Zen Mind, Zen Horse

Okay, I’ve become an evangelist for for this book.

Even if I hadn’t been drawn to the book because a brain surgeon chose to write about training horses, Robert M Miller’s Foreword to the book would have hooked me. In 1991, Dr Miller revolutionized thinking on foal handling with Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal , showing two generations of horse people a kinder way to train foals without trauma or confrontation. And yet, he credits Dr Hamilton with helping him understand the neuroscience behind the “whys” of Imprint Training’s effectiveness.

Zen Mind, Zen Horse - Allan J Hamilton, MD

Dr Hamilton’s path to horsemanship preceded his medical career, yet it is fascinating to see how his two vocations intersect, one totally rational and analytical, the other driven by intuitive communication and non-verbal response. He uses his expert knowledge of how the brain works to demonstrate the divergent roles of horse and human, prey and predator, right brain and left brain, non-verbal communicator and linguistically verbal beings. Clearly these dual paths in his life have led him to a more complete understanding of each; horses have given him insights into the struggles of his patients, and neuroscience has helped him better understand how humans must work with horses.

The book is part memoir, part foundation information on why “natural horsemanship” works, and part training manual that puts that understanding to work. He describes the body language, with which we humans most effectively communicate with horses, in terms of emotional energy, or chi, drawing on the philosophical  concepts of several ancient cultures. The idea of focusing energy to direct a horse enhances the image many of today’s successful trainers employ when they teach clinics on round pen and natural horsemanship work.

The training portion, encompassing two-thirds of the book, begins with initial gentling work on a lead or in the round pen, and works through the ground work necessary to assure a reliable mount for life, including accustoming the horse to tack and rider. But, even if you’ve got years of experience, or several books on training under your belt, these chapters will give you a deeper understanding of the process of horse training, and the relationship that we develop with horses.

Tags: Book Reviews

One Response to “Zen Mind, Zen Horse”

1. KnightBooks at Equine Affaire « Knight Equestrian Books Blog says:

   October 22, 2011 at 5:07 pm

   [...] Zen Mind, Zen Horse [...]

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