A New Way of Training…
Sep 10th, 2009 by Carolyn Resnick Method
For those of us who were blessed at birth with a natural affinity for horses, or who as children developed a fantasy surrounding these amazing creatures after reading King of the Wind, Black Beauty, Fury or watching The Black Stallion, we developed a magical relationship with them based on communication, trust and understanding.
However, as we matured, perhaps that relationship and the training have somehow become more pragmatic, more cut and dried. Has the magic of horses and horsemanship somehow disappeared?
Yet what if we could recapture those youthful dreams of a close personal bond with our horse, while at the same time facilitating and enhancing our training program? What if training could be more than simply a human’s will imposed on the horse and become instead a mutually shared partnership between horse and owner, based on a system of communication both could understand equally?
What if the horse could have a real voice and truly participate actively in his training, working with the owner to achieve success, without coercion or forceful means? … And what if, in the process, the training time was dramatically reduced while results were significantly amplified? What I’m talking about of course is liberty training and more specifically the Waterhole Rituals.
You see, the general perception of liberty training is a system which applies pressure to the horse in a confined area, through aggressive pursuit with snapping whips and manipulation along a fence line or in a bullpen. This is not what I’m talking about and I think it’s beholden on each of us to go out and spread the word* of a different way of training that relies on the innate instincts of the horse and his basic desire to communicate in a herd environment.
Horses in the wild have a large extended family, the herd, while in captivity they are more frequently isolated from one another and stalled for human convenience. This separation is in direct conflict with the most basic instincts and needs of the horse, which is why the Waterhole Rituals have such rapid and dramatic results. For thousands of years, the very survival of horses has been linked to their interrelationship in the herd, with a clearly established pecking order. They feel a responsibility and a security in the herd, structured by a hierarchy topped by the lead brood mare.
All horses in a herd are responsible to the lead mare, whose function in the herd is to caretake and provide order and discipline. She is to be vigilant and alert for any danger, and must, if called upon, relocate the group. As such, all individuals in the herd have a duty to keep an eye on her. During the course of a day, the lead mare will formally elicit eye contact from the various members of her group. Should any horse fail to acknowledge her, she may kick him, run him off his spot, chase him or even outright banish him from the herd until proper respect is learned.
When you understand this and can communication it, you may convince the horse that you are a viable substitute for the missing aspects of a herd in his life and may gain the attention and respect of the horse by functioning in the following recognizable capacities: lead mare, mother, father, sister, brother and friend.
Rather than forcing specific behavior from the horse, my Method focuses on the horse’s language, which is spoken through movement, not sound; through eye contact and touch. It is a ballet of shared energies, which forge a truly harmonious working relationship between horse and rider akin to dancing, where body language and compatible movement create a strong bond.
People sometimes tell me they struggle to express the words to describe the Waterhole Rituals and my work, so I hope the above helps.
Thank you for your ongoing support and contribution to our community here.
Enjoy your weekend
Carolyn
* Hi – this is Mark! You can help spread Carolyn’s priceless message in some of the following ways:
- By clicking on the ShareThis button below (click here to find out more about this)
- By posting on any horse forums you belong to with a link back to the blog
- By just telling your friends!
Thank you and you can always email me at info@carolynresnick.com if you have any questions.
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Hello, Carolyn,
I’ve been visiting your blog for some time now and I’m simply fascinated of your method and experience you have with horses. And I’d really like to thank you that you share your experience so generously on your blog. I’m German (so I apologize for my errors in English), but living in Italy, 52 years old, since my childhood magicly attracted to horses, but only now I’ve found what I’ve been looking for throughout my life: a way to really communicate with horses. Since April I’ve been doing a course in Germany with a similar method as your waterhole rituals (my trainer is Susanne Schwaiger, who founded the “Pegasus-Projekt” http://www.Das-Pegasus-Projekt.com., where I’ve been learning a lot about body language and eye-contact with your horse. (When I was younger I was taught not to look into your horses eyes, it might frighten him). One of the course members introduced me to your method and book “Naked Liberty”. I read the German Translation “Tochter der Mustangs”. I would love some time to come to California to meet you personally and participate in your courses. As for now it’s financially impossible and I’m studying your movements on you-tube. Is there anybody in Italy who is working with the Waterhole rituals? I bought an ex- racehorse a year ago, English thoroughbred, whose ex-owner made her starve. I think she was quite angry inside with the human kind, and it’s really moving to see how our relationship gets better day by day. Still, I have to learn so much to really understand what she wants to tell me, to recognize when we’re really in a relationship and when she again is only “functioning” as she had to in her past. Which of your books or DVD’s is the one I should buy first to really understand her language? And is it possible to ship them to Italy?
Looking forward to read your next article on your blog I’m sending my best greetings to you.
Andrea
Dear Carolyn,
I was in a round pen practicing the first ritual. Sharing territory. Sat in my chair asked him to eat. A couple minutes went by. Then he started to go wild. Running around the round pen, kicking out, coming close to me. I was getting concerned for my safety. I made him free lunge until he showed signs of wanting to come in. The first time I said no. Made him go around a couple more times.Then let him come in. After that he was fine. Followed me like a puppy dog. Even stood still for grooming. I don’t know if I did the right thing. How do you handle this type of situation?
Thanks~Lisa
for me it is not a new way of training, it is a way of life.
For example today it is pretty warm and the ponys have already thick coats.
So i thought we make a small ride today, normaly we make longer trips but that was not a good idea with this temperature. I go out to the fields and call the ponys. Took one out and give a good brush and then i took the harness and walked back to the pony. he looked at me and the stuff. And did a few steps away. Normaly he never do that or he have a reson for it.
So i ask him, would you go for a small ride? just a small one??
and i did one step more, again he got a few steps away from me.
Okay i said, then we wont go. probably not a good day today.
I brought the stuff away. Got back and ask if he wanna go for a walk and took the leadrope.
That was fine to him. He would like to walk….just walking and nothing more.
No work today. we have had a wonderfull walk through the woods. I was happy and he was.
So i always listen to my ponys, they would have a reason to walk away when i come with a saddle or harness and they move away from me.
they can not talk like us, they have body language and you have to find out what they are saying to you.
Maybe not in the right mood, or a bit tyred, somewere pain in the body?? who knows?? You can not see it always from the outside.
So you have to listen.
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you so much for your advice.
Probably I did not make myself clear. I have absolutely no trouble with Andre in regard to food except one particular food which I introduced in the last stages of the Program – I have been told by an Equine nutritionalist that this food is equivalent to chocolate in human terms – it has a lot of molasses in it It appears that this food seemed to stir Andre up so much so that trying to send him away caused him to become explosive and aggressive, for the first time I felt it unsafe to continue.
I stopped and considered how to clear the problem and it worked and then reduced the food to a treat once every two days. He is now calm and no longer reactive and not aggressive. He is absolutely fine with carrots – though generally I am cutting back on treating.
So now I am continuing back with the Method.
Best
Hello again Carolyn, and thank you so much for your answer!
I`ve read many of your blog posts, but it`s not everything I remember when I try to evaluate and reflect over my time with my horse. I hope it`s okay to ask these questions anyway? I understand if you get tired of answering all kinds of questions, often the same ones, I guess, but you can just refer to some of your older post, that I may have missed out?
She is just young, and I want to make her move more, not just eat. I know she trust me, and see me as her human.
Dear Crissea,
It is so important to understand we must use treats to our advantage and stop them when we experiance a negitive result. Before you use treats you must first teach a horse the ruels of when to eat and when not to. I know you know this. I am saying this for the other readers on my comment. It is not good to treat for every interaction or use treats if they do not work out for you. I know you know that too. When I use them I work my horse for a time and then we take a treat brake.
A horse that is food agressive I put food down and drive him away untill he will not try for the food any more for a long period of time. I will take my whole days lesson on that point alone then when the horse will not try to return to the food I take him a treat. Have you done this exercise?
I do not think you have by what I have read from your comment.
Manegment is the key to go horse training.
When we run across a problem. We stop our training and change the program to bring back the untiy by creating a plan that fixes the problem and then we can return to the orignial journey with out a hitch.
This is also the fun part. To take the time and change the direction of your journey to develop a deeper dance in unity, a dance where you have removed the conditional needs of the horse to be willing a good natured.
If we want deeper connections with less conditional requirments of trust and respct we need to take the time and continue to build in that direction.
We have got to look ahead and figuer out every aspect of what is happening in the moment and adjust our program to bring evolution and debeth to the partnership.
Example. If you have a horse that is so intrested in the ball when you pick it up that he tries to take it away for you you dont hurry past this by pushing past each other like basket ball player do untill you can throw it for him. You regroup and teach your horse right there to back up and weight. They you can toss the ball. Ever step needs to be adressed to keep the unity harmony and respect.
Hope this is helpful.
Dear Linn,
I have covered all this issues in past Blog post.
Take your filly away from the other horses and put her in a dry lot. Feed her spcial food and stay with her. As soon as she is finished take her back to the field this will introduce her to how great it is to leave her friends. If she can not tolerate that then take her just to the out gate of the field and feed her just on the out side of the field. Baby steps will build trust.
Put special food down for her in the field and do not not the other horses have any by driving them away. She will bond to you and like the idea of leaving her friends if she feels she is getting speical treatment. If her trips are in the begining are kept short and sweet. As her tolerance grows she will want to stay longer and take more training. Baby steps. All this information is in my past blogs and Inner Circle club and the box program.
My blog is full of information on all the points you are intrested in. Take a look at past entries.
Have you got my DVDs?
I hope my answere is helpful.
Hey Carolyn and thank you for your answer!
I`ve done everything with my horse myself, and everybody tells me she`s is the nicest, youn horse they ever seen. She is calm, and learn really fast. But I haven`t used your method so much with her before! And this is my issue; how am I going to get my babys attention when she has a great time with her friends in the field? My baby is really comfortable with grooming by liberty, leading and really everything, it`s just her motivation when we`re in the field. I understand I need to divide her from the other horses?
I`m just torned between just spending time with her and doing all the other stuff that I feel I need to do with her; such as check her hooves, trim, groom, go for walks, etc. How do you settle this in a training program? She is well-trained, no problems at all, it`s just me, I don`t always know when it`s the right time to take her out; I want her to chose, but if she always choses the other horses before me? She comes to me when I call her and everything, but when she`s not up to walking out? Do you make them come out, and then train with sharing terriotory?
I know I need to take my time, just sit with her, but then I need to take her away from the other, not letting her choose!
Dear Carolyn,
I am having such a wonderful time. I find it difficult to explain in words the joy and happiness I am getting out of this journey. But I am going back to creative pursuits and soon I will create a collage of the joys and despairs and heartache of my years with horses. This is the amazing thing in my earlier years I explored various art forms, the spokes of my life, then I discovered horses, the hub of my life, and now I am discovering the medicine wheel of my life. But I had to discover horses and your method for the revelation.
Andre became addicted to a treat food and became very difficult and volatile. Once I understood the problem and diffused the situation we became the best of friends. He is so affectionate and loving now.
I still use the treat food (in small quantities) when I want him to be very motivated. eg tossing the soccer ball out of the tyre. We play some games now too..
I now have another two horses (ex racehorses with problems) they needed homes. They both have lovely natures. Razz saw me with the soccer ball and looked so interested, I took it into his yard and he started moving it around with his nose straight away. He is going to be a fun horse.
We are going to a lovely place soon and the horses will be together.
with love
Dear Linn,
We Just finished the Inner Circle program and I uses a horse that is 14 months old. When he cane here he had no manners or desire to have his feet touched. He did not want to stand for grooming. He could not even be led. I introducing him to the Rituals he became a well trained baby on all these points. But it is important to understand that getting a handle on a horse requires the right vinue. Be prepared to use other methods to get you through general needs and start by working your filly in a area that seperates her from her friends. Once you know how to use my method then you can work horses together on green fields and get the results you are looking for.
You need to work with someone directly so they can guide you in basic skills of horse training a young one.
So many people get a horse and thing that they do not need skills and this is no a good idea. Direct support is your best solution rather than long distance advice from others who do not know your curmstances or skill and who have done little coaching themselves.
I have a DVD coming out on the training of the foal I was mentioning to you that might be just what you need but again I have no idea what your back ground in horse training is. this is very important.
Thank you so much for your story, Joanna! That really helps! I really feel I need to do these things with her, but it`s not always things she appreciate it…like cream on her legs, trimming, etc….so how do you motivate your young horse to do these things? I try to make them rituals, and she is really calm and easy going, but I just want her to enjoy everything we`re doing, not walk away when she knows what`s coming up.
I know she`s still a baby, but she sometimes acts really mature, like wanting to grass instead of playing. It`s difficult, because I can`t make her! You know? And talking walks it`s okey when we do it in just the right time, but if she is busy grassing and doesn`t fancy.. I can`t make her! And if this happens often I don`t get the chance to do things just me and her, etc… We have a nice bond, but I believe she has a stronger bond with her herd, and I can`t compete with that!
Any addvise?
Hi Linn,
I thought I’d share my story as it has so many similarities to yours. My arabian filly came to me as an unhandled 2 year old.I could not not touch her as she needed cream on her back legs, she had to be trimmed etc. I took her for walks from day 1 to to be alone together to help develop our bond, to condition the hooves, to stimulate the natural curiosity of a young horse, and get used to traffic etc. I also hung out with her alot in the field (still do). We don’t walk out when she doesn’t fancy it and I always let her have a say in the route we take. Now 3, walking is still the main activity we do together and she’s getting braver and bolder and now very firmly communicates the desire to leave the herd and walk out to new places.
Hello Carolyn, and everybody! I just love reading this blog, and about all your achievements with your horses!
I just been wondering, and I`ll be so happy to get some opinions!
My Arabian mare is just 2 years old, and still a baby. How would you train with a 2 year-old? I really enjoy our sharing terriotory-time, but I`m still torned! I have to trim her feet (she`s barefoot) and sometimes I just feel that we need trim (go out for a walk or anything) so that she don`t gain too much weight. I know it sound silly, but in the summertime they eat alooot and they always have food in the winter… We try to do different things, but I still feel that she is just a baby and Stina (Herberg) told me she didn`t even touch her 2 year-old!
So..anyone?
Hello Carolyn!!!! What a devastating empty life without you!!
It’s exciting to be experimenting with the rituals. Thank you.
To anyone thinking of taking her training I cannot say how much your life changes by taking Carolyn’s Insider Circle. I am not a horse owner. Had no experience doing ground work with a horse, didn’t even know a horse to work with. But I found a sweet Shetland, Lady, and joined CArolyn’s group despite my limitations. It turned out that this little horse had no real trust of humans. She stayed on the opposite side of the pony pen whenever someone other than her owner approached. She and I were both beginners except that I was willing to trust and she wasn’t! Due to Carolyn, Lady whinnies when I arrive. She nuzzles me as I sit in my chair and approaches people when they come to the gate! We have moved through the rituals learning about each other, herd dynamics and patience. There is noting but the moment we are in. I have learned to trust my intuition and ability to work with a horse. The first ritual, sharing territory, is all anyone needs!
Thank you again Carolyn. I look forward to learning more!
As always when I like something and see the benefits with my own horses, I enthusiastically promote it to anyone who will listen. Since I have been working with the WHR, I have referred many people and will continue to do so. I have gotten many thanks and appreciation JUST for referring people to your work as they are so happy to have found it. It is my mission to keep spreading the word as it is our job to bring the good to light. I am so pleased to be teaching WHR to the next generation of children/teens. I think it is so cool to start out with this work instead waiting to find it later in your life. Kids are so natural with it and of course love the bond they get!
Thank you! Your words speak volumes to me. I have recently started the rituals, focussing mainly on No.1 and already i see a change in the relationship with my young horse. We move together differently and she makes more requests about where we go for walks, when we stop to look around and i listen more. She frequently glances at me as if to say “can we do this together”! If I can be dramatic for moment, it stirs my soul to be out and about with her! I hope to start the ICP next month.
I know, i use the words Harmony, Connection and Partnership wherever i go now – training hardly ever passes my lips. I have to stop at my son’s football though…when i started to tell him what an amazing connection he had with the ball and it was as if he was in harmony with his team he went slightly pink…hehehe!
I’ve been helping people work with their horses for several years under the umbrella of ‘natural horsemanship’. I have recently dropped those words from what I do.
After participating in Carolyn’s Insider Circle, I see how the common natural horsemanship is not as natural or as gentle as people believe. Even when they speak of being ‘at liberty’, there is still a measure of coersion and force in the method.
I prefer to refer to what I do as Relationship Training, rather than natural horsemanship.
I have found that I am more able to achieve success with a client when we are focusing on the ‘relationship’ rather than the ‘training’.
And I recommend the Inner Circle program for anyone who want to learn more about that relationship, whether that be with you and your horse, or just with yourself.
Hey Carolyn! Miss you like crazy! If anyone is just thinking about trying the whr’s, I promise, it was and is, providing more connection, play and understanding with my herd and myself than any other method I have tried. We dialog, I understand them, they understand me. By showing them that I am listening to them, using their language, honoring their dignity and giving them a choice in our relationship, the magical friendship I have always dreamed of is now a reality. No, I’m no one special, no special skills, just a budding, brood mare, in progress. When is the last time your horse invited you to ride? Does your horse ask to play with you? Would you even know if he did? This isn’t hard to do. It’s not a high level skill that a beginner cannot learn. The whr’s are easy to understand, easy to do, and you can take your time. If you join the insiders circle, Carolyn will guide you carefully with each step. She is honest, straight forward, and puts the horse first. So will you. You can’t find this kind of help for this price, anywhere.
I ordered Carolyn’s book on audio, as I thought it would be nice to listen to it on one of my long drives (I live in northern AZ where everywhere else is a long drive). Instead, I have been walking around my ranch doing chores and communing with my six horses as I listen to a story that took place practically in my backyard, separated by only a decade. (For example, I grew up surrounded by open cattle land in the San Fernando Valley and remember showing at Indio in the 60s) Thank you for your story, which has helped me to reconnect with my childhood wonder of horses after having known them for 50 years!