The Facets of Equuality - EQxpressionism

In which I describe the movement of individuals approaching horsemanship as an artistic practice.

Now that we live in a world in which horses are no longer essential as partners in labor, what purpose do horses play in our lives? How do we approach our relationship with an animal whose intelligence mirrors our own but who communicates in a language that is foreign to most humans? Where are the lines between training, education, and friendship? What do we do with our horses if we aren't cowboys or show jumpers? Is FEI dressage the only "artistic" way to ride?

The movement of EQxpressionism is a response to these questions and many more.

Roots in Rescue

Spring 2009: Kali and I finished a highly successful but largely thankless year of service at a large rescue. In that year, we helped 60+ eager but uneducated volunteers learn how to successfully rehabilitate 100+ horses of all ages and breeds from various backgrounds of abuse and neglect.

To accomplish this task, we were forced to dig deep not only into our own bag of horsemanship tools, but to search far and wide for any and all tools, techniques, and ideas that might be helpful. We then had to juggle the application of all of the above with the individual horses, humans, and situations presented to us. Much of the information we integrated came not from traditional horse training sources, but from a web of individuals sharing their horsemanship experiences through the internet; on email lists, as YouTube videos, in forum discussions.

I believe one of the reasons that our efforts at the rescue were largely "thankless" was that it was hard for many people on the outside to understand what we were doing. Was it Natural Horsemanship? Was it Clicker Training? Were we cowboys or English riders? We didn't fit neatly into any pigeonholes, but our results were amazing.

Patrick, Flicka, Henry, and Porter, were four 1-2 year old stud colts who were so afraid of people that they were in danger of having their halters grow into their skulls. Within two months they were waiting eagerly at the gate each day, ready to come out and play. Johnny B was an Arabian gelding who became so confident that he'd spook other horses while playing with a 20ft square tarp. We had similar success with nearly every horse that came through the gates.

The transformations were no less stunning on the human side. For example, there was the family who, supporting an Autistic son, became a clan of skilled horsemen. The son spoke his first words to a horse. Then there were the teenage twin sisters who discovered passion and dedication doing two years of groundwork before being able to afford riding lessons. And let us not forget about the tenured university English Professor who taught the most anti-social horse on the property about the power of friendship.

I Know it Works, but what is it?

Fast-forward to the fall of 2009: Kali and I had moved on from the rescue and were starting to build our PonyPros program. We were giving students as young as five and six the tools and thought patterns they would need to become successful life-long horsemen and problem solvers. They were starting their own colts, teaching them tricks, and riding like little ranch kids. Still, one question was hard to answer: "What do you do?"

So, we took a step back and a hard look at the myriad sources of information we had taken in. There were French Classical dressage trainers, California Cowboys, Medieval Martial Artists, Painting Ponies, Circus Trainers, Outback Australian Clicker Trainers, and Middle Aged Behavioral Wizards, just to name a few. We began to ask ourselves: what makes all of it fit together.

Then we realized: it wasn't what this mismatched group was doing that united them. Rather, it was how they thought about what they were doing that created a bond: it was the uniquely expressive nature of their horsemanship.

A Brief Definition

According to the Random House Unabridged dictionary, expressionism is a "style in art, literature, etc., stressing the subjective element in experience and the symbolic aspects of objects." Though I agree with the definition, it's a bit on the heady side. More simply stated, expressionism is about creating something that is meaningful to you and conveys something of that meaning to others.

Equine Expressionism (EQxpressionism) is the application of this idea to the realm of horsemanship.

What's in a Movement?

A movement is NOT a method, brand, or discipline.

There are ways of working with horses based around specific tools or techniques. These are methods. Clicker Training and Natural Horsemanship are great examples of horsemanship methods.

There are specific systems of exercises and progressions based on various methods. These are brands. The Click that Teaches, Parelli, and TTouch are great examples of horsemanship brands.

There are competitions and events in which horses are ridden and worked with along specific guidelines. These are disciplines. Hunters/Jumpers, Dressage, Reining, and Horse Agility are great examples of equestrian disciplines.

One of the defining characteristics of EQxpressionism is that it is not a method, a brand, or a discipline. Instead, it is a movement: a group of people approaching their horsemanship as an artistic practice regardless of the methods they follow, brands they endorse, or disciplines they practice in. A movement is more than a tendency or trend - it is the motive that characterizes a period or an era.

Why Do We Need a Movement?

Methods, brands, and disciplines answer questions of "how" we do things with our horses and "what" we do with our horses. All of those things are great for giving people practical tools and techniques and goals to pursue. However, they often don't answer the "why" questions:

• Why do we feel the tools and techniques of our methods and brands are the right ones for us?
• Why do we use the tack we use?
• Why do we pursue the activities we do?
• Why do I feel this is fun for my horse and fun for me?
• Why do we continue to "work" with horses even though there is no real work for them to do with us?
• How can we be as recreational for our horses as they are for us?
• What constitutes an equestrian art form?
• What can we do that hasn't already been done?

These are the types of questions that EQxpressionism, the movement of individuals modeling horsemanship as an artistic practice, sets out to help us answer.

My Practice

I am so grateful for the unusual trajectory of my horse experiences. I believe this uncommon path has allowed me to keep my mind open to possibilities that are usually trained out of novice riders, and that open mind allowed me to be one of the founders of the EQxpressionist movement.

While I rode some as a kid, I mostly grew up mountain biking, snowboarding, rock climbing, and skateboarding - sports that are generally more alternative and progressive in nature than equestrian disciplines. In college, I studied computer programming and graphic design before graduating with a Bachelors of Fine Art. When I finally did get into horses, I spent my first few years not learning to ride at a traditional stable, but learning to work with youngstock on a breeder's farm.

Given that my background was in activities that require creative thinking, creative thinking came naturally to my horsemanship practice.

Your Practice

If you've never questioned why you do the things that you do with your horse, perhaps now is a good time to start. My advice is to not jump straight to the existential and metaphysical, but start off with some small things like "why do I like to do X with my horse?" or "what do I like about how Y works with their horse?" Just these simple inquiries will open your mind to lots of interesting new potential.

If you've already done a lot of searching and questioning, perhaps now is the time to solidify your views on all the information you have found. Maybe ask some bigger questions like "What is my personal Horsemanship Code?" or "What questions do I use to determine if I'm on the right track or have veered off course?" Just remember, the most important thing is that you and your horse enjoy the journey.

No matter where you are in the process of developing your own personal horsemanship practice, if you're interested in having some help, I'd be happy to talk with you and suggest some questions to ask yourself. Just drop me a line!

Also, for more information about EQxpressionism and the EQxpressionists books, visit the EQxpressionists website.

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