The Horseman
from Austria
Florian Oberparleiter has been working with animals all his life. He is known for his way of handling horses, which is based on body language and energy.
In order to get to know the world of horses better, Florian has learned about very different training concepts, ways of handling and ways of thinking. Furthermore, he worked with horse experts in the USA and Europe, studied the results of scientific studies and trained his feel and his perception.
Here you will learn more about Florian’s development and insights.
The Power of Feel
When Florian was with animals he always had “that feeling”. He describes it as a connection between human and animal, that one can only feel. Feeling this connection, has been natural to Florian already as a child.
It is totally normal for animals not to rely only on what they see or hear, but also very heavily on what they feel. We humans have often lost our trust in our feels and our intuition. In being with animals, Florian found an opportunity to train his sensitivity.
The Power of Feel
When Florian was with animals he always had “that feeling”. He describes it as a connection between human and animal, that one can only feel. Feeling this connection, has been natural to Florian already as a child.
It is totally normal for animals not to rely only on what they see or hear, but also very heavily on what they feel. We humans have often lost our trust in our feels and our intuition. In being with animals, Florian found an opportunity to train his sensitivity.
First Groundwork
Florian grew up in an environment where “Natural Horsemanship” was practiced. Thus, before riding, he got to know groundwork, which was based on the natural behavior of horses. Communicating with horses from the ground became natural to Florian early on.
Soon, however, many things he had learned seemed too mechanical or rough. Fascinated by the horses’ sensitivity, he began to develop his own methods.
First Groundwork
Florian grew up in an environment where “Natural Horsemanship” was practiced. Thus, before riding, he got to know groundwork, which was based on the natural behavior of horses. Communicating with horses from the ground became natural to Florian early on.
Soon, however, many things he had learned seemed too mechanical or rough. Fascinated by the horses’ sensitivity, he began to develop his own methods.
Learning to Train
In his youth, Florian was interested not only in horses but also in music-making and artistry. Thus, at a young age, he recognized the value of continuous training in various areas.
Breaking things down into small steps, perseverance and patience are keys to many skills: Whether it’s horseback riding, mastering a musical instrument, or other interests.
To take a skill to the highest level also requires talent. Florian was gifted in dealing with horses. Groundwork and riding were particularly easy for him. That is why he specialized in them. However, without persistence, patience and perseverance, Florian could not have built the connection with horses that he enjoys today.
Learning to Train
In his youth, Florian was interested not only in horses but also in music-making and artistry. Thus, at a young age, he recognized the value of continuous training in various areas.
Breaking things down into small steps, perseverance and patience are keys to many skills: Whether it’s horseback riding, mastering a musical instrument, or other interests.
To take a skill to the highest level also requires talent. Florian was gifted in dealing with horses. Groundwork and riding were particularly easy for him. That is why he specialized in them. However, without persistence, patience and perseverance, Florian could not have built the connection with horses that he enjoys today.
Horseback Riding
When it came to riding, Florian was drawn to reining, the dressage of western riding, in his youth. He completed several internships with well-known trainers in Europe and the USA. Thus, he perfected his riding skills on a wide variety of horses.
Later Florian became interested in classical riding. He discovered that English and Western riders were often two worlds apart. Florian found this very unfortunate, as he realized that each could learn from the other.
Therefore, Florian began to combine knowledge and technique from different riding styles. He focused especially on the careful and sparing use of equipment. With his own horses, he thus got into riding without equipment. However, he only practices this with horses that have been trained for many years and are in the best condition.
Today, Florian supports riders of all riding styles who want to refine their connection to the horse.
Horseback Riding
When it came to riding, Florian was drawn to reining, the dressage of western riding, in his youth. He completed several internships with well-known trainers in Europe and the USA. Thus, he perfected his riding skills on a wide variety of horses.
Later Florian became interested in classical riding. He discovered that English and Western riders were often two worlds apart. Florian found this very unfortunate, as he realized that each could learn from the other.
Therefore, Florian began to combine knowledge and technique from different riding styles. He focused especially on the careful and sparing use of equipment. With his own horses, he thus got into riding without equipment. However, he only practices this with horses that have been trained for many years and are in the best condition.
Today, Florian supports riders of all riding styles who want to refine their connection to the horse.
Beginning as a ”Horse Wisperer”
Gradually, more and more people turned to Florian for advice about their horses. They felt inspired by his approach to horses. Here are two videos from those early days:
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Fascination with Body Expression
The expressiveness of our body has always been a great fascination for Florian. He studied the reactions of animals to his body expression, read all of the books on body language he could find and worked intensively on his body awareness. Meeting Samy Molcho, the master of human body language, was a highlight in Florian’s life.
Florian realized that the knowledge about body language conveyed most of the time is superficial. Gestures and body positions are often equated with expression. Animals show us, that it is the overall expression that counts.
Fascinated by the connection between thoughts, feelings and body language, Florian started making people aware of their body expressiveness. Because if thinking, talking, and our body are all in harmony, we will be perceived as authentic by animals and humans.
Fascination with Body Expression
The expressiveness of our body has always been a great fascination for Florian. He studied the reactions of animals to his body expression, read all of the books on body language he could find and worked intensively on his body awareness. Meeting Samy Molcho, the master of human body language, was a highlight in Florian’s life.
Florian realized that the knowledge about body language conveyed most of the time is superficial. Gestures and body positions are often equated with expression. Animals show us, that it is the overall expression that counts.
Fascinated by the connection between thoughts, feelings and body language, Florian started making people aware of their body expressiveness. Because if thinking, talking, and our body are all in harmony, we will be perceived as authentic by animals and humans.
The Secret of Perception
Being with animals made Florian comprehend that many times it is personal perception that separates or unites different individuals. Horses, for example, perceive the world in a very different way than we humans, which often times leads to conflicts. But also, amongst people, our personal perception determines how we get along with each other.
Florian recognized that the boundaries of our own perception can be overcome by flexible thinking and by feeling. This is how we can immerse into a foreign world of perception and learn to treat our opponents the right way – no matter if it is a human or an animal.
Experience the World Like a Horse
Inspired by the world-famous behavioral scientist Frans de Waal, Florian started to train his skills in empathy systematically. His goal was to reconstruct the view of horses in the best way possible.
During this time, most influence was by veterinarian psychologist Dr. Temple Grandin. Due to her affiliation to the autistic spectrum, she can give insight into how animals see the world and process information.
Fond of her books, Florian traveled to the United States in 2011 to meet her in person and exchange thoughts. Based on that, he put the different ways of perception of different individuals at the heart of his work.
Experience the World Like a Horse
Inspired by the world-famous behavioral scientist Frans de Waal, Florian started to train his skills in empathy systematically. His goal was to reconstruct the view of horses in the best way possible.
During this time, most influence was by veterinarian psychologist Dr. Temple Grandin. Due to her affiliation to the autistic spectrum, she can give insight into how animals see the world and process information.
Fond of her books, Florian traveled to the United States in 2011 to meet her in person and exchange thoughts. Based on that, he put the different ways of perception of different individuals at the heart of his work.
Observation with Feel
Nothing can make the behavior of animals more comprehensible than observation. Thus, Florian uses every opportunity he gets to watch horses in the wild. This way he receives deep insights into their social life. However, what happens when you not only watch objectively, but also take in what you see with the horses, is especially exciting for Florian. Seeing horses is wonderful but learning to feel them is breathtaking.
In observing horses, Florian found an opportunity to study the behavior of horses while at the same time nurture the inherent ability to sense emotions and moods not only by reading body language but also by feeling them. He became aware of how many channels of communication often stay hidden from us that are totally normal for horses.
Florian’s Teacher Phoebe
If you ask Florian who he has learned most from when dealing with horses, he answers quickly: “From Phoebe!”. Phoebe is a quarter horse mare that has accompanied Florian since 2003. Due to her nervousness and her tendency to spook, Florian has always been advised to give her away.
Fortunately, he never followed this advice. He was convinced that there had to be a way to overcome those difficulties. Finally, he found it. As Phoebe reacted to very small changes in the training, she showed Florian what he had to change to make the cooperation work.
Every animal is different, but one principle always applies: The better we respond to an animal, the further it will accommodate us.
Florian’s Teacher Phoebe
If you ask Florian who he has learned most from when dealing with horses, he answers quickly: “From Phoebe!”. Phoebe is a quarter horse mare that has accompanied Florian since 2003. Due to her nervousness and her tendency to spook, Florian has always been advised to give her away.
Fortunately, he never followed this advice. He was convinced that there had to be a way to overcome those difficulties. Finally, he found it. As Phoebe reacted to very small changes in the training, she showed Florian what he had to change to make the cooperation work.
Every animal is different, but one principle always applies: The better we respond to an animal, the further it will accommodate us.
More of Florian & Phoebe
Communication on the Ground
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Circles in an Unusual Way
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Working with Barrels
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