For World Horse Day
From the perspective of Gut Aiderbichl
(written by Gisela Pschenitschnig)
Horses are one of the most fascinating animals for humans. They are big, muscular, overwhelming and mysterious. In my first years at Gut Aiderbichl, I felt very insignificant and small next to the horses and there was also fear involved. For many years now, the fear has faded, the respect for the proud, graceful four-legged friends has remained. I love it when, for example, Bimbo, the Friesian from the circus, lays his head on my shoulder and we both virtually "beam" away from the earth.
On the estates of Gut Aiderbichl live around 700 horses from the most diverse fates: they come from the circus like our Friesians, they were in competitive sport like our Fee, they stood at the foal market like Katharina or they made people happy like our Markus or Peter, the Noriker. They pulled the carriage and were allowed to start their retirement at Gut Aiderbichl.
The adaptability of horses
60 million years ago, the horse had a similar appearance to the dog. It was about 35 centimetres high and walked on paws through the swampy forests. There are countless fossil finds that tell us about the evolution of the horse.
One of the horse's strengths is its adaptability. During the Ice Age, the horse migrated across land bridges to Europe and Asia and gradually conquered five continents. The horse's original home was South America, where it became extinct around 10,000 years ago. Today's mustangs are descendants of the horses brought by the Spanish conquerors.
Living conditions on earth changed, horses moved from the forests to the steppes, they changed their appearance and began to live in herds. With the help of the horse, it became possible for humans to conquer territories and, at some point, the horse also played a not insignificant role in warfare.
For thousands of years, horses served humans as riding and draft animals. They were harnessed to carriages or ploughs. Especially cold-blooded breeds like the English Shire Horses weighed up to a ton and were able to pull twice their weight.
The importance of the horse in the 20th and 21st centuries
Horses are ridden and still work in agriculture or in tourism as carriage horses. But they also serve as "entertainment instruments". Many of the Aiderbichl horses, such as Il en Reve, who is now 20 years old and lives in Moulin, Gut Aiderbichl France. There, he is simply allowed to be a horse and graze and exercise with his fellow horses on the huge meadows. He took part in the cross-country Steeplechase race in Pardubitz twice. Miraculously, he survived this madness. Numerous horses have already lost their lives on gruelling courses. Wounded, driven and often deceased...Full of sensationalism, people from all over the world stand in the spectator area and thus drive their adrenaline level up.
A thought for the horses for slaughter
Our Franzi is a warm-blooded horse and was fattened up to the size of a cold-blooded horse. The scales showed about 300kg too much, and so Franzi would have brought more money after slaughter. He carried his heavy body on broken hooves. This meant such pain as if a person had to walk on tiptoe all day.
Franzi fell in love with a warmblood horse, our Fee, a few months later at Gut Aiderbichl Henndorf. Out of sheer fear and stress, she collapsed twice in the horse dealer's stable. She was not allowed to be delivered to Poland, because she was too weak. Fee came in winter and she was shaved bald. There was a dirty blanket on her back. Her eyes and body language told a long tale of suffering. She was sad and in pain. Now Franzi and Fee have been giving each other strength for many years.
A thought for the sports machines among the horses
I will never be able to forget the pained face of "Saint Boy" at the Tokyo Olympics...
The horses at Gut Aiderbichl have been my teachers for years and I think that none of them would like to feel the crop, the spurs or fisticuffs. If you look at the eyes of "Saint Boy", you notice stress and pain, desperation and fear.
I don't want to judge, but still: Greatness would have been to dismount, lead the horse out of the hall and stroke its neck.
"If humans think that horses cannot feel, horses must feel that humans cannot think".
The horse as coach of the human being
I have been a collector for a good 14 years - I collect experiences with horses. Even as a child, they always fascinated me - the "tall" animals on four legs. But there was not only fascination, there was also fear. Every horse I met was a lot taller than me. Somehow, I felt like a little ant next to the big horse and Michael Aufhauser always said: "Horses don't tread on ants, dare to!". He was to be proved right.
Did you know that horses can coach people and that not only people are the coaches of horses?
Everyone carries around their personal fears, including me. But I have come to grips with my fears with the help of a wonderful horse. In the stable aisle of Gut Aiderbichl Henndorf stood Larry, a former show horse, for many years. A beautiful animal, I wanted to pet him so much. But, there was the fear. Next to Larry stood an even bigger horse: Krümmel, a Belgian Brabanter. My fear was even greater and more threatening.
One day, during a tour of the farm with the guests, I stopped in front of Larry's box and told about his life. People became more and more calm and touched. What was happening? I felt there was something different and stopped talking. Above my head was Larry's head. I froze into a pillar of salt. He blew on me with his warm breath, the warmth slid over my face and just felt good. You could have heard a pin drop, it was so quiet in the stable lane. I turned around slowly and had Larry's nostrils in front of my nose. He came towards me and we stood there - nostrils to forehead, so to speak. Larry has been in love with Hedi, a beautiful mare, for several years. The bond between Larry and me is still there. When I have a problem, I go into their box and "discuss" everything with Larry, my great friend.
Do you know the feeling of being faced with a decision and not knowing which direction to take in life? A problem or a question has been bothering you for a long time and you just can't find an answer? The animals - the horses are the supporters and connoisseurs of the human soul. By nature they are our coach. Horses see us in a non-judgemental way and with their gentle nature they manage to open every "petrified" heart and time and again they bring the solution to the human problem to light.
Larry, Markus, Burli, Massimo, Alpache and all their names are waiting for you! Have the courage to open up and sign up for one of our workshops. Either "unwind with horses" or "self-encounter with horses". Our equine coach, Sandra Gatterer, will be happy to advise you personally.
Sincerely, your Gisela
