Comments on: How to be your own horse whisperer – part 2 http://www.carolynresnickblog.com/how-to-be-your-own-horse-whisperer-part2html/ "Take my Quick Quiz to discover your true relationship with your horse!" and join me to learn all about horsemanship and horse training at liberty Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:24:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: victoria http://www.carolynresnickblog.com/how-to-be-your-own-horse-whisperer-part2html/#comment-1936 victoria Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:49:37 +0000 http://www.carolynresnickblog.com/?p=537#comment-1936 As I was reading the comments, which are very reflective, I began to think of all the problems we have had with modern children and lack of disapline. We have certainly lost a lot of those skills. I always enjoy the nanny shows. When we can let our own instincts come through rather than our thinking brain then it makes more since. Also erasing anything negative helps. Then life is great for everyone around. As I was reading the comments, which are very reflective, I began to think of all the problems we have had with modern children and lack of disapline. We have certainly lost a lot of those skills. I always enjoy the nanny shows. When we can let our own instincts come through rather than our thinking brain then it makes more since. Also erasing anything negative helps. Then life is great for everyone around.

]]> By: ophelia http://www.carolynresnickblog.com/how-to-be-your-own-horse-whisperer-part2html/#comment-1835 ophelia Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:10:23 +0000 http://www.carolynresnickblog.com/?p=537#comment-1835 This blog is really exceptional for the quality of its posts and the respectful way that people talk to each other. Re boys and horses - I think one of the benefits of the feminist movement is that in many cases it championed the qualities that were traditionally marginalized as feminine (understanding, intuition, gentleness), and gradually enabled men to begin to own these qualities also. This (supported by growing number of women riders and trainers) has had a huge impact on horse training. In a way I see the training that focuses on women’s interactions with horses as addressing the inbalance that has existed for millennia in horse training. On the other hand, we were all captivated by those images of Alex and The Black! There’s no doubt that men today are just as able to express these qualities in their interactions with horses (if they’re brave enough). I think this is particularly true for young men who’ve been brought up by a generation of women who feel increasingly comfortable in their own power. I’m sure we look forward to the day when the best qualities of traditionally male and female approaches are regularly brought together in the training of horses. In this way we can honour all aspects of the horse. Forums like this demonstrate such a wonderful evolution in horse training. This blog is really exceptional for the quality of its posts and the respectful way that people talk to each other. Re boys and horses – I think one of the benefits of the feminist movement is that in many cases it championed the qualities that were traditionally marginalized as feminine (understanding, intuition, gentleness), and gradually enabled men to begin to own these qualities also. This (supported by growing number of women riders and trainers) has had a huge impact on horse training. In a way I see the training that focuses on women’s interactions with horses as addressing the inbalance that has existed for millennia in horse training.

On the other hand, we were all captivated by those images of Alex and The Black! There’s no doubt that men today are just as able to express these qualities in their interactions with horses (if they’re brave enough). I think this is particularly true for young men who’ve been brought up by a generation of women who feel increasingly comfortable in their own power. I’m sure we look forward to the day when the best qualities of traditionally male and female approaches are regularly brought together in the training of horses. In this way we can honour all aspects of the horse.

Forums like this demonstrate such a wonderful evolution in horse training.

]]> By: Becky http://www.carolynresnickblog.com/how-to-be-your-own-horse-whisperer-part2html/#comment-1831 Becky Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:26:03 +0000 http://www.carolynresnickblog.com/?p=537#comment-1831 I agree with much of this...but i have to say it is a little sudo-feminist....sorryyeee!! No offence, much of it is wonderful, we find ourselves in different roles in human relationships as much as equine relationships, because essentially, these are the basis for all relatioships...it is ok to be a a parent in a given moment, but not all the time with our partners, time for passion, for dancing, for talking, for crying and laughing and making plans - all at the right times. But often the roles become confused, and this is the same with horses. Great stuff. BUT what i object to big time is the roles you say boys and girls find themselves in with horses. In my experience, girls tend to go through pony phases, very important time for learning about masculine AND feminine qualities - horses are MY fascination because they hold both the masculine and the feminine in equal measures. Many girls grow out of ponies, but some don't, like us! We grow through the experimental stage into maturity and sophistication with horses, and this whole natural horse movement is really questioning what is the way to sophistication and maturity in communication with horses - maybe it's not we were thougt to believe at our riding schools? With boys, they tend to be the ones who stick it through, less of them go through 'pony phases', but most boys who find horses as a way for them, stick with it. My son is 10 and he has no interest in riding. But if you could see him on the ground with my horses, it would take your breath away. He certainly does not dream of going into battle. He was the first one to reach out and touch my 15hh ferral gelding who was terrified of people when he came. He finds an inner peace with the horses after school. He prefers football to contact his inate masculine energy of competitivness and winning and goal scoring. With the horses he finds a balance. He hugs them, loves the way they smell and doesn't understand why i want to ride because he says he wouldn't want to be ridden by anyone! I do love what you say about the way some men use dominance in horsemanship - a stereotypical male trait. But i see women every day with that same masculine obbsession, to control, to dominate, to punish. And sometimes i think it is because they have no control in the rest of their lives? But the main thing i feel passionate about is this balance held within the psyche of a horse, both as an arcytype, but also in my own experince of grasping that balance myself through the horse. The psyche of a horse is neither he or she, but the connection of both in harmony. I agree with much of this…but i have to say it is a little sudo-feminist….sorryyeee!! No offence, much of it is wonderful, we find ourselves in different roles in human relationships as much as equine relationships, because essentially, these are the basis for all relatioships…it is ok to be a a parent in a given moment, but not all the time with our partners, time for passion, for dancing, for talking, for crying and laughing and making plans – all at the right times. But often the roles become confused, and this is the same with horses. Great stuff. BUT what i object to big time is the roles you say boys and girls find themselves in with horses. In my experience, girls tend to go through pony phases, very important time for learning about masculine AND feminine qualities – horses are MY fascination because they hold both the masculine and the feminine in equal measures. Many girls grow out of ponies, but some don’t, like us! We grow through the experimental stage into maturity and sophistication with horses, and this whole natural horse movement is really questioning what is the way to sophistication and maturity in communication with horses – maybe it’s not we were thougt to believe at our riding schools? With boys, they tend to be the ones who stick it through, less of them go through ‘pony phases’, but most boys who find horses as a way for them, stick with it. My son is 10 and he has no interest in riding. But if you could see him on the ground with my horses, it would take your breath away. He certainly does not dream of going into battle. He was the first one to reach out and touch my 15hh ferral gelding who was terrified of people when he came. He finds an inner peace with the horses after school. He prefers football to contact his inate masculine energy of competitivness and winning and goal scoring. With the horses he finds a balance. He hugs them, loves the way they smell and doesn’t understand why i want to ride because he says he wouldn’t want to be ridden by anyone! I do love what you say about the way some men use dominance in horsemanship – a stereotypical male trait. But i see women every day with that same masculine obbsession, to control, to dominate, to punish. And sometimes i think it is because they have no control in the rest of their lives?
But the main thing i feel passionate about is this balance held within the psyche of a horse, both as an arcytype, but also in my own experince of grasping that balance myself through the horse. The psyche of a horse is neither he or she, but the connection of both in harmony.

]]> By: Carolyn Resnick http://www.carolynresnickblog.com/how-to-be-your-own-horse-whisperer-part2html/#comment-1821 Carolyn Resnick Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:22:53 +0000 http://www.carolynresnickblog.com/?p=537#comment-1821 Dear Jan, Thank you for the update on your horse. It is really hard to have a good attitude when sick. I am so glad that he is treatable. As I have said before it is the voice of the majority that makes changes in how we preceive our treatment of horses. Blogs like this one can speak as a majority. The more people respond to what is fair, just, moral, and effective, the more people will take an interest to approach a horse with respect. I remember once that a couple brought a horse to a clinic of mine, no one could saddle the horse and they hoped that I could fix the problem. The horse had been to many trainers. It then became my turn and I made friends with the horse and developed the connection slowly. When the time came to saddle the horse I took it slowly. I first put the saddle about 5 feet in front of the horse, stood in front of the horse and proceeded to toss the blanket on and then the saddle all from the front. I cinched the saddle up very slowly. Then I got on and rode her. I had the owners do the same thing and she was fine and has never been a problem. It is about attentivness, getting permission, trust and the bond in the moment and being willing to listen and not try to put the saddle on if she was no up for it. I have never produced a cinchy horse. I have never had a horse in my care stay cinchy. I take the time it takes to get the connection and willingness. I always believe that a horse has rights to its personal space and opinions. It is a thin line to walk, when to use force or when to choose not to. I can say if a person wants to hit a horse to be expedient don't do it. Some of the old cowboys were with their horses every day, all day long. I remember it. They knew their horses better than you could ever imagine. They loved their horses and respected them as much as anyone could and took care of a horse as best they could and their horse's knew it. You can be strong with a horse when you have a connection and the horse is fine with it. The most important thing is to give a horse a good life before you would every revert to being strong or hitting a horse. It is perfectly alright to hit a horse, but saying that I must also say that in 99% of the cases it is abusive to hit a horse. I always notice that people seem to hit their horse while the horse is restrained in some way. If the horse is at liberty then you will know instantly how the horse views the connection and your relationship bond. You can not hit in anger or as a way to improve or ask for performance and not until you are a master in horsemanship and your horse likes you more than anything on this earth and likes you in the time of your correction. From these conditions you have license to hit a horse if in the hit you do not blame your horse and you see it as a communication only and it would not create alot of pain. It is always best to seek a better approach. If you feel you have a strong marraige with a horse, hitting can be none abusive. In general when a person hits a horse they are in a hurry so my adivce is to slow down. Horses need attentivness, direction and a person that shapes their program and leadership to bring a horse a better life. Which I know that you do. Your way with horses helps others to have more care for all creatures on earth. Wishing you a quick cycle on the meds, and I am really glad you were able to figure out the cause for your horses behavior. Carolyn Dear Jan,
Thank you for the update on your horse. It is really hard to have a good attitude when sick. I am so glad that he is treatable.
As I have said before it is the voice of the majority that makes changes in how we preceive our treatment of horses. Blogs like this one can speak as a majority. The more people respond to what is fair, just, moral, and effective, the more people will take an interest to approach a horse with respect.
I remember once that a couple brought a horse to a clinic of mine, no one could saddle the horse and they hoped that I could fix the problem. The horse had been to many trainers. It then became my turn and I made friends with the horse and developed the connection slowly. When the time came to saddle the horse I took it slowly. I first put the saddle about 5 feet in front of the horse, stood in front of the horse and proceeded to toss the blanket on and then the saddle all from the front. I cinched the saddle up very slowly. Then I got on and rode her. I had the owners do the same thing and she was fine and has never been a problem. It is about attentivness, getting permission, trust and the bond in the moment and being willing to listen and not try to put the saddle on if she was no up for it. I have never produced a cinchy horse. I have never had a horse in my care stay cinchy. I take the time it takes to get the connection and willingness. I always believe that a horse has rights to its personal space and opinions.
It is a thin line to walk, when to use force or when to choose not to. I can say if a person wants to hit a horse to be expedient don’t do it.
Some of the old cowboys were with their horses every day, all day long. I remember it. They knew their horses better than you could ever imagine. They loved their horses and respected them as much as anyone could and took care of a horse as best they could and their horse’s knew it. You can be strong with a horse when you have a connection and the horse is fine with it. The most important thing is to give a horse a good life before you would every revert to being strong or hitting a horse.
It is perfectly alright to hit a horse, but saying that I must also say that in 99% of the cases it is abusive to hit a horse. I always notice that people seem to hit their horse while the horse is restrained in some way. If the horse is at liberty then you will know instantly how the horse views the connection and your relationship bond. You can not hit in anger or as a way to improve or ask for performance and not until you are a master in horsemanship and your horse likes you more than anything on this earth and likes you in the time of your correction. From these conditions you have license to hit a horse if in the hit you do not blame your horse and you see it as a communication only and it would not create alot of pain. It is always best to seek a better approach.
If you feel you have a strong marraige with a horse, hitting can be none abusive. In general when a person hits a horse they are in a hurry so my adivce is to slow down. Horses need attentivness, direction and a person that shapes their program and leadership to bring a horse a better life. Which I know that you do. Your way with horses helps others to have more care for all creatures on earth.
Wishing you a quick cycle on the meds, and I am really glad you were able to figure out the cause for your horses behavior.
Carolyn

]]> By: Jan Snodgrass http://www.carolynresnickblog.com/how-to-be-your-own-horse-whisperer-part2html/#comment-1819 Jan Snodgrass Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:26:48 +0000 http://www.carolynresnickblog.com/?p=537#comment-1819 Carolyn, This is so nice! I have never heard it said this way. Linda talks about the Golden Rule of Horsemanship--"Treat your horse the way you would like to be treated." Very similiar but I have never heard any other trainers say anything close to that. It seems the training world is so over run by people who want to blame the horse. That mentality coupled with the outdated view that horses are dumb animals I think is what leads people to use force. And many of these well-known cowboy trainers do exactly that. I watched RFD TV for a couple minutes last week only to see some guy who brought in old Tom Dorrance to show what to do with a horse that tries to bite when the girth is tightened. He proceeded to hit the horse in the face with his cane when the horse tried to bite. I don't really care what people think of this guy and what he has done but that type of mentality is what easily leads to abuse of horses! There was no mention of whether or not the saddle could be causing the horse to bite or some other sort of pain. He blamed the horse for being dominant and wacked him in the jaw with his cane. This sets a TERRIBLE example for other people who then think it is fine to beat up their horses when they do something "wrong." Linda says behavior is language and that we must learn to listen to our horse's whispers so the horses don't have to shout. This horse was trying to say that girth tightening was uncomfortable but the cowboy wouldn't listen. What do you think is the best way to get this point across to other people? I do know many people are looking for a different way but if this is all they see then it is hard to show them otherwise. BTW Archie still has Lyme and is back on meds for it. You were right about it being a brain thing. Lyme definitely affects the brain. I really didn't want to believe he could still have it after 3e0 days of treatment. He is the second horse I have treated this year for Lyme and I am sick to death of dealing with catheters and meds and now I have another month of that to deal with! (sigh) Carolyn,
This is so nice! I have never heard it said this way. Linda talks about the Golden Rule of Horsemanship–”Treat your horse the way you would like to be treated.” Very similiar but I have never heard any other trainers say anything close to that. It seems the training world is so over run by people who want to blame the horse. That mentality coupled with the outdated view that horses are dumb animals I think is what leads people to use force. And many of these well-known cowboy trainers do exactly that. I watched RFD TV for a couple minutes last week only to see some guy who brought in old Tom Dorrance to show what to do with a horse that tries to bite when the girth is tightened. He proceeded to hit the horse in the face with his cane when the horse tried to bite. I don’t really care what people think of this guy and what he has done but that type of mentality is what easily leads to abuse of horses! There was no mention of whether or not the saddle could be causing the horse to bite or some other sort of pain. He blamed the horse for being dominant and wacked him in the jaw with his cane. This sets a TERRIBLE example for other people who then think it is fine to beat up their horses when they do something “wrong.” Linda says behavior is language and that we must learn to listen to our horse’s whispers so the horses don’t have to shout. This horse was trying to say that girth tightening was uncomfortable but the cowboy wouldn’t listen.

What do you think is the best way to get this point across to other people? I do know many people are looking for a different way but if this is all they see then it is hard to show them otherwise.

BTW Archie still has Lyme and is back on meds for it. You were right about it being a brain thing. Lyme definitely affects the brain. I really didn’t want to believe he could still have it after 3e0 days of treatment. He is the second horse I have treated this year for Lyme and I am sick to death of dealing with catheters and meds and now I have another month of that to deal with! (sigh)

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