The Foundation for all Equestrian Pursuits
Jul 7th, 2009 by Carolyn Resnick Method
Welcome back, and if you live in the US, I hope you enjoyed your 4th of July celebrations.
If you have been reading my blog for some time, then you will know that I believe any relationship with a should be based on a deep heart connection. So before we even start to train a horse with traditional methods, I believe we should take the time to bond with him and shape his character and attitude to fit in harmony with us. My focus is on developing a personal bond and demonstrating appropriate leadership to build a “magical” connection between horse and rider.
The magic between the two happens when the horse instantaneously understands our intentions and there are no delays or discrepancies in the interaction. The team moves in unity, like horses move in a free running herd. A relationship with this kind of connection brings well being to both human and horse.
When a horse is not enthusiastic about what he is doing, it is very rare to get an exceptional performance out of him whether on the ground or under saddle, in competition or otherwise. However, enthusiasm can be easily built before long before the introduction of tack and round penning. Setting rules of behavior not only cause a horse to become responsible for his own proper conduct but also make him eager to learn. All of this will become clear to you if we go to the roots of these principles and understand how horses operate.
In nature, horses are herd animals. From birth it is the mother and then later it is the herd, through social interactions, that shape the character of each individual within the herd. This process, necessary for the complete development and well being of a horse, makes it possible for him to fit in the social order that exists in the community of horses. Because our domestic horses don’t live in a natural herd, they cannot receive this essential education. Often then, the horses that don’t experience this kind of social interaction develop an extreme personality, either dominant or shy, and struggle to fit in. Since it is we who domesticated the horse, it is our responsibility to shape his character.
In nature, the spectrum of the equine personality goes from “submissive” to “dominant” but at the top of the social order we find the “leaders”, one male and one female, who all members of the herd follow and respect. The strongest instinct in a horse is to follow a leader. However, when the horse perceives a lack of leadership, he has a natural tendency to want to lead.
Every horse is an individual and should be treated in a manner that suits his own personality. So for example, submissive horses need their confidence built and dominant horses have to acquire good manners and respect for humans. It is extremely important to keep their dominant nature intact but at the same time, teach them good behavior.
Lead horses normally need minimal shaping or none at all because they are the natural caretakers of the community. Working with them is often a pleasure because they naturally have the social skills and desire to fit in. In general, lead horses are looking for a job to do and for this reason, need to be handled with respect.
One constant with all types of equine personality though is their response to human aggression. If the horse is in an open space, this response is flight. If the horse is cornered, it is a defensive attack but then ultimately resigned submission, which you see quite often in round pen situations. Such an experience could influence in a very profound and negative way the horse’s nature and this can be play itself out in his behavior and performance.
When we reprimand a horse harshly, the connection between horse and rider is lost. At this point the training should be stopped and the quality of the connection re-established. If we look at the word dressage, it means to train a horse in the moments of harmonious connection. The correctional use of the whip and the spur would break that harmony. If a horse can feel a fly, he can feel an aid of the same lightness. Neither the spur nor the whip can help you step you into the magic with a light heart. By developing a horse’s character to fit in harmony with you, training and performance become a harmonious dance.
Does that make sense to you? I’d love to hear your views…
Carolyn
No related posts.
Delightful post, thank you! I hope to read more of them now that I have found your blog. I also hope more people discover this gentle way to be with their horse.
By the way, how did add the custom avatar image to your comments? Is it a special WordPress plugin?
You have a wonderful horse logo and banner design.
Becky comment 8. It’s not wrong to want to ride a horse and yes that is why most people have them. Sadly though many people don’t see the animal and some although love them don’t seem to get the relationship bit. I see it all too often. I’m sorry to say that I have seen horses being treated more like a car or motorbike. How many people just send them off to someone else to be ‘fixed’ instead of making the effort themselves to resolve any problems or take the time to understand why there is a problem. For example a girl at our yard has to get someone else to catch her horse so she can ride it at the very same time is commenting on how much more Del trusts me and what a fantastic relationship we have-kind of speaks for itself doesn’t it. Especially as I have very little horse experience and education apart from this. Would I keep Del if I couln’t ride him, as long as I can afford it, absolutely yes.
Hi Carolyn, and all
First off, Jo, I can so well relate to what you wrote! I spent 37 years away from horses after a youth of riding every day, even winning junior rodeo events on horses I trained myself.
Carolyn it has been a delight to learn your methods, and Capricho (our perhaps 2.5 yr old Friesian/quarterhorse rescue gelding) is enjoying them just as much. What you write is essential with him, a very strong spirited guy who I think would become dangerous if someone forced him to do things. When we got him six months back, they were roping him to catch him. He saw nothing in the human prospect.
Now he is putting his head in the halter for me – when we´re not working at liberty, that is. Yesterday he just danced with me, mirroring my movements. Sometimes he´s a bit nippy, so now he is learning what “beat it” means. I think this is the only way to discipline him – if he nips, the playing stops. He always wants to play some more!
Yesterday for the first time he did “go trot” and came back several times. He is phenomenally intelligent. He was getting a little shovy about grazing while walking, and I just started using a certain sound to pick his head back up, and now he responds every time.
The only problem we have is me… I´m learning horsemanship all over again, as Jo well describes. Sometimes I can be thick, but luckily Capricho is patient with me. It is so heartening to see him push his nose into the halter. Yesterday he played, leapt, jumped, and came immediately to a halt and faced me standing still when I asked. Thank you Carolyn for your part in this miracle!
My situation is a bit different. I operate a horse rescue and sanctuary in Rhode Island (21 horses at present). We have everything from youngsters to old timers, mustangs to warmbloods. We keep them as naturally as possible – 24/7 turnout, herd environment, grazing etc. Several months ago, I discovered your methods. Having been using variations on a theme of Natural Horsemanship, these really clicked with me. Have had a great bond with the horses but knew there could be more. I have since been going back and starting all the horses over using the Waterhole Rituals. Our volunteers are also practicing these as well with the horses. We are having wonderful success. My only dilemma is when/if a horse is adopted, trying to persuade adopter to practice these methods. I am recommending that all prospective adopters familiarize themselves with your work. Our adoption process is very extensive and the adoption agreement is very protective of the horse. We are also loaning out copies of your DVDs to prospective adopters as well. We’ll see how we get on. Thanks so much!
Well, my mare was quite difficult for me when I got her and me and my instructor used conventional methods to train her. She wasn’t too impressed with that and after a long time we figured out that it was best not to seek the conflict. If I only knew then what I do now! It may have taken me months to train her instead of years. I started free work and later on waterhole rituals and even though I haven’t changed anything in my riding, it has improved so much! Both my and my horses sensitivity has improved a great deal and I’m only starting. I’ll never go back to the old training methods! It just makes me wonder; what ideas do people have about what riding and training is to a horse? I guess they believe that an animal is just a bunch of conditioned and unconditioned reflexes. We know better now.
Carolyn, it makes a lot of sense !!
I would like to hear your opinion on what happens to a hoese when it does not have a herd..
Many people does not allow their horse to be with other horses because they are affraid they will get injuries from playing or fighting. Will a horse kept like that react in the same way as a horse in a heard?
And how about stallions?
I have a 3 year old stallion. He is still turned out with the other horses, but I can se that he is begining to have his own opinion about things and when the lead horse askes him to move he resists. I am not quit sure what to do if I have to seperate him from the others.. Is it better to geld him? He is the sweetest little boy with me and he might be a good subject for breeding. (He is a pure bread Knabstrupper. And there are very few of them) But the most important for me is to give him a good life.
I will appriciate your opinion on this.
Kind regards
Zoe
Thank youfor expressing this! There is truly nothing more magic than when another being is truly present with you, allowing the heart-to-heart and soul-to-soul connection!
when I became a working student at a 3-day event facility/cattle& hay ranch, my coach, a small, 50′ish woman also treated the cows with the kind of respect and invitation to “co-operation” you talk about here. I became acutely aware of the old masculine/dominant ways, and the feminine/co-operative, interactive, respectful ways. When horses came in for training with various issues, I noticed that they changed quickly into happier, enthusiastic beings. The rules were clear and fair, everyone communicated and enjoyed themselves. The resident horses lived in herds and roamed the ranch, so my education included horse(and cow)/herd behavior and communication. It was truly heaven for all of us, and the best education I’ve had. PS. cows arrange “babysitting” ! PPS “Enthusiasm” comes from “En Thios” : in god, or in spirit. May we all live “enthusiastically”!!
Amber, I really agree with what you say about a horse’s freedom. I have a horse that has taught me this lesson – over and over again. He can’t stand it and will protest loudly if I trap him in any way with my riding via the reins or too much leg. I don’t believe in any kind of auxiliary reins so I don’t use them. I used to use side reins but no more since I saw how he felt about them. For me, if I can ride my horse and free him that is my intention. If I ride to enslave him, than I don’t want to ride.
…which is why i always battle with the fact i WANT to ride horses. Oh i do. Why can’t i just be content to be their friend? I mean, forever. If I loved horses that much, why would i want to ride them? How many of us would actually keep horses if we couldn’t ride them?
Carolyn,
I’m fascinated. You speak a truth that I have been seeking for some time.
After a lifetime away from horses, I was suddenly “pulled back” emotionally to them. Exploring this
attraction, I spent some time with feral horses. Interacted with several individuals, including stallions, and was even accepted as a member of one band.
I eventually found my mare four years ago. Mandy was the leader of a herd of 33. When I bought her at age 11, she had already had 5 previous owners. She was dull and emotionally shut down around humans, expressing “resigned submission”.
Apparently her very quiet dominant behavior had confused and disillusioned a string of previous owners. She was a real challenge for me, a first-time horse owner. She demanded that I become the leader she deserved. I listened to her and realized how sensitive she really is.
I not only treat Mandy with respect, but with dignity.
I have learned that preserving her dignity is perhaps as important to her as preserving her life. It is certainly critical in preserving her emotional life.
Mandy now lives outside 24/7 on a large horse farm. She is the leader of a herd of about 30 horses.
Years ago an animal communicator told me that Mandy did not want to have a job. I have since learned to listen and talk to her without an intermediary. I am convinced that Mandy has had a change of heart and now she accepts the job of being my teacher.
She is a very wise soul and has taught me so much already.
I am looking forward to dancing in harmony with her.
that’s great Amber! sounds like Cisco is happier everyday.
I actually try to be very understanding for both riders and those who seek friendship. I actually do reining with one horse with some liberty training and all liberty with my gelding.
Which one do I have less frustration in? Liberty training 100%. I do not use spurs with my reining horse and I don’t plan to for a while. The reason I do Reining training the old western way is because one I like to have an open mind and two I do not aquire the proper knowledge YET to train a horse just on Liberty to do all the same movements in Reining. I hope that when I get older and I know more I can quit the western way of training but still do Reining. Hey Stacy Westfall did it. Why can’t I?
I am learning more about enthusiasm every day. My horse cisco used to HAVE to be kicked a lot because he didn’t have the drive to go. Ever since I got rid of my tack all I have to do is lay my legs slightly harder on his rib cage and boom he goes. He loves the fact of having his freedom. I feel like I have given my horse America’s rights. It’s like I have given the horse the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, ect. its amazing what a horse will give you when you give it freedom. americans proved it in 1776.
This has always made sense to me which is one reason I stopped riding as a teenager. I hated the ‘show them whose boss’ attitude when I grew up. I always felt in my heart that this was not the way, sadly all those years ago no one I knew of seemed to share my thoughts. Although I have always loved horses my love was for the animal not the riding use and sadly so often misuse of these wonderful creatures. I find it very sad that this attitude still prevails so strongly but heartened that through peole like yourself and other believers in Natural Horsemanship that it does not have to be that way. I never have got angry with a horse and would never consider using force to achieve a goal. I have never liked watching showjumping or any other equine sports and racing is a cruel and heartless sport. With the way you have shown me I now know i was right all along and the relationship I thought I had with Del was submission as that was all he has ever known. Over the past few weeks i have seen huge changes in him. Most ‘horsey’ people would have considered him pretty easy to manage, he is polite and does what is asked of him. He would not be considered a problem horse and is by far the best behaved in our yard but his lack of trust and scepticism towards people said it all to me. Working at liberty has given him a choice he has never had before and now through choice he wants to be with me and play with me he is no longer head shy or scared of ropes or sticks. It hasn’t been easy especially as I don’t have access to an area without grass to work with him. But now he loves to be with me as much as I do with him he wasn’t interested before. He didn’t like being touched much now he loves the connection and tonight for the first time ever he groomed me back gently. I stood with my arms around his neck and nuzzling him for ages, he would never have allowed me to do this just a few weeks ago. I am 50 now and he is my first horse and I had resigned myself to having a rather standoffish boy but now I am at long last able to live my childhood dream. Best of all Del is treated with the respect he deserves. Thanks to you.
Carolyn,
This is a gem! Thank you. I also greatly admired your saying on one of the call replays I heard, that the horse helps shape your leadership all the while we are helping shape the horse’s character. I thought that was profound. Also, you are the first and only person I have ever heard or read that makes the point about “keeping the dominant nature intact” — it makes perfect sense to me, and is part of what I have tried to express in my workshop “Cultivating the Joyful Horse” — that you as a leader are not attempting to squash the enthusiasm, but to lift both yourself and the horse higher. And what you said about respecting horses, too. Some horses seem to be born to royalty, they always lead with respect, but will not tolerate willful disrespect from people. You are so good at getting to the true nature of horses!
So well said Amber.
Carolyn, I am enjoying this work immensely. I quit riding my lovely “obedient” Andalusian mare because I realized I did not feel that great connection I had always imagined in my youth. We are starting over.Your articles and WRIC in-a-box program are really helpful. My mare and I are on an adventure! Thanks.
Carolyn, this is beautiful! I love your approach in all this, you have seen to the heart of Horse. I believe humans are moving into a heart-based age in all relationships, away from mind-judgement-based. This is fabulous news for the evolution of both our species! When I come to my beloved Valor, time stops and I enter a place of stillness. There I look for the most exquisite, small things like I lift the rein of his bitless bridle and ask for him to breathe into and surrender to it it with his body – to bend and flex and with my whole body I feel the joy of this small, sweet gift. I find myself reaching for no goal but mutual joy in the emerging language between us. The tiniest thing, perhaps his offer of spanish walk like a joke between us. It is both ways. I ask, he asks and we answer each other. And when we all do this, we horse mystics, we change the world for them (and for us!). We emerge from this with the greater surrender, methinks. We feel our shadow places where ego awaits, and we learn to take the high road. Oh, what a wonderful journey we are all on!!!
Loving It All, Amber