The next generation
"The horse is, and will always remain, a wonderful educator of human beings. Anyone who surrenders? To the horse and is not merely tolerated but truly loved by him, this person must be good and genuine through and through"
Clemens Laar, "Horses of my father"
One of the most important missions of the Anja Beran Foundation is to train talented pupils and bring them on to such an extent that they can spread classical equestrianism throughout the world and one day themselves become mentors of talented young riders. For this purpose the foundation intends, on the medium term, to grant scholarships which enable such pupils to pursue at least six years of training.
Expectations We Place In Our Young Pupils
In horse breeding there is a fundamental principal: “Breeders have to think in terms of generations.” The same applies for riders. Classical equestrianism can only be preserved and passed on if there is a system of constantly bringing on young trainers who firmly believe in it and are dedicated to sustaining it.
Training these young persons and accompanying them with constructive support to achieve the fully-fledged aims of classical horsemanship is a principal mission of the Anja Beran Foundation.It is a mission which, of course, we take extremely seriously because the future is in the hands of those who follow us, and therefore extensive and appropriate training is essential. And because we hope that these pupils will continue to uphold the standards we set and keep the light of classical equestrianism shining out strongly, the expectations we place in these young people now are – quite naturally – rather high.
They commence with a word which is often considered old-fashioned in today’s context: humility – humility and respect for creatures and creation and, ensuing from this, the willingness to serve. This is the most important pre-requisite to learn about classical horsemanship not merely as a technique, but to absorb and internalise it as a philosophy. From the attitude of humility, of not seeing oneself as the prime issue, ensues the ability and willingness to retract from the proverbial centre-stage oneself in the interest of the wellbeing of the horses. Subsequently comes the respect which not only characterises dealings with our four-legged partners, but also enriches interchange with our two-legged partners.
Anyone who thinks they know everything and can do everything, and really just require a bit of “polish” is certainly not the right person for us. The shine which we would like to impart to our pupils for their future way is not based on superficial polish but rather ensues from a holistic competence which exceeds beyond the equestrian level. Such a shine emanates from the authority which competence creates and from the principle of “not demanding anything which one cannot do or is willing to give oneself“.
The crux of the matter here is: if you believe that you have this humility; if you are willing to deal with human beings and animals with deference; if for you “good manners” are not merely an obsolete expression but rather the basis for daily dealings with others; if you are hard-working, disciplined, patient and willing to learn, we would like to know about you. You can then look forward to a form of training which goes far beyond riding in its more restricted sense.
The trainers, who will subsequently leave here to make their own way in the world, should not only be in a position to bring on horses and riders, they should also be a living example to others. Moreover, we would like our pupils to have a good working knowledge of at least one, but preferably two foreign languages; your sphere of knowledge should extend beyond the world of horses in its narrower sense, and classical equestrianism for you should not be a subject just for the vicinity of the stable, but rather a complete philosophy which you feel competent about representing in society.
The inscription on Darius the Great's tomb – and he is reputed to have dictated the words himself - reads: "I am such a sort that I am a friend of the right, of wrong I am not a friend. The right, that is my desire. To the man who is a follower of the lie I am no friend. I am not hot-tempered. What things develop in my anger, I hold firmly under control by my thinking power. I am firmly ruling over my own impulses. As a horseman, I am a good horseman…”
We want to form good horsemen and to help them on their way. If you feel that this is the way which you would like to go, please write to us.
