TESTIMONIAL:
Immersion Program
| ‘A COURSE OF HORSE’ With Franklin Levinson By Emma Cruse Oct, 2007 My interest and love for horses reaches back as far as I can remember into my childhood. Though I had been a "once-a-week" riding student when I was younger, it had been several years since I'd even been on a horse. In September of 2007, finding myself at the end of two semesters of traveling abroad and faced with the decision of what to do next, I decided the time was right to pursue my life-long fascination with horses. A few years before, I'd had the opportunity to attend a performance of Cirque du Soleil's "horse circus" Cavalia. The riders and horses in Cavalia epitomize the heights to which the human-equine bond can reach, with the horses responding freely and with joy to their human partners. I was inspired to learn more about the training methods that could achieve such heights and knew that, when I did return to being with horses, it would have to be through a more "untraditional" or "natural" path, like that which I'd seen on stage during the Cavalia show.
Immediately upon reaching Snowmass, I knew I'd made the right decision. The beauty of Colorado in the fall is beyond description. And after spending a few days with Franklin Levinson, and experiencing the way he interacted with horses, I knew I'd made a choice that would change my life forever. The work Franklin does with horses, and the way he lives his day-to-day life, are both based on a philosophy rooted in compassion, understanding, determination and patience. Though Franklin chooses not to identify himself as a "horse whisperer," his understanding of horse psychology and herd behavior makes his training techniques appear magical. Franklin taught me that horses are "genuine." He showed me that, with horses, what you see is what you get (unlike humans, who can have ulterior motives and are adept at concealing emotions.) Franklin demonstrated to me on a daily basis that successfully working with horses requires skill, perception and a true heart. Because Franklin possesses these qualities in abundance, I began to see how much his success in communicating with horses was grounded in the kind of person he is. I remember being immediately struck by Franklin's openness and honesty. Here was someone who wasn't concealing anything. Like a horse, Franklin had everything out in the open. Through being with Franklin it was immediately apparent that what he taught about working with horses, that they can "make you a better person," was true. The kindness, grace and skill that Franklin possesses when working with horses, he also manifests in his life. I worked with Franklin almost every day for three weeks. I feel I went from being someone who knew virtually nothing about horses to someone who now has a passion for working with horses. My work with Franklin gave me the foundation to understand what an appropriate interaction with a horse looks like--and the heights you can reach when creating a healthy relationship with your horse. I saw what it meant to be skillful and compassionate with your horse, to read what the horse is telling you and how to be aware of the messages you're sending to the horse with body language and energy. Franklin gave me the gifts of knowledge and understanding, as well as experience and guidance. Not only was Franklin a wonderful teacher, but also he became a mentor to me in both my journey with horses and my journey through life. To anyone who seeks a more satisfying experience with horses, who wishes to have the highest kind of human-horse interaction, I would recommend working with Franklin Levinson. Whether you're an experienced horse person, or a beginner like me, the lessons are the same. For me, it was working towards a new kind of harmony with horses and through that work, with myself. |
Franklin Levinson's
World of Equestrian Adventures and Horsemanship
WEB: WayoftheHorse.org EMAIL: franklin@wayofthehorse.org
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