Use and abuse - about the "naturality" of the equestrian use of the horse

Abstract

Beginning with literary statements about the harmony of horse and rider on one side and about the denaturing of the horse under the saddle on the other side, utilization and exploitation are explicated as biological ways of the interaction of different species in the nature. Such interactions are not restricted to methods which support the survival of individuals and species. The natural processes include hypertelic ones, it means processes, which are not dictated by certain purposes of surviving, especially while playing organisms are developing themselves hypertelic. The relationship between the human being and the animal in general and between the human being and the horse corresponds to the modalities of interspecific interactions described here. Furthermore, the human being is able to develop moral considerations against his actions and to act more or less in orientation on ethical principles. Moral aspects accentuate the perception of domestication and utilization as interventions in the live and the biotope of horses. This interventions are connected with physical and psychic stress for the horses. Veterinarians treat this stress, when it causes damages, but fear, suffering and pain are often neglected by veterinarians. The extent of stress grows, when horses are forced to perform under the saddle without regards to their genetically founded dispositions. It is reduced when the dispositions are regarded and when the learning processes is connected with the inclination of the horse, to develop himself playing in a situation without special needs and without stress. In that case, the interaction with the human being stimulates especially a horse, which is living under the restricted conditions of domestication. In the ideal case, this interaction provokes reactions, which the horse experiences. In the ideal case, the aim of the instruction exceeds the obedience of the horse to the rider; it means, the training realizes a way of cooperation between horse and rider. Such an intention and such a realization correspond to a riding, which human beings do in order to extend, to increase and to intensify their lives. It does not mean a riding, which is orientated towards military utilization of the horse or towards other practical purposes.