Body language Body Talk
Sep 17th, 2009 by Carolyn Resnick Method
Hi. Body language is so important. It brings you closer to your horse. Your communication using body language becomes a shared dance at liberty. Body language causes you to talk clearly and openly to your horse. I like to call it Body Talk. When a horse responds to your body language it is the art of partnering with your horse.
One way to improve your body language is to pretend you are underwater. Imagine that the air that you are moving through is thick like water. Visualizing this will cause you to put your whole body into your movements rather than selected, machine-like, static, isolated signals. Instead, you approach the horse like a mime with full dancing, extended expressions. Think of your movements like Tai Chi exercises, not always that slow or exaggerated but close. As you are communicating, do it with expression to give your communication meaning. Take the time it takes to get the point across. Doing this helps to prepare the horse to pay attention and then it will give the horse time to figure out what you want and then he can clear his mind and respond. This means you have to make more effort in reading your horses mind to figure out the body language that is going to get the response from your horse that you want.
To start your Body Talk, first stand to full attention and then step back like a proud, enthusiastic horse and then step forward as if you know your horse will read your request when you give it. Start with something simple like asking your horse to back up or to leave your space. Use your body, arms and hands making the gesture in the air to move him back like you would signal a car in a parking lot to go back were he came from. Experiment. Play with it until you get something that works. Body language is a universal language that all creatures and humans understand. At first, your body language may mean very little to your horse because it is new and frankly you probably will not be very good at it at first. Starting your body language at liberty with a simple request like backing up or something that he already knows, will help you to get started.
Ask him to back several times using you regular cues to get him on to the subject of backing for you. Then once his mind is on the subject of backing, use your body language, dropping the cue and if he does not respond to your Body Talk, then ask your horse in the way he has been trained. Practice like this and it will eventually become natural. The more natural it becomes, the more you can direct your horse with Body Talk and the less classical training you will need to give your horse.
Believe that your horse will respond and then feel the intent in your body.
Always start your communication quietly and use slow body movements with slight gesturing at first. Then increase the speed and size of your gestures and end your statement with a burst of speed if he doesn’t respond. Ask your horse with the aid he knows and as you practice the horse will not need the usual cue to respond to your dancing, Body Talk. This may take quite some time but it’s well worth it.
A person might ask why would they want to have to increase their body language when a small gesture is sufficient. The answer is that incorporating your whole body is how horses communicate with each other. Connecting in this manner brings a deeper partnership in trust, friendship and performance in the dance you share together.
You and your horse will become more connected to one another in every moment. You will be giving your horse more of your focus and he will feel your intent stronger. Once you are truly in your body, you will tap into your natural horse whispering resources. The horse is also better prepared to respond because you are more engaged, which will cause your horse to be more engaged as well. You will become more present to the moment and improve leadership and communication at liberty. Body Talk creates a resonance between you and your horse. Pretend you are communicating with a dolphin or whale and that you have its full attention and give it yours. This will free you to be more expressive.
Getting in touch with your Body Talk as a communication aid is as beneficial as clicker training is to create the atmosphere of timing, intent and connection to the cue. Body Talk creates a deep cellular connection to stay focused on each other. It helps to keep the connection in place in every second you are in the presence of your horse. It is also great in opening the heart and engages you in your life to feel well being and uplifted with more energy and zest in general.
You will get in touch with your authentic self. You will return to joy and your natural instincts in connection through your love of horses.
Practice this with music. In fact, please send me YouTube videos of you dancing with your horse to music so that we can see the unity and harmony you share together. Just copy & paste the YouTube link into the comments box below. If you take the time to send me a YouTube video, I will continue the lesson on Body Talk with body language by doing a video as well. Plus, it is an opportunity for you to get some direct feedback from me. So let’s get started!
By the way I want you to show you Stina’s new video, which is called “The Unbridled Spirit”, it is just as beautiful to watch. Don’t be daunted by the production values though, Stina has been making videos for some time now, so just a little 3 minute short from you would be wonderful.
The video illustrates the feeling you will gain by connecting with a horse at liberty using Body Talk with intent and focus. It will cause your heart and mind to dance together creating harmony and unity and also cause the dance between you and your horse to become magical. It is a beautiful feeling to have your leadership dance lead by your horse’s responses to your Body Talk. It is primal, natural, up-lifting, magical and practical because you will find less training is required.
Have a lovely weekend
Carolyn
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Dear Carolyn,
I finally get it!!! I am very bonded with my stallion but I knew it could get even better — working with your program has been wonderful!
Another piece to the puzzle has been provided to me and I can see now why you are so experienced and understand horses language – I have been watching Freelands Gypsy Horses as they are foaling and in a herd environment – it has been FANTASTIC!!! I was kind of having trouble putting out food and forcing my boy away from it — I felt guilty – like I was being mean to him…………well I know better now after watching the “herd mother – pollyanna” and how she treats the rest of the band of mares and babies and how they react to her – it is nothing short of fascinating!!! They all have a pecking order and the one at the bottom of the list who pollyanna is alwasys putting in her place is the one who clings to her the most – “Midnight”… I see Midnight walk up with her head down and is constantly trying to get in her good graces even after constant rejections…….sometimes Pollyanna will let her eat some hay from the same bin – but not very often – yet Midnight is still desparate for Pollyanna to accept her…….the other day the groom took Pollyanna and her baby to ‘baby class” and guess who followed and was very concerned about what was going on….Midnight!!the rejected one…..the other moms and babies just watched and kept on doing what they were doing – It will be interesting when “Midnight” has her own foal – any day now – this will be her first one – I wonder if “Pollyana” will accept her then… And what is even more interesting they just added another mare to the herd and Midnight chases her – so now Midnight is not at the bottom of the rung so to speak – it is so fascinating – I can see even clearer now why your philosphy works and how blessed you are to have spent so much time with the herd you observed – you know how to speak “horse!” Now I can even be more aware of what you are teaching – I have had an ahha moment!!! If others want to see the “herd’ – they can go to freelandsgypsyhorses.com – For me with all your teaching and now the “herd” helping me to see – speaking horse is very different than speaking human………actually pretty uncomplicated – horses are pure of spirit – they don’t lie – we humans need to think like they do………it would be a better world for all of us….thank you for helping to enlighten those of us who desire a closer more meaningful relationship with our horse friends!!!
Hi,
Just wanted to share a link to this dance with Mercury and me. Some may have seen it already…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbNr07nlyfQ
Dear Stina,
I love your videos and we all agree that the music you chose is beautifully powerful. I appreciated your comment that you added above. As I read it my eyes welled with tears because that is what happens to me when I feel connected or ‘at-one-with’ someone or my surroundings. Your comments were EXACTLY what I feel and I’m so glad there are other horse women like me and all the others who are responding to Carolyn’s methods. I don’t feel so isolated now and the beautiful experiences I have been having are somehow strenghthened. I knew I was on to something but now I know I’m not crazy, the magic is real, so many of us are experiencing it.
Love
Leslie and my precious herd!!
Great video Stina!!
Dear Dee,
I made a mistake. The horse has a natural tendency to go toward anything that is leaving him and move away for anything that is come his way.
Stina, I can completely relate to you. I was introduced to the horse world I was 45 y.o. and was so scared of horses. Once I was able to face my fear of horses, I fell in love and became so passionate about horses, not riding, but the horse itself. Now I have two and started the WHR and can’t stop. I think I will always learn something new. My relationship with my two horses has changed so much since working at liberty it is unimaginable. No I don’t ride either, well starting on Magik, my QH, but that’s not my passion, playing with them is! And isn’t this so much fun!
Thanks for the video Carolyn and hope to meet you one day.
Jocelyne
Dear Dee,
In answer to your question above you send your horse way and then you call it back. But first you need to teach your horse to respond to the draw and send. When you do this what you are doing is teaching your horse to get back to his instincts. His natural instinct is to move away from anything that is coming towards him and leave anything that is advancing towards him. You practice this until it is natural. This is the herding instinct. Practicing this with your horse will teach you how to understand the culture of horses.
The important thing is that your horse is listening to your direction and not his. Music is a valuable teaching aid. It teaches you to stay in the rhythm with the music and this helps the horse to read your movements more easily. People are training horses without understanding the culture of horses first and this is puting the cart before the horse. Working with the Waterhole Rituals teaches people how to understand the culture of horses. Working a horse at liberty is harder but more rewarding. A horse at liberty can be much more challenging because you are giving the horse a true voice and a true sense of himself. This well reveal the nature of thw horse.
The important part is to really buckle down and practice the Rituals like Stina has and you will find magic and the connection, bond, trust and leadership that is truly a dance in unity and harmony which opens the heart connection most people are looking for even if they are not aware that they are. Working with horses in this way changes a feeling of responsibility for many people.
A student of mine for years always had horses and when they got old she sold them. This was standard practice. After becoming a student of the horse through the Rituals she changed and now has chosen to keep her horses, which have now grown into a sizable herd that she will keep for the rest of their lives. She no longer buys and sells horses. The connection grows much deeper when you learn the culture of horses and work to gain a leadership that horses are wanting to follow.
Thank you Carolyn and thank you Stina for the heartwarming video. I love to play with my horse, but I’ve never had the nerve to take music to the arena. I am so glad you showed the horses troting off and then returning. I think I might be able to do that. How do you call them back to you? Or do they just come back for more fun? I have temporarily lost my confidence to ride since the last time my horse bolted with me and I fell off, so I want to work on our connection and try to get his attention on me when he is with me. Thanks for sharing the video of your precious friends. They are so cute! Dee
dear all,
dear carolyn,
thank you for writing about body talks, thank you for posting the video
thank you all who are writing to me and commenting our journey.
we are on a fantastic journey together. today i receive this message
“Du hast mir sehr geholfen, und ich bin dafür sehr dankbar. Ich habe mir jetzt schon so viele videos angeschaut von Hempfling und Carolyn, aber war immer deprimiert weil ich nie dass gefühl hatte ich könnte es selber machen, bis ich deine videos gesehen hab. Absolut Wunderbar! Vielen Dank! Und bitte mach weiter mit deinen videos und der Erzehlung deiner geschichte. Danke!
Martina”
now if you can read german it means in short that believing in that YOU can do this , YOU, yes YOU is empowering.
This is no magic (yes it feels like magic..! ), no special talents needed to be born with,
take your time, ask questions, try again again and again, ad love, ad more love, try again, ask, wait, give a break, pause, relax, enjoy, watch the sky, see the birds,
and YOU will get there. YOU can get there.
We are finally playing free on the beach, people ask me – why dont you ride?
i dont care, i can ride, i could NEVER do this with my horses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwXqSP7u9jA
again i feel so grateful!
LOVE STINA
Fabulous to watch. Does anyone what the music is, it’s beautiful?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReiX_nN4OEo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sh-yUAKdP4
Dear Carolyn
Reading this post made me think of a wonderful thing that happened with my horse, Jiggy, yesterday. We were companion walking, and troting a bit too. But it all felt rather lacking in energy. Also his ears were back in the trot, as if to say this is hard work/boring. So as we are trotting I was thinking – how can I inject a bit of life into this? Then I just had the inspiration to lift my knees/body up and down with a lot of power and not much forward motion. Jiggy arched his neck up very grandly and went into a powerful collected canter beside me. It reminded me of a rocking horse. His ears were pricked forward, as if to say – hey this is fun, why have we never done this before? We had a whole lap of the arena like this, and it was a wonderful exhilariting moment.
Awesome thanks. I recently started using more of my body while talking to my horse. Mimiking as much as I can their language. It is awesome. Especially our very pushy mare have much more respect for me when I use horse language to tell her to back off.
– but it works quite well to use what I have – she gets the message. lol
Only drawback is that I don’t have a tail to flick and cannot pull my ears back as well as she does
Stina, that was a lovely video! Thanks to Carolyn for sharing it with us!
I’ll be putting a lot more thought into my body language. I am not naturally graceful so your analogy of moving through water will help me with my body awareness. Looking forward to your video, Carolyn!
Stina, that was so inspiring! Thank you. I’ve started to do a bit of this with my mare but it only works where she thinks there’s a food incentive! Still, it’s a start!
Please tell us what the beautiful music is!
Thanks again. Enjoy your horses…
xxx
when you practise a lot of body language you can improve yourself each day.
You will find out that you can make the language more quite and smaller.
Sometimes just move your hip a one or view more inches you get a total different reaction of the horse then when you did it the “wild” way.
It is so nice to do dancing with horses.
Wow — more to which to aspire! Thanks for this post on Body Talk. I won’t be sending a YouTube (because I’m technically not up to it and because we are not yet dancing together). Okay, I’m still working on eye contact! However, I wanted to share that after spending about fifteen minutes with the beginning waterhole rituals last night (again), my horse actually turned and came to me! This is a first, as she is usually more interested in eating than in me (hay or grass in paddock). As she walked to me, I walked to her. If she stopped, I stopped. When she continued, I continued until we were together. She sniffed and I scratched her forehead, and turned and walked away….with my horse at my side. Bliss! This happened twice (but who’s counting). Was it perfect? No. Could she just have been looking for more food? Maybe, but I don’t think so. Were we totally connected? Again, no. But it gave me hope, as does all your work, Carolyn, and videos like this.
Thanks for sharing.
dancing with the Stars – dancing doesn’t get any better than this in my humble opinion, truly warms my heart….agree with Stephani’s remark entirely – Thanks ! !
that was very inspiring and beautiful video, thank you so much for taking the time to video and share….loved the music