Extraordinary glimpses into the natural life of the Cape Cod coast this past Thanksgiving weekend left us with a sense of wonder and humility, not an unusual reaction to being home, but striking in the connection these collective experiences gave all of us who shared in them. We were open to them, excited by them and blessed to witness them.

The runners among us discovered the turkeys on North Pamet Rd, a flock of a dozen or so, pecking along the side of the road into a driveway. Fearless, they parted as Hal ran through them, dark headed females and colorful males. Being in the feasting mode, we thought some might be killed off to roast and sit on someone's table, although we knew the timing was wrong. The relief was great, nevertheless, when the same flock was spotted, unafraid, having their own feast the next day.

Early Thanksgiving morning, we went with Bhuie down the path to the Pamet, where the tide was approaching its high point. Into the strong east-bound current, in true bold labrador style, Bhuie lept after her tennis ball as three great blue herons flew cawking overhead, not too concerned by our activity but apparently intent on following their particular daily routines. The peaceful, beloved sweep of the river, browned by the autumn, dormant for the winter, breathed into us its timelessness, its being, its song, and we gave thanks.

Later, in the still damp air, we heard the muffled pounding of the rollers breaking across the sandy shoals toward the Great Beach as we walked the sandy path surrounded by scrub oak and pine lining gentle rises and dips. We had heard from Amy that there was a pod of whales playing off the shore and we hoped to see them. Crossing to the dune, we spotted Rob and Bhuie on the overlook and joined them there.

A distant fountain showed just below the horizon, joined by another, a glistening dark back briefly showing, then more to the south, backs, spouts and an occasional tail, circling gulls and disturbed water. We has been on time for the whales, after all. They, feeding, shared their playfulness with us as they, too, enjoyed their Thanksgiving feast. Their table was set for six to eight and we could imagine them telling those stories best saved for family gatherings, what Auntie did, what Grandpa said, what they did when the whale boat trips waited for a show last summer.

We left the Cape yesterday, refreshed, grounded and happy to be part of this amazing natural world.

And what has this above to do with the development of classical principles of horsemanship? Well, nothing and everything.

In domesticating the horse, indeed all animals we use for our necessities, we take them from their habitat and social structure and impose our limitations upon them. Where we can observe creatures in the wild, by taming these creatures, we change the species dynamic. Herd situations may remain, but only at the will of the human keepers. A new and permanent element has superceeded the equine instinct. We have made a deal with the horse 'If you allow us to make use of your strength, we will provide all your basic needs'.

The key word here is 'allow', as it implies willingness on the part of the horse to work with us. It implies a mutual relationship where we, in turn, allow the horse to do the jobs we ask of it. We allow the horse to stretch toward our hands, or to find the trail on its own, or we allow with our hands over the top of a jump, allowing the horse to clear the obstacle in safety.

So, too, is the training process a building of a partnership, a marriage of two merging into one, stronger than each individual alone. We show the horse what we want, we encourage it to act counter-intuitively, trusting us to make decisions for it. We are responsible for developing the carrying muscles of our horse, that it can perform the work required. We treat our horse with dignity, being sensitive to its needs. We reward and correct with kindness, with clarity.

Simply put, this is the basis of the classical tradition of horsemanship. Beginning with the writing of Xenophon to the present day, this tradition emphasizes communication based on the ability of the equine species to understand. It is a language of the body and subtle fluctuations of energy. It respects and builds its curriculum on the horse's unique and remarkable sensitivity to the world around it.

We have been humbled by the whales, the turkeys and the herons because they have allowed us to observe them unfettered. We are humbled by the horses because they allow us to share in their view of the world while doing our bidding.

An incredible thing, this.

And what about this inevitable direction Boo has steered us in? Why is it relevant, other than being a nice story about a charismatic mare?

It is relevant because she has filled in major gaps in our humanity, made connections we were either too lazy or clueless to make for ourselves. She has challenged our native passivity, demanding decisions and committment. To this day, the challenge continues, as we struggle to break through the remaining barriers to our fulfillment and self-realization. We are realizing the depths of her influence on us and on our view of the world around us.

Our book, Dimensions, is to be an exploration of these depths as they apply to the art of horsemanship. In other words, one could see this exercise as a testament to our horses as teachers. Body awareness, biomechanics, riding techniques, moral responsibilities to horses and to our fellow humans, psychological issues, both human and equine, all are part and parcel of the larger picture.

There is a reason the 'natural horsemanship' movement has come to the forefront in current equine lore. There is a reason Klaus Balkenhol, Christian Carde, Gerd Heuschmann and Jean Claude Racinet are following their convictions, often to closed minds. A return to classical principles is the rallying call, principles which are not limited to the dressage arena, but apply to all equestrian disciplines.

And to all aspects of human development.

We seek to break down and demonstrate what we, as horsemen, can do to allow our horses to retain their essential being and spirit. And, we seek to apply the same to our fellow humans, as well.

What we do.

2 November 2008

A little about what we do - (the editorial 'we 'is something 'we' aren't too comfortable with yet, so it may depart).

We have been a long-time instructor, primarily in the hunter/jumper realm, but with a fair share of classical and classically-based moden dressage. We have experience in CT and starting horses using Vaquero methods. All that makes sense seems more and more grounded in the traditions of the Cadre Noir, Spanish Riding School, and the Iberian peninsula. As we open a door, there seem to be many more, and who knows where this journey will take us?

We offer instruction on a freelance basis as well as digitally, and teach out of several barns in the MA,VT,NY corner. Digital lessons allow for a wider scope of exposure. Our goal, regardless of the level of rider, is to promote a real, connected and feeling partnership with the horse, where the rider's position becomes fluid, balanced and quiet in order to permit the horse to perform at its most expressive best.

Our methods are eclectic in nature, giving us the flexibility to adapt to individual needs of both horse and rider. "Balanced seat", "Centered Riding*", forward seat, dressage seat, Western seat - indeed, jockey seat! - all developed for specific needs. It is our firm belief that the fundamental premise of all these diverse labels remains the same, that of allowing free movement and expression of the horse. A rider's power and balance centers must match those of his/her mount, regardless of the discipline.

The journey we are on has taken us to learn from many masters and many knowledgeable horsemen and women. We fully expect this path to continue, and are open to any comments and discussions from those with serious and sincere intentions.

Our website is www.clearvisionequine.com. We encourage you to peruse it - it will be changing soon, with up-dated prices, additional information and links.

*-Sally Swift. See her books "Centered Riding" and "Centered Riding II" for a good, basic introduction to a rider's effect on her horse.