During the Power Behind Nonviolence workshop, a group of adventurous women from Germany, Holland, Belgium and France explored the seemingly paradoxical, yet ultimately essential, relationship between compassion and power. Learning how to develop a strong, centered presence that can help others move beyond fear and aggression---learning how to stand up to, embrace and transform those who may be acting out violently at times, often due to past abuse---these are skills that can be taught progressively, in a spirit of gentle discovery and fun, through working with horses. And the herd at Barockreitzentrum proved to be more than equal to the task. The snow-colored gelding Nevada and the coal black Friesians Baron and Maxim are experienced show horses who also excel at teaching leaders of the future how to engage that fine balance between strength and sensitivity, courage and self-control, confidence and responsiveness. In this series of photos, I thought it would be fun to contrast the horses professional riding careers with glimpses of their work as teachers of humans in our German Power Behind Nonviolence workshop. In the first photo, Nevada willingly follows Gerhild Seelig after she shows that she can be trusted to use power gently and thoughtfully, without anger or frustration. We then see trainer Elke Wedig gracefully riding him bareback. (Elke has not only developed a sound professional reputation in Europe, she was also brought to India to train Friesian stallions when equestrians there developed an interest in this handsome breed.) A group photo of all the participants, who supported each other through this ambitious workshop, is followed by Sybille Breiner gaining the cooperation of the regal Baron. The Friesian gelding and his stallion colleague Maxim (pictured with Elke Wedig) have incredible presence and intelligence, natural qualities that have been carefully honed through Elkes dedication to riding and training approaches that encourage both horse and rider to reach their highest potential. Her school Barockreitzentrum (Baroque Riding School) draws inspiration from the baroque era of riding in 17 century Germany, when equestrians in that country consciously moved from employing horses purely as tools (for war, transportation and farming) to recognizing the heights that horse and rider could reach when riding was explored as an art form. While I have at times encountered advanced show horses who seem shut down, confused and machine-like in relating to humans, Elkes horses showed considerable mental and emotional agility in very quickly adapting to the Eponaquest groundwork activities that ask them to become teachers, rather than students, of people who want to develop a balanced approach to leadership, people who in some cases have never worked with horses before.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 08:52:25 +0000
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