Dancing with horses: the experience of the dynamics between horse and human that facilitates psychological and/or spiritual growth

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dc.contributor.advisorDudley, Nancy Q.
dc.contributor.authorAardoom, Annemieke
dc.date.accessioned2017-12-18T21:21:08Z
dc.date.available2017-12-18T21:21:08Z
dc.date.issued2007
dc.descriptionBibliography: p. 215-231en
dc.descriptionSome pages are in colour.en
dc.description.abstractThe purpose of this research was to look at the experience of psychological and/or spiritual growth as a result of interacting with horses. A second element of interest was to look at the underlying dynamics in the relationship between horse and human that facilitate this growth process. This research is qualitative and based on interviews with six co-creators as well as the researcher's experience. The methodology used was a combination of heuristics and a newly developed methodology based on chaos and complexity theories. It was found that the experience of growth was very much like the story of the universal and mythological hero, as described by Joseph Campbell (l 949). Participants embarked on a challenging journey with horses oflearning and connecting. The learning was how to build cooperative relationships with horses but also with others, with God and with themselves. The connecting was related to connecting with self, other, nature and God. The dynamics found in the relationship between horse and rider are mutual relationship, which incorporates communication, bonding and projection. Within this mutual relationship, the horse may take on the following roles: horse as friend, teacher, therapist, role model, healer, parent (mother and father), saviour and ally. A horse was also found to be a metaphor for self, shadow self, Divine/God, other, mirror, connector, instinct and meditation. Experience with a horse could also function as an analogy for relationships and life situations. The creative synthesis was based on the Vedic Horse Sacrifice and adapted to the findings of this research. The meaning of the Horse Sacrifice is the horse representing the universe and lower self of Brahman, which is sacrificed for renewal.
dc.format.extentx, 303 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.en
dc.identifier.citationAardoom, A. (2007). Dancing with horses: the experience of the dynamics between horse and human that facilitates psychological and/or spiritual growth (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/1078en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/1078
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/102079
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.titleDancing with horses: the experience of the dynamics between horse and human that facilitates psychological and/or spiritual growth
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineApplied Psychology
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
ucalgary.thesis.accessionTheses Collection 58.002:Box 1695 520492212
ucalgary.thesis.notesUARCen
ucalgary.thesis.uarcreleaseyen
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