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Published Online: 27 September 2010

Of Equines and Humans: Toward a New Ecology

Publication: Ecopsychology
Volume 2, Issue Number 2

Abstract

Since the domestication of the horse ∼6000 years ago, the equine–human relationship has played a crucial role in the evolution of humankind. Horses enabled the conquering of new worlds and civilizations, forging an intimate interspecies relationship that is complex and difficult to articulate. No longer used primarily as companions in battle and beasts of burden, horses are today predominantly visible in the Western world of competitive sports and pleasure riding. New fields have also opened up in the past two decades, where horses are being utilized as friends, teachers, and therapists—namely, therapeutic riding and equine-facilitated psychotherapy/learning. This article explores two dimensions of equine-facilitated learning: (1) ways in which horses communicate, and how the human perceives this phenomenon, and (2) ways in which horses help humans construct systems of shared meanings (i.e., community). Both of these dimensions may have important implications for understanding how horse–human encounters can promote emotional well-being and ecological awareness. Further, the study contextualizes this exploration by drawing connections to Gregory Bateson's thought on esthetics, grace, and ecosystemic health.

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Information

Published In

cover image Ecopsychology
Ecopsychology
Volume 2Issue Number 2June 2010
Pages: 85 - 89

History

Published online: 27 September 2010
Published in print: June 2010
Accepted: 30 April 2010
Received: 15 September 2009

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Dulce M. Garcia
Department of Transformative Studies, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California.

Notes

Address correspondence to:Dulce M. GarciaDepartment of Transformative StudiesCalifornia Institute of Integral Studies1453 Mission St.San Francisco, CA 94103E-mail: [email protected]

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No competing financial interests exist.

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