Carolyn Resnick Horsemanship Blog: Horse Training from the ground up

Hello. As you may know, I have a very close and long-standing relationship with Neda De Mayo, who does wonderful work at her American Wild Horse Sanctuary, Return to Freedom, in Lompoc, California.

Neda has been a long time student of mine and has introduced a number of people to my Method during her workshops. As were putting together today’s blog, we came across a very interesting question from the Insider Circle which I wanted to feature. As you will read, this person was indeed introduced to my work via Neda and Mark told me that he was on the same workshop and that’s how he found out about me too! So I’d like to thank Neda and say that if you ever get chance to visit the sanctuary, I really recommend it. They run a variety of different events and workshops there too and of course it’s a wonderful cause to support too.

In fact, large parts of my Waterhole Reflections DVD were shot at the ranch and it really is beautiful up there, especially in the Spring when all the flowers are out, so go take a visit.

OK, so on to the question, which… Read more

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It’s really touching that people have been responding so deeply on the subject of such a small issue regarding a horse being so unwilling to have a halter put on, or the horse being so freaked out about the need to rip away from a human, because of the distasteful feeling of being with a human.

I appreciate that many people are willing to take the long journey to build a relationship with a horse as Robin and Carry have done with Pony.

In the traditional programs of leaning how to fix problems with horses, the problem gets fixed from an overall system and does not take in to consideration of the needs of the individual horse and human. Recently I watched a Youtube of a horse, he has a similar problem as Pony, not as bad, but still a problem of putting a bridle. The method just used force and persistence at the time the horse was fighting to get away.

I am working on my book and I just finished my prologue and what I wrote really pertains to the subject of how to approach really big problems such as with Cary’s experience with her horse. It requires… Read more

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WORKING WITH THE WATERHOLE RITUALS: RULES AND GUIDELINES

As we go along, you will learn many ways in which your approach can affect the relationship you share with a horse. The rules of your behavior will change according to whether your horse approaches you, or you approach your horse.

The rules for working at liberty to bring about a true instinct in a horse to want to bond and stay with you are:

1. If the horse does not like the direction that he is given, he goes away, signaling you to stop your interactio
2. To reconnect, you must seek permission to enter the horse’s personal space through the Hello Ceremony.
3. If the horse objects by walking or running away from you, you must then go away, giving the horse time to naturally choose to reconnect.
4. When you direct a horse when you are in his personal space, it should always be a request, and if he doesn’t respond to it, you drop the subject and walk away.
5. If a horse walks up to you and steps into your personal space you can be more assertive
6. If you are too assertive, your horse will leave you and you

… Read more

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Today I am sharing another question from my Insider Circle program. This is a common beginning experience. The student writes:

Three times I have attempted the circle game with my horse. The first time he behaved liked he invented the game. I thought, “This is easy.”

The second day with the circle game when I moved him off his hay he would walk a few steps forward then circle to my side and stand there looking at me. I would have felt bad chasing him off after he faced up to me, so I rewarded him instead. But, I worried that he thought that is what I wanted.

Then today when we were going to play the circle game I attempted to move him off his hay, he walked off in the opposite direction of the hay piles and stood about fifty feet from me, looking at me.

Looked to me like he didn’t want to play. So, I fed him carrots instead. I fed him carrots when he came up to me, then I chased him away and fed him carrots for moving away.
So, what do you think?

So let me first explain what the circle game… Read more

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Our Insider Circle class and the “In a Box” program are now over. It is such a worthwhile project bringing horses and humans together in a deeper bond from winning respect through allowing the relationship to grow naturally. I also focused on having the class develop a deeper understanding of horses from Sharing Territory with a horse in a way that fosters friendship, cooperation, and intimacy. The interactions that occur around Sharing Territory bring about a magical communication with a horse.

Mark is leaving up the Youtube videos and the questions section for a while, and we can still stay in touch with one another on my blog.

Going forward, I would like the class to communicate with one another on my blog on topics about the Waterhole Rituals and the relationship and communication that is developing with their horses, as well as any New Horse and/or New Human sightings!

The other day, I saw a man sitting with his horse in a field in a chair reading a newspaper, that is and example of a New Human sighting.

Please, feel free to stay connected through my blog, so we can still share with the world our everyday experiences with… Read more

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As you all know, I am working full time on my next book. Right now, my focus is on compiling the rules and guidelines to follow when using my method.

Rules and guidelines are what makes any method functional. It is all about the dos and don’ts in how to approach a horse. Following the rules judiciously is what creates the success of any method, not just following the rules.

Here are some of my suggested rules and guidelines:

• Wait for the horse to come to you and want to interact before interacting with him; or wait until you feel the bond is mutually shared in the moment.
• Never work a horse in a place he is not comfortable in.
• Never ask for anything until your horse is feeling safe, secure, and willing.
• If you lose willingness, change your approach, and focus on returning the willingness and relaxation.
• When using tack, when a horse resists or pulls, release the contact.
• When using tack, do not pull against resistance, unless you are using it in the Uberstreichen Exercises in a relaxed, benign manner.
• When your horse walks away from you, you walk in the opposite direction, to

… Read more

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Hello. Work is progressing well with my book and we are aiming to have it finished by the beginning of December. I’m very excited about it. We have been taking some wonderful photos for it so it will be more like a coffee table book. I will also be discussing horse and herd behavior and how it relates to our lives and society, so I’m sure you’re going to love it.

OK, on to today’s blog post and I’d like to share with you a little more from the Insider Circle. So one of my students asked:

I am working with a horse who really isn’t a perfect candidate for this. She is complicated and I knew that from the get-go….she is a Marilynne. She is the only horse accessible to me and I wanted to learn what you had to teach so that I would grow and be able to work with her as she heals. We are in the beginning stages of sharing territory and saying hello. She is learning to love both of these rituals.

I am still pondering how to help her overcome her fear of the reed. The look in her eyes when she sees

… Read more

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