MANJEEV
NATURAL
HORSEMANSHIP
Helping people understand horses
through groundwork
The View from the Ground:
A podcast
Because sometimes, the best view isn’t from the saddle—it’s from the ground.
If you've ever felt there’s more to horses than just riding—or you're curious about what it truly means to connect with them—The View from the Ground is the podcast you didn’t know you were missing.
In each episode, we sit down with people who’ve chosen a different path with horses. Some are seasoned horse people; others are just beginning their journey. What they all share is a deep desire to understand horses—not to control them, but to communicate with them. We explore what it takes to build trust, develop real connection, and create lasting partnerships based on respect and empathy.
Welcome to their world—and ours.
Episode #1: Pranita Balar, a professional dog trainer discovers natural horsemanship.
Joining Charlotte is Pranita Balar, a certified canine behaviorist and founder of Bark & Bond, a dog training institute in Mumbai. Now, you might wonder—what does a dog trainer have to do with horses?
Turns out, a lot.
Pranita’s journey began in a similar way to many of us: she loved animals but didn’t grow up with them. After diving headfirst into the world of dog training—without ever owning a dog—she eventually found herself drawn to the healing power of animals. That curiosity led her to equine therapy, and ultimately to Charlotte’s center in Jaipur.
And here’s the kicker: Pranita never even wanted to ride. She just wanted to understand horses. That simple intention opened a whole new world.
Pranita's website: https://barknbond.com/
Episode #2: Saravanan, from corporate life to redefining India’s equestrian landscape
In India’s growing equestrian scene, few names are as dynamic and quietly transformative as Saravanan, founder of Equenatural and The Tack Shop. But long before he became a serial entrepreneur in the horse world, Saravanan’s life was steeped in the fast-paced rhythms of the tech and corporate industries. His unexpected journey into horsemanship began with a single, powerful moment: watching a documentary on Monty Roberts.
“Seeing a wild mustang go from untouched to being ridden within 24 hours, and all without force—it blew my mind,” Saravanan recalls. “I didn’t even know what horsemanship was before that. But that film showed me the depth of connection possible between humans and horses, beyond just riding.”
This spark of curiosity soon led him to explore natural horsemanship in depth and do a course at Manjeev Natural Horsemanship.
The Tack Shop: https://www.tackshop.in/
Episode #3: Mairi, discovering natural horsemanship at 69 years young
Mairi first came to volunteer with us at the age of 69. Now 71, she has returned not once but twice, deepening her experience with horses and with herself. Her story is a gentle but powerful reminder that age is just a number when it comes to pursuing what stirs your soul.
Before coming to our center, Mairi had little direct experience with horses. In fact, she felt more comfortable appreciating them from a safe distance.
“I admired them and totally respected them,” she shared. “But I preferred them with a fence between us. I had this fear of their unpredictability.”
It wasn’t until she tried a few sessions of equine-assisted therapy that something shifted. The horses worked their quiet magic, and Mairi found herself longing to be closer to them—to truly connect.
As Winston Churchill once said, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” For Mairi, this rang profoundly true
Episode #4: Pia on rehabilitating rescued horses through natural horsemanship
In our latest episode of The View From The Grounds, we sat down with animal sanctuary founder Pia Trivedi, and the conversation left us both inspired and deeply moved. One moment that particularly stood out was when Pia reflected on watching Manjeev work with some of the more difficult horses during our recent course at the Backwater Horse Sanctuary.
“I really think that when I saw Manjeev working with especially the tough equines—the ones that wouldn’t come close, the ones that wouldn’t listen so easily—I was amazed by his patience. He never lost his cool. He would take one step back, two steps forward, and just stay present with the horse. I realized you can’t give up halfway, you have to finish the process.”
For Pia, this lesson was transformative. Running the Kalote Animal Trust in Maharashtra, home to over 800 rescued animals—including nearly 80 equines—means she often encounters horses carrying trauma. Before the course, she admits she would sometimes get frustrated in the round pen, unsure if she was doing the right thing. Seeing patience and presence modeled in practice gave her a new perspective:
“What I learnt is that just don’t give up. It takes a while for the horse to understand what you are doing. And you have to be really there—mentally, emotionally, physically present. If you’re not ready to be present, then don’t step into the ring.”
About Kalote Animal Trust: https://kaloteanimaltrust.com/about-us/
Episode #5: Asha & Arun on discovering natural horsemanship as a couple
In this week’s episode of The View From The Grounds, host Charlotte Kingsman, co-founder of Manjeev Natural Horsemanship, sits down with Asha and Arun, a couple from Delhi who run a thriving pet boarding facility and share a deep love for animals. Their story is a beautiful reminder that when it comes to horses, it’s not just about riding—it’s about connection, patience, and partnership. Unlike many in India who bring a horse home first and figure out the rest later, Asha and Arun took a different path. When the opportunity came to adopt horses, they decided to educate themselves first. As lifelong dog lovers and trainers, they knew the importance of communication and wanted to give their new equine family members the same respect.
You can reach out to Arun & Asha via their Instagram accounts:
@pethomeboarding for their pet boarding services
@animalcommunicator.asha for Asha’s telepathic communication services
@petnutritioncoachindia for their pet nutrition services
Episode #6: Sukriti - A Harvard psychologist learns natural horsemanship for equine therapy
In this episode of The View From the Ground, we chat with Dr. Sukriti Drabu — a Harvard-trained psychologist with over a decade of experience working across Singapore, the U.S., and India.
Despite her deep expertise in the human mind, Sukriti found herself drawn to an entirely new kind of teacher: the horse.
A few years ago, she joined MNH’s natural horsemanship course shortly after a serious riding accident. What could have been a setback instead became a turning point. Unable to ride, she turned to groundwork — learning to connect and communicate with horses from the ground up.
What she discovered profoundly influenced both her personal life and her professional practice.
“When you can look outside of yourself and try to put yourself into a completely different model of being, of functioning, of connecting, of trusting — it has a profound effect on how you see everything,” Sukriti shares.
Groundwork, she explains, isn’t just about training horses; it’s about cultivating presence, empathy, and regulation — the same foundations that underpin human wellbeing. For Sukriti, it became a daily practice in grounding and clarity.
Now based in Delhi, Sukriti runs a thriving therapy practice and is laying the groundwork (quite literally) to introduce equine-assisted therapy — bringing together her psychological training and her horsemanship skills. She envisions a farm-based therapy space where clients can experience the calm, co-regulating presence of horses as part of their healing.
Already, she’s witnessing these benefits at home. The groundwork exercises and quiet time spent with her horses have become a source of emotional balance for her and her two children, each with unique temperaments and neurodivergences.
“I see how it benefits them in completely different ways,” she says. “For one, it builds flexibility; for the other, it helps regulate anxiety and teaches the give-and-take of relationship.”
Sukriti’s story is a beautiful example of how learning from horses can deepen human connection — not just in the therapy room, but in everyday life.
You can reach out to Sukriti via her Instagram @drsukritidrabu and her therapy center is: www.wabysaby.co
Episode #7: Jessica - The 12-year-old who taught herself natural horsemanship
This week on The View From the Ground, we share the inspiring story of Jessica Martin, a young horsewoman from the UK whose journey into natural horsemanship began under extraordinary circumstances—and at an extraordinarily young age.
Jessica’s horsemanship story began at just 12 years old, when she adopted Ice, an underweight and deeply anxious rescue horse who had been handled through harsh, traditional methods. When she brought him home, she couldn’t even get near him—feeding meant dropping a bucket over the stable door and stepping back.
With no mentor and very little experience, Jessica turned to what she did have:
Google, YouTube, and the Monty Roberts Online University.
She subscribed, studied, watched, rewatched, and practiced—slowly teaching herself the foundations of natural horsemanship. What began as distant, cautious interactions soon transformed into a trusting bond:
“We went from not being able to get near him… to Ice sitting with his feed bowl on my lap.”
Through patience, groundwork, body language, and consistency, Jessica rebuilt Ice’s trust from the ground up. She discovered what many lifelong riders never learn: that horses aren’t “misbehaving”—they’re communicating.
“We’ve all heard stories of horse whisperers, well here’s your chance to become one. Held in the heart of Haryana’s countryside, this horse whispering experience is absolutely enthralling.”
Delhi Little Black Book (LBB)
