The Horse Whisperer
The name The Horse whisperer came about to preserve the origin of my philosophy, what I once created that grew out of many years of work on the language of horses based on the principles of wild horses, the communication and relationship between humans and horses through "horse whispering". For me, it is not about "training" horses, but about communicating with them through a deep bond, like the one I had with the horses as a child, and as freely as possible. Therefore, I begin a genuine relationship and communication where the horse is completely free from the beginning on a large surface.
I was born with horses and I have learned different methods and disciplines. I was trained as a Natural Horsemanship instructor back in 2001, but I was looking for something freer. Since 2013, I have been communicating with horses freely through their own language based on their free will, rituals and instincts, since my education in the USA.
I developed it into something unique, but over the years others have been inspired by my work, my concept, and my ideas. The unique thing I took to Sweden and developed after the USA in building the relationship with horses free, through meditation and their own language in the herd, was eventually watered down and in order to preserve the authenticity, the direction, my own name, my own history and relationship to the horses, I needed to be the brand myself. That became Hästviskaren®.
The name The Horse Whisperer also carries something personal. My mother was a true horse whisperer for me. She cared for all animals and she had an unusual ability to see the horse behind the behavior and create contact through calm, respect and understanding. Through the name Hästviskaren® I want to carry forward the spirit and the view of horses that she gave me.
Today, Hästviskaren® represents not just a brand but a lifelong pursuit to understand horses on their terms. Join us on the journey and become a horse whisperer too!
Anneli Westlund
Anneli Westlund was born in 1974 and grew up on a horse farm in southern Sweden. As a young adult, she trained as a Natural Horsemanship instructor in 2001 and became certified in an American program. She rode bridleless, competed in show jumping and western and did shows. But she was looking for something deeper.... First, she began training for a masters in classical horsemanship where she found ease.
But what made her move from Natural Horsemanship to something beyond that was when she bought a young horse in 2013 that turned out to be very dominant, unwilling and with aggressive tendencies. In order to achieve cooperation, she began working him freely. In 2014, she went to the USA to study the language of horses and wild horse behavior. She developed the Herd Rituals, a series of rituals that horses naturally use in a herd and communicate and dance with horses free from the start based on horses' free will, natural rituals and instincts from deep connection to magical dance.
Philosophy
The training for both horse and rider is based on a deep, genuine relationship and togetherness, Connection based communication which means having a deep contact with the horse's mind – Spirit, Mind & Body.
Communication begins with the horse free in the horse's own language and on its own terms, based on wild horses' natural rituals, herd behavior, communication systems and instincts. Through the horses' own language - the herd rituals - we communicate through a deep bond, via contact, energy and body language towards the magical dance. The horse offers liberty as a gift, without equipment, dominance, consequences, pressure, bribes or confined spaces.
The first step is to spend undemanding time with the horse, initially in the pasture and let the horse seek us. Through mindfulness meditation, being here and now and pausing within ourselves, the horse is drawn to us and creates a leadership that the horse wants to follow.
The herd rituals build a deep bond, friendship, trust, respect, leadership, willingness, focus and liberty dance. It creates a dream relationship and a sense of well-being with a harmonious togetherness as a result. The rituals provide all the preparations needed for riding.
Furthermore, the horse's training continues with the horse free in balance. From Connection to Collection with the basic movements and free lunging. Once equipment comes into the picture, the horse does not feel manipulated or controlled because it started free.
In order for the horse to be able to carry a rider in balance without experiencing physical discomfort, it needs to be equilateral, strong and loose. Therefore, the rider needs to be too. A horse is always "skewed", i.e. has a stronger side and a weaker one, which we humans also have.
If the rider himself is skewed in his body, this will be transferred to the horse, with strain injuries as a result. Through relaxing, gymnastic and strengthening movements for both horse and rider, the rider and horse are trained to balance. The horse should be self-supporting and carry itself, and not weigh more than the weight of the reins.
Only light aids are used, The Art of Lightness – feeling of touch, Touch Connection with light touch without traditional pressure and yielding methods/negative reinforcement. Lightness is not a goal! It is here and now.
Are you ready to experience the Magical Dance?
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