Going Forward in Our Next Adventures Together, and More On Leading From Behind
Jul 29th, 2010 by Carolyn Resnick Method
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 the Waterhole Rituals going forward. Many of you have told me that you will be repeating the class. This is a good idea. Because of the nature of the Rituals, they are progressive in the training of your horse. You can continue to advance your horse’s training to bridleless riding if you wish and your horse is a good candidate by nature.
I believe that people who stay in the course will progress well from my continued coaching. You can point the way for the newcomers. Teaching others is a great tool in developing your knowledge of the method. Not only are we forming a family with our horses, but I have been told that the people in the class have formed great friendships with one another.
As usual, I will pick questions to answer on the blog. Remember also that there is a brand new course coming up. It’s the Progressive Student Course, a more intensive program, open to 10 students who have taken the Insider Circle class before. I will announce more about it later.
Yesterday at the ranch, when I was working with the three year old black stallion by the name of Tiberius. I was focused on building more respect, because he can challenge me over just about anything. He is not mean, and doesn’t even know that his behavior is not nice, but he could be dangerous if I am not careful. He likes to crowd, rear strike, kick, and bite. At this stage of his life, it is just how he communicates. He was taught to rear when he was not in the right frame of mind, or had a good working foundation first. He is like a teenager, looking for his identity and using his power to influence others. It sounds bad, but he his just interacting in a very natural way, being a three year old that was not handled properly.
Everyone in the course, I would bet, would probably guess that the way I chose to work with him, after Sharing Territory, was Leading from Behind. As I was working him, I thought of the class, and what I would like to share with you. I know we have been over this many times, but it is a very important point, and something I want you to remember: a particular aspect of this Ritual, working your horse at liberty, is how I lower the aggression without having to run a horse around, reprimand his behavior, or correct him when he is rude in the moment. Not addressing the negative behavior, the focus becomes the flow and he begins to forget his aggression, pays attention to the flow, and becomes the flow rather than the hiccup. The turnaround is slow at first. It might take a week. However long it takes, it is never a waste of time.
The exercise is so simple. I train in very short widows of Leading from Behind, with lots of pausing and hanging out together in sharing companionship and enjoying each other’s company, and he is very good at that and enjoys that a lot. It was such a simple request, but the response to halt was not immediate for him. He is now much better; still not there yet, but will be soon. He just does not what to be directed. Just like a kid.
My focus using Leading from Behind is getting him to stop on his path rather than turning and facing me. When a horse tries to face you in a halt, he is not connecting with his herding instincts, or feeling at all at ease.
I picked this exercise because of the results I get in the trust and the kindness it brings out in a horse. When a horse will just stop in is tracks, it causes the horse to feel really willing, and opens the door to a surrender that brings relaxation, connection, trust and respect, without having to intimidate the horse. Right in my journey with him, he has certain places he will halt in his tracks. I am so pleased. Because I am working him at liberty, there are no consequences for not halting. How he learns is that when he does halt, we take a break. From the break, he learns how to work and connect with me. I choose the exercise because it is a herding instinct to halt when the horse that is Leading from Behind halts. It is an automatic response.
Getting a horse to halt from this approach unlocks some instincts to halt automatically when asked to in his performance under saddle. Approaching a horse in this way creates a more intimate partnership and friendship.
Exercise of the third Ritual Leading from Behind at liberty: You start by asking a horse to slowly leave you, and then you follow him. When he stops, you stop for a while, and then encourage the horse to start walking again. When the horse is comfortable with this, you then stop and hope he will stop. Body language is very important. When you stop, your posture should hold the intention of stop. You stand erect and still as a statue. You want to pay attention that your timing is right, because if it is, it will hit an automatic response in the horse to halt, and if it does not, you just continue to follow and try again when you think you can influence your horse. In a short time, the horse will easily catch on. In Liberty Training there is no force, nor anything to do as a follow-up. You just begin again. The relaxed practice causes the horse to want to connect to his natural instinct to follow a leader that he is bonded to and trusts.
Before I forget, I wanted to let you know that the email address has been updated on the flyer posted in the last blog for Robin Gates’ workshop. For more information contact lisa@equusatori.com.
Have a great weekend!
Carolyn
Related posts:
Hi Carolyn,
Here is the link to the video of Juno showing me how to do Leading From Behind.
Little did she know she was teaching me the ropes…. the next day she found out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYikScIKIs0
Regrettably the two other video-fragments were lost by me being clumsy. One of them was of a great first Hello, very intense, with both horses having beautiful arched necks.
best wishes!
Yesterday my mare Juno showed my how it’s properly done: leading from behind!
After spending 6 weeks alone (first in a stall, then in a small field) I decided her leg wound was healed sufficiently to let her enjoy the company of a gelding. It was there first encounter, although they have been in each others sight for a while.
It was great to watch.
The first and immediate thing she did was spin around and kick him real hard in the butt! He took it like a man, and the message was clear and accepted: don’t get any funny ideas, this is no mare to mess about with.
There was no more kicking, fighting or even screaming after that.
Right after that she started leading him from behind, all over the field, for some time. He complied and she pushed him calmly but very strong. He was very ok about it. Sometimes she would take a pause and graze, and he would graze too. After this had gone on for about 10 minutes, she left his area, and they minded there own business for a while.
After 5 minutes or so, she suddenly walked straight up to him and they said Hello for the first time, in a intense and quiet way, then she left him again.
Then he discovered her mineral block and was distracted, and she came to take territory and tell him it was hers. Also in calm but strong way. Followed by again leading from behind, and grazing.
By watching her I have learned from a master! I’ve taken some videos of it, and will put it up on the NING site. I can also put the link here, if you want.
best wishes!
Dear Toby,
I would like to see what you have taped on in this blog.
Thanks,
Carolyn
Hi Carolyn!
It is less hot here in VT and so Annie has more energy and more willingness to be engaged in doing things together. Although the flies are still pretty bad, we have been doing leading from behind daily and Annie is just not annoyed like she used to be when we did it. Besides the weather change, I’ve been spending a lot of time sharing territory, which may also be influencing her willingness. Some days sharing territory is “all” we do…..especially when the heat is brutal….it seems that there is where our connection gets cemented. My new idea is to spend a whole weekend out with Annie (after the first frost) just to see what it is like.
Today we were riding in the ring and there were a ton of distractions — one of her horse friends was calling to her, hay was being baled, and there was another horse in the ring, who was pretty excited because of the baler. Annie had a moment of not paying attention and wanting to follow the other horse, and then, her focus returned to me, and we just had a good time together. There was just something totally different today, and the other rider noticed it too.
Thanks again for this blog, the IC, and all you do! Lisa
Hello Carolyn,
Checking in. I have been away for over two weeks and only today got to be out in the paddock with MIki. I intended to just ST but he was moving about more than usual (it’s a lot less hot here finally) so after about 30 minutes I started LFB and felt so much more confident about it after reading this. a few times he tried to swing round towards me and only needed the smallest gesture from me to send him back on the right path.
best
Susan (IC)
HI Carolyn
This is timely as I just purchased an Arabian gelding. I was told to keep his halter on him because you’ll never catch him.
Of course all I have done with him since he moved here are the waterhole rituals.
Yesterday we were sharing space and he now quickly and confidently comes to me while I sit in my chair. He became rude so I sent him away. He is very sensitive and very suspicious so before this course I never would have trusted my instincts to send him away for fear he wouldn’t want to come back. Well he ran off, did a big loop and headed right back for my chair licking and chewing. It was very rewarding.
If only his previous owner could see this from the horse you could never catch.:-)
Also when I say hello he always has his ears forward and then walks towards me. I say hello and we exchange breath and then when I turn to walk away he follows.
It is very exciting to be starting a horse using the waterhole rituals as our first communication. I see the bond, trust and respect already in place.
Thanks for everything Carolyn. I’m sorry but it just didn’t work out for me to participate in very many calls but I found all of the information you gave to others really helped me.
I went to work on a pony yesterday, she was a wild pony from the forests in the UK who had some difficulties physically in her life and ended up with a young girl as her first pony. The little mare has a huge heart, but still carries some fear about the way that humans treat her, but the connection that exists between the child and the pony is magic.
As I stood, making up a triangle between the pony and the two of us, the waves of old space calmed the air and you could see visibly see the pony release the tension from her muscles, what was nice though was the child could see it. She was fascinated by the change and I encouraged her to touch and feel the differences, which she picked up with no effort.
Another person then came to see; an adult; and as we carried on working she spoke about the special relationship that the child had with the pony, about how difficult the pony was when she first arrived and how the child used to just sit in the field with her. She also described how surprised she was to see the child running and playing with the pony, ‘its like they dance together she said’. The child just shrugged her shoulders. She explained that she felt it was just the right thing to do.
I have given the child your website address and explained about the programs that you have. Who knows, maybe your teachers of tomorrow!
This is a timely post for me, as Maia and I have been experimenting with the Leading From Behind a lot. Because she is in a 40 acre pasture, she can certainly leave in a hurry if she wants.
Sometimes, when leading from behind, I will push a little too much and/or she will get drawn in by horses a ways away and start running towards them across the entire huge pasture. At that point, should I stop and go the other direction? Sometimes she’ll canter away for acres…
Thanks!
Hannah
Dear Hannah,
Work her in a smaller place.
Haha, thanks! That’s got to be the most straightforward answer possible. Wonderful!
Dear Carolyn,
I have been keeping up with reading the blog and playing with my horses. But I have been so busy, I haven’t been able to write untill now. I love your description of Tiberius’s personality. Even though my mustang is gelded, his personality is much like Tiberius. His curiosity and play drive are SO BIG, he needs to handled by someone with more experience than your average person.
He knows how to turn every thing into a game where he makes and controls the rules. Again, like Tiberius, he is not mean; he just likes to call the shots. He doesn’t display other stallion behavior.
Last week I had a breakthrough with him. He is always mindful of me, but loves to “engage” with one of my students because he can get her to lose focus and play “his” games.
I asked her to work with Lyle at liberty, something she has never been fond of, and she said she would give it a try. I sat in a lawn chair outside the paddock and mostly observed.
I told her to turn away from Lyle when he lost focus, and to wait (for as long as it took) for him to come and ask her what SHE was doing. She seems to be constantly asking him. It was a miracle. That horse was glued to her. They both were very relaxed, and Lyle loved playing HER game!
Since then she has been using treats to get Lyle to ler her mount him at liberty (using a mounting block). He has been terriffic.
He is also fearful of the noise from the spray bottle. He will stand for fly spray if in hand, but runs if at liberty. We decided to try spraying him at liberty, and he stood like a champ.
I am very proud of my student and of Lyle, because they both have gained some trust, confidence, and courage.
Toni
Hi Carolyn!
I used a combination of leading from behind and companion walking combined with periodic halts to bring my two in from grazing last night. It worked wonderfully. Of course no tack was necessary but I did carry the reed. Pre-Water Hole Rituals, I would halter them lead them in or herd them in a more excitable fashion. This creates calmness and cohesion.
Love & Blessings from Regina, Micah & Moon
Carolyn,
I have a question concerning “in front” and “behind” in natural herds or with wild horses. Bent Branderup says that in a natural herd, the lead mare leads the herd in front and determines the direction in which the herd travels. The lead stallion leads the herd from behind and determines the speed at which the herd travels. Is that true according to your observations? (Branderup then compares the rein aids to the work of the lead mare, and the leg aids to the work of the lead stallion in riding a horse). I am wondering if “behind” and “in front” are always gendered like that. My mare, who is always highest in the hierarchy of all herds that I’ve seen her in, sometimes leads from behind, and sometimes from in front by drawing the herd. ….
Sorry, I hope this is not off topic, but I’m always fascinated by herd dynamics.
All my best,
Christian
Dear Christian,
It is a bit off topic, but, in answer to your question:
Horses, including lead mares, lead each other from behind. It is how they are able to create a unified herd when they work together to escape from a predator.
Leading form Behind is how horses teach each other to fit in and work in unison with one another so, when the dance is needed to be directed by the lead mare and stallion, there can be order.
It is important to understand that herd behavior, and how horses operate, should not be simplified by saying: “This is what they do in all circumstances”.
Dear Carolyn,
this is the best explanation of why horses should not turn and face when stopping in Leading from Behind that you’ve ever given us. Coming from an “Eye Contact” point of view, you might think that you precisely want them to face you in order to show that they are paying attention. In Leading From Behind, their relaxation, well-being, and connection is expressed by not facing. Now I understand better the difference between these two modes of connecting, like two different keys in a symphony.
Thank you!
Christian
Carolyn, The other day I was thinking to myself which ritual would strengthen the strings of connection and picked LFB. I spent several sessions of a couple minitues or so with each horse, sometimes w/ several horses at a time. i continued the sessions until i felt each horse relax and it became smooth and easy, then that horse was done for the day.
the next day i did trailer loading and i had 3 horses VOLUNTEER to play w/the trailer. Barbie my lead mare never used to volunteer for anything! I did liberty trailer loading w/her. She sometimes feels more comfortable learning at liberty and I was able to trust her even though my trailer was in a big grassy field that isnt fenced in.
I also got Mikki in the trailer for the first time!!! That is huge for her because she is very afraid and her legs will shake in fear, so I have taken it very slow.
It was Shaz’s turn next and he is usually all over me, but he gave me a look like he really would rather not do the trailer today. He is also very afraid of the trailer. So i put the trailer away and decided to do the first uberstrichen exercise w/Shaz since it seemed he wanted to do something. so i called his name, he looked at me and i motioned to him to come and i headed towards his halter and he cantered up to me!! so i was able to take him out of the field (he gets very afraid away from his herd) and we slowly made it to my playground where i have tires and barrels and logs. I stayed very focused and took him back towards the herd when he needed to and allowed him to decide when he could get farther away and we had the best time!!! when he got scared i would stop what i was asking and bring him to me. I concentrate more on the connection now than the task.
Anyway, it was just a fabulous day and i think the sessions of LFB the day before really made a difference. thank you carolyn!!!
i also have been doing the intimate bucket game w/Shaz that carolyn suggested and it has been really important to us. I would have never guessed that Shaz would need that since we have such a strong bond, but what we need is more trust and even tho’ our hello is good we needed more intimacy regarding his head. so i am very happy and so grateful to carolyn!
Hi Carolyn and class, (insider circle)
Between moving to a new home and handing my business over to my daughter oh and having a new grandson I have been out of the virtual loop. Went to a cottage (no phone or internet) missed that call, moved into new home (no phone or internet) missed that call but I have had lots of time for pause and reflection.
Here’s what’s happening at the farm. The pony who shared a paddock with my Shiloh was taken to another paddock with no grass so I was taking him out to the riding ring and bringing Shiloh to him as they missed one another, both loved the shared space and quickly looked forward to that ritual. Everything happens for a reason as this gave me an opportunity to work alone with the little black stallion yearling, lots of leading from behind and when rude sending him away then calling him back he is so very responsive and we have developed an amazing bond. The other day when I went to the farm the dynamics had changed yet again adding another mini horse stallion to that paddock. This also made things more interesting as I set 2 piles of grain and played the game of moving them about the 2 piles they rather liked the game as well and perhaps it gave them a better bond also. I wish I could have sent you some footage but my video camera was packed away and I had no one to help me. I would love to be considered for the next insider circle and I am also working on a book. Maybe we could speak on the phone as I would love to update . Thanks Love and Light Sherry and abundant gratitude………. please reply
In the Box Student,
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you so much for everything! I think repeating the course over again is a brilliant idea and already can’t wait. I’m afraid I fell a bit behind – technical issues and work and life. So mostly I’ve been Sharing Territory and Saying Hello and being at peace with that.
Will the videos be available on DVD for purchase soon?
Much love and light to you and all,
Monica
Dear Carolyn,
I’m am just a horse lover who read your book and watched the WHR DVD and read all your blogs. I have to board my OTTB Magnum. But I get there every chance I can. Started with the ST and using some of the other rituals. I had a break through yesterday with him. Arter ST and sitting with him while he eats. The magic occured, he stayed with me instead of going out to pasture with the mares that he is boarded with. And he did what you said he would. He started to become a pest. I wanted to jump for joy! Thank you Carolyn for the great teacher you are and the inspiration that you give to those who want that magic connection. I can’t wait for the day when I will be dancing with my Magnum. For now, dancing in my heart~Lisa
I just finished writing the leading from behind section of my book, so this post could not have been more timely. I am going to make a few revisions now, but was curious whether you would like to see both the “before” and “after” or just the final product? To which email address do you want us to send you our books about the course now (or as soon as they are completed)?
Dear Candle,
Send me what you would like to share with me at carolynresnick@cox.net.
Hi Carolyn,
I will continue ‘working’ with my two horses with your method…
Thank you for sharing.
The uberstreichen excercises inspire me a lot too.
I’m a ‘In a box’ student and hope we can still keep in touch with the other students and our profiles. Is that possible?
For how long the videos will be accessible for us?
Thanks again, your method made a difference for me and my horses.
Hannelies
Dear Carolyn,
I love Leading from Behind! It seems to redirect my horse’s focus back to the herd (ie, the two of us) when we are sharing space together.
I have a question. My mare Folly is in heat a lot. When we are in the sand ring together, she is always going to the fence to flirt with the geldings. Can I use this as a reward for her?
For example, can I lead from behind or send her away, then ask her to come to me and companion walk, and then after awhile let her “pause” at the fence with the geldings?
She prefers the geldings to her hay pile! So I thought that I could use that as part of my training.
Does the leader control breeding behavior in a wild herd?
Thank you,
Bonnie
Dear Carolyn;
Thank you so much for today’s blog. It has truly put things into perspective for me, and the training of my horse Key Largo. My first horse was over 10 years old and so set in his ways. Key is a 3 year old just like Tiberius, and acts just the same way as you say he does. This is so insightful for me, as I thought it was something I was doing, and it helps to know this is her normal behavior.
She is doing well with the Leading from behind, but I did not understand the halt. You have made it quite clear and I will start working with her on that today.
We have a great bond started and I know it will just keep growing from here.
Thank you again for your blog and I look forward to your next sessions, your new book, and maybe a phone consult in the near future.
Catra
Hi Carolyn,
Your posts always elicit such wonderful images in my mind. Thank you. I am really looking forward to the release of your WHR book next year. Will you be including info on the UBS in this book?
Laurinda Reinhart
Following behind has really helped True and it is exactly what Raisen the gelding does with her often, which is both helpful to watch and observe and because she understands it. Not only that but she actually is more content and happy when she is put in line. It is a time for her to learn to get along not lead, she seems to know that as well.
My mare Kría showed similar behaviour as Tiberius when she was 3 yrs old: rearing and trying to bite if she had to do anything she didn’t want to. She wasn’t mean either but she just had a strong mind of her own and was very playful. For some time I felt really intimidated by her and didn’t have the courage to lead her anymore. This has all changed so much! She still has a strong mind, but she is also the softest, most caring mare you can imagine. Through your method I learned to connect with her and pause with her a lot (especially the pauses have done miracles for her!).
.
Leading from Behind has proved to be a very valuable exercise for her. She now accepts it, without constantly tossing her head anymore. Now and then I suspect her of almost ‘asking’ me to be led from behind
For anyone who likes to see what softness she is offering me now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRnFfvJZG7E
Another thing I’d like to share is how I observed my 22 yr old gelding Frosti being led from behind by Ánaegja (17 yr old mare) yesterday for two complete rounds around my paddock paradise (which is about 1 kilometre). It was so much fun to watch, because she did it exactly the way you always describe how it should be done Carolyn: very slowly, very ambling, with very low energy, now and then stopping and pausing for a short while, then moving on again very slowly. Frosti didn’t seem to mind, he just complied in the same slow manner. I had never seen this done before by two of my horses for such a long time and none of the other horses interfering.
Your description of Tiberius is very much like my horse was at 3. Not mean, but with enough pushy habits to be potentially dangerous. Now he’s 6 and although he’s much more polite, he will still test “rank” if his human is not paying attention. He’s also extremely food-oriented.
I use a LOT of leading from behind with him because it seems to result the fastest in a licking, chewing, soft connection. However, my concern is this: Since he is so food-oriented, and there are weeds calling his name just on the other side of the fence surrounding the outdoor arena where we do the leading from behind, I have always insisted that he keep moving instead of sticking his head through the fence to get the grass and weeds. What we end up with is a Leading from Behind/Taking Territory combo. He will try at every third or fourth step to snag another bite and I will insist he keep moving and not get that bite. Soon, he starts running to the other end of the arena so it takes me longer to catch up and he has more time to eat the weeds. But when I get to him, I get him moving again. He tries to remain rooted, but I insist.
Depending on the day and his mood, he may at this point step up his game and kick out before throwing a galloping hissy fit diagonally across the arena. After one or two attempts of this, he realizes he’s using up more energy than even he thinks the weeds are worth, and he turns his full attention to me. I can almost hear the switch flip in his brain. As soon as he makes that decision, he turns into my dance partner. For 9 months we’ve been doing this.
I can’t imagine being in a pasture with him and trying to lead from behind! It would be a joke with all that food under foot…
What should I be doing differently? Can leading from behind or taking territory turn into acting like a predator and if so, when is that line crossed? Are bonds with some horses just always going to come in second to food?
Hiya Carolyn,
The Progressive Student course sounds great! I look forward to hearing about it.
Just reading this blog though, reminds me yet again, that at every stage of this method, by communicating; either by one to one with yourself, or listening to other people discuss their own challenges and experiences; it dosen’t matter how much you think you might have learned, there is always more to come.
Its fantastic! Thanks very much.
Carolyn,
I wanted to let you know that this is exactly what I have done with the mustang I adopted, who was said to be too fearful and aggressive by the trainer. We Share Territory, do short windows of Leading from Behind/circle game, slowly with lots of pauses, then back to Sharing Territory. To no surprise, he has responded as if he knows the routine, with no aggression whatsoever. If he gets upset or fidgety, I quickly drop my energy and project calmness. I may need to stand still or squat to the ground and focus on something else for a few seconds. This helps him relax and accept me near him.
He is not fond of the reed, so I put it on his hay pile to explore. He likes it better on the ground or behind me! We practice reciprocal movements of politeness, share awareness of our environment, exhale, and relax. He even said a quick hello at the water bucket yesterday. Sometimes I fall asleep to the rhythm of his chewing hay and awake to him blowing air through his nostrils. Today when that happened, he was looking at me as if to say “wake up and pay attention to me.” I did by reminding him of just how marvelous he is.
What you said about following our instincts and letting the bond evolve has been great guidance for me. I feel the dance emerging from the first steps of Sharing Territory.
Thank you!
Tami Chock
Thank you Carolyn,
I have seen my horse change right in front of my eyes while leading her from behind, it’s a very powerful tool…
I wish I would have had this blog 2 years ago, I would have never gelded my horse. He was just misunderstood and he was not started well. Now he is wonderful 3 year old gelding. I always think about what a beautiful stallion he would have been, if I would have been more informed about horse behavior in the right way I could have kept him as one, but most people in the horse world don’t understand horses like you Carolyn. Thank you indeed for sharing your knowledge
.
Thanks again, Carolyn…
Stuart