When I met Divya and heard her talk about horses, I immediately understood that something was different.

It was not just a matter of being in the presence of an expert but of someone who lives the matter from within, of pure passion, a life dedicated irrevocably to this form of love.

A mix of passion for the wild life, for horses in particular and for the study of psychology and body language.

Divya… where did this all begin?

I was born in the Auroville community of French and German parents and I had an “into the wild” childhood: up to 8 I spent my time naked, in the subtropical forest, climbing trees, without computer, without TV, without cell phone, and animals have always been present in my life : I fed peacocks, I ran with squirrels, there were cats, dogs, mongooses, snakes, goats, etc.

When I was 7 I discovered horses because all the girls ride here, I also went with a friend and from the first day I realized that it would be one of those things that lasts a lifetime.

I started with ponies, had one of my own named Magic, and I’ve always had a horse ever since. I learned different styles and followed a mix of them, until I said enough with the lessons and started riding free .

When did you turn this into a job?

My work in horse riding is not about teaching people, but relating to horses: I take care of them , feed them, treat their injuries, various problems, spend time with them.

After the pony, at the age of 13, I realized that the secret was in a personal relationship with the horse and began to create it. He was no longer an animal but a friend and it was no longer a question of riding but of spending time with him.

At the age of 21 I finally understood that while riding, I did not know what I was doing from the point of view of the horse, so I left all methods: after studying their psychology everything has acquired meaning, I understand them and I can really make myself understood . It was shocking and beautiful at the same time, one of those things that change your life.

Now I have developed a relationship with Santiago, a former racehorse with post-traumatic bad imprints due to the violence suffered. I make him work with children to change his behavioral patterns from negative to positive.

Let’s get to the point: what are the benefits of having a horse as a friend?

Let’s start by saying that horses are different from other animals . With a dog or a cat it is different, they live with you, you feed them, they are attached; the horse is different, it is a relationship that is not based on food addiction , it is about having a real relationship, they really want to spend time with you for a form of friendship, for a sense of family , they recognize you as a leader brotherly: they begin to follow your orders instead of their instincts and you begin to trust their instincts instead of just your orders.

With horses you can easily experience the “flow” : the rest of the world disappears, it’s just you and him, there is only the present and what you are doing in the present. Stop thinking, just act … the apocalypse can rage in the world but you are with your horse.

I believe that horse riding surpasses all solo and team sports because there is a real connection , a unique and different dimension. It is about playing sports and at the same time being with someone you love, to the point that you don’t feel fatigue until the end.

You work with a living being, not with a tool or a bike; you always wonder what you are doing, you don’t think only of yourself, you don’t kill everything and you question yourself , you listen, you learn a new language , you have to know how to control yourself because the horse reads your emotions and reacts on the fly.

Relating to horses is the best method I know of to develop assertiveness : managing emotions without being passive or imposing. It’s not enough to laugh with your mouth, you have to do it with your whole body. Horses have a personality ( horsenality ) and you have to study their psychological type , because there are different ones and you have to be sure that you are communicating correctly.

All very fascinating. Who can dedicate themselves to this path?

The most obvious and politically correct answer would be “everyone” but in practice this is not the case. Whoever is ready to question himself can ride without method.

An example: when I started working with an old mare called Crystal Air, we didn’t communicate well and I couldn’t push myself, and I wondered why she didn’t understand me.

I left the method and went with her to the forest, decided to research body language and found that I was asking him the wrong thing. Her answer was right, it was the question that was wrong! Then I changed my posture slightly and the horse changed its response: the problem was me, not the horse.

If you question yourself everything works, but you have to know how to do it. Children are psychologically flexible and know how to question themselves, it is a natural attitude and in addition they do not have to unlearn anything.

How has all this influenced your daily life?

A significant influence , it gave me something that I always use, especially in communication , a passion of mine and also a great social problem because people, in general, do not know how to communicate and consequently do not know how to get what they need. Result? They fall back on passivity or aggression but are hardly really themselves.