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Horse Stories
Horse Stories is the section of the HHT website devoted to the histories of our beloved friends and teachers: our horses. they are a very mixed lot, with different breeds, ages and temperaments. They are all united by one fact however, they are all horses who are into self-advancement! We believe that horses, like people, really do choose their experiences in life at a profound level of their consciousness. There are certainly horses, just like people, who prefer to stay within their self-imposed limitations, even if that means suffering. This is partly why there is no point in feeling bad about all the suffering we know exists in the world. The other reason, of course, is that feeling bad doesn't improve any situation. Only positive action in our own lives can improve the world, and that means acting when the opportunity reveals itself. This is why we have never refused to take on a horse (as long as we had the space!), and these stories describe some wonderful transformations we wouldn't have believed possible at the outset. 
We believe that when people or horses are ready to move onwards and upwards, then all the opportunities they need will come to them. We do have a different set of criteria than most people when it comes to taking on a horse, in general we will take on any horse needing a home! This is both why we have so many, and why we feel we understand quite a lot about bringing the best out of any horse. They may be rescue horses or abused horses, or just impossible to train; they may be the victim of some kind of horse disease, or conformational fault which has made it difficult for them to function according to standard expectations, but they are all loved. This is a crucial aspect to their healing, and it is not necessarily easy to love every horse. Often the biggest change has to take place in oneself. Is there really such a thing as a crazy horse, or a nightmare horse? We hear horses referred to in this way often enough. Maybe these horses have been misunderstood time after time in their lives and what started out as a physical difficulty led to behavioral problems and ultimately a hopeless confusion of both.
What Makes a Stiff Horse Stiff? Is a stubborn horse really stubborn, or could it be a kind of fear-induced paralysis? Our horse stories are real life journeys which answer these questions over many years as the truths gradually unfold. What creates a stressed horse? How much influence is possible with a dominant horse and how much damage is done to a neglected horse? 
Our horse's stories disclose valuable information about recovery from navicular syndrome, and how Dummy Foal Syndrome really affects the life of the adult horse. What about conformational defects - is there any point in even starting to try to train a crooked horse? Horse Stories follow the progress of such horses... also exploring the complications which arise with a post-legged horse and a horse with an under-active thyroid. These stories are the chronicles of the different issues and problems we have come up against when rehabilitating and retraining our horses. If we have learned one thing, it is that all horses are individuals, and that even if they have a certain symptom in common - such as a lazy horse or an aggressive horse, the sources to their problems are a unique pattern combining many different aspects of physical and psychological limitations. It is only by steadily and patiently addressing and resolving each of these aspects as they present themselves, that a horse can be truly healed.
Our horse stories show how inspiring and fulfilling this process is, as long as the motivation is love for the horse, and not how many competitions it is possible to win or how much your horse is worth. After all, someone will always win at every competition, but you and your horse are unique and your opportunity to transform your relationship is unique.
We will gradually add the different stories of our horses to these sections. Do you have your own horse story to share on Happy Horse Training? Any interesting personal experience relating holistic horse care/training are welcome. Just click below: Share Your Own Horse Story Here! |
New from HHT!
AudioRide is a series of exercises designed to listen to while you ride.
Audio descriptions guide you through each step of developing a balanced, dynamic connection with the horse through your position.
This truly innovative learning tool gives you a whole new way of being guided in your riding, in a calm, clear, step-by-step way.
Free Download! Introductory Exercise: Riding in the Now
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The Gymnastic Rider eBook
Now available exclusively from HHT! A unique, comprehensive guide to practical rider biomechanics. This professionally produced eBook takes the rider through the process of developing their body in the specific way that brings the horse's movement into harmony and balance - without force and constraint. Click here for full details, and to download the 15-page introduction for free.
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Train Your Horse
The Holistic Way
How To Train A Horse Without Force is a unique guide to training horses through energetic connection and gymnastic training. Part 1 covers everything on the ground, from handling to the lungeing technique that develops strength, straightness and engagement. Comes with a free eBook supplement on Horse Trauma.
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What people say about the eBook:
"OMG! I'm BLOWN AWAY by this text [...] It's one of the best horse training texts I've ever read." - Wendy Kendall
"I realized that I haven't yet written you about the impact that your training e-book has had on me, and I want to let you know how inspiring and helpful I found it. As a student of Zen Buddhism for nearly three decades, I've often wondered when someone was going to write the book on Zen and the art of horsemanship, and I think that your emphasis on mindfulness and energy connection gets right at the heart of the matter. It has certainly deepened the way that I relate to and communicate with my horses. I am reasonably sensitive to horses' body language and mood, but new to me was the idea of feeling their energy in a more subtle way - including their connection with me even when I am not directly working with the them. I have made myself more aware of this communication, and it's pretty amazing. I have started grooming differently, too, treating a grooming session as a time to mindfully listen to my horse instead of a way to dust out an old rug (OK, I wasn't quite that bad, but you get the idea). Additionally, I have made myself more open to how I actually feel about the horses themselves - very enlightening. Overall, I think that you are saying something that no one else is saying but that everyone ought to hear." - Tess Lloyd
Do You Have
A Horse Story
To Share On HHT?
So many people have been through wonderful experiences with horses, whether in training or otherwise. If you've made a change in a horse's life - or one has made a change in yours - tell us about it here.
Learn How To Trim
Your Own Horse's Feet
The Simple Seven-Step Natural Trim is a comprehensive step-by-step guide to a cutting-edge barefoot trim. Click here to find out more.
What people say about HHT:
"The riding instruction is outstanding, if instructors in the UK taught this way there would be a lot of happy riders and horses."
"The riding tuition exceeded my hopes and expectations by a long way; giving me an exciting new facet to horsemanship which is lighter. more subtle, more elegant and more meaningful. It is as if a new door has opened bringing more sunlight and air."
"My goodness - what a change has taken place in my riding. I think that I'm starting to sit 'into' the horse rather than on top of him. I felt my horse's movements in a way that has almost never happened before"
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