Free, powerful and beautiful!
Dec 15th, 2009 by Carolyn Resnick Method
Hello again. I love working with my horses. There isn’t anything much that I get so much pleasure out of, as you might have guessed. However, there one thing that thrills me almost as much and that is seeing my students succeed with their horses using my Method.
One of the students who continues to delight me and who is always very generous with her praise of me is Stina. For those of you who don’t know her story, she contacted me about 3 years ago asking if she could study with me. As she lives on St.Vincent in the Caribbean and I live in southern California, this was pretty tricky especially considering the horses she had recently ‘adopted’ were a herd of effectively wild horses. So she started having phone coaching with me and I must say that Stina has done a remarkable job with her herd. The results she and the horses have achieved are fabulous as you will see here and on the videos on the Coaching and Favorites pages.
So I would like to take this opportunity to thank Stina for her continued support of my Method and for the lovely videos she continues to make. I hope you all enjoy watching them as much as I do.
Dear Carolyn,
Inspired by your blog here are my free, beautiful and powerful horses full of love, spirit and energy trained with your method.
We dance to the music of the nature through the rhythm of the Rituals. In the dance-trance, I do not think of my movements as we are at oneness.
The gratefulness I feel to our friendship is beyond what I can explain.
LoveStina
Before I go, I also wanted to show you a couple of items that really illustrate to me that horses enjoy touching. You know, I’ve heard some people claim that horses don’t like to be touched but that’s not been my experience and I believe, like us, they require it for their well-being. Here’s a lovely picture that was sent to me and I think illustrates my view:
and here’s a very nice video from Talley, which features touching particularly at 1:18, 2:20 and 3:36
Till Thursday
Carolyn
No related posts.
Hi Everyone – just a note to tell Carolyn how much I’m enjoying the U exercises – a little more challenging with my stubborn, aggressive, aloof stud muffin – but I learn more and more everyday about him and myself by implementing Carolyn’s methods…slow and steady…
With Oreo as long as it’s his idea he is like a rhodes scholar – picks things up in minutes – literally!!! But, if it’s “my” idea – well he has to show his displeasure in some not so nice ways – he attempts to be a bully… What he has taught me – about himself – is to be PATIENT…..when I can feel him pushing my buttons – I send him about 5 feet away from me if we are working on the line and we just stop and regroup for a minute or so – I wait until he drops his head – which he does – then I ask him again and he will usually agree – ….. He is SO SMART that he hates repetition – thinks lunging is about the most stupid thing in the world – I can read his eyes… So if I can make one suggestion to the group is to be PATIENT – and I know Carolyn is a strong advocate of this – some horses need BABY steps – he does something good and we stop – we don’t do it 15 times…..I see that works best with
him.
On the touching – that too is interesting – with Oreo he loves me to sit in his stall at the evening feeding and eat hay either from my lap or I put it on the ground between my legs and he burries his big head right up against me – allowing me to rub his ears and face and snuggle with him – that is OUR touching time together – and he comes to me – when he has had enough he will take his big head and push me gently off the bucket – I oblige – then he picks up the bocket and brings it to me at the front of his stall – although some days i would love to stay with him longer and snuggle – I always let him lead with that time we spend together…..after all, it’s his house and he is letting me share it with him. In the cross ties if i go to touch his ears or face he wants no part of it – actually does not like a lot of touching – but I think part of this is a stud thing – so once again, these are living creatures with feelings which we need to honor and respect – There is a friesian mare down the isle from us who will leave her feed when I come by to put her head on my shoulder and nuzzle me – she cant get enough of touching love – wish my guy was like that – but he has so many other amazing qualities which compensate for being a littel aloof – he is my soulmate…
Hi Carolyn,
Both You tubes are inspiraitonal and it is amazing that we can share such wonders from so many different countries. I enjoyed the wild herd just being horses and it gives me continual insporation with Sakima. Talley and Blaise what a wonderful relationship.
It is so good to have the continual support of others on the same journey.
Stina and Talley!! You are such an inspiration and a living example of Carolyn’s philosophy.
By the way, the two little paint foals are PMU foals recently rescued from Canada by Aspen Valley Horse Rescue in Colorado. In these photos they had just arrived in their temporary home and were enjoying some sun rays. Together with another 180 mares and foals they are waiting to be adopted.
My special wish (and probably theirs) is for these two to be adopted together – They are inseparable!
Helene
Hi, I am alittle behind here, as have been sick (flu) for a couple of weeks. But started some of the excerises , 1st one head, he was somewhat restless and annoyed at the halter I put on him as usually have a rope one. In the end I just pretended to hold each side in the floating manner u demonstrated and his eyes kind glazed and his head kind of floated in unison and he dropped his head somewhat. The walking around he stood very still and followed me around him with his ears and eyes although not his head. I thought that was pretty good as he can get pretty restless. Thanks alot, Sincerely Rosalie
You are blessed in so many way!!
Thank for understanding the horses and there love for humans
Yes, my horse Chusi loves to touch, as we share our space together when I visit her at her peaceful pasture boarding facility in Davie, Florida. When I take her out for bi weekly one mile walks in the surrounding residential neighborhood, she will even enjoy touching people when I ask her to meet them, briefly. My 17 year old quarterhorse had been, from age six to age 12, a Minneapolis Parks police horse. They gave her the job of being the ‘petting zoo’ during her park rides as the female officer sat patiently on her during park events. She was uncooperative with the parks police and the officer who rode her, bought her, then gave her to a mother with teenage children who couldn’t ride her either. Incidently, I can’t lead her either when I mount her, but the waterhole rituals have certainly made it fun to be with her on the ground. I was turned on to your methods, Caroline, six months ago. I read your book ‘Naked Liberty’ and watch the Waterhole rituals DVD. Riding has never been important to me as I purchased my horse with arthritis in her hocks.
Here, is my blog question. Caroline? Do you allow any of your horses to form a bond with your friends? A relationship so close , with that special bonding touch with your horse? Recently, I became unfriends with a person who pushed her way into my life briefly, as she used to be a groomswoman for a Kentucky Derby winning horse back in the 1980′s. I ended our friendship when I explained she must use Waterhole Rituals and natural horsemanship methods if she wanted to groom my horse. She told me she disagreed with these methods, so I told her she no longer had my permission to groom my horse. One of the things I learned was that this horse relationship with my horse is better left one on one. I read my horse’s eyes asking me, “why are you letting this person near me” with a changed expression in her eyes. Grooming is another form of bonding touch which is part of the relationship, so it should only be done by myself, Caroline? Should the horse/human touching bond be exclusive between the horse and it’s owner?
Petra,
It is an on line course.
Beautiful inspiring videos, thank you both so much!
Hi Carolyn,
Beautiful videos! I couldn’t agree with you more that horses enjoy touching! I am an Equine Acupressure Practitioner – and the sessions with horses are just magical – they relax and release. I will have horses walk over to me, asking for their turn! In Acupressure – I use my hands and energy, no needles, and the horses love it!
Thanks for all you do to make the world a better place for horses!
Eileen
Dear Carolyn and Stina,
It is wonderful to watch your videos – i think that i’ve watched most of the Carolyn’s students’ videos on youtube. This one in particular demonstrates the heights one can reach through this method – sublime!
I am working on helping my mare enjoy rubs and scatches more and continue to touch her whilst she has a treat.
Thank you
Dear Carolyn – How wonderful to be able to see the Waterhole Rituals again! I want to tell you that despite the fact that Lady and I never got to consistent companion walking, we did enjoy “love fests” very much like Talley and Blaise, including the nibbling of hair! And I would lower my head just like Talley. Lady also would come in front of me and get so close that Marie, her owner would say that Lady would get into my lap if she could. This love connection is possible with a horse, we just have to be there, sharing life in the moment!
All the best to you and thanks for the gift of Waterhole Rituals in my life! Mary
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you for your response. I’ve learnt about you through Dressage Disgrace and your teleseminar.
Your Waterhole Rituals Spring Course, can it be taken remotely? Online?
Thank you
Petra
Dear Pritra,
Tally and Blaze have been though all the waterhole rituals over many months. Tally feels from all the work she as done with him she can read her horse very well and knows when a nip is comming when this happens she ask Blaze to back off. Not all horses and humans should try this but as you go along you may grow your connection to gain a complet understanding. I would advise you take the spring course on the Waterhole Rituals so you can really be able to work on a deep connection in trust as well as respect that will develop your ability to read when it is safe to allow a horse to ineteract with you in this manner.
You may never like to allow a horse to be this close so I tell my students to develop the connetion with their horse that way that believe a horse and human conntion should be.
HOw did you find my blog?
Hello Carolyn,
These are beautiful videos. I have a questions for you. I’ve joined your “club” just recently (my husband is getting me your DVDs for my Jan birthday) therefore I am much less knowledgeable than your other readers…
the video of Talley and Blaise falling in love: I am not sure about letting my horse putting his mouth on me like this since I am always being told that it can end up with a nip/ or bite…playful maybe but surely painful…what do you think about it? when is it safe to let a horse nuzzle you this way?
thank you and keep sharing your wisdom!
Petra
Thanks for the inspiration tonite. Nice to have the heart singing after a long day at work! The joy that comes through in Stina’s video is medicinal and the love that comes through in Talley’s is as well. The other photo is beautiful too.
Oh i like that picture, and Tally beautiful video!
Carolyn and Stina,
Thank you again for sharing your joy and showing us more of what can be. As I look out the window on this break from the outside I see “True” the two year old standing guard over the rest of the little herd all laying down napping. It is so beautiful to see the cooperation, with her taking on responsibility as a member of the “herd” and the peace that surrounds. We are fortunate to have a sandy area (man made) we call the beach that they can also share in the pasture and often if not daily will take naps together, it is a really calming sight to observe and soak in. My favorite part of that is seeing one wake up a bit look around and go back to sleep beside their buddy who is still napping. Carolyn your meditation video along with Stinas clips remind us to create more natural habitat for our horses to “be horses” if we can in less “Wild” spaces and why these areas are so good for their well being. Thank you both again for sharing, I have learned so much.
Beautiful videos! And very inspiring. It’s so cool to see that you can do so many things with the waterhole rituals. Time to get a big ball.
Thanks Carolyn, too cold for much beyond feeding and a quick once-over to make sure there is no shivering or ice build up. Will try again when weather cooperates, hopefully soon!
Deb
A well-done video! It is said a horse is very sensitive to touch, i.e, a fly alighting on its back. We all lknow the horses’ reaction. Touch has much importance to a horse. When done slowly and rhymically, we too, should be caught up in the ensuing “moment”.
Ahhh, how lovely to watch both videos! You must be floating on air, Carolyn, to see how your method is enriching the lives of both horses and humans!
One cannot see or be reminded too often of the rich and beautiful rewards of playing at liberty!
Hi Carolyn, I’m starting to do the Uber exercises with Sonny, My 4 year old icelandic and yesterday he willingly puts his head down with little pressure, but when I lightly ask him to tuck his nose, he thinks I’m asking for a step back. I quickly correct him and ask again and he starts to lean back. So do I just keep repeating until I get the slightest movement of his head and acknowledge that? He is also wanting to follow me around when I try to walk around him. We will work on stay some more.
Thanks, Ritzy
I never thought about horses not wanting to be touched. I have always touched them. I found that they all have special spots they really like to have touched so you just have to find those spots on each horse and grow from there.
I also love to see Stina’s videos. I got to live on an island off the coast of Puerto Rico for a year (my husband was stationed at Camp Garcia, a Marine base). All the animals on the island were all free and never put in pens as far as I know. We kept our little front yard green always so that the horses would come and graze there. It was a wonderful year and I spent many hours sitting among the horses.
An American gentleman, who had lived on the island for around 30 years loaned me a horse to ride while I was there. He also brought me a foal whose mother had died and asked me to try to save it. I really was not sure that I was going to be able to do it, but she did survive. I helped her grow into a wonderful horse that enjoyed being part of our human household. When we had to leave the island I took her back to the origional American gentleman and she remained there with him.
It was truly one of the most wonderful years of my life.
Jan
Hi Caroline and Stina
As always the harmony and joy pours out of your video Stina, it is inspiring and lights the fire in me that keeps me wanting to learn more from my horses and from Caroline and from you, and all those who share loved and liberty with horses.
My horses love to be scratched. Some of them are more particular about “where” they are scratched and with my mare Darma, that is what I mostly did with her in our together time and she was very particular about where she wanted to be scratched, so from the beginning I let her direct me by me standing still and her moving around me telling me where she wanted to be scratched. However sometimes it became a game where she was directing me too much, and it didn’t feel soft and mutual. Then when I started sharing territory with her it took her awhile before she accepted that me being with her wasn’t always scratching time. For the first time she began to be still with me, making no demands – of me – and that has been so wonderful. She began to relax in my presence, which she only usually does when she is napping, and in those sharing times she relaxed with the other horses and wasn’t in competition for affection. She continued to ask more politely for scratches sometimes, and Caroline suggested that I could scratch her while sharing territory, but to ask her to do something for me – like back up – or switch sides, etc with liberty and body language. She got this right away and it gave her a focus on the partnership rather than on being demanding. It gave me a feeling of mutuality and relationship. Thank you Caroline!
Yeah I agree that horses do like touching and physical contact with each and with humans. I will say that when I have seen horses that don’t like touch from horses or humans, there is usually a physical or emotional reason for it. When a horse isn’t feeling well, it may stand off from other horses. If a horse has been with an overly dominant horse or abused by humans, it may stand off. I have some horses I work with that don’t like to be touched much or are sensitive, and they have had chronic Lyme disease. But even those have a few spots they LOVE grooming. You just have to find them carefully. I think horses who have been insensitively handled can also be “offended” by touch. My horses touch each other a lot, in play, grooming, sometimes sleeping, and communication.
Stina has an amazing place in st Vincents. I love her vision and her videos are beautiful.
Wow that is so beautiful to see !!
It would be so great if you can play and share so much with your horses like that.
Very very beautiful!!
I hope I can achieve that band and sharing with my horses.
Thank you very much!
Linda
When i got my young horse she had not had much human contact and human touch was strange to her. I did over time teach her to like me to be near her and touch her by finding her favorite itchy places. We have a game where she shows me where she wants to be scratched by touching the places with her nose. She now appears to like me to stand really close to her at times. I think what I am saying is you can teach a horse over time that human touch is a joyful experience, but like Debbie says you have to wait for the right moments when you know they are giving permission.
I once told a well know N.H trainer that I had to control my desire to cuddle my horse and He said that that is what men are for!…..
Thank you for sharing the video it was beautiful
Hi Carolyn
Thanks for another lovely post. I had been thinking about this subject for a while. The reason for this is that I know that when I reward my horse with treats I need to ensure that I interact with him and rub him whilst he is eating so he doesn’t see me as a treat dispenser. My ex-race horse Charlie takes the treats and then can’t keep his focus on me but rather keeps moving his head left and right as though he is expecting something to come up behind him. This makes it very difficult to interact with him whilst feeding the treats. His neck is as long as a giraffe so that doesn’t help either!!.
Anyway WOW, WOW, WOW, I just need to share this. I’ve just had three days of the best riding ever. I’ve been doing the Uberstreichen exercises every day combining them with Charlie’s stretching exercises and I just can’t believe how light this horse is becoming. I only need to touch the halter and he goes into self carriage. When riding him he is now more connected and for the first time ever is not hollowing in the transitions. Its early days in his retraining and we are only doing walk and halt but this is a changed horse from the one I roughed off and turned away six months ago. Thank you so much for showing me there is a different way of being able to work with my horses.
i have one who loved to be rubbed, thouched, huged and so on.
If i dont he ASK for it. I have to do it before i leave, otherwise i even can not go away because he blocked me hahahaha….
And i have one who wanted to be thouched when he is ready. So i may say hello without any problem, but do more such as scrub his belly or neck he will tell me when he wanted. And ofcourse it is almost each day i when i see them. So i dont have to complain at all.
Specialy now….two cute little teddy bears…i love this time of the year.
Beautiful videos! My 17 yr gelding is not much of a cuddler but he does love me to rub his belly areas. He will come to me and lift his back leg high which is my cue to satisfy, which I do willingly. My 3 1/2 yr loves to touch my hair and and face. Thank you for sharing these.
Oh my God… Stina lives in paradise!… I want to be one of her horses. Thank you so much for sharing that amazing video; my horse’s play with their rubber ball too but I can’t say I am as relaxed as Stina when playing with them.
Thanks Carolyn for the lovely videos and photo. I, for a long time thought my Palomino, Midas, did not like being touched as he would turn his head away as I put my hand up to touch him. But I realized that perhaps he likes it on his own terms. When I just sit with him, he will hover over me doing similar to Talleys horse above. He enjoys caresses over the rest of his body and will move to get my hand to his favorite spots.
We are giving my son a video camera for Christmas so can’t wait to get him to video me with my horses so I can send them to you.
Joker, my younger Appaloosa is a little more restless. He will hover for a while and nuzzle but then move off and go look around but he always comes back. Both are very good with companion walking and trotting. I still have the desire to just wrap my arms around them both as soon as I see them but control it enough now to let them give me permission first…this has really improved our relationship.