enlightened horsemanship through touch

Rubydog and I encountered them all on our walk yesterday.

“I first starting hearing stories like this 16 years ago and immediately began to ask, “Why?” What is it about animals that inspires the mute to speak, make wild children mild, protects our hearts from the ravages of stress, and our fills our minds with a sense of wellbeing? These dramatic therapeutic effects are built on physiological changes such as lowered heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormone levels. I wanted to know what biological mechanisms are triggered by animals that can make us healthier, happier, and more socially competent…This shared neurobiological heritage is what created the human/horse partnership that proved to an evolutionary win/win. Apparently there are still some journeys only horses can take us on”

Open Letter as of December 18th, 2009
Attn:
- FEI
- German National Equestrian Federation (FN)
Reprinted from http://www.gerdheuschmann.com

German National Horse Judges Association
To whom it may concern:
More than two years have passed since I sent my last letter to you. I have neither received a reply nor have I gotten the feeling that you have actually looked [...]

First the French:
Message de soutien à Gerd Heuschmann de la part du Colonel Carde
Cher Gerd,
Vous avez été invité à participer à une réunion le 9 février à la FEI. L’hyper-flexion de l’encolure sera au cœur des débats. Je tiens à vous dire que, comme de nombreux entraîneurs, de nombreux juges et des milliers [...]

FEI Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, February 9, 2010.
Various representatives will meet (by invitation) to discuss the controversial topic of Rollkur/hyperflexion of the neck.

Who knows what kind of, if any, progress will be made at this meeting.
Please take a moment to email the representatives listed below. At the bottom of the list I have added a sample email you can feel free to use or tailor to your specific needs.

All you have to do is copy the email addresses below and paste into your email address bar, copy the email and press SEND. Feel free to forward to your friends, post on Facebook and Twitter. When these representatives below come to work on Monday morning, they will receive a barrage of emails. Let’s take this viral, please.

Go to http://www.wu-wei-verlag.com/neu/ua.php?DIR=vor. Add your name to the petition. Many voices sing one song.

“No changes may be made that constitute a burden to the well-being of the horse, either physically or mentally. If you accept riding in hyperflexion as a permissible training method, you legitimize aggressive riding. We protest that in the strongest possible terms! “

I’ve been slacking around here lately. That doesn’t mean that I’ve been slacking in general, however.
There’s a lot going on behind the curtains, my little pretties!

I can claim no insider knowledge of or participation in upcoming events, but let me whisper in your ear

The winning caption:

In order to give the Progressive Medication Scale its due attention, another satire poster by Michelle Guillot of Superprix:

“You were so kind as to sign our own petition calling for reforms of the FN rules, which was initiated in May 2009. This obviously bore fruit: The German FN eventually invited Philippe Karl for a meeting in Warendorf, Germany. They now have to find an appropriate date. We will of course keep you informed about the outcome of this meeting.”

Among those posts at this month’s Carnival of the Horses I found to be most interesting: