After only a few months on the bookshelves, Cochrane resident Barbra-Ann King’s book Opening to Consciousness with Relationship Riding has drawn international interest.
King had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world at Spruce Meadows during the North American competition, July 7-11, many of whom praised the guide.
“It’s exciting to see all the positive feedback from people who have read the book,” said King.
“I was not expecting such a huge response. This tells me that horse lovers all over the world are ready to take the next step forward in horsemanship, daring to challenge conventional and traditional ways in order to deepen their relationship with their horse.”
King has been teaching riders young and old to ride using the relationship riding philosophy for more than 10 years in Cochrane.
Prior to moving west, King trained and rehabilitated horses in Quebec after riding both English and Western for many years.
She also studied child psychology and behaviours, as well as horse psychology, which then led to studying the history of horsemanship and how people first started riding horses.
King then started developing the relationship riding philosophy and used it on horses with extreme behaviour problems.
The results were positive all around and that was enough to motivate her to spread the word and help change horses’ lives.
“Horses haven’t changed over time but our methods of riding and training them have,” said King.
“If we were once able to ride to battle grounds with a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, with no other means of communication than our bodies and mind, why can’t we do it now?”
That is the premise for relationship riding: No pain, fear or discomfort for the horse.
“This whole journey is so exciting,” said King.
“Horses have taught me more than I ever thought possible. I learned to ‘hear’ them and listen to what they have to say about riding them. They have an opinion on everything. I feel like they have chosen me to speak up for them and tell horse lovers what they really need from us as caregivers, riders, trainers and leaders. We have so many misconceptions when it comes to the way we treat horses.”
King’s book is available on her website at www.relationshipriding.com and at Bentley’s Bookstore in Cochrane.
For more information on the relationship riding philosophy and upcoming clinics, visit her website.
