Hello. Today I’d like to talk to you about body language or more precisely facial expressions.

I was reading in Robert Barber’s book about the fact that horses communicate with each other using eye expressions and I was really surprised with that. I have used body language all of my life and know that horses can accept messages, for example, from throat movements when swallowing. However, I was not aware of eye expressions and don’t know how I missed that.

Anyway, after reading Robert Barber’s book, I started practicing with my horses and found out that opening my eyes really big to a horse that was threatening me caused the horse to back down easily. So, then I started putting expressions on my face as a way to communicate and found that I have even became closer and more able to communicate with my horses. So, along with the body expressions that we use to communicate, I would suggest you also use facial expression and eye expressions as well.

So, please tell me how you get along with that. Maybe you already have stories that you would like to share on how facial expressions have helped you with your horses.… Read more

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Hello. On Sunday and Monday I took part in the first of my new Waterhole Rituals Insider Circle Program and had a wonderful time! It was so valuable to me to hear all the questions and where people are having challenges and I do hope my answers helped the Insider Circle Members who took part.

I thought it would be useful for everyone if I fed back some of the answers I gave as you may be having some of the same challenges.

A question came in from Marsha, who posted the question below and you can read my answer beneath that.

Thank you Carolyn, for a wonderful start. I took my almost 2 year old filly into the arena, after the session with you. When I sent her away, she first looked, very surprised, usually I just walk away from them, when I want my space. She did walk away and I rewarded her with a carrot. We did this about 4 times. All the others horses were watching very carefully. My question is… are we always to send them away from our space and connect with them, where they go to? Thank you again.

You only to ask … Read more

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Hi. I’d like to start off by thanking you for all the emails and messages you send. I’m often inspired by the wonderful stories and indeed was moved to write this following an email from a lady called Liz. Liz has what I call a true partnership and if she wrote a book, we would all benefit from it.

Her experience with horses is the formula in how to have a great connection and partnership with horses. It boils down to heart, caretaking leadership, experience and education. I was especially moved by Liz’s letter and pictures because it reminds me of my own personal journey with horses in my life. Liz has the right education and a natural gift with horses. It is the secret in getting along with them. I believe that most people who are drawn to horses, who understand caretaking leadership, can have this kind of relationship with a horse with the proper training and experience. Liz has put in the time and been educated in a proper manner.

Most people today do not put enough thought into becoming educated and matching the horse in their life with their ability. Once you have had enough experience in … Read more

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Hi again. Many people ask me how the Waterhole Rituals translate from the ground to the saddle. I think this is a good story that shows where the connection can go and how it can deliver tremendous results. In the YouTube clip below, you will see 21-year old Sophie go bridle-less for the first time. The rider in the film is 14-year-old Julie. The owner not clearly seen in the video is Kajsa Vikman. She has ridden Sophie for 8 years and has experienced some difficulties with her under saddle.

Kajsa began her relationship with Sophie when she was a difficult horse, rescued and in need of support. Primarily used as a trail/pleasure horse, she had her shortcomings but she also had many fine qualities. Sophie used to be a very high strung and nervous horse and still can be. She used to just ‘flip out’ and Kajsa wasn’t able to connect or communicate with her at all.

Kajsa remembers when she rescued her, the trainer at that time described her as having the attitude of a “delinquent teenager” as she was often wild and upset. When introduced to a new place, she would pace for 3 months straight. On … Read more

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Picking up on our conversation from Tuesday…

My advice is once you have built your foundation when you work your horse at liberty to think of working with slow and fast tempos as a way to create the connection and partnership you are want to advance to. Stina’s and Alessandra’s work with their horses on their YouTube videos show them working slow and easy and this is the way everyone needs to start out. Be very careful on this point. Don’t jump the gun. Alessandra knows now how to work her horse at all levels of energy and Stina is now beginning to work with her horses with a little more animation too. Readers might like to take a look at her work on YouTube and watch her development.

As you start to do this, remember to vary your programs of tempo to keep the horses happy connected and enthusiastic. If you have a low energy horse, start out with asking for more speed. This will cause him to wake up and be more interested in following your lead. In the wild, when the lead horse wants to get his band to run with him, he will agitate the herd … Read more

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Hi. I really liked the video that Stina put up on YouTube of Panadero and me. She was visiting me for some further instruction on how to proceed with her own horses using the Waterhole Rituals. I am sharing it with you because it gives me the opportunity to explain the proper approach on how to move forward in training a horse at liberty once a clear foundation has been created.

If you cannot watch this version where you are, try the one at the bottom of the post

To keep Panadero’s performance in balance and our connection at its best, I vary his daily routines with slow work and fast work to maintain the connection and his interest. In this video, my focus is to working him with fast interactions.

I was suggesting that Stina could work her horses with a little more energy because they have acclimated and bonded with her quite well. I suggest to my students to first start liberty training using the Waterhole Rituals slowly with lots of pauses and short sessions. I will then ask the horse to work with me a little faster as this is what gives me a partnership like the … Read more

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The bond between horses and humans is usually is not as strong as the bond that horses share with each other. Clearly there are multiple reasons for there are ways to try and bridge these gaps. Either the horse must be domesticated to our ways or we must follow a horse’s protocol and cultural laws. Their protocols are about creating well-being, responsibility, teamwork and unification between the herd and the leader. The natural result of these cultural laws is the creation of lasting bonds, harmony, order and a one-minded connection. We are drawn to horses like bees to honey and we know it has something to do with their spirit but in essence it is all these outcomes that we seek.

So the key then is to follow their protocol and culture and we must therefore start by drawing the horse to us to bond like they have drawn us to them and then a true connection can formed. This requires us to wait for a horse to be attracted without any influence other than our presence in his territory. In other words, the first Waterhole Ritual. This exercise creates a true bond from the natural, extemporaneous interplay between the … Read more

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