Hawaii Horse Whisperer
Part of staying connected to the planet, and being a responsible guardian of it, is maintaining a healthy relationship with it and respecting the other inhabitants of it. One person who has epitomized this lifestyle is Franklin Levinson, the Horse Whisperer. Levinson’s life work has focused on creating, and teaching others to have, strong bonds with one of the earth’s most regal species, horses.
"The Horse Whisperer"
His techniques do not include breaking horses and rough treatment, his practice is based more on mutual respect and understanding. Levinson says that most of a horse’s actions are driven by fear, that they are animals of prey and thus act accordingly. Understanding this and trying to relate to that fear can go a long way in developing trust with a horse.
If you read reviews from people that have spent time with Franklin, they say that he is a very humble, down-to-earth person. Although his reputation precedes him, he remains accessible and friendly. Parents that send kids to his clinics say that their children have come back much more confident and compassionate people. As a leading expert on horse training, he is a highly sought after teacher. He holds clinics in several locations, including Hawaii, and is even available for private lessons.
That is if you can catch up to him. Levinson has ranches in both Aspen, Colorado and on Maui. He travels the world to teach people his “secrets”. He has done work in Greece, Australia, Costa Rica, Ireland, and more. You can find out more information about his Hawaii sessions at WayoftheHorse.org.
Son of a polo player, Franklin came into contact with horses at a very young age. In a tumultuous childhood, horses gave him an inner peace. Over decades he has honed his craft and his understanding of horses. He believes that much can be learned from horses about human nature and our interconnectedness with the animals that share the earth. Here is an excerpt of an interview that he did:
How does a horse see the human?
For the horses, humans are predators. Our posture, our eyes being close one to the other, our eating habits, our aggressive nature, it all confirms this perception. This is the reason we should always avoid big movements with our hands when near horses and be conscious of our attitude and how we move our bodies.
Have you learned things from horses?
The most important thing I gained from being around horses is inner peace and kindness. Horses teach honesty. This can help us become better people in our own ‘herd’.
What feelings are common between horses and people?
Today, with terror being an everyday thought, we discover what it means to be prey. This exactly how horses feel. Security is a feeling inside of us and does not exist outside of our feelings. Perhaps now we can understand more about horses and how to approach them the right way.
Still, some believe that horses should live free in nature…
Horses today are not free. With the exception of some large ranches or resereves, horses are always confined. Dependency on man is therefore unavoidable, so man should make the best of this situation by becoming a good parent and provider for them.
