• Did you know that increasing scientific, behavioral and anthropological evidence suggests certain animals reached out to our ancestors—befriending, empowering, and gentling people long before we were able to corral and control them?
• Did you realize that as humans formed partnerships with animals, our own species became braver, stronger, and more compassionate as a result?
• Horses, dogs, and other animals have proven to help us reduce stress, heal from physical illness and traumatic events. Indeed they teach us HOW to lead longer, more fulfilling lives. More and more evidence is showing that animals do as consciously connect with humans as the other way around.

Mutual Transformation: the human-animal bond in a new light

In this engaging presentation and discussion, best-selling author Linda Kohanov shares some of her latest, and in many cases, surprising insights on the power of the human-animal bond.

Through evocative images and moving case studies from around the world, she combines compelling historical, archeological, biochemical, and behavioral research to illuminate a process of mutual transformation that challenges all our previous notions and how and why our ancestors formed close partnerships with animals.

Perhaps even more astonishing, she offers evidence that some species, horses included, may have reached out to ancient settlers rather than the other way around!

Long-lost Nomadic wisdom

In her recent book, The Five Roles of a Master Herder, Linda shows how a recent move toward greater freedom and mobility in modern culture requires that we incorporate the innovative leadership and social intelligence skills that early nomadic, animal-centered cultures pioneered eons ago.

This fluid wisdom was lost when city-based civilizations began to objectify animals.

“As people developed the technology to corral, confine, and restrain their four-legged friends, rather than socialize, collaborate with and move with them as nomadic pastoral tribes learned to do, our city-based ancestors limited their own approaches to power and social organization,” Linda reveals.

“Humanity became proficient at intimidating and in some cases enslaving animals and other people. In the process, civilization lost respect for the benevolent side of nature, instead developing a cold-hearted, mechanistic view of life that even now leads to disconnection, depression, and widespread acts of violence.

Mutual aid between species

“Growing evidence on the development of the human-animal bond, on the other hand, suggests that the tendency to seek connection, and to offer as well as request mutual aid across species lines, is a part of nature, that ‘life’ does in fact ‘favor and protect life.’ From this perspective, the human-animal bond is not a by-product of civilization or a contrived innovation; it is the heart of evolution in action.”

Practical information

Date & time: Thursday 10 October 2019, 19:00-22:00

Location: Galloper Ranch, Tweelweg 1, Terschuur (near Amersfoort), the Netherlands

This engaging, interactive presentation doesn’t feature horse exercises. Coffee, tea and light snacks are included.