couldn’t, and he couldn’t seem to see the flaws in the very riders that he was teaching.

The last two DVDs were of what are supposed to be some of the best classical trainers out there.

And that fun-filled afternoon turned what was supposed to be fun into depression and frustration.

At the end, the two turned to each other, after hours of trainers had been observed in what was supposedly some of their best work to be shown to the world, and it was truly evident that all seemed to be missing the same single essential component.

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Because of Love

by Nancy Kaiser

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“In the beginning of all things, wisdom and knowledge were with the animals; for Tirawa, the One Above, did not speak directly to man. He sent certain animals to tell mean that he showed himself through the beasts, and that from them, and from the stars and the sun and the moon, man should learn. Tirawa spoke to man through his works.”

Pawnee Chief Letakota-Lesa spoke these words in 1904. This is the story of one such animal. Although she only lived for four months, she taught lessons that will remain with all who knew her for the rest of our lives. I can’t speak for the others, but she changed my life immeasurably.

In the spring of 1993, a friend asked my husband, an equine veterinarian, for an opinion on a foal that had been born with scoliosis,: curvature of the spine.

The condition prevented her from standing on her own or walking once helped up. Bob examined the Quarter Horse filly and really couldn’t recommend euthanasia, although several other veterinarians had.

He didn’t feel she was suffering inhumanely. Our friend was willing to try whatever Bob suggested.

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The horse’s attitude is a major factor when making these types of decisions. Are they willing to try? Are they allowing us to help them?

Do they want our help? Our conclusions were based on intuition and years of experience. We had never seen a foal with this rare condition, but she was answering “yes” to all our questions. The filly displayed incredible determination and a remarkably strong will.

A team gathered, each with an expertise to contribute. The group began with her person, who was willing to give her a chance despite no guarantees. (I never use the term “owner” for no- one owns another; not person, animal, plant or land.) Her person performed nursing care, which was a 24-hour job for several months.

My husband contributed his medical expertise and became a guiding, positive force throughout it all. A veterinary chiropractor performed spinal adjustments, while another friend offered TTouch, an innovative method of animal healing. I lent moral support until I uncovered a hidden talent I could offer. This discovery be-

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“The filly displayed incredible determination and a remarkably strong will.�

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came the filly’s greatest lesson for me.

I met the foal during the first week of her life.

I have to admit that I couldn’t see how this was ever going to be a normal, useful horse. I felt so sorry for her, but everyone wanted to try, including the filly. Each person donated services.

We were involved for only one reason – to help the filly. This was so refreshing in a society of “what’s in it for me.?” Our love of horses motivated us.

All who had the privilege of being taught by this filly came away with so much more than we gave. She taught specific lessons to each, along with general wisdom for all people. As a tribute to this generous creature, I will share how this special filly changed my life forever.

My expertise surfaced when the filly was almost two months old. She’d been slowly progressing from spinal adjustments, TTouch treatments, and physical exams by my husband. The filly was eating well and growing like any Quarter

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Horse foal. She still couldn’t rise on her own, but once helped up, she would drag herself around until she tired. Her increasing weight necessitated a hoist system to help her stand.

The strength in her front legs was amazing, but her hind legs couldn’t do much beyond hold her up. Her barn name was Wild Woman due to the antics she’d go through trying to play in a less than perfect body.

Around two months old, Wild Woman grew depressed and uncooperative. Bob examined her and found her physically healthy, except for her scoliosis. Our TTouch friend had been consulting with an animal communicator. The communicator planned to visit the filly the following weekend while teaching a workshop in the area. The things she said the filly had told her were truly remarkable. Such as: she had come to teach, she was starting to wonder whether all the suffering was worth it, and she didn’t like people feeling sorry for her. Her last comment shook me. I was guilty of that, and I felt awful.

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“All who had the privilege of being taught by this filly came away with so much more than we gave. She taught specific lessons to each.�

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We couldn’t be there with the communicator and the filly, but the next day we met the communicator at her workshop. She said that Wild Woman had decided to try a while longer, but we had to be more positive around her. After watching her workshop, I knew this was what I was meant to do. It was as though a cosmic 2 x 4 hit me in my consciousness. I’d communicate for the filly. I’d communicate for all animals their thoughts, desires, needs, feelings, everything. This would become my life’s work. First, I needed to learn how to, but from who?

I contacted a clairvoyant counselor that I’d met months earlier and told her about the communicator and the filly. I drove into Manhattan weekly to work with her. Remarkably, I began communicating with Wild Woman fairly quickly. I discovered that when something is aligned with your soul’s purpose, things get facilitated. The barrier that had frustrated me all my life was gone. Finally, I could know exactly what the animals were thinking and feeling. I wouldn’t have to base serious decisions on intuition and

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experience. I’d just ask!

Now, I could ask how the filly was feeling at anytime. I added the use of healing energy;, by laying-on hands when I was with her and telepathically when I wasn’t. I saw significant changes in her; these validated that I was having a positive effect both physically and emotionally with her.

To those who are thinking, “Oh no, another crazy,” I’d have thought the same a year before meeting this foal. Please open your mind and keep reading. What do you have to lose? Believe me, you have everything to gain. If a scientific, analytical, retired pharmacist can make the leap….

When I started working with Wild Woman, she didn’t know if it was worth trying anymore. I reminded her that she’d come to teach and asked if her lessons were taught. “No.” I asked if she would keep trying if we could get her outside.

She’d try if she could go out soon. She’d never

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left her stall and none of us really knew what was possible. She taught us that possibilities are unlimited with a mind that’s open.

By three months of age, Wild Woman could get up by herself. This was huge, since it meant she could nurse at will. Everyone was elated, especially her. She’d gained a little of the independence that I knew was so important to her.

Her person registered her with the name “Because Of Love.” It was so appropriate. We were all involved because of love. Without love, this filly would have been euthanized long ago. I’d never called her Wild Woman, because I knew her antics stemmed from her frustration, not youthful play. Now, we simply called her Love, which was perfect.

Love’s right hind leg started bending under the weight of a growing Quarter Horse foal. Bob tried a series of splints, casts and braces to stabilize her leg. If she damaged her hind leg, it would mean the end for her. I explained what

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we were doing and asked for her help, which she willingly gave. Being able to communicate what we were doing eased all our anxieties.

It is said that the eyes are the gateway to the soul. When I looked into Love’s big, soft, brown eyes, the sense of understanding and appreciation, the sense of her soul, was incredible. She was always cooperative unless we overstepped our bounds. She’d quickly, but gently, put us back in our place. Always the teacher!

My clairvoyant teacher came out to see Love.

She said we had to build a gizmo like they used for dogs that are paralyzed behind. We provided a million reasons why it wouldn’t work with a horse. She wouldn’t listen, thank goodness.

She was right, but our minds were closed until Love, and love, forced them open.

Our focus remained on her right hind leg, but nothing was helping. One day while with the filly, we finally accepted that she’d never get out on her own. The cart’s time had come. I

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“Our job was to give her the best life experience possible.

She deserved no less.�

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don’t think any of us wanted to admit that the cart might be the best we could give her. We wanted more for this wonderful horse that had come to teach us, but it was time to get realistic. Our job was to give her the best life experience possible. She deserved no less.

My husband started to build a cart. He said that I had promised her that we’d get her out, and he wanted to keep my promise. Bob helped Love outside for the first time at three-and-ahalf months of age. I couldn’t be there, which was fitting. Bob was the one person who’d never given up. He deserved to share this special event with Love. She was so excited when I spoke with her about it.

The cart broke from her weight, but her person knew someone who could build one in heavier metal. Bob repaired his and went back the next day. He pressed her, Love got angry, and then he got angry. She expressed humiliation at the way she’d been handled. Bob confessed they had kind of forced and manhandled her, i.e. dis-

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respected her. The breadth of her emotions continually amazed me.

Love wanted so desperately to be independent.

It broke my heart to know she never would be, but I wouldn’t let her sense that from me. The next day she was very depressed about not going out. The new cart was delayed, so we tried again with Bob’s. This was the first time I saw her out. She was amazing! She flew as fast as she could to the grass to graze. I was ecstatic to see her out at last. My promise had been kept.

Her short time out had her sweating and breathing like she’d run five miles. When I told her that I was appalled at how hard she had to work, she said she didn’t mind. I thought I’d be happier seeing her outside, but knowing how many people she had to rely on was disheartening.

She’d never be truly independent.

The stronger cart arrived and was donated by the generous builder. Love attracted the most wonderful people. The cart could handle her

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weight and had wheels that swiveled. She galloped out in it calling to the other horses. She seemed so proud of herself. Later, I asked her why she was screaming at the others. When she told them we were going to fix her so she could go out, they said we wouldn’t if it was too hard.

The older horses’ low opinion of people broke my heart, but I certainly understood it.

I went away for a weekend workshop. When I got home, Bob told me that Love had developed diarrhea the day before. Until now, she’d been a very healthy foal despite her spinal problem.

Her person called to report that Love was very bad, so we flew over. Bob treated her and drew a blood sample, which we rushed home to run.

Love informed me that it was time for her to leave. Her lessons were taught or would be by the time she departed. I could feel her running freely as she spoke with me. I felt wind in her face and grass under her feet. It was what we’d wanted for her in this life, but couldn’t achieve.

My tears flowed. I would miss her terribly. I

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knew in my heart that my information was accurate. Being so inexperienced, I immediately called my teacher and the animal communicator for confirmation. I reached two answering machines.

Bob headed back to Love, who was in great distress. Her person decided to euthanize her, but they’d wait for me if I wanted. Yes! I hurried to her. As I sat with her head in my lap, those beautiful, soulful eyes reflected such peace. They belied the severe physical distress she was in.

At 4:35 PM on August 16, four months and one day from when she entered this life experience, she departed. I returned home to messages from my teacher and the communicator. Neither of them felt she’d made the decision to leave yet, which didn’t jive with my conversation with her. Love’s parting lesson for me was to believe what my heart tells me. Believe in yourself!

Five days later, I talked with Love for the last time. I asked if I could write her story. “You’re

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“He sent certain animals to tell men that he showed himself through the beasts, and that from them, and from the stars and the sun and the moon, man should learn.�

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supposed to.” I asked what her most important lesson was. “Take action through Love. If they keep love as the basis for all their decisions in life, everything in life will work for them.

People need to let their hearts guide them for the good of all creatures, both human and nonhuman.” I felt her moving away from me and knew I wouldn’t talk with her again until she came back into a new life experience with a perfect, new body. (She does return, but you’ll have to read my book to learn more about this incredible animal teacher.).

While Love was not one of my own animals, she was as influential as those who have shared each day with me. This exceptional filly helped me discover my purpose in life. She helped me recognize that I have an empathy for animals that goes beyond that of most people. With this gift I’ve been helping animals and their people live harmonious lives together for the past 16 years. Love allowed this remarkable foal to achieve what seemed impossible. With Love as our driving force, everything is possible. I hope

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Love’s story will awaken within you unlimited possibilities.

“He sent certain animals to tell men that he showed himself through the beasts, and that from them, and from the stars and the sun and the moon, man should learn.”

About the author: Nancy A. Kaiser lives in the healing Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina surrounded by her family of dogs, cats and a horse. She is the author of Letting Go: An Ordinary Woman’s Extraordinary Journey of Healing & Transformation, about her recovery from trauma with the help of animals and nature. Nancy operates Just Ask Communications, a practice devoted to healing the human-animal bond through enhanced communication and understanding. Visit her at: www.NancyKaiserAnimalCommunicator.com

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Yielding to the Bit A Warning

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Yielding to the Bit A Warning

What is it?

Do we want it?

Why do we want it?

What kind of things do we need to watch for?

What are the dangers, or possible errors, that we need to be aware

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W

e don’t even need a bit to have yielding to the bit, which makes it even more confusing. Because in reality, yielding of the bit is actually the yielding of the head and neck. This is a very important point to remember, as this is one of the effects of yielding to the bit - a point that we need to take into account as we think about the benefits and possible problems of the work that we are doing.

The yielding of the bit is a yielding of the head and neck, or at least this can be one component of having the horse yielding to our hands. So instead of calling it yielding to the bit, we should perhaps call it, yielding to the hand. Because in the end, this is what this is all about, having the horse yield to our hand. So we will use these two terms

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Sternum

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Omohyoid musce (pulls hyoid and root of tongue caudally)

Sternomandibular muscle (bilaterally pulls head and neck down: unilaterally flexes head and neck to sides)

Sternohyoid muscle (pulls tongue and larynx backwards and down in swallowing and fixes hyoid when tongue muscles act.

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`’The emperor Caligula being one day on the back of his favourite animal with his whole court about him, these obsequious gentlemen perceiving how awkwardly he managed the reins, took occasion to flatter him upon his being a most excellent horseman: upon which the horse immediately threw him, only to let Caligula see what a parcel of rascals he had about him. The emperor perceiving that the horse was the only person about the court that had either truth or honesty in him gave him the highest honours.’ From the Annual Register

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HeartFire

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Sign and Share the Petition that asks the FEI: Uphold the Rules!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/justsayyesto401/

We ask that the FEI returns to strictly upholding its Standards, the FEI Rules for Dressage Events, Article 401: Object and Principles of Dressage and Article 419.

Article 401 Object and General Principles of Dressage 5.” …the head should remain in a steady position, as a rule slightly in front of the vertical, with a supple poll as the highest point of the neck…” p.11 A supple poll as the highest point of the neck according to the stage of training and the extension or collection of the pace, represents the optimal anatomical, physiological and biomechanical way to develop the dressage horse according to the FEI Rules. Without a supple 96

poll at the highest point, the Object of Dressage to develop a calm, keen, attentive, confident horse that is supple, loose and flexible cannot be met.

Article 419 Object of International Dressage Events “The FEI instituted an International Dressage Event in 1929 in order to preserve the Equestrian Art from the abuses to which it can be exposed and to preserve it in the purity of its principles, so that it could be handed on intact to generations of athletes to come.” p.28 Thus as articulated in Article 419, the paramount duty of FEI Officials is to protect and uphold the existing rules for future generations. It should not be within the moral or ethical jurisdiction of any particular group or at any time to take decisions or pass rules that contradict completely the spirit and letter of the existing Rules and of Article 401 in particular.

Among the Signators to Date Colonel Carde FEI “I” Judge Selected for the Moscow Olympic Games Former National Dressage Coach for France Former Head Rider of the French National School of Riding and of the Cadre Noir in Saumur Claudia Saunders, Publisher and editor in chief, Dressur Studien Laetitia Bataille, Rédacteur en chef, Cheval Savoir Linda Tellington-Jones Creator of the Tellington Method and Tellington TTouch Training, founding member of the California Dressage Society, Worked and cliniced with Dr. Reiner Klimke, Ingrid Klimke, Klaus Balkenhol.

Christine Stuckelburger, Kyra Kurkland, Anne-Katrin Linsenhof, Elena Petushkova & Trainers from the Spanish Riding School.

Dr. Gerd Heuschmann: veterinarian, bereiter, founding member of Xenophon, author of “Tug of War” and “If Horses Could Speak”

The Fair Play Standard

Dr. Robert Cook

No result can be meaningful or valid if it has not been achieved “on a level playing field.” There is no level playing field when some riders adhere to the letter of the law and others break it. It is unjust for an organization that has strayed from its mission to penalize riders who embrace and abide by the rules as written, and rewards riders who disregard them with no concern for consequences.

Dr. Brie Hamblin Walter Zettl Dominique Barbier Pat Parelli Linda Parelli http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/justsayyesto401/ Horses For LIFE

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The Great European Schools of CLASSICAL DRESSAGE

by Alain Laurioux and Guillaume Henry Reprinted with kind permisson from CADMOS http://www.cadmos.co.uk/ and Trafalgar Square http://www.horseandriderbooks.com/ 100

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