Kraften fra Hestene - The Power of Horses

Autumn haze trot

2011-08-30T22:57:00.002+02:00

Taktur has arrived on the autumn pasture:

And I will miss him!

Carriage Driving

2011-08-26T19:19:00.001+02:00

I started driving with Taktur more than 10 years ago. Last year I invested in a new carriage and harness. As Taktur is getting older I find it very nice to train him more and more without sitting on his back. The driving challenges is muscles differently to, and it has made him stronger. We drive on the roads and in the forest. Best of all, Taktur really enjoys it.

Taktur - running free

2011-08-19T15:37:00.004+02:00

I look at my horse, and I just think he looks more beautiful than ever. He is certainly getting older, and I am starting to adjust training and feeding as far as my knowledge goes. We have been training a bit different the last years with less riding. I run with him on a long rope in the forest, I work him dressage by hand from the ground, and we drive with the carriage. I just ride him a couple a times a week, and then I ride mostly dressage in the arena - witch he still is very motivated for.. He did respond in a positive way after treatment with kinesiology/chiropractics during a few sessions the last year.

Taktur with the herd of icelandcs at Hørte

The grey hairs are starting to appear .

Pictures by Elisabeth Eika and Ann Kristin Kåsin

Training with Glirtna and Jarl

2011-08-08T12:40:00.000+02:00

Glirtna and Jarl are bouth from Iceland, and belongs to my friends, Elisabeth and Ann Kristin. Their training has been mostly groundwork without riders and light riding in on the roads and nature. I have been given permission to ride them in the arena, slowly presenting for them the principles of the aids in dressage.

Dressage - summer 2011

2011-07-17T23:48:00.004+02:00

The past week I found some inspiration to train dressage. Taktur has been lovely to work with, and is always improving. It is challenging to ride dressage on a Icelandic horse because of the size and the gaits. When I look at old pictures I can see that we have learned something. My goal in dressage is to make my horse sound, flexible and strong, and for me to achieve coordination and balance to be a better rider. Riding dressage is just a part of our training.

Pictures taken by Elisabeth Eika, Telemark

Taktur 20 years old

2011-05-12T00:27:00.000+02:00

Today it is 20 years since this little wonderful Icelandic horse was born.
Countless times have I looked at him thinking that he most be the most beautiful horse in the world. I so much appreciate his beauty, wisdom, stubbornness, individuality, ability to love and loyalty to me even when I fail again and again.
He is still a healthy and happy horse. I am very grateful, and I hope he will stay like this for many, many years.

This day reminds me of the manifesto I wrote to Taktur some years ago:

Dear Taktur, my horse

• I am your guide in the world of humans and I feel obliged to take care of your needs as long as you live

• I know you are free and that no one can ever own you

• I wish to give you the space you need, so that you can show me your needs and limits

• I intend to present you my limits in a precise and gentle way

• I wish to see you evolve so that you can continue to give the world your gifts

• I will support you. I will show you and the world how beautiful and wise you are

• I will clearly show you how grateful I am for everything you are, and for every second you bring me closer to reality and love

I love You

This is some moments from his birthday celebration:

Film by Gitte Flemming

Riding in Dreamvalley

2011-01-11T17:08:00.002+01:00

My horse is spending the winter in Dreamvalley. I went to visit him, and got to feel the magic of the mountains from his back.

The pictures where taken by Live Bonnevie; hestenesklan.blogspot.com

Ride with love

2010-09-02T18:40:00.003+02:00

When I ride my horse like this, there is a long story behind it. The sad story of young and "difficult" Taktur belongs to those who already know it. I just want you to know that it is not that this horse is so "easy" that makes it possible to ride without equipment.

Taktur was born knowing how to run in the forest. I had to learn what he needs from me to bring me along safe and comfortable.
He needed me to be more attentive, respectful, humble, calm, balanced, and with less agenda. I had to do some work on myself to be honest.

I get continuously challenged by my wise horse. He knows who he is, and he knows what he wants. He wants to feel freedom and at the same time feel connected with others. He likes to get along, and he can be very helpful when somebody needs him to be.
He does not give his goodwill away for free, and there must be a reason for him to say yes when I ask him for a favor.

A favor I might ask is: “Will you carry me a while, galloping in the forest?” My reason is that I love it.
I feel that this way he loves it too.

Photos: Hanne Bratholm

Dressage and Biomechanics

2010-08-17T16:08:00.009+02:00

Trough dressage we can train the horse more elastic and strong. The horse will then become healthier and better prepared for the riders weight.

Participants, assitants and teachers

In July 2010 I attended a week long seminar with dressage trainer Alexandra Myhren and Veterinary Tone Lygren. Tone is a horse vet, doing a PhD in tendon strength in horses.

Tone was explaning goals of dressage trough biomechanics

Tone has a special interest for understanding the anatomical function of the horse and how we can influence the horse`s movements in a healthy way. She bases a lot of her teaching on actual scientific results. She explained to us the recent studies done in this field. Tone discussed why different head positions have different effects on the horse`s movements trough an anatomical understanding.

We learned to recognize anatomical features that might be a challenge when we want a horse to be a sound dressage horse. In individual lessons we where guided to be aware of the quality of the movement towards our goal of a more elastic and engaged horse.

Tone is conducting seminars in Denmark and Norway – and I strongly recommend these to everyone that wants to gain more knowledge and understanding about the horse`s biomechanics in riding.
Her website is: www.dressageinharmony.dk

Dressage lessons on Bucanero

The dressage lessons where excellent. I rode the PRE gelding Bucanero, wich I have ridden once in a while for some years. Alexandra has a unique positivity and natural teaching skills combined with a deep respect for the horse and the rider. She started to teach me dressage 3 years ago, and it really works!

Bucanero - a lovely horse to ride

This a short clip from the riding lessons:

(the clip is added in April 2011)

Alexandra Myhren has this website: www.ridekunst.no

All photos wher taken by Hanne Bratholm. www.hannebratholm.dk

Swimming

2010-08-04T11:36:00.002+02:00

I find summer holidays to be an excellent opportunity to spend lots of quality time with my horse. This summer I choose to bring Taktur to a wonderful place in the forests of Sweden, where the lakes are numerous. When all of us where staying on the same mansion it opened up the possibility for me to be more aligned with his ideas and needs. When he was awake and curious we went for walks, when he was feeling to warm, we went to the lake. And day by day we got more comfortable in the water. We had a great time.

Make the horse feel like a sucsess

2010-06-25T19:23:00.004+02:00

When the lesson is done, how does your horse feel?
As most of riders have learned, positive feedback is very important for the horse`s motivation. I always praise my horse and feel proud of his attempt to do his very best when we are riding together.
But the way we are feeling is also absolutely crucial to the horse experience. I have learned from my horse that even if I praise him with all my heart for his effort, he is not really happy with the day`s work if I don`t own that feeling too. It means that I have to feel proud of myself, content with my part of the riding. And we can not camoulfage our feelings from the horse.

So if you want your horse to feel like a succsess - you must feel like a sucsess to! What a wonderful challenge.

Christine Mortensen and Fathia

This is my friend Christine on her lovely Arabian mare, Fathia, attending a dressage clinic with Dave Thind in Arendal this month. We were lucky to ride with a trainer that combines the focus from the classical training scale with the feeling within. We where all amazed by the process and the results when he took the time to let her work with her inner state as she was riding the lesson. Just beautiful.

The joy of riding my horse

2010-04-07T21:35:00.001+02:00

Ahhhh. I just love to be a part of this team, Taktur and I:

- a short film on Horses and Women

2010-03-19T17:12:00.004+01:00

The novel Hestenes Klan (Clan of the Horses) is written by my dear friend Live Bonnevie. In this book she gives us a fantastic story about relationship to horses and life itself. After reading this book, I can still feel the story for a long time, because it touches something very deep inside.
It is a real pageturner, and I recomend this book to everyone.

Read more about Live Bonnevies novel at Capplen Damm
Hestenes klan - homepage/hjemmeside

Deeper Connection with Horses - A Weekend Workshop

2010-03-10T16:31:00.003+01:00

Last weekend I was leading a two day workshop in Telemark, Norway with eight wonderful women and some very nice horses. We spent the mornings indoors with meditation and exercises to get the calm feeling of being present in the moment and then connected with others from that state of being.

I knew in advance that this was a very powerful group of wise horsewomen with extraordinary knowledge and sensitivity. Therefore I choose an unusual setup for the sessions with the horses. I led the group into a co-creative workshop where everybody could participate in the interaction and progress of the horses we choose to work with. It was truly inspiring to share both book knowledge and intuitive knowledge this way.

Saturday night we spent together as "Goddesses" in a Horsewomen`s Temple Night, put together after the manual from Awakening Women Institute. Lots of pillows and blankets, candles, nice music - with a wonderful atmosphere of sharing space and silence.

Spending time together like this is empowering for everybody, and I feel we all got more inspiration to work from within ourselves with our wisdom and unique gifts.

I want to thank;
Elisabeth with her mare Glirtna

"A great experience, everyone should explore this path with their horses"

Ann Kristin and Jarl - The Berrytrip

Live - Clan of the Horses
Tina - Dreamvalley
Alexandra - Ridekunst.no
Christine
Merete- Meredes blogg
Stefanie

Klaus Ferdinad Hempfling: "What is it all about?"

2010-02-12T10:54:00.002+01:00

Klaus`s work with horses and his reflections has been a great inspiration for me. I feel lucky that I have had several opportunities to watch him work with horses. This is a new collage of old clips, but very to the point. Watch this.

"Closeness to a horse.... comes only from the closeness to one`s inner self"

Unbridled Love

2009-12-27T21:57:00.004+01:00

This connection is comming out of an 11 year long relationship between Taktur and me, and many deep changes inside me.
Riding in the forest like this gives me the feeling that if life ended if would be ok, because I have already experienced the greatest gift life can give me. It is an unbridled flow of love, a deep connection to who I am, and a deep connection and generous friendship with my horse.

Night Riding

2009-11-20T14:57:00.005+01:00

This film was taken on a long ride in the darkening Norwegian forest.
The moon was full and clear.
Happy and safe on the back of my dear Icelandic horse,
no bridle, no saddle,
just a free, wild run to the top,
and a slow walk home.

This is life, this is love!

Meditating with my horse

2009-10-16T14:16:00.008+02:00

Total experience of presence with a horse is a wonderful practice.
It can be the real key to the deep connection we are longing for.

This is a clip from one session I did together with my horse in August 2009.
I used tools that I have learned from my teacher Arjuna Ardagh in the Awakening Coaching Training.
First I used theese tools with other people, but I was soon to discover their great potential in the relation to horses.

This kind of practices has been my main preparation for the transition to ride bridle-less with my horse. When the deep connection was established, there was no longer any need for the two of us to make any decision alone: The ride became an uninterrupted flow of love and trust between us.

A feel of the mountains

2009-10-03T17:22:00.015+02:00

One September weekend we visited my friend Tina, and 11 natural living Icelandic horses in the mountains.

I got to ride an amazingly sensitive and cooperative gelding, Sindri. I am always happy to get to know really mental healthy horses, but Sindri was a special one. Sindri had no reason not to meet me with an open heart and we quickly got a deep connection. He was such a gentleman, very polite to respect everybody’s space, and always making sure I was comfortable in every situation.

Tina is always there to look after the horses’ wellbeing when they are doing their job to bring tourist to the mountains. She is clearly in her instructions to those coming to ride with her, and is highly aware of how to interact with horses in a way that inspire them to do their job. Well trained and cooperative, there is of course no need for bits on the bridles to have a pleasant trip.

These horses are living outside on large areas always moving in a big herd, and their hooves are healthy enough so they can go on these long mountain-rides without shoes. I have ridden many shoed and barefoot horses, and always enjoy the feeling of bare hoofs in the terrain with this special flavor accuracy and balance.

You can watch more pictures from the trip on my Flickr

Read more about Tina and Dreamvalley at:
www.dreamvalley.no

When we left the farm after the weekend, Sindri followed us to the gate and waited, and I was touched by the depth of our short meeting.

The Dressage in the Fourth Dimension Expirience

2009-09-17T15:55:00.003+02:00

I had the privilege to take the first part of this clinic series and meet Sherry Ackerman in her home at Mount Shasta.

Mount Shasta is located in northern California, and this volcano mountain has the magic and the most perfect beautiful surroundings for a real Fourth Dimension experience.

Sherry absolutely has what it takes to teach such an integrated clinic. The days where thoroughly planned so that everything was flowing almost by itself. I had lessons of yoga, meditation, philosophy and psychology. And of course, there were several lessons with dressage riding and theory. All off this was put together in a way that allowed me go even deeper in my understanding of relating to horses and riding dressage.

The morning started with some fresh air Yoga. The Yoga lessons had the purpose to enhance the body awareness, to notice where the body can be softer. It also teaches how it feels to stretch, like we always ask the horse to do in dressage, and it is not always that comfortable.

I got closer to the horse I was riding every day. Lippy challenged me a lot where I needed to change my attitude, attention and balance.
Lippy and Sherry taught me how to strengthen my intention and energy into the dressage and the movements.

One of the things that made a lot of difference in my dressage-riding is the awareness of how to use the Psoas-musculature. Knowing of to use them is really a key to good riding. My own horse was amazed when I got back.

This first clinic comes with a workbook which was great during the clinic and now is a wonderful resource when I continue to work with processes that was initiated or strengthened during the clinic.

I think this kind of clinic is especially interesting if one has their own students, because it offers so many tools that helps one understand many more of the issues that comes up for all riders in the process of training dressage.

Sherry Ackerman is the author of the book Dressage in the Fourth Dimension.

Horses for Life

2009-09-17T11:12:00.004+02:00

I love my subscription to the web-magazine Horses for Life. I have looked at it many times, but some weeks ago I decided to actually pay to get full access to all the back issues. It is just perfect for me when I have some time by myself on the couch with my laptop and need some input and inspiration. I like the fact that it is a online magazine, because I don’t need to store it to keep it when I want to get back to an article sometime later. Horses for life covers all of of what interests me about horses today – classical dressage, biomechanics, philosophy, mythic, horsemanship and a broader perspective about our relationship to horses. Enjoy!!

Manifesto to my horse - expressing my intentions

2009-08-05T11:23:00.010+02:00

Taktur and I have spent 11 years together. Hour after hour, day after day we have been communicating in a non-verbal way, learning with each other.
This morning I tried to verbalize my true intentions for my relationship with my horse, and it came out like this:

Dear Taktur, my horse

This is my manifesto in my relation to you:

• I am your guide in the world of humans and I feel obliged to take care of all your needs in every dimension as long as you live

• I know you are free and that no one can ever own you

• I wish to give you the space you need, so that you can show me your needs and limits

• I will present you my limits in a precise and gentle way

• I wish to see you evolve so that you can continue to give the world your gifts

• I will support you. I will show you and the world how beautiful and wise you are

• I will clearly show you how grateful I am for everything you are, and for every second you bring me closer to reality and love

I love You

Bucanero - lessons with Dave Thind

2009-05-02T20:22:00.006+02:00

Some pictures from great, inspiring and hard lessons with Dave Thind this week on the beautiful Spanish horse, Bucanero!

Pictures are taken by my friend, Hanne Strøm

Edit: April 2011: Se pictures and video of me and Bucanero in 2010 here: Dressage and Biomechanics

I had to loose myself

2009-03-30T17:43:00.003+02:00

This winter I found the trust in myself to let go of the bridle or halter to ride my horse in the forest. They are tools and can never be anything more than tools. The real communication based on intention and still present became more clear to us than ever.

Vinter

2009-02-10T16:27:00.000+01:00

Det er blitt skikkelig vinter i Oslo. Masse snø og herlige galoppturer i skogen på mykt underlag med en og annen snøklump som faller ned i nakken fra trærne.

Det er jammen på tide at du stoler på meg!

2009-02-02T23:03:00.000+01:00

Etter snart 11 år sammen... satt jeg meg opp på hesten min uten sal og hodelag og red på tur i skogen. Det var sent på kvelden, mørkt og kaldt, og vi galopperte rundt på skogsveiene i snøen. Så stod vi lenge stille, helt stille og lot det hele synke inn sammen. Så småtravet vi litt nedover bakken og ruslet rolig hjem.

Unleashed!

2009-01-23T19:15:00.001+01:00

Dr. Sherry L. Ackerman er professor i filosofi, dressurrytter og trener.
Hun har skrevet boken Dressage in the Fourth Dimension.
I dette klippet fra YouTube snakker hun om det å frigjøre seg fra mentale blokkeringer som hindrer oss i ridningen.

For mer informasjon om Ackerman, hennes arbeid og bok - se mine linker.

Taktur fra Sviland - før han kom til meg.

2009-01-19T19:24:00.044+01:00

Taktur ble født på Sviland 12. mai 1991.
Hans mor er Pila fra Tjora- Rinna og far er Trøstur fra Teigi.

Taktur ble vist og kåret som 3-åring i 1994, og fikk gå med hopper den sommeren.
Taktur har 4 registrerte døtre som alle er født i 1995:
Idni fra Haukalid,
Iris fra Kjærmoen,
Eydis fra Sviland og
Vaka fra Soma

Jeg kjøpte Taktur i 1998, da var han 7 år. Han hadde blitt kastrert ett år tidligere.

Vi startet mye gangartskonkurranser sommeren 1999, og fikk gode plasseringer i klubbmesterskap, Telecup og finaleplass i NM.

Pictures from clinic with Perry Wood November 2008

2009-01-17T12:23:00.003+01:00

A clinic with Perry Wood i Norway November 2008.

My dear friend Hanne Bratholm took this pictures. Hannes website: http://www.hannebratholm.dk/

More pictures can be seen at my Flickr:

Training without bridle - just fun!

2009-01-11T13:41:00.005+01:00

Desember 2008 was our first times training without the bridle, and we started in the indoor riding arena.

Taktur - my beautiful icelandic horse

2008-12-27T17:15:00.004+01:00

The summer of 2008 in Arendal on the south coast of Norway, Hanne Bratholm took some nice pictures of Taktur with me on his back. We had been treining dressage since 2007.