Listen, @Benv, I’m sure you’re a lovely person, and it seems like there’s a bit of a language disconnect here - I’m guessing English is not your primary language? You speak well, just not very colloquially, so that’s why it’s my guess.
Anyway - many of us on this forum are very experienced riders, many trainers, that have had horses for many many years. I’ve been riding and training for over 30 years, and I know that there are people with far more (and longer) experience than I on this board.
We’ve seen a lot of things, a lot of snake oil. So you would expect something presented as groundbreaking to be seen with a bit of suspicion.
So, let me actually focus on the article.
“Unlike other disciplines, working with horses requires from the very first moment a form of awareness, tremendous experience, responsibility towards these animals, special energy supply and commitment, also acknowledging the potential danger that exists.”
Anyone who has worked with horses for awhile knows this. We develop our responses well so that we can tell before it happens when horse x is going to have an issue. I suspect we just get very good at reading subtle body cues and energy.
"In the past, individuals were required to demonstrate proficiency in these aspects before being granted permission to interact with these majestic and powerful animals, under the watchful eye of a respected teacher. "
This is total BS. Yes, when you’re speaking of the High School, but not at all when you’re speaking of the ordinary human who has been riding horses as transportation or using them as pack animals for the last 5000 years.
Like most people with a lot of experience, I too shudder when a novice gets themselves in trouble that could have been prevented with some training. But that’s just…the benefit of having years of experience that tell you how many things could go wrong with a horse.
"Instead, he sees them as sentient beings with whom we can establish deep and meaningful connections. "
Yes, I think most of us do this? I mean sure, there are some jerks who just see them as sports equipment but most of us who are horse people love our horses and recognize them as very smart creatures with minds of their own.
" He advocates for a compassionate and mindful approach towards all living beings, emphasizing the significance of respecting and caring for the natural world. "
Uhhh ok. That’s nice.
“Working with horses cultivates essential life skills such as patience, perseverance, and empathy, which can be applied beyond the equestrian world.”
Yep - we all believe this too. This isn’t unique to Hempfling.
“However, what is often overlooked, according to KFH, is the fundamental distinction between being with horses and engaging in other forms of human activities. Unlike activities involving drums, tennis rackets, soccer balls, or butterfly collections, being with horses encompasses an entirely different experience.”
This is true, this is why many of us have this addiction problem.
“Moreover, this path to horses is typically challenging, as it invariably leads individuals to confront their own nature and delve into their innermost core of personality.”
I don’t know what “this” path is, however, horses will do that. No magic required. Just the animal. Because this relationship is unique. They put their lives in your hands, and you put yours in theirs, so by it’s very nature it’s different than most other things that we do. But I don’t know of anyone beyond the novice stage of horsemanship who doesn’t get that.
So I guess - I think Hempfling may have some very nice ideas, but they aren’t magic and they aren’t anything most of us are missing. I’m always wary of trainers who wrap their methods in some sort of woo and emphasize a lot of liberty work and weird tricks. I think trick training, liberty work etc. are fine if that’s what you want to do, but they are not in any way superior to teaching horses things the modern normal way. And by modern normal I do mean ethically sound, teaching methods that most of us have learned.
