.: Welcome at HC Horse Riding
For me horse riding signifies: to be able to ride safely and reliably from any point A to any point B at any time under any circumstances by any route.
This includes a stylized dressage exercise under controlled circumstances, an off-track mountain trek and everything in between; a well tuned-in combination of rider-and-horse can, on a solid foundation of mutual confidence and understanding, build any 'house'. For me personally, the added value of riding a horse is that it allows me in a unique way to enjoy the rugged mountainous nature in our area.
In our present era ethics carry a significant weight. A fundamental ethical question lies right at the base of horse riding. We, in our society, do not have to ride horse for our survival, for our primary needs and thus have no valid argument to sacrifice the wellbeing of the horse for our fun. It may be fashionable to dress up in lifestyle outfits, but that doesn't mean that we are cowboys, vaqueros, campinos or gardians; and we live now, not in the middle ages or any other past: ethically we have no justifiable argument not to treat our mount strictly according to the principles of the ethology of the horse. The basic ethical question is whether the wellbeing of the horse is subordinate to our hobby and if so, to what extent.
The Germans have an apt word 'artgerecht'; species specific, 'pferdgerecht'; horse specific to say 'according to the ethology of the horse'. I choose to use the term 'horse wise' for this. The ethology of the horse is based on the possibility to evade, creating 'an open door' and this is the core of my way to deal with my horses. Boxing in the horse within four walls or under a saddle, between spurs and bit has no place in this. Riding 'horse wise' revolves around the possibility to evade, the 'open-door' and 'letting-go'; the perception of the horse not be closed in, the perception of the horse to voluntary choose to follow the capable and just leader, the perception of wellbeing by the horse.
I, for myself and thus for my horses, egoistically choose to ride horseback. This however I do not consider to be a right but a responsibility; the responsibility for my mount. The horse did not evolve to carry a hunter on its back and the rider therefore must prepare the horse both physically and psychologically for this most unnatural of tasks. There is nothing 'natural' about riding a horse.
For me horse riding is the voluntary co-operation between me and my horse, and to enjoy nature in a way that least harms the health and wellbeing of the animal that gives me so much pleasure.
Above all this site intends to spark the reader's mind; to challenge the weakest link to think and to study. I do not pretend to provide a recipe for all and everything; it is just a horse wise philosophy. Not just 'according to me', it is what I do.
Everything written or depicted on these pages is my personal perception of horse riding. The current combined result of study and experience with animals, and life experience. No one can jump on a horse and expect everything to work out by itself. I do not accept any responsibility for the consequences of what someone else does with his or her horse whether inspired by this site or not: horse riding is a high risk pursuit. In The Reward, you will find real life experiences. Have fun with your horse!
HC