Nevzorov Haute Ecole Equine Anthology (Vol. 3) by NevzorovHauteEcole

Vol 3. 2010

HAUTE ECOLE EQUINE ANTHOLOGY

Tractate on a School mount Superbia. Cordeo. Pesada.

The Horse crucified and risen by

CARTULARIUM

Spurs

Alexander

Nevzorov Prologue

Equestrian sport "Secrets of art" Beatings COLLOQUIUM Interview with Peter Laidely

Maurizio Patti

ÂŠâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;Nevzorov Haute Ecole

editor-in-chiefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s word

The third volume of the NHE Equine Anthology. Deathly silence of the opponents. Winter. To tell the truth, it is amusing to see the commotion of people who have learned such simple and obvious facts about the horse and about the relations of horses and humans through the NHE Equine Anthology. Now, when most of the "i"'s have been dotted, when new evidence of the barbaric entertainment's essence are being published, equestrian sport will have more and more difficulties. As we know, written words aren't for burning, they are for being read and understood - in this way, they will never burn away. They will incite revolutions in the hearts and minds of people. Equestrian sport will fight back, finding more and more excuses. It doesn't have any yet. Yet it hasn't become aware of its own contradictions. This is its problem. There can't be any compromise here, nor any dialogues. In the past, when an opponent asked a rider and grand master of Haute Ecole for "negotiations", he used to answer: "Sirs, with you I am ready to negotiate nothing but the eulogy for your funeral" Editor-in-Chief Lydia Nevzorova

Horse Encyclopedia by Alexander Nevzorov This film marked the beginning of great conflict between people who truly love the horse and people who want to exploit it as before. Dozens of chapters – about great people and terrible epochs, about manege elements and famous horses, about scientific discoveries and age old delusions – turned the horse world upside down. The film was released in Russia in 2004 with runaway success and received awards in the Houston and New York Film Festivals. Innovative, unique, based on science and inspired by the sincerest loving view of relationship between two creatures that have walked side by side for centuries, but have never listened to each other. The film has already changed the destinies of hundreds of horses and humans and has become an important hippological document, vital to any serious manege work.

Nevzorov Haute Ecole Principles The film brings a viewer right into the heart of the School – to the School manege. For the first time ever, an outsider can watch the most important principles of work with a horse at liberty. Following the camera’s lens, a spectator follows horse education in the most difficult High School elements, learns the importance of “Discipline” and “Composure”, understands the purpose and practical value of the cordeo, touching techniques and the practice of longeing. The comments of Alexander Nevzorov, which accompany every segment, interpret what is essential for understanding and mastering the School work. The magnetic grace and power of the School horses, the marvelous harmony of their interactions with the Master make “The Principles” not just a priceless hippological educational edition, but also a rare and beautiful film, which once and for all will change a person’s view of the horse.

The Horse Crucified and Risen For five centuries High School masters have fought an uncompromising and unrelenting war against the ignorance, abomination and beastliness that have been concentrated in equestrian sport. But here and now, at the turn of the millennium, when horse torture seems common, acceptable, and legal; old prophecies come true. A man stepped forth to open a new, truthful page in equine history and has brought us this film… In this film – we see the victory of the great School master, preceptor Antoine de Pluvinel over sadistic James Fillis, equestrian sport ideologist. In this film – we see the newest scientific discoveries, which will make people change their views on the horse and its destiny in the human’s world. In this film – we see ancient mysteries, knightly orders and bloody events of past epochs. This film also features the first horses in the world to have received an academic High School education at liberty and their teacher, manege Master, the founder and teacher of today’s Nevzorov Haute Ecole, Alexander Nevzorov. “The Horse Crucified and Risen” shines a light on the most important events in hippological history and gives a viewer the understanding of the essence of horsemanship, which is the basis for understanding the principles and practices of NHE.

www.NevzorovHauteEcole.com

Journal@HauteEcole.ru

school © Lydia Nevzorova

mount

ractate T on a School

school TRACTATE ON A SCHOOL MOUNT

NEVZOROV HAUTE ECOLE Equine Anthology, Vol. 3

TRACTATE ON A SCHOOL MOUNT school

of superciliousness)

(the shine

the third part See the beginning in Vol. 1, 2, 2009 Superciliousness is the indispensable state of the spirit of the School. Evil and insidious boors want to confuse us, to prevent us from seeing the truth and understanding the science. «PRAECEPTIO PRAECEPTORIBUS»

NEVZOROV HAUTE ECOLE Equine Anthology, Vol. 3

school TRACTATE ON A SCHOOL MOUNT 1. SUPERBIA The secret manuscripts of the School There is an old half of a manuscript, half a book that, for the sake of brevity in the speech of the initiate is referred to as "PRAECEPTIO PRECEPTORIBUS". The name of this very important treatise is actually much longer, “The manual for preceptors that contain the secret of teaching of horses according to the wisdom of the School, and dogma about the importance of keeping this knowledge a secret and also of learning the science of superciliousness that is the best attitude for the master of the School”.

Decoding the mysterious-looking phrases is very simple.

I am saying that it is “half a book, half a manuscript” because every PRAECEPTIO PRECEPTORIBUS manuscript has many written additions within its binding that were made

The phrase “must not feel lead and become visible” – is a simple indication of the inadmissibility of typographical printing. Where, as it is well known, lead print was used for typesetting. Typography (of gravures and separate texts) could have been accomplished through threaded wooden print.

«PRAECEPTIO PRAECEPTORIBUS». Title page

«PRAECEPTIO PRAECEPTORIBUS». P. 100

at different times and by different authors who had direct connections with the School as well as to those spiritual movements that have given birth to the School.

The phrase “every copy greater than 3rd… etc” is a direct instruction to destroy any surplus copies.

This amazing and extremely rare half-manuscript was begun by an unknown author in the beginning of the 17th century. It contains very mysterious and from time to time very ingenious instructions for teaching horses difficult elements, cabalistic mysteries and revelations, prophecies about the destiny of the horse and thoughts about the destiny of the earth after the death of the School masters.

These are less interesting.

A rule to strictly forbid spreading the PRAECEPTIO PRECEPTORIBUS has existed and was obeyed for at least 2 centuries.

On the fourth page of the book, it is explained in a highly categorical way: “This book, which must be written in by everyone who has the right to it, must not feel lead and become visible. If it is known that there has been a copy made, regardless of the importance of this person, according to protocol, the exact number of copies must be counted. Every copy greater than the 3rd must be turned into well mixed ash.”

NEVZOROV HAUTE ECOLE Equine Anthology, Vol. 3

Many of what are called “Chinese copies” of “PREACEPTIO PRECEPTORIBUS” exist. As a rule, they are masonic 18–19th century manuscripts. Transcribers of these copies did not bother themselves with copying the long “horse” related chapters, limiting their copying only to those fragments where there were mystical or cabalistic revelations of the authors or “mystical templar” exercises. “Horse” related fragments exist in masonic manuscripts, but they have shrunken to a state of ugliness.

TRACTATE ON A SCHOOL MOUNT school Masonic manuscripts can easily be distinguished – there is a lot of “compass symbolism” in them, quite often to the detriment of the School, by the way. So, as you have noticed even in the long title of the book, “the teaching of the science of superciliousness” is referred to.

THE SCHOOL OF SUPERCILIOUSNESS

On approximately page 100 we find the 26th paragraph: “superciliousness is the indispensable state of the spirit of the School. Evil and insidious boors want to confuse us, to prevent us from seeing the truth and understanding the science”. The skill to honestly disagree with those who do not hold a School-related point of view, the skill of not even considering them to deserve any attention, not even giving any respect for, or analysis of the opposing view – is a great skill that always gives beautiful results. By the School’s logic, the point of view of any opponent – is a priori considered to be idiocy. And this is very correct.

As I have already said elsewhere, the negative meaning that the word superciliousness acquired in the Russian language [red. Comment: in the Russian and in the English versions of the article this word is related as arrogance] isn’t consistent with the Latin meaning of the word SUPERBIA, which means “superciliousness” as well as “arrogance” and the precise translation of which is “over-existence” from the Latin SUPER (over) and from Sanskrit BHA (existence).

the cultivation of arrogance, but teaching a person to use an amazing psychological instrument.

Fig. 1 for p. 26: Myological state of the School horse

Even in Russian, by the way, if you think about the word arrogance (vesokomerie – высокомерие), and haughtiness (nadmennost’ – надменность) only means “the use of the highest standard of measure” and “unwillingness to bargain, to be above barter”. In PRAECEPTIO PRECEPTORIBUS the teaching of “the science of superciliousness” takes up a good quarter of the manuscript. (Approximately 130 paragraphs). The importance of superciliousness and disdain for every other point of view is accentuated all the time. Extensively. This is not

The existence of any other point of view about a horse – according to the general logic of this manuscript as well as the ideas of Pluvinelle, and other great masters (preceptors of the school) – is a mere sign of brainlessness in the owner of this “other” point of view and a firm reason for refusing any further dialog with an opponent. And we have to follow, without fail, this masters’ precept, a precept of complete superciliousness and contempt for any other (aside from the School’s) point of view. The result of this practice over several centuries has shown that this way is extraordinarily constructive. Besides,

NEVZOROV HAUTE ECOLE Equine Anthology, Vol. 3

Maurizio Patti

Official NHE Representative in Italy

Every single moment shared with a horse is a moment of growing and learning. We should only allow horses to teach us all there is to know.

I came across horses very late in my life and my first horse experience was not so pleasant as I broke my arm falling off from it. An experience like that would usually make someone step back from desiring to have anything to do with horses anymore. Instead I got this wonderful feeling of wanting to know them even more… Why? A Horse is able to make humans realize what respecting each other means. A Horse is absolutely able to change someone's life, to be more specific it is able to take the best out of us. A Horse is able to show us who we really are without hiding anything.

Mirror It is said that horses are like human's mirrors. I don’t really believe in it. What we really see when we look at ourselves in a mirror is nothing more than just the shape of our head and that each hair on it is still there. Where horses can show us what the mirror can't, our feelings. I can tell for sure that what they show us, if we are ready to listen and our mind and heart are

24 NEVZOROV HAUTE ECOLE Equine Anthology, Vol. 3

opened to share their emotions, usually is not that bad. Unfortunately, when we meet our first horse it is very common that our interaction with them starts in a traditional way and many times only because we don’t know anything better than that, therefore those feelings remain hidden. With the traditional way we can only experience the material side of it, which is called business and in business horses are just machines. Then later, when we realize that what we really want is more than just bits, spurs and punishments, we start to look for something different. This was what happened to me just after two months of traditional method, time for me to realize that traditional way was not suitable for me.

Mr. Cypro My searching took me to join the so called Natural Horsemanship and after a year I bought my first horse. Mr. Cypro who had been left for seven months in a box as the owner had a cancer and couldn't look after him. Everyone can image his conditions when I saw him. The first time we met I was two hundred meters away from him and although the vet was there going to check if everything was ok with him I had already decided I was going to spend the rest of my life with him. Going back to this Natural Horsemanship I spent almost two years practicing it but still I was not satisfied with the relationship I had with my horse. Not because he wouldn’t perform but because I could not see in his eyes that

light any horse should have and show. So, my steps towards those feelings, mirror is unable to show, were almost invisible and I could not sense them.

The crazy mare My daughter, during that period, had some friends who were doing jumping competitions and she wished to join them. So the owner of the stable told my daughter he knew someone who had a beautiful jumping horse on sale. The owner of the horse was a young boy and we were told that this boy couldn't ride anymore and that was the reason why his parents were trying to sell her. They brought the horse to the stable and she looked a very calm and peaceful horse. Her name is Mrs. Lency. After the vet checked if everything was ok with her and my daughter's opinion was extremely positive, she liked her very much, I decided to make her part of our family. …А few days later she did not allow anyone to ride her and everyone at the stable started to call her "the crazy mare". We didn't know then but eventually we realized that, when she arrived, she was under tranquillizing and that the reason why the previous owner sold her was because they could not ride her anymore. She was used to do jumping competition and I guess she got so whipped and pulled on her mouth that she got so tired she would throw everyone off her back. In the meantime, I was still searching to see what was there to improve my horse's life and I found out about barefoot.

Against equestrian sport petition Currently Nevzorov Haute Ecole Research Centre has the unquestionable evidence of the equestrian sport's cruelty. We are ready to bring on a highest level a conclusive accusation against equestrianism, races and other horse torturing activities. Also we think it is legally acceptable to claim moral damage which is caused to children, who's mental health is endangered while participating in "sport activities" which considers the cruel treatment of a living being to be normal. The above is pertinent to the audience which is unsuspicious of the real nature of equestrian sport, races and other human entertainment which include horses. We bear in mind the extent of the problem: we understand that the equestrian industry will use any means possible to defend its financial interests. Also we understand that we can withstand and win the fight only when we close our ranks. We need your aid, the aid of the sane and the intelligent people. Let us together stop the lies and the rampancy of the legalized cruelty. Let us mark the 21st century with the prohibition of such a shameful sport as equestrianism. Let us exclude "Equestrianism" from the Olympic Games. You can not ignore the public opinion nowadays. Internet connects people all over the world. Through the efforts of the publicity the use of the wild animals in circuses was banned in the USA. The horse slaughterhouses were also closed there. In Australia the horse races were banned at the Victoria race track. All of these happened because of the unity and bravery of the people who are ready to make a stand against the deadly machine of equestrianism. And this is just the beginning.

Stop legalized violence! Sign the Petition

Equestrian sports. «Secrets of art»

28 NEVZOROV HAUTE ECOLE Equine Anthology, Vol. 3

horse revolution

equestrian sports © Nevzorov Haute Ecole

«secrets of art»

part two *

beatings

* This article is a material of Nevzorov Haute Ecole Research Center

Strictly speaking, equestrian sport (ES) stands on two principal methods, as on two pillars. Apart from these, there are many tricks and methods, but these two pillars are the foundation for everything. Any “trick” is interchangeable with any other, any of these inconsequential “methods” can be distorted or removed from use – nothing in essence will change.

NEVZOROV HAUTE ECOLE Equine Anthology, Vol. 3 29

Equestrian sports. «Secrets of art»

However, the two principal methods of ES are eternal, they are fundamental and basic. If either of them is removed, equestrian sport will cease to exist. All of its standards will become unachievable The first method is NCS (inflicting the pain of neurocranial shock to the horse by use of an iron instrument fixed in its mouth). The second is the beating of a horse.

NHE-2381

In the special language of sportsmen, this method is called “negative reinforcement”, “to drive”, “to make a correction”, “moving off the whip”, “punishment”, “teaching the horse a lesson”, etc., etc.1

NHE-5425 © Nevzorov Haute Ecole

NHE-2150

This method of equestrian sport, second only to NCS in its importance to achieving sport standards, and a very relative obedience of the horse, is called by many names. They can only be called “names” with great reserve; rather, they are euphemisms, which are shamefacedly covering the essence of the method. The true name of the method frightens reporters and children, and sounds too unpleasant.

But the truth of this method is simply, the beating of a horse. Though the word “simple” is not fully appropriate here. This is not simply beating. Those who beat “simply”, without an idea, without drilling to achieve the special skill of a sport – stay forever patrolling in muddy riding schools or chasing flies in the rooms of others’ stables. Effective beatings require skills, competence, calculation, and have many nuances and aspects of application. Here we have the same kind of story as with iron. If a snaffle bit or a curb, tucked into a horses’ mouth could make anyone become an Olympic champion, then everybody would become a champion. But only a few become “winners”, people with special moral, education-

al and character features, those who learned accurately, and callously to inflict neurocranial shock to a horse by a blow with an iron instrument fixed in the horse’s mouth. Those who have mastered this method correctly (by the standards of ES) use it. But as we know, 99.9 % of sportsmen spend all of their lives mutilating the horse and its mouth, but remain unknowns even in equestrian sport, even in spite of having the main characteristic, which helps achieve success in ES, total insensitivity to the horses’ feelings. With horse beatings everything is the same. If beatings had the magical quality to bring medals, ribbons and prizes to those who employed them, then there would be no sportsman or student who wouldn’t be covered with medals like a fish is covered with scales. But that is the catch, beatings create sport-worthy results only when they become formed into some method, the mastery of which is the most important condition of success in equestrian sport. 99 % of sportsmen employ these beatings incorrectly, without talent and in vain, not observing the special technologies of beating, not obtaining the necessary beating skills and not mastering the abilities needed to perform the most painful beatings. (Those that are the least noticeable to spectators). This is what I mean by explaining that beatings practiced by EVERYBODY lead ONLY A FEW to the competition arena. I say “EVERYBODY” with complete confidence. 100% of sportsmen practice horse beating, it’s enough to remember, for example, the rules of showjumping competitions, which allow even public beatings of horses, limiting only the number of blows. Public beatings are openly practiced at flat races, in harness racing, in driving, etc.

30 NEVZOROV HAUTE ECOLE Equine Anthology, Vol. 3

ÂŠâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;Lydia Nevzorova

Here we introduce to you a list of rare and ancient things which were not known to hippological history or were completely forgotten. In this cartularium there will be forgotten things and texts, which are vital for attainment of Equine History.

cartularium

cartularium “Military” and “School” spurs

“School” spur end of the XVI century, Italy

According to legend, which has no scientific basis so far, this spur belonged to Pigantelly

Steel. Weight – 187 gr. АR (an absolute rarity) I have great doubts about the heel band, which bears diamond-shaped decorations characteristic of the late Gothic period. The supposition that the shank was attached later to the older heel band has already been disproved.

The character of the pitting corrosion of the metals and the method of steel processing in the manufacture of the heel band and shank are identical. This mysterious spur was intended to soften the impact to the highest degree. The ends of the rowels have been rounded; the axle of the rowel ensures free rotation and a softer impact.

“School” spur Middle XVII century, France By the way, this type of spur had been in fashion for rather a long period of time. The elaborate, multi-roweled spurs were a compulsory attribute of the “School masters” until the death of Louis XIV. Bronze, steel, gilt. Weight – 280 gr. Total length – 21 cm. AR (an absolute rarity) a photograph of this has never been published.

44 NEVZOROV HAUTE ECOLE Equine Anthology, Vol. 1

The fastening chains haven’t survived to the present day. The gilt has been partially worn off. It has been better preserved on the “right” (outer) side of the heel band. This enables us to make a bold conclusion that this is definitely the spur worn on the right heel. The design does not show other evidence of the spur being made to wear on the right or left heel. The fastening of the shank to the heel band – rivet (native).

Prologue

The Horse crucified and risen

am positive that, for those who have made equestrianism, harness racing, flat racing, driving and the like their profession or their hobby, it is not worth reading or even opening this book. Sportsmen, jockeys, riders and their ilk will neither find nor learn anything good about themselves in this encyclopedia. If anything, just the opposite. At any rate, such an audience, with the spite, thick-headedness and phenomenal aggressiveness it displays in defending its right to abuse and torment horses, is not wanted among the readership. I would prefer to be left alone with those few who either already understand or are honestly trying to understand the essence of man's relationship with the horse. By any stretch of the imagination, it is very difficult to find a subject more steeped in deception than the relationship of man and horse. Even in the most inferior of religions either the lie is smaller or it is skillfully infused in some proper psychological dogma and directed after all at the person, that is, at the being for whom the right always remains to send the liar to that well-known place in hell. But, to be perfectly honest, I have very little interest in people. This book is not about them, but about the relationship of man and horse. It is about the horse's cardinal secrets: his phenomenal nobility, intellect, ability to love and to be friends, and about his primary misfortune — his association with man. I, perhaps, more competently than anyone, can speak about these traits, having trained without any coercion, without any crudeness, without straps, iron and crops a sufficient number of horses. When I fasten my eyes for the first time on a horse I intend to train in the most complicated of elements and figures for the Haute Ecole a, train in a spirit of friendship yet with the horse recognizing my right of seniority, I, as a rule and as is the custom of the school to which I belong, silently say to myself: "Shunka-wakan kile nagi-ki uachi elo," which translated from the Lakota b means, "I need the soul of this horse." Just the soul, and if I win it — everything will turn out alright.

NEVZOROV HAUTE ECOLE Equine Anthology, Vol. 3

Prologue

Then this horse — without any bridle, without any coercion — will be obedient and favorably disposed. He will do incredible things: lie down when I knit my brows, sit and remain seated, do the Spanish walk c, the piaffe d or the capriole e. At the same time, the right to train this being is based by no means on the fact that I am a human, but on the fact that he is a horse. Not one horse recognizes "seniority" according this extremely farfetched principle. Fortunately, we — both horses and beings from the hominoid superfamily, hominidae family, homo sapiens species, that is, people, — are of the same animal kingdom, giving us a surprising kinship, a common origin and almost identical physiological and metabolic features. We are, astonishingly, related! Only, in us — we being from the order of primates — the physiological and metabolic features of a low biological origin (according to Darwin’s brilliant treatise) are more evident. The horse has them, too, but his beauty, you will agree, overshadows them. In a subsequent chapter, I will speak in detail about all this and about the fact that the greatest stupidity of all is the attempt to create one's own relationship with the horse from the position of thinking oneself a more advanced being. But first, the lies, the stupidity and the myths. One may look practically at any era and find everywhere a staggering number of lies relating both to the relationship of man and horse and to the training of the horse. Abysmal lies, told with great glee. Intoxicating lies. From sickly sweet tales and delusional thoughts about a horse's stupidity to the instructions of the sadist James Fillis 1* — "to burn a horse." Without inconvenience, one may look nearer home — it is so simple these days — at any kind of sporting competitions, such as the Olympics. Without fail, you will see there a horse whose whole chest and front legs are inundated with foam (frothy saliva), pouring from his mouth, a mouth packed with iron, special apparatus for inflicting great pain on the horse. This is a traditional and typical scene, obligatory for competitions in the sport of “dressage” f. It is like a nightmare. The physiological cause of this drooling is tragic. But no one is punished for it. Just the opposite! There, at the competitions, this is considered an excellent sign, is welcomed by the judges and is a source of the sportsmen's special pride. When the frothy drool is not flowing or flowing only a little, the judges purse their lips and the sportsmen are embarrassed. The flowing drool is supposedly evidence that the horse "is working its mouth well." * See the Comments at the end of the book

NEVZOROV HAUTE ECOLE Equine Anthology, Vol. 3

The Horse crucified and risen

Though he has likely witnessed this spectacle more than once, Swift’s jaws are clenched in anger so great that somehow even his sagging, old English cheeks are sucked in. "See? Tell me, has the idiot yet been born who said that Yahoo is a proud name?" I nodded. He knew the answer already, but he soured nonetheless: "The poor Houyhnhnms…" *** They're all like this. The sweet tales about the relations of man and horse are just tales. And it is no accident that Swift's Yahoo is presented to us in a red redingote and jockey's cap. It is in equestrianism that man’s desire and ability to torture the horse has become concentrated. Though, more about this a bit later. In the corresponding chapter. First I want to explain to you the the iron in all its forms, and impart its history.

Haute Ecole (French "High School") — speaking figuratively, the designation of the highest skill in working with a horse. The standard is different for each era, of course. In the 17th century it was simply the performance of very complex elements or movements on horses in full collection which was achieved by painful action, using the spurs and bridle. Somehow or other, it was the height of perfection for that era, better than the masters of the Haute Ecole, for at that time no one in the world was working with horses. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the fulfillment of all elements devised in the 17th century is considered the crowning achievement of working with a horse, but no longer using any means to coerce the horse. Moreover, teaching horses all the most complex figures and gaits should occur at the horse's full discretion. Neither bridles nor spurs nor halters of any type are allowed during training. Any punishments are categorically forbidden. In the 21st century, Haute Ecole still designates the highest degree of complexity and skill. a

{Lakota} — A language of the North American Sioux Indians.

{Spanish Walk} — A Haute Ecole element consisting of a very rhythmic and gentle movement of the horse forward with an extreme accentuated lifting of the forelegs. c

{Piaffe} — a trot, or passage, practically in place. There are several piaffe varieties, for example, the Versailles is a piaffe in which the hind legs are almost stationary, but with a high lifting of the forelegs, or the Florentine with approximately the same height of lifting of the rear and forelegs, et al. The Versailles piaffe has been forgotten and for all practical purposes is not performed. d

{Capriole} — the literal translation is "goat jump." An Haute Ecole element, when the horse forging into a courbette sharply leaps up into the air, practically straightening his hind legs. e

{Dressage} — a sporting discipline that includes several basic movements or elements developed as the horse's response to the rider's harsh painful action. f

{Chaps} — a cowboy's leather leggings which are worn over jeans.

{Rejoneadors, Picadors} — mounted participants of a dastardly amusement which ends in the public murder of cattle.

NEVZOROV HAUTE ECOLE Equine Anthology, Vol. 3

ÂŠâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;Lydia Nevzorova

This section is dedicated to discourses with those who are capable to turn the cold searchlight of science on any hyppological problem. World-known hoof-trimmers, luminaries of veterinary sciences, historians and professors of higher educational institutions of hyppology will tell you about their work, their ideas and horses.

colloquium

colloquium PETER LAIDELY handed smack. I am not saying that she was senselessly beaten, but she was the worst psychological recovery project I have ever taken on (and I have done a few). Her feet were classic Egyptian slippers with splits and I spent a long time finding the right shape that allowed them to not deform. Although the feet never fully recovered, I did manage to keep her almost entirely sound for nearly fifteen years. Some time later my wife bought me a 16-week-old colt for Christmas. She has actually found the perfect murder weapon for a mature age husband because when I fall out of a gum tree, which Shasta climbs to protect us from carnivorous butterflies, my wife will have a perfect alibi. Other than that he loves me passionately and has taught me more about horses in ten years than I learned in the previous fifty.

Peter Laidely: look to learn wisdom rather than techniques …I first saw what we now call “Barefooting” over fifty years ago. I was a “real little kid” and my brother, who is a lot older that I, worked at a racing, breeding and training farm. Several of the older men including one very old bloke used to do the hoof work as part of the normal husbandry and care… I cannot say that I learned hoof care from these men (I was under ten years old) although my brother did, however I do remember the oldest man, who must have been born well before the beginning of the twentieth century, saying, probably in answer to my youthful annoying questioning: “If I trim it right it’ll grow right”… they could have taught me a lot more but that was all I remembered

64 NEVZOROV HAUTE ECOLE Equine Anthology, Vol. 3

Ten years later, when I got my own horse – that was all the teaching I had. But it was what I used and it worked! If the hoof was growing wrong it was because I was doing something wrong. Many years later (about twenty years ago) someone asked me to bury a horse, but after discussing the meaning of existence with the horse I decided to take her home and bring her back to life. She actually died a few years ago at 32 and I paid someone else to bury her. This horse had been left, alone and uncared for in a paddock for over five years, she was extremely head-shy and even ten years later she could never understand the rebuke of a flat

Among other things he taught me that without lots of natural abrasion perfect little Arab feet fall apart and get hoof wall separations. When we had a particularly wet year, his feet started to deteriorate, so I read, and reassessed all of the “old theory” and started to study as much of the current material as was available… Nevzorov Haute Ecole: Great, Peter! Thank you for your early memories! Now, please, explain when and how the usual caring horse owner who manages the hooves of his horse becomes professional? When this owner crosses that line? Peter Laidely: First I would love to say that this question was about my life… for thirty-five years I thought I was a “normal caring owner” who managed his horses’ hooves and “handled and “trained” my own horses. I thought I was “pretty good” at it but when I could not get good results with my new horse’s feet, I decided to trim some neighbours’ horses so I could learn more… Since then I have been trimming horses for other people in our local area, continuing to study as much teaching

PETER LAIDELY colloquium material as I can (we sure don’t know it all) and encouraging as many horse owners as will listen, to learn that there is a better way than either nailing pieces of steel to their living horses’ feet, or leaving them neglected in the paddock assuming that the hoofs will look after themselves. I learned several things in the next few years that upset me: First I learned that my horses were much better than many others, but that they were still nowhere like good enough!!!! I had to learn more and become better. Now I have only been able to learn these things by actively working with other peoples horses. I had crossed the line… I had become a professional!!! Becoming a “professional” was part of me becoming a much better owner. I am self-employed, and no longer a spring chicken, so I have had time and opportunity to promote Barefooting. I have found trimming and training very rewarding work and hope to develop this area for a “retirement job”. I am particularly passionate about training owners or any others, as I believe that many horse owners cannot afford to pay for frequent trimming, especially if their location means that this would also include considerable travelling costs. At the moment there are only

a small number of professional trimmers in our area and I believe that we will need hundreds. For the last five years I have been touring to Europe, teaching, two or three times each year.. I have travelled in Australia, New Zealand and to South Africa to teach.

So unless I am “professional” the world, and the horses, and the “usual caring horse owners” will have to do without me… And many owners still need me. Unfortunately “caring” is not always the same as “competent”. And what are the distinctive features of your method?

I do not follow, or particularly endorse, the teaching or practices of any one school of thought on either trimming or training. I suggest that everyone should read and study as many sources of knowledge as possible, even those who you may often disagree with. Now some may think that the “professional” is motivated by money, greed and financial reward. And this may be true… However I can earn much more at my “real job” than I can by trimming horses or training owners. But there is no love in my “Real job”. It is all about money… But I cannot travel the world to teach without money… I cannot go out to trim without putting fuel in my car and paying my office girl. My wife rather thinks that just because I love playing with horses all day is no reason why she should have to go to work to buy the groceries…

My “method” of working with the horse is probably the most noticeable difference... I greet and talk to the horse! I use verbal and nonverbal communication. Nonverbally I prefer to use energy communication to physical force, such as pulling, pushing, gesticulating or rope shaking. I never hold a horse’s leg between my knees! I sit on a milk crate for “Foot up: Backwards Please” And I kneel (I use good knee-pads) beside the hoof stand for “Foot up: Forward Please”. I use direct energy communication to ask for each foot rather than

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