Clan of the Horses

- We need a better way for interested people to have a safer experience and be fit enough, and well prepared enough so we can actually revive the horse industry in a way that people can be proud to be part of it, says author and horse trainer Leslie Desmond.

MOZ (moments of Zen) refers to moments I have experienced with horses that have taught me something important or inspired me to make a significant shift in the way I relate to or understand my horses. This is one of those moments.

- The idea of a horse seeing a human as dominant is pretty sketchy. We really don’t know what horses think, but itworks much better to not load them up with all this nonsense, says Dr. Andrew McLean, zoologist and CEO of Equitation Science International.

- There are so many things we, as human beings, get wrong with horses. We know better, but we have also got to do better and we have got to be much smarter about their real welfare, says Dr. Andrew McLean in this interview about equine cognition and learning.

Deconstructing Natural Horsemanship: Groundwork is the foundation for riding. So why in the world would you ask your horse to elevate the neck and hollow the back - which is the exact opposite of what riding in balance is all about? This episode is a transcript of episode 2 of 44 on the Norwegian podcast Hestenes klan.

When challenged to name one thing that would greatly improve horse welfare, Professor Christopher Pollitt replied: - Winning the battle against ignorance and promote true scientific knowledge about the horse’s foot. Because it is such a wonderful thing to comprehend.

A practical introduction to the Feldenkrais-method with Dave Thind. Take a break from your busy schedule and connect to your body for a change - your horse will thank you for it!

- With the Feldenkrais method we are always looking for ease, because that is what our nervous system strives for. Hard work isn’t necessarily better, neither for horse nor rider. Sometimes it’s just harder, says the Canadian Guild certified Feldenkrais practitioner Dave Thind who holds a German Trainer A licence and is a Grand Prix level competition rider in dressage and jumping.

- We all have a burning need to communicate with our horses, but we need to realise that they are talking to us all the time. It is just that we are not being in a place to receive it, says Stormy May, the director of the acclaimed documentary “The Path of the Horse”.