Natural Horsemanship Essays
Essays and anecdotes by Franklin Levinson
Horse Trainer Franklin Levinson
The Superior Teacher
“The inferior teacher tells you that something is wrong with you and offers to fix it. The superior teacher tells you that something is right with you and helps you bring it forth.” ...
Learning to Live with Horses
Horses are like magnets for humans. People of all ages are drawn to the horse because of their beauty, grace, power, majestic stature and the mystery of their noble being. It's been that way throughout recorded history. In modern times, it has been clinically documented that just being around horses changes the brain wave patterns of humans, lowers blood pressure and reduces stress.
How Did You Make Them Feel?
How a horse 'feels' when it is with us is the main, primary and most important responsibility we have with our horses. Does he feel fearful or does he feel safe? This is the big question.
Happiness Is...
My forever motto is and has been "success with horses is a life enriching process." My recent experiences at The New Horse, Bittles Brook Farm, Shaftsbury, UK. have again shown me how true this motto really is...
The Conversation
We have all had a one-sided conversation where whoever we are speaking with is not paying attention, distracted or trying to control the flow of energy and information. These sorts of experiences can leave us feeling dissatisfied, incomplete, angry and disrespected among many other negative feelings. Imagine what it might be for a horse to have mostly one-sided conversations with humans because even well-intentioned humans do not understand how to have a conversation with a horse...
What's in a Name?
As someone who teaches horsemanship and Equine Facilitated Learning in numerous countries annually I do get a uniquely international perspective on programs involving horses that are offered in other areas of the world. I find that some names people use to label their programs basically have little to do with what they are actually teaching, whether the presenter is aware of this or not. This article discusses the fine line between marketing and truth when it comes to instructors and trainers in the world of equus.
Consider Becoming a 'Mentor' for your Horses
I have been looking for other ways to better define and name what I think is the best approach to working with horses. I have begun to make available mentorships in my brand of gentle, effective horse training at the new Silva Equestrian & Life Enrichment Center to open on Corfu (Kerkyra), Greece this summer. ...
The Empathetic Horseman
Feeling what others are feeling is called empathy. Horses are naturally and always empathetic. The members of the herd feel what is going on for the other members of the herd. This is why the horses often move as one unit when in the herd. Empathetic responses help the animals to become bonded, develop trust, respect and create loyalties.
Great Horsemanship Goes Beyond Winning Ribbons and Trophies
While a room full of ribbons and trophies might indicate some good technical abilities as
an equestrian (rider), it does not necessarily indicate that person is a great horseman. Unfortunately, I have seen and known many competition riders who appear to know little of the true nature and psychology of the horse they are riding. To me, this is a very sad commentary on how we humans frequently relate to the horse.
Seeing is Believing with Horses
Self-awareness becomes an essential ingredient for successful communication with horses. When we are angry, stressed, hurried or unsettled emotionally, our bodies show it through how we move. The horses see this movement and interpret it relative to their feelings of safety or fear. Within this essay are a few suggestions of how we humans can appropriately and effectively use our bodies to successfully communicate to our horses.
The Story of Pete
Franklin's personal EFL horse, Pete, is looking for a new home. Franklin is moving his base and wishes to find a great home for a great horse. Please follow the link to read the full story of this amazing equine. Free to the right home.
Precision & Firmness
I recently had a discussion with a friend who is professional instructor/trainer about the relevance of precision and firmness when communicating with, training and riding horses. I had asked if one was more important than the other. This essay discusses the importance and relationship of these two attributes.
Beyond Natural Horsemanship
An excellent introductory article clearly explaining Franklin's philosophies about horsemanship – specifically the nature of horses and man's relationship with them.
Equine Competitive Sports Psychology (ECSP)
There are many great riders who know little of the true nature of the horse they are riding. This lack of understanding prevents many fine equestrians from achieving the higher levels of competitive success.
Equine Facilitated Learning: family and camp program
Teaching equine relationship and communication skills assure successful outcomes with the interactions between horses and humans. These are the same skills that are required for successful relationships in all areas of human endeavor.
Ten Secrets To Becoming Highly Successful With Horses
Franklin discusses the roles of Attitude, Confidence, Trust, Good Training, one's ability to 'Read' a horse, and other topics as they relate to successfull horsemanship.
FIve Tips to Getting That New Horse to Love You
Five or more ways you can bond with your new animal so he runs to greet you, rather than runs away from you.
Rules of Engagement - More Horse Training Tips
Successful, efficient, yet gentle horse training has it’s own, special set of ‘rules of engagement.’ It is the engagement of the horse’s mind that I am referring to. Many humans do not realize how important it is to effectively engage the horse’s mind during training and how to do that. Actually effective horse training is all about engaging the horse’s mind.
Horse Love and How to Get It
What to know how to get your horse to love you? Read this!
Franklin Discusses EFL
(PDF) Chat Transcript, Nov. 15, 2006. STARFISH Celebrity Chats.
One Thing at a Time, Please
Horses don’t multi-task well. The way their minds are wired, they can only pay attention to one thing at a time. Fortunately or unfortunately, we humans seem to multi-task most all of the time...
Give 'em a Break! Using 'Rest' as a Reward in Horse Training
During my years as a trainer I have found the horse will learn more effectively and efficiently when I allowed a very short rest immediately after a horse doing, or even trying to do, what I requested...
Providing Consequences Rather than Punishment, and the Elimination of Fear
Personally, I don’t think punishment works. It didn’t on me when I was a child and I made an error in judgment. We all make mistakes, errors in judgment. But to make a judgment that a horse is ‘bad’ because of a specific, undesirable behavior is erroneous and a mistake.
Working with Children and Horses
Horses, being naturally social and inclined to appropriate interaction with whoever is with them, are a perfect manifestation of nature for children to interact with, become empowered by and have an experience that expands their world immensely.
Attitude is Everything with Humans and Horses
“We see the world not as it is, but as we are.” Relating this attitude is everything theory to training and communicating with horses produces immediate results of success or failure.
Gaining Confidence with Horses
Confidence means having the knowledge that you know what to do in most all circumstances that will help the horse to trust and be confident it is safe. Developing this confidence is something that really does take place over time.
10 Questions from a Future Horse Trainer
Franklin was interviewed via email by a student seeking information about becoming a horse trainer. Here are his responses...
Equine Facilitated Learning
A Natural Way to Improved Mental Health, Successful Relationships and Balance in One’s Life
How do Horses Show Affection?
Love is the great carrot and the great treat.
Maui Horse Whisperer Experience
by Franklin Levinson and Lee Jampolsky, Ph.D.
Now is the Time for Horses
NOW is the only time for horses. They do not live in the past or in the future. Their only concern is how things feel right now, in the present moment. In that present moment they either feel a sense of peace or feel fear and anxiety.
Training Through Trust ®
Franklin shares his thoughts on the early beginnings of his Training Through 'Trust' horse training methods.