Horse Behaviour; The Nature of Horses

Dr Gustafson's long awaited book is now available here.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ILG3JX0

Through time horses have embedded themselves into the psyche of humans in a variety of cultures throughout the world. Linguists proclaim that the ancient words for mind and horse are similar in a variety of horse societies. The Mongol word for horse is takh, meaning spirit. The original horse people related to horses in a state of flowing communication. The result was a blending of human society with horse society. After eons of walking across the world, humans brought the wild Tarpan into their fold. As the two species came closer and closer together, the original horsepeople tamed, trained, and selectively bred the Tarpan to become today’s horse.

The process of domestication required eons of time; a blending of species brought about a shared geography and shared communication. Each species observed and followed the other for millennia, developing an understanding that resulted in a sophisticated merger. The domestication process continues to this day. To blend with horses, people must know horses. Here we will come to appreciate the deepest natures of the horse, the natures that allowed this wonderful species to blend with us.

Sustenance of this blending of horse and human requires an appreciation of the nature of the horses. The once daily and hourly coexistence has drifted. A rift has developed. If a contemporary horseperson seeks unity with horses, they must come to know the horse in order to bridge the rift.

            

Today, horsefolk attempt to develop willing partnerships with horses as the original domesticators must have. Appreciation of equine behaviour allows this blending, which can be quite real.

Dr Gustafson is an equine veterinarian, veterinary behaviorist, and novelist. He helps refine horse and dog training methods to accommodate the inherent nature and behavior of horses and dogs. Applied veterinary behavior enhances optimum health, performance, soundness, contentment, and longevity in animal athletes. Natural approaches to development, training, nutrition, and conditioning sustain equine health and enhance performance. Behavioral and nutritional enrichment strategies enhance the lives of stabled horses. Training and husbandry from the horse's perspective result in content, cooperative horses. DrSid provides equine behavior consultations to help recreate the needs and preferences of horses in training and competition.