Natural Horse Magazine, Volume 9 Issue 3

Building a Paradise: Setting New Standards with Nevzorov Haute Ecole

By Michael Bevilacqua

As early as a few years ago, there was not much available in Russia in terms of Natural Horsemanship. Yet, as history has shown, there are always a few people that are capable of understanding the horse and discovering a way to work with him that is not shown through the pages of any book.

Elena Esina, from Moscow. Russia, is a gifted young woman who found her own, gentle way to work with horses. She developed an efficient way of communication with horses. She wanted to be their real friend. Quite an accomplishment for a 12-year-old girl. She is now 24 and with help from Alexander Nevzorov, almost two years ago, her story is almost like a fairy tale.

Alternativa is a private stable that has been in existence now for 19 years. It was founded as a center for teenagers by the director, Nikolay Gunichev. He dedicated his life to children, horses and dogs. The slogan for Alternativa is, "Through the horse's heart to the child's soul".

It is not easy to maintain and support a stable where the horses do not generate money. There is no sport, nor horses for hire. They do their best to make the horses' existence happy and healthy, and with the love and enthusiasm of the people of Alternativa, it becomes possible. Most of the people in the stable study Nevzorov Haute Ecole, and Elena is now the leader of the stable and a successful and gifted student of the NHE school.

NHE is establishing a relationship with a horse in a way that most people usually never consider. Simply, it is just a different way of viewing the horse, a way that has been blocked by standards or taught as tradition. It is making choices that are based on care and knowledge. The real knowledge about horses and not what has been handed down as standard horse control from an ancient generation. In the 21st century, people question the norm and many of the answers are readily available. We have come a long way and we have learned much. Once this new mentality is established, we can go on to do almost anything with the horse... to a limit. If people want to use this to improve performance in competition, then they simply have missed the point. Because, in competition, the desire to win supersedes the welfare of the horse. If the horse is pushed, forced and endures pain, in any form, then all the work that was done will have been for nothing. Horses are not stupid. That is why our mentality and the lifestyle with the horse is to be changed. We can have just as much fun with horses doing other things and reap even greater satisfaction than most ever thought possible.

At the end of July, 2006, Elena with her assistant, Natasha Vaganova made a summer holiday not far from Astrakhan, on the river Volga near the Caspian Sea. There are many herds of wild horses on the small islands located there. After following a particular pair of horses within the herd for a couple of days, they were able to get in close to the horses and even feed them, but not from their hands. The horses had a preference for watermelon! By the end of the week, they were able to ride those two horses with nothing but a cordeo (light cord over the shoulders/neck of the horse).

The growing online NHE forum created by Lydia Nevzorova has helped to bring together many like-minded individuals from around the world seeking a better way to live with horses. Further, people of all ages volunteer their time to care for the horses brought in to Alternativa. The program consists of the NHE lessons. These lessons develop a horse physically and mentally. There is a lot of movement for the horses, stretching, and the lessons are based on the natural movements of the horse. These develop the flexibility, strength and trust of the horse. The Nevzorov site can be found at: hauteecole.ru.

Natasha is an active member within Alternativa. Her personal liveliness and love for her horse, Garmo, can almost go unnoticed. It is not a concerted effort. For her, it is a way of life. It is natural. There could be no other way for Natasha to be with her horse. With Elena, together they rode the wild horses and swam with them in the river. Natasha has been able to discover the true spirit within herself. A spirit that is free and when she is with her horse, the rest of the world remains behind. This is the beauty that horses can bring us. A beauty that we hold within us, that is far too often overlooked, and, that can also be forgotten.

Lasting relationships are formed at Alternativa between horses and people. Irina Cooper (Ira) spends time at the stable and she has one of her personal favourites that she currently teaches. Tavryusha was born at the stable and four years later they continue to work and play together. These are two lives that have touched each other. This goes on everyday for those who have discovered NHE.

The success generated by Alternativa has generated the interest and dedication of other forum members to begin similar programs. Many horses that were either abused, neglected or injured physically and mentally from sport racing regain their lives, their dignity. Those who share in the activities of these new centers learn and practice NHE. Some of the other stables that have cropped up are DAR, in St.Petersburg; Divinity, in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia; and the most recent, Horse's House, in Odessa, Ukraine.

DAR is a charitable rehabilitative center where horses can spend their retirement with love and care. The horses are kept naturally, meaning no metal on the horse and time allowed to be a horse. There is no riding, but besides being tended to, the horses are to follow a program of play and exercise with kind teachers. The spirit of the horse is brought back to lite and old wounds, physical and otherwise, are healed. The Russian word 'dar' has two meanings: 1) The gift or donation and 2). Talent. The name is rather symbolic and can be applied to both horses and people at DAR.

Some of the beauty in all this is that the creation of such places does not start out as an intentional business venture. It is usually the personal desire of one person to simply have better living conditions for their horses. In the case of Horse's House, Vladlena Maksimova and her husband searched for about a year to find a suitable building to rent and to build their own stable. They own two Thoroughbred horses that came from the Odessa Hippodrome. The horses were still boarded there, and they just had to get the horses into a better environment. There was much to do with the building they found. They started with practically nothing. The building did not even have electricity or water. With hard work to get everything ready before winter, it soon became their home. Within 3 months another man, who thinks as they do, came along with a mare. They also rescued an old draft horse from slaughter.

Word of Horse's House is spreading, and more people who share this vision, courage and dedication are becoming interested in being part of this. The horses are kept as naturally as possible. Their own horses have greatly improved since being in their new home and everyday a better understanding is developed between horse and human.

People see Alexander Nevzorov and are taken aback by the beautiful photos showing what this new relationship with horses can reveal. They see a Russian Master, on the other side of the world doing incredible things. Yet, his message is straightforward. The relationship to be had with horses is really quite simple. All of this is not some impressive circus act where people can only look on in admiration and awe. Ordinary people from around the world are achieving the same results with ordinary horses. Renewed vision and knowledge can make all of us extraordinary!

Thanks to the collaboration of Lydia Nevzorova, Elizaveta Makarova, Nina Bryantseva, Natasha Vaganova, Vladlena Maksimova. Making dreams reality.

"What a horse does under compulsion is done without understanding and there is no beauty in it either, any more than if one should whip or spur a dancer." - Xenophon

About the author: Michael Bevilacqua owns and operates a private horse schooling facility in Quebec, Canada. He offers informative seminars promoting Nevzorov Haute Ecole principles. More information is available through his website: www.equiforme.net .

Elena Esina with her 12 year old stallion, Grisha

Alternativa is really a paradise for horses. No bits, spurs or whips here, in an area where the cruel use of these is considered normal and even taught to children.

Elena with Grisha practicing collected trot

Wild herds in this region can number up to 250

Elena riding free

A fantasy vacation

Natasha & Garmo

Irena Cooper & Tavryusha

Young Tavryusha at Alternative

Previously abused/neglected horses rediscover natural beauty

Michael working with Primo