Horses, Love & Science: The Eight Commitments of I-Thou Horsepersonship

Horses, Love and Science breathes new life into the world of horsepersonship and horse training, offering readers a powerful and effective framework for living, learning and working with horses.

Author, I-Thou Horseperson, Animal Assisted Psychotherapist, Educator and creator of I-Thou Horsepersonship, Meg Kirby, invites you on a journey through the Eight Commitments of this life changing practice, designed to take your understanding of and relationship with horses to an all new level. From I-Thou theory to Science, to Trauma-informed, Personal Development and Value- based perspectives, to Ethics and Enrichment, this comprehensive approach offers both thought-provoking insight into human behaviour and horse behaviour, as well as practical advice for those seeking a new way with horses.

Practiced by hundreds of students worldwide, the I-Thou Horsepersonship framework is out to change not only the lives of horse people, but most importantly, the wellbeing of horses.

"Meg Kirby's I-Thou Horsepersonship and its Eight Commitments provide a wonderful superstructure for anyone seeking to understand and evolve their interactions with horses."
- Nina Ekholm Fry, MSSC., CCTP, Director of Equine Programs, Institute for Human-Animal Connection, University of Denver

"Horses, Love and Science captures the sensitivity of the relationship between horses and their riders or handlers. Meg Kirby brilliantly uses Buber's I-Thou philosophy to underpin the essence of working within the realm of horses' individuality that allows the reader to see horses as beings with intrinsic value, paving the way to a profound sense of relationship and personal growth. The Eight Commitments provide a solid roadmap to the art of horsepersonship that reveals the beautiful interspecies bond that can be formed. Whether you are new to or advanced in equine-assisted services or horsepersonship, this book will ignite your soul and guide you to a deeper understanding of the horse-human relationship."

- Amy Johnson, Animal assisted services practitioner, researcher and educator, University of North Florida

"Meg has poured her hunger, heart and soul in this book...a valuable resource for both the novice and experienced horse-rider who wish to deepen their understanding of the horse-human relationship by becoming a conscious, aware horse-person."

- Marijke de Jong, Founder, The Straightness Training Academy