Lynn and Her Brumby Sakima
Oct 15th, 2009 by Carolyn Resnick Method
Today we have a story from one of my Inner Circle students, Lynn Scott, about how her relationship is progressing with her wild brumby, Sakima. Lynn learned my Method through the Inner Circle Program and private telephone coaching. I have never met Lynn as she lives in Australia but she is testament to how effective virtual coaching can be when learning my Method. I do hope you enjoy her story as much as I did…
“When I go to my horses, all four of them, it never ceases to amaze me as to what they will bring that day. Thanks to Carolyn, it is a fascinating journey that I am on with my brumby. My truly wild boy is becoming more confident with people. Last night he was in the back paddock when I went to feed, so off I went down the hill calling and he hears me and comes cantering up, scattering the cows as he comes. Not at any time have I feared for my safety even when he comes at a canter. When I ask him to whoa he stops in front of me waiting for his reward. We then walk together to the feeding area.
Sakima has learnt the joys of carrots and apples, thanks to Carolyn for these tips. He adores his apples and carrots and even though they get stuck in his missing tooth he stills gobbles them down. Each time I see him struggle with his broken tooth I despair at the cruelty of people that chase the brumbies and inflict so much cruelty on them in the wild. They have no idea what pain they have created for Sakima. At least now he is safe even if he has lost his tooth and freedom.
Yesterday we had the best experience with the Rituals and when I was doing leading from behind it was a totally different experience than before. I rewarded him for this part of the Rituals by returning him to the herd as I normally take the others out when I work with him. I did this part with him as part of the herd as I have found he moves around the paddock more in the herd than when by himself and I wanted to progress to leading from behind. He and I were able to connect and he would wander off with me trailing behind. My other boys came up but I asked them to leave Sakima and I and they all wander off.
There were some important changes in Sakima’s behaviour yesterday. In the past it has been me that went up to his front every so often. Yesterday he changed the game and he would every now and then turn around and come to me, have his reward and then wonder off with me following.
I tried the gentle cluck to have him move on request but this did not work so this time I gently raised my arms to ask him to move on and the same time clucking. He DID and there was no wild reaction like last time. He simply walked on and stopped and grazed and then would after awhile turn and come to me. It was amazing and yet another step that you and I have been working on. So we have this on him now and today I will see how he is and if we get it again.”
Lynn and Sakima have experienced a further breakthrough in their relationship, which I will be sharing with you in my next blog. If you have a story you would like to share, may I suggest you write a summary in the comments box below and then send a full version by email to info@carolynresnick.com. Thank you.
Before the new ‘In a Box’ Program with the Waterhole Rituals™ starts, I want everyone that is planning on taking the course to try to find the reeds ahead of time. In the US, WalMart usually has them. You can also try Pier One Imports. If these stores do not have them then start looking for a natural branch from a tree that is very flexible and thin. You want it to be strong enough that when you swish it back and forth the branch makes a singing noise and does not break.
We have had a few questions about the exact content of the new Program, which I think are answered on the Coaching Programs page. I do want to clarify one thing, which is because we are not running the full Insider Circle Program at the same time, the calls will be the ones we made last time that were used successfully by the last ‘In a Box’ students, for example, Mitzi who commented on Tuesday:
For anyone thinking about doing the Water Holes rituals “In a Box” program I would say with no hesitations DO IT !! It will be a priceless experience for you and your horse. I was in the last class and I learned so much…I already had a good relationship w/ my Friesian gelding ,but with Carolyn’s teachings it took our relationship to a whole other level
We are starting just starting to dance together, after following the different rituals ..it is absolutely a magical feeling. You will learn so much from Carolyn and from all the participants. The calls are absolutely priceless…
One last word of warning though, be sure to sign up early because I will only be allowing a limited number of places on the Program and conversely, in the event that an insufficient number of people do register, then I will wait and start another course in the Spring. So either way, sign up sooner rather than later!
Thanks and enjoy your weekend.
Carolyn
No related posts.
hi patty
i just wanted to say thank you for sharing your experience, i have also had a few of these complete energy outbreaks in the horse, it is a fantastic journey we are on!
Carolyn,
Thank you so much for your reply and insights. I had never before noticed the relationship between feeling great joy and anxiety. This is so true!
And I also think Shiloh is truly experiencing freedom in new ways just as you said. Yesterday I spent much time with them and eventually did companion walking again. I did not trot with Shiloh but she seemed to be exploring the idea that she was free and could make her own decisions. For the first time, she needed more space between us rather than walking very, very close to me. It was quite encouraging to me to see her becoming independent and free like this. There were also times when she actively made the decision to follow me and I could sense that it was a free decision and not based on force. She did run off one time, but it was only brief, at the trot and not very far away. She seemed to be checking out her possibilities. It is exciting to find the real horse inside of Shiloh! I did not read your post until this morning and it confirmed and clarified what i thought about yesterday. I did continue a little bit of trotting with Moriah because she seems to like it and it keeps her thinking. These WHR are quite an adventure for us and we are learning things we had never even imagined before! Thank you so much for answering our question and for your marvelous help!!
Dear Patty
The way I see it from here Patty, you developed high energy with the horses with the companion walking and trotting and it got Shiloh excited and she ran around in excitement but not in fear. Sometimes horses when their energy is opened up,can break out in high spirits that turns to fear because the only time they are with high spirit in their life time was keyed by a fearful moment, it can be like a false fear as her wires get crossed. Because you were working her at liberty and she woke up to her own spirit she will not see you in a negative light because you did not pursue her, force her. It could had been playfulness on her part if she was running all over the pasture she was not trying to avoid anything in the bushes especially if there was no snorting, looking and screaming. Sometimes expressions of high spirit in a horse and in most cases using the Waterhole Rituals breaks a horse out in free spirited romps. And maybe this is what you discovered.
I think your mare saw the companion walking as fun but she might have opened up a deep fear in her. Manytimes the joy we feel can feel very much like anxiety. The feeling of anxiety and the feeling of joy are very closely related. Whatever happens using the Waterhole Rituals in these kinds of reactions is always perfectly ok and safe because the horse experienced freedom and interaction without force or capture. Please respond.
Hope this is of help.
Carolyn,
You mentioned on the last phone call that if I ran into problems I should post a question here on your blog. Yesterday I ran into a situation that has me totally baffled. I was companion walking with both minis. It was the best time we’ve ever had and I was enjoying it thoroughly. We even began doing a little at the trot. My horses are Moriah, who is the strong and alert leader, and Shiloh who is the follower. I was walking with Shiloh and at one point she seemed to have a stronger opinion about where she wanted to go and possibly was tired of doing the walking since we had done it longer than ever before. All of a suden she kicked and bucked and ran off at top speed. She has never run away before. She went at a full gallop around 1/2 of the 1 acre paddock making a circle around me and Moriah. She did this for about 3 minutes. Moriah and I stood still – I was trying to decide how to react to her sudden racehorse behavior and was amazed at her speed. Each time she passed us, Moriah would give a little kick and snort and then stand still again. Finally Morah must have had enough and she joined Shiloh in the race. I decided to go sit down in the run-in shed with the hay. Moriah immediately stopped and came to me. Shiloh stopped but was far away. She gradually walked up, too. Both horses were breathing hard and on alert. I originally thought it was all about me putting too much pressure on Shiloh. Afterwards, however, they seemed to be watching the woods and kept an eye on things even while eating hay. I decided the best thing would be to share territory until they were calm again. I know it’s hard for you to make a judgement about the situation since you weren’t here, but maybe you have some ideas. I’ve never seen my horses in that kind of full panic before. Could I have caused that with companion walking? If it was something in the woods, it makes sense to me. If I did it, then I’m glad they were at liberty so they could express their feelings to me and not have to repress them because they were on a lead rope. Also, if it had been Moriah who started the episode I would have understood, but it was the submissive, gentle one who reacted. Thank you for any insight you can give. I will be curious to see how things are today when I go out.
I will email it. And I thank you for giving me what I was looking for without me actually knowing what it was until I found the WHR. As for contacting me, I am active on the WRIC social network under my name. My email is fdt@fdhorsetraining.com I am always happy to help people with the WHR because I find the work interesting, rewarding and fun for the horse, the student and ME!
Dear Farah,
I have done the same thing may times writing to all of you on this section of the blog.
If you like you can e mail your story. I also want to thank you for all your support and encouragement to others. Where can people reach you if they would need your help with the Waterhole Rituals?
I am so mad! I was just sharing my great day with my horses and the WHR and the computer deleted my whole story!
Maybe I should email it you instead Carolyn?
Ohhh….i have been hit by vets bill after vets bill from both my dog and my horse. I can no longer afford to do the program. My horses hoof will be fixed quicker then my bank balance as it’s nearly christmas and i have a little boy expecting pressies and dinner!
I have already started sharing territory. Carolyn would it still be possibal to work through the rituals using your dvd and book (i havent bought your book yet but have your dvd). I tick all the boxes in terms of being safe to work with my horse – we aleady have a good balanced relationship and i am more than happy at liberty with him. I am used to working independently (although was looking forward to the support of a virtual group – but then, i’ve still got your blog which i already find very supportive) Either that or i could wait until next year when i have put some more money aside and hopefully don’t have to spend it on more unexpected bills! We’ve already had a major shift in his confidence from sharing space. In fact if we hadn’t spent that time, i don’t think the vet would have been able to treat his foot without sedating him…and as it was he took it all in his stride!
Thanks,
Becky
Carolyn,
I’m adding a comment about the last Insider’s Circle, and a wish for the future.
My experience with the first Insider’s Circle was nothing less than amazing. My relationship with my horses has progressed so much from this. And, yes, I agree that much can be accomplished using your method with this virtual training. There was so much support from you and from the other participants.
Because your method is not so much a “do this, then do that” type of training, it is really up to each one of us to learn and apply it as we see the experience grow with our horses, as each horse is different.
Even though I went through the first course, and learn much, there is still much to learn and I want to continue. Because I live in northern Wisconsin, where winter means lots of ice and deep snow, below zero temperatures, etc. I am not going to do this next in the box session. IT will be difficult to work with my horses much over the winter since I do not have an indoor arena. However, I want to plant the seed that there will be another opportunity to expand and learn more when spring comes, which up here means at least May.
Evergreen