JANUARY 2006 • VOLUME 5 • HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine

Seeking Pleasurable Sensations

Perhaps something too few of us think about. What pleasurable sensations can you bring to mind? Perhaps the pleasure of the warmth of a mothers hug, or the pleasure of the warmth of a hot cup of chocolate on a cold and chilly winter's day. The pleasure of the sweet taste of your favourite desert or the pleasure of snuggling under a warm thick down comforter?

How many of us think of the pleasurable sensations that we expect when we are on the back of the horse.

"Souvent, les chevaux ne donnent pas le meilleur d'eux-mêmes parce qu'ils sentent que celui qui les monte n'est pas à la recherche de sensation, qu'il se contente d'employer les aides selon le règlement.

"Often, horses don't give the best of themselves because they feel that the rider is not seeking a pleasurable sensation but is simply using aids and following the rules."

The horse may learn the rules of the game, but to him what is this game all about. It is about the interaction between the two of you, which happens at a very basic level. An interaction of touch, of feeling.

Are you seeking a pleasurable sensation. Are you seeking a feeling or an action. If the second, you too may not be getting the best out of your horses.

And how many of us, ever think or ever discuss the pleasure of the horse? What is it that we bring to him that brings him pleasure? Should not these pleasurable sensations go two ways?

We must bring more of ourselves to our riding then knowing which aids to use when. This riding is about touch - about contact - about feel. And should we not automatically choose to try to feel things that feel good to us? 

"Si le cavalier donne tout ce que sa sensibilité est capable de livrer, le cheval le compendra.

Dans la vie, quand deux êtres sont en train de donner le maximum d'eux-mémes pour s'accomplir au mieux, quelque chose de merveilleux s'établit.

Ainsi dans l'Art dans tous les arts, it faut que l'artiste soit capable de donner le meilleur de sa vie."

"If the rider communicates all the sensitivity he is capable of, then the horse will understand.

In life, when two living beings are giving of their best in order to fulfill themselves, something marvellous happens.

So it is in art- in all the art forms: the artist must be able to give the best of himself."
Nuno Oliveira

All artists seek beauty. As riders, as artists we do the same. This can only happen when the horses give the best of themselves, as we must give the best of ourselves. Thus Nuno states for the horse to give the best of himself he must first feel that we seek that pleasurable sensation. That we seek a certain feel. Not think in terms of aids or a set of aids... that to do so is only about following the rules. This is not about following rules, but about seeking the best in each of us.

This incredible graphic was designed by Breann Snyder and we are very pleased that she has agreed to allow us to offer you this incredible graphic in our Gift Shop. Click on the pictures above to see other options.

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Contributor:  

Graphic designer Breann Snyder. Art has always been apart of Breann's life and she is now pursuing it as a part-time career.

Specializing in computer-based graphic design and photo alteration/ touch-up for online and print usage. She lives in North Carolina with her fiance and their cat Smokey. Inquiries can be directed to designingspree@gmail.com.

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