From Rae Ott

Hello Lidia :)

Please permit me to introduce myself, I am Rae Ott, a friend of Dr. Cook's. I received your permission last evening (by way of Dr. Cook) to correspond with you. Please allow me to say first, that I am very pleased to meet you both (even if it is through the internet). I am an ardent admirer of your work as well as your husband's. Your photography is outstanding! And you did a fabulous job with the web site. You are obviously a very talented woman in your own right. I will happily entertain the idea that perhaps I may be able to meet you and your husband some day.

Alexander's work is extraordinarily impressive... but even more than his precision understanding and fluency in the language of horses, is his courage. It takes great courage to assess your past, make no excuses, change your thinking and subsequently your behavior - then challenge others to do the same. It takes great courage and passion because you will be ridiculed, laughed at, discredited and shunned - by people too cowardly to get into the arena themselves and fight. It's far easier to sit safely in the bleachers and point out where you've made all your mistakes. Yet, you both stand strong against this storm. I bow to your courage and cheer you on. I know about this... I spent the last 15 years rescuing and hand-raising orphaned North American Gray wolf pups and campaigning against captive wolves and wolfdog breeding. You cannot imagine the enemies I made in those 15 years among the breeders and those who buy from them. But I will always care more about the welfare of the wolf than my fear of being ridiculed or harmed. And, the truth is the truth - you cannot change it by denying it or trying to mold it into something more to your liking.
There are (and always have been) two animals I feel passionate about; wolves and horses. I love (and do) champion all animals as I believe they have an inherent right to be here and they were not created to serve humans - they exist for their own sakes and we have no right to their lives. But horses and wolves have always been in my blood and I believe they are the reason I came back to this place.

I know you are busy so I won't take up much of your time. I just wanted to say "hello", introduce myself and tell you that I think your film is one of the most important films of the century. I have known many horses in my life... and I loved them all - but when I saw the film, I suddenly became aware of how ignorant I was and shame washed over me like a wave. I cried openly and wanted to go back through my life to every horse I ever knew, owned, loved, rode or had a relationship with. I wanted to fall to my knees and beg forgiveness for my ignorance and tell them how deeply sorry I was for all the pain I had caused with what I -thought- was a harmless piece of metal. I felt stupid and angry with myself for NOT thinking about it and for NOT realizing it years ago. I cannot thank you enough for lifting my consciousness. Sincerely, you have given me the gift of awareness and it will last throughout the rest of my life and on into eternity.

I am gravely disappointed that the United States networks have not purchased the rights to air the film. In addition to the responsibilities I had with the wolves, I am also a wildlife photographer (mostly wolves) and I enjoy film work. After learning as much as I have through Dr. Cook's books and articles - then watching your film (Dr. Cook was very gracious in sharing it with me), I have made a decision to do a documentary about his bitless bridle. While I personally would prefer to focus on Alexander's disciplines, I am aware there are not many people who will be able to digest it all in a single sitting. I must make baby steps here... my goal is to present this information in a way that does not cause the viewer to become defensive. If that happens, all will be lost and I can do nothing to ease the suffering of horses. I am not a wealthy woman (you don't get rich rescuing wolf pups for a living) - but I have passion, endless energy and focus (everything I learned from the wolves :). I also have a few friends in the film industry. With the use of the Internet and some other effective venues, I would like to speak with you about what we might do collectively to get Alexander's film shown here.

Warmly,
Rae Ott

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• Michael Bevilacqua
  Michael Bevilacqua, NHE representative in Canada and USA.
  
  
• Donald Newe
  Donald Newe, NHE representative in France.
  
  
• Barefoot-Saddle
  Intenet-shop in Norway that sells treeless saddles, bitless bridles, books and videos, and some outdoor wears and equipment. The site owner's goal is to sell stuff he considers is for the benefit of the horse.
  
  
• Australian Rep & Associate Clinician for The Bitle
  
  
  
• Animal Companions & Hoofcare
  The site of Anya - our friend and follower of Nevzorov Haute Ecole, an animal trainer... she considers that "it's the 2 legged animals that require the most training!" She is also a barefoot hoofcare practitioner.
  
  
• Natural horse and Natural trimming
  It is about the Natural horse and Natural trimming etc. The site owners can teach people how to find that elusive 'sound' horse in mind, body and spirit through natural horsekeeping/feeding/trimming..etc. Cure and prevent lameness and behavior problems.
  
  
• Cecilia.
  Our friend and follower of Nevzorov Haute Ecole from Sweden. Barefoot and bitless, trailriding business, webshop.
  
  
• Strasser hoofcare world wide
  "Strasser" Webseiten: Deutschland/Österreich
  
  
• Verband der Hufpfleger und Hufheilpraktiker nach D
  
  
  
• www.hoofcare.de
  Website von Peter Speckmaier, IfH, Abt. Ausbildung und Seminare. Hufheilpraktiker und Chiron-Lehrer.Infos zu Ausbildung, Hufseminare, Darstellung Hufmechanismus.
  
  
• www.strasserhoofcareaustralia.com
  Australien Strasser Hoofcare Website.
  
  
• www.thehorseshoof.com
  The Horses Hoof Magazin edited by Yvonne Welz.
  
  
• www.theaebm.org
  Australien Equine Barefoot Movement Inc.
  
  
• www.zenequine.com
  Canadian Strasser Hoofcare Website.
  
  
• www.ibem.org.uk
  Institute of barefoot equine management. England.
  
  
• www.animalrights.lt
  Website of animal rights movement in Lithuania.
  
  
• AnimalWelfare
  A repository of constantly updated and revised horse care and management articles that strongly emphasise horse welfare.
  
  
• Pura Raza Espanola
  The kings of horses and the horses of kings