HJN Riding – A Genuine Partnership Between Human and Horse

With Hans-Jürgen Neuhauser.

The art of refined communication, mutual trust and physiologically sound horse training. HJN Riding is based on a form of actively articulated body language that horses, in my decades of practical experience, understand without first having to learn its meaning. Our aim is to help humans and horses develop a genuine partnership through loving clarity, mutual trust, voluntary cooperation and continuous two-way communication. At HJN Riding, we work with the horse – but we work on ourselves. We learn to recognise and correct our own movements rather than hold the horse responsible for our communication errors. Communication and physical development belong together. We help horses develop balance, coordination, muscular endurance, a stronger and more capable back, and free self-carriage through physiologically appropriate movement. Consideration, attentiveness and respect are ours to give – never something we demand from the horse. What Makes HJN Body Language Different? We do not have to teach horses the meaning of HJN Body Language. Instead, we learn to articulate our bodily statements clearly, while helping the horse develop the physical ability to perform the intended movements. If I correct the horse for a mistake caused by my own unclear movements, genuine communication breaks down. I must first examine and correct my own bodily statement. The Rediscovery of HJN Body Language My journey began with Casey, my first horse. I wanted to build a relationship with her based on trust, security and voluntary cooperation, without depending on halters, ropes, reins or pressure. My background in strength and partner acrobatics, particularly slow-motion Adagio acrobatics, gave me an exceptionally refined awareness of my own body. I learned to perceive and consciously coordinate even the smallest components of movement. This enabled me to recognise how horses responded to individual changes in my movements. By deliberately varying those movements and observing the horses’ responses, I gradually came to understand the underlying logic. I therefore describe this process as the rediscovery of an existing form of body language, rather than the invention of an artificial system of trained signals. Over decades of practical work with people and horses, including unfamiliar horses and those considered difficult, I have refined this understanding into a clearly defined form of actively articulated body language. Today, I can identify individual movement components and deliberately combine them into meaningful whole-body statements. In my practical experience, both humans and horses can understand these bodily statements without first being taught their meanings. Communication is a two-way movement dialogue. The horse’s response helps me recognise and, when necessary, correct my own movements. The Four Pillars of HJN Riding HJN Riding combines four equally important pillars: HJN Back School for Horses – developing healthy movement, balance, thoracic support, weight-bearing capacity and free self-carriage. Equileading – Gymnastic Leading Exercises – guiding horses through variable movement courses using clearly articulated body language. Work on the Circle – communicating gait, tempo and direction through consciously coordinated bodily statements. Riding with the Finest Aids – communicating with the horse through exceptionally subtle, precise and coordinated movements. All four pillars are connected through actively articulated HJN Body Language, body awareness, mutual trust and equine exercise physiology. A Practical Example of HJN Body Language During Equileading, I simultaneously communicate two distinct types of information: direction and tempo. The human and the horse may follow different tracks through a variable course. In Work on the Circle, I can simultaneously communicate three independently variable statements: gait, tempo and direction. Human-to-human exercises are another essential part of the method. They help people develop their own body awareness and learn to articulate bodily statements consciously and precisely. These examples demonstrate why HJN Body Language is more than simply observing or reacting to general body-language signals. The method applies equally to all riding styles. Whether riding English, Spanish, Western or another style, riding is based on balance, communication and trust. Watch the Video (04:43 min) "Theme: Riding with an Independent Seat: "Weight cues - aid or disturbance" The Exercise: Riding a corner (= actually a quarter of a volte) in correct flexion and bending without using the inner rein: Vimeo · data & cookiesAgree & load video Privacy details Loading this video connects to Vimeo and sends your IP address, browser information and this page's address. Vimeo may use cookies and process data outside the EU. Your consent applies only to this video and is not saved. You can disable the video again below. Vimeo Privacy Policy   Watch the Video (10:00 min) "My most beautiful moments with my four-legged friends in the open countryside, forest, desert and prairie..." Riding without imposed dominance – based on mutual trust, the highest respect, loving clarity and sound principles of equine exercise physiology. Vimeo · data & cookiesAgree & load video Privacy details Loading this video connects to Vimeo and sends your IP address, browser information and this page's address. Vimeo may use cookies and process data outside the EU. Your consent applies only to this video and is not saved. You can disable the video again below. Vimeo Privacy Policy   Watch the Trailer (17:50 min) from the DVD "HJN meets Lipica" Communication in its purest form - Experience horse education and body language on the highest level - communication in its finest form: Vimeo · data & cookiesAgree & load video Privacy details Loading this video connects to Vimeo and sends your IP address, browser information and this page's address. Vimeo may use cookies and process data outside the EU. Your consent applies only to this video and is not saved. You can disable the video again below. Vimeo Privacy Policy