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To have a strong connection with
the horse, to live with it, to acknowledge its important
role as part of one’s life and as a part of nature – these
are the main characteristics of old equestrian people like
the Native American Indians or the Mongols.
Often they did not use all the devices we are so accustomed
to use on a horse today like the bit or the curb. Nonetheless
they were able to direct and control their horse perfectly
at every moment. During a battle this was vital! A rider’s
life depended on his relationship with his horse. Therefore
this relationship played an important role. These people
were aware that a horse cannot be controlled merely by external
devices, but that you have to build up a lasting relationship
by treating the horse according to its nature.
Luckily for the horses, this knowledge is being re-discovered
and spread around the world again. It’s amazing, though,
that there are still so many riders who think that a horse
cannot be controlled or directed without putting a bit into
its mouth!
This new and at the same time old knowledge can be perfectly
combined with “classical” dressage. There, too,
riding and educating a horse at least in older times used
to be an art.
Feeling your horse is a focus of Indian Riding. We have made
the best experiences when riding our horses without a bit.
Not only because beginners usually pull the reins too strongly
and hurt the horse’s sensitive mouth. We also do not
use whips nor spurs in order to give aids. We think that
every rider should at least once have ridden a horse with
a neck ring and nothing else. Here at Finca
Verde all riders
can experiment how to ride a horse without reins!
Indian Riding is based on the knowledge of horses’ natural
behaviour and their needs. Only through that knowledge men
and horse can really communicate. This way even “difficult” horses
can be corrected achieving spectacular results.
Real horsemanship can only be built on mutual respect and
trust.
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Our work has
been inspired by GaWaNi Pony Boy,
Heinz Welz, Peter Pfister, Pat Parelli, Henry
Blake,
Bill & Tom
Dorrance as well as Rupert Sheldrake.
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- Do you know the horses’ "language"?
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- Would you like to learn how to “read” your
horse’s mind and how to put consistency,
clarity and dominance into practice?
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- Do you wish to become secure in your
handling and riding horses?
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| Discover a new way of treating your
horse! |
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| More
Harmony – less
misunderstandings! |
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| Your horse as your
friend |
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| a bitless halter |
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| Markus with Tarife |
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| Coordination exercises |
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| One of our riding schools |
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What is ground
work? |
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Ground work means all activities
with horses that are put into practice on the ground, i.e.
not on horseback. This includes leading the horse, round
pen work, refinement on the longe, double longe, etc.
Ground work is an important basis because it is a good preparation
for riding on horseback. Everything you have understood while
doing ground work can be easily transferred into the saddle:
respect, trust, submission, obedience, attention, refinement,
etc. are all extremely important and should not be imposed
by force when you are in the saddle already.
A horse who was well prepared on the ground will work with
you willingly and will be motivated to do so. It has already
learned on the ground to communicate with its rider and
it is easier for it to understand what his rider wants.
Many
problems between horse and rider are based on misunderstandings,
on a lack of communication between them. It is hardly the
horse’s mistake, but almost always man’s impatience
that causes difficulties. If a rider wants his horse to do
something, he has to see to it that the horse can understand
him. That means that the rider has to learn the horses’ language,
he has to learn to understand its signals and to “speak” the
same language as the horse actively.
Violence, impatience, force, high pressure for a long time
or even working with pain as an “aid” are not
principles a horse can understand; if you work like this,
your horse will only feel threatened. It will react according
to its nature, either trying to flee or fighting back.
In such a situation learning is not possible. The use of
violence
is no means to educate or train. A panicking horse is not
receptive.
Therefore it is so important that the rider seeks
to really understand his horse. This way we can avoid activating
a flight or fighting mechanism which impedes a clear and
controlled
reaction from the horse. Applying this knowledge we can
positively reinforce our horse’s learning process when working
with it. A treatment based on respect and positive
reinforcement will increase your horse’s motivation
to learn.
You
will be enthused!
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| Courses
and clinics |
You can
participate in our courses and clinics no matter
which style of riding you have learnt and practised.
Do you want to refine your riding style? Do want
to learn how to communicate with horses? Then
we recommend you one of our training or ground
work courses.
You can book a beginners’ or advanced training
course for Indian Riding, trail ride weeks, our
trekking or a clinic, including accommodation
and breakfast.
Please note that we also hold clinics in Germany,
the Netherlands, England and Switzerland. We come
to your place, too! Contact
us for more details. |
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| Our horses |
Our Andalucian horses enjoy their lives in big
open stables. We have prepared them for work
with lots of love and empathy. They are arduous
and secure, friendly and calm. All are sensitive
to your aids and rapidly develop friendships
with our guests.
Here you can have
a look at our horses. |
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| Bending the head |
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| Moving backwards |
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| TTouch |
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| Horse communication |
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| Our horses are not
afraid of |
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| Having fun... |
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Important Note:
The term „Indian Riding“ is being used
by Markus and Andrea Eschbach in German speaking
countries
(Germany, Switzerland, Austria) exclusively. It is
prohibited to use this term without seeking prior
consent from Markus
and Andrea Eschbach.
The website as well as the logo are subject to copyright
protection. It is not permitted to use or copy parts
or all of it without prior consent.
We wish to point out that there are already some unauthorised
copies around the web and want to clearly dissociate
from these copyright infringers.
Only those who have passed an official exam with Markus
and Andrea Eschbach are authorised to bear the title „Trainer
for Indian Riding and Horsemanship“.
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