Davide Bassi – Native American Indian Riding – “The Technique of the Heart”

In my wanderings through websites, I found this : www.aquilanerahorses.it

I begin to read. Who is not fascinated by the term “Native American Indian Riding” … the mind starts to dream and think about the Sioux, about the movies we saw in our youth, about the Indians on horses, their arrows, their tents, their life…

I wonder: “What could it be? – Who is he?”

As usual, I send email asking questions.

Davide politely answers me attaching the schedule of his courses, “Native American Indian Riding – The Technique of the Heart”, and explaining how they are organized, to whom they are addressed, and where they are performed.

First, I attended two-day theoretical course. I went in Tuscany, near Livorno, in a riding school? where the courses run, and where the horses are accommodated and run freely too. Besides, there I met Davide and the other participants. I have to state that it is not necessary to be a rider; you can attend even if you have never ridden. Then, I saw the place and in particular, I admired the horses – wonderful, free, proud, elegant, powerful, all together …

Davide introduced himself and told us about his life, his meeting with a shaman Sioux, Lakota, in Australia by the time he was 17 who pass on to him the age-old knowledge of the relationship among the Sioux and their horses, of their way of handling them without bits, bridle reins and saddles.

All the knowledge he talks about, the spirit of the Native American Indians, the way in which the old Lakota instructed him, remind me the “Karate kid” movie …

Who, as a kid, has never imagine himself having a try at the eccentric training of Mr. Miyagi (Remove the wax … put the wax) inspired by the “Gōjū-ryū”, a karate style that is typical of Okinawa? Why all of this? Because, actually, everything he’s been taught did not concern the horse. Indeed, it seemed that the horse could never touch him physically; he had to understand the meaning of spirituality, instinct, awareness and balance, in order to reach a complete empathy with the horse and handle it without any coercion.

After Davide’s lecture, we enter the herd and, in absolute silence, we try to relate with them. What do you feel in the middle of a 50 horses’ herd? (All saved from certain death and bought at the abattoir in accordance with the market meat price, because injured during the competition or sent it to its death for other reasons). Fear, curiosity, joy, a mix of emotions that come when they run up near you. I went up to it, I was able to put the halter and the lead, and only after then I could easily stay with it as if by magic, because it has been created a mental and empathetic contact.

An unforgettable experience!

Nevertheless, it was not enough for me! I enrolled in another course in order to have direct contact with the horse and try to mount without saddle, without bridle reins, and without bit.

Look by yourself at this pictures:

GREAT EXPERIENCE – TO REPEAT – TO DEEPEN AND RECOMMEND

Thank you, Davide!