submitted by Alessandra Deerinck
Traditionally, the interaction between man and horse happens through training, by conditioning horses to respond to stimuli. In reality, for the possibilities of the behavioral response, the trained actions always coexist with instincts, experience, and emotions, components that can be difficult to handle when, for some reason, the horse does not comply with our request.
Human Horse Sensing has developed a system for horsemanship based on a dynamic dialogue through behavior, which gives a way to always manage the relationship in a cooperative way, and not be limited by the stiff boundaries of training. At Human Horse Sensing the relationship between man and equine, both naturally social species, is considered as a spontaneous event where the communication is purposefully modulated through movement considering the sense through which it is received, and can be applied in any equestrian discipline on the ground (through sight, hearing and touch) and in the saddle (through touch and hearing). The horse has a basic instinctual response to movement, by going away from approaching things, and moving in the direction of going away things that interest him. In the interaction with a horse if we receive the response we were seeking, our communication was appropriate, if we get a different response, we need to reformulate the request, leaving out punishing a noncompliant horse that would end up trying to avoid us later. We do not use force and fear because they can also trigger a dangerous response through the horse’s survival instincts.
Through experimenting with this kind of relationship we have formulated a structured relationship, through some parameters that we constantly monitor, and modulate by movement, that are naturally common between human and horse because of a social meaning connected to instinctual behavior.
Human Horse Sensing Horsemanship builds a dynamic social relationship, that can be modulated in real time, where we give our actions a form that horses spontaneously understand and want to participate, instead of being trained or forced. As a result, when horses experience a pleasant interaction they seek time with humans, even when it involves the practice of an equestrian discipline.
In HH Sensing, the way human and horse work, is strictly related with how the two individuals perceive the situation they live, have lived, and will live together. In “real life” individuals receive information from what surrounds them through their senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste), that never get shut down. The individuals process the information and express themselves by the way they behave. Between two individuals, the leader is the one that has the whole plan in his mind. Horses consider an individual as a leader when he takes them to safety, food and water. A leader is in charge of the manner, quality, and complexity of the communication, which eventually conveys the plan, leader to follower. From every interaction both individuals build memories that will inevitably affect their future. In this kind of dialogue, a horse can be a follower without being submissive; a rider can be a leader of leaders.
When a horse freely recognizes a human being as a leader, even things that could be challenging are possible.
About Human Horse Sensing: HH Sensing is dedicated to enhance horsemanship potential to support the interaction between human and horse, keeping their wellbeing in mind. Our method can be learned through private sessions, workshops, online classes and clinics, and it is the subject of the book Human Horse Sensing Horsemanship that is available on Amazon. With Human Horse Sensing’s solid horsemanship foundation, you will have the chance to be successful in any equestrian discipline and to take challenges that you would not imagine being possible even with good traditional training. With Human Horse Sensing, human being and horse work together freely with or without tack, through how they perceive the situations. Human and horse establish an active and dynamic dialogue, where you and your horse can exchange information or execute without being submissive, and you can become a leader of leaders.
For more information: www.hhsensing.com, hhsensing@icloud.com or 760-715-1554.