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Blogs from Human & Horse Academy

Discover inspiration, stories and the latest developments from the Academy: from training and Guasha to interviews with our horses, Sandeloria, new projects and much more.

Written by GreetjeNew articles every monthFree to read
Greetje training Nevada
Training6 min read

A glimpse into my training with Nevada: our journey towards a deeper layer in training and fitness

During our latest training sessions with Edward Gal, I felt something beginning to change in Nevada. Not just physically. His body was becoming more connected, but at the same time, something was shifting within him. He became bigger. Prouder. More confident.

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Edwin Bos from Hartog
Interviews9 min read

Interview with Edwin Bos from Hartog: what if nutrition and training together are the key to the next step in development?

Training, body use, muscle development and nutrition are far more closely connected than we sometimes realise. Together with Edwin Bos from Hartog, we explore what a horse truly needs to become stronger, fitter and develop more sustainably; and why an individual approach can make all the difference.

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Greetje with Coco
Interviews4 min read

Interview with Greetje about Coco: “He showed me that what we often call difficult behaviour is actually telling a story”

Coco was your very first foal of your own… what lessons from those early years together have stayed with you ever since?

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Greetje with Vanilla
Interviews2 min read

Interview with Greetje about Vanilla: “That trust is ultimately the foundation for everything, including riding later on”

Neem ons mee naar het moment dat je Vanilla voor het eerst ontmoette… wat voelde je toen?'Het leek me heel erg leuk om weer met een Gelders paard aan de slag te gaan, Bongo is ook half gelders en dat vind ik prachtige paarden met bijzondere karakters.

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Femy and Pieter Bremer with their spotted horses
Our horses5 min read

Where horses can grow up naturally: a special place and Nevada's offspring

We asked Femy and Pieter Bremer (pictured above: Lisenna and Pieter) a number of questions about their unique approach to keeping and breeding horses.

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Greetje with Bongo
Interviews6 min read

Interview with Greetje about Bongo: “Growing older doesn’t automatically mean we should do less and less with a horse”

If you go back to the very beginning with Bongo: who were you both back then, and how has your relationship changed over the years?

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Greetje riding Nevada in collection
Training6 min read

A look inside my training with Nevada: Airtime & Flow

As you know, there are so many different phases we move through, train through and grow through together with our horses. Each of these processes has its own beauty and brings insights you would never have gained without truly experiencing them, with all the highs and lows.

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Jolie and Sunnery with the horses
Sandeloria2 min read

What if the gateway to Sandeloria really existed? A conversation with the two girls from our story

Sandeloria is a world filled with magic, animals, friendship, and adventure. But what do children themselves think about such a world? We asked our two girls, aged 5 and 12.

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Da Vinci in the Spanish walk
Interviews3 min read

Interview with Greetje about Da Vinci: “What truly makes him a professor to me is his ability to pass on my feeling to others”

Da Vinci has been with us since he was a foal, and from the very beginning he has been a special, highly sensitive little character. He certainly comes with his own instruction manual, but the moment he gets the chance to work or perform, he gives nothing less than 100%.

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Watercolour illustration from Sandeloria
Sandeloria3 min read

A special collaboration: bringing the magical world of Sandeloria to life

Some collaborations feel special from the very first moment. Working with illustrator Mandy Nellestein was exactly that.

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Open spread from the book Sandeloria
Sandeloria5 min read

From dream to book: the creation of Sandeloria

Many of you know that I, Greetje Hakvoort, have been working on a special project for the past few years: my own fairy tale book, Sandeloria. And in the meantime, something very special has happened... The first edition lies here on the table in front of me.

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Greetje and Nevada in trot
The journey with Nevada6 min read

Change starts with connection, not control: the journey of Nevada and Greetje

From the very beginning, Nevada felt special to me. I first met him at dusk, while he was still living in a pasture with a group of young stallions. The moment I touched him, something felt right. At the same time, I could see that he didn't yet have much expression in his movement.

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Greetje riding a horse in balance
Training1 min read

Riding: improving lightness and balance in the saddle

To reach that point, you have gone through a very extensive preliminary process to ensure that your horse is both mentally and physically prepared for her task. After all of the preparation of groundwork, lunging and work in hand, you can use both the aids as the feeling while riding.

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Greetje working a horse in hand
Training2 min read

Working in hand: improve communication and partnership with your horse

Working in hand is the ultimate way to refine movements. That is therefore the goal of working in hand. During work in hand you use both inside and outside rein, just like during riding.

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Horse in collected trot on the lunge
Training1 min read

Lunging: building contact and connection at a distance

It is a magical feeling when your horse can move beautifully and independently on the lunge line and only needs small cues for support

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Greetje doing groundwork with a horse
Training1 min read

Getting started with groundwork: the Human & Horse Method

Communication and trust form the basis for everything that you do with your horse. Groundwork is a way of helping your horse learn and archieve balance. You can teach your horse to step under his center of gravity. Bending work can help to make this possible, just as lateral movements do.

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Guasha treatment on a person's back
Guasha1 min read

Guasha therapy: a happy life and a healthy body

Our bodies are designed to adapt to the challenges of daily life. What takes place beneath our skin is a wondrous interplay of many processes. Stress and tension can very easily become lodged in your body.

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Guasha treatment on a horse
Guasha1 min read

More than a massage: explore guasha for horses

Guasha had made so much possible in my life with horses. I'm very proud to be the first worldwide to adapt human guasha-therapy to a beneficial treatment for horses. Guasha is an accessible way to support your horse. Everyone can learn and apply it!

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Greetje doing groundwork with a horse
Training2 min read

Have a look at your inspiration videos

At Human & Horse Academy, everything revolves around the partnership between horse and human. Our goal is to inspire others and teach them how to create meaningful transformation together with their horse. The Human & Horse method is accessible to everyone.

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Continue learning in your own time with our online home-study programmes. Explore different areas of the Human & Horse Method, including training, body awareness, Guasha and more, with practical videos and in-depth study materials you can follow wherever you live.

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Curious about the Human & Horse Method? Get a free sample of the study book and watch the inspiration videos. Discover how real communication with your horse begins: from calm, trust and connection.

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