Hi everybody,
last week I visited Equitana, Europes largest horsefair and want to give you a short report.
The highlight form e was to see
Honza Blaha. I saw him already in videos and was not so shure what to think of him. I’m still not shure how much pressure he uses to teach his horses but one thing I’m absolutely shure: His horses have fun playing with him! I saw him doing a ten minutes show with two horses (Gaston and a younger one) where he showed astonishing things. But for me the main thing was, that his horses didn’t act like robots like some of the parelli-way trained horses often do. They were very playful and vivid and seemed very eager to spend time and do something with Honza. Also they made a self-concious impression - Especially Gaston „attacked“ Honza in a playful way several times with ears back (what I know as „playface“) and rearing at him, certainly always respectful. When one horse had to wait and Honza called it, it run jumping and headshaking towards him, looking full of joy. Also I liked Honzas quiet and calm of acting.
The short show touched me deeply.
Then there was
Jean Francois Pignon presenting his new book. You can order it through his website. I didn’t buy it because it is so heavy, but I think I’ll order it. It contents his story and also quite detailed instructions how he works with his horses. He was at the exibition stand himself and made a very pleasent and humble impression.
Then I found a shop that is specialiced on
bitless bridles (
http://www.reitsportgroskorth.de). They have several different sidepulls, riding halters and a spezial construction called „Glücksstern“ similar to Lehmekühlers „Glücksrad“.
I found it hard to see all the frightened and stressed horses that were shown in the several arenas beeing ridden traditionally
... But on the other hand, I had the impression that people that do it a different way, are more and more present there.
There were several people for example in several demonstrations with different backrounds that rode without bridle – for example the pupils of Silke Valentin (who by the way used the wording „now let’s ask the horse fort his and that“. I don’t know if it is expressed in english what I mean, but in German she used a wording that is quite unusual and contains the possibility fort he horse to say no.
Than I let make a Cordeo by a craftsman that makes everything you want from rope. It’s great, I’ll put a photo here later:
All in all Equitana was absolutely worth the visit for me.