Learning Horsemanship from a Brumby
Dec 1st, 2009 by Carolyn Resnick Method
Today we have an update from one of my Inner Circle students, Lynn Scott from Australia, about how her relationship is progressing with her wild brumby, Sakima. This is a testament to what gentle persistence can do.
Exhilaration is not enough to describe how I feel at the moment. I truly have achieved a relationship with my wild brumby Sakima that we all dream of as young girls and never achieve. Your help and advice has been fundamental in the journey. The big difference is I am doing it with my wild brumby Sakima, that has never accepted being handled by a person.
When Sakima, as a wild horse took his chance for freedom several weeks ago and then decided to return to our farm and our mob of horses I knew that he trusted me and had bonded with me. Having him follow me down the mountain will always bring a lump in my throat.
His trust to come home gave me the confidence to decide that it was time to start Sakima. Wow, was I apprehensive? Yes. Did I know what I was doing? No. I had plenty of horse trainer friends who said they would come and start him. The horse world is full of experts.
I said no, this is something Sakima and I will do together. We will learn what to do together. My work in the Waterhole Rituals with Sakima and coaching by Carolyn gave me the confidence that Sakima would show me when I made mistakes and when I got it right.
How right my thoughts proved to be! Sakima has been my best coach in this journey together. When I don’t do a request correctly he clearly tells me by leaving me or tensing up his muscles so much that I can’t help but observe his apprehension.
I have made mistakes and yes, listened to others when doubts creeped into my human brain. One said I should try Join Up to move him into the yard where we would work together. Well, I did but I stopped it immediately, too much pressure and energy. Sakima sent me a clear message, “I will do this but I don’t need you to do it this way”.
Sakima was far more comfortable with Leading from Behind, so I just continued that and now he casually trots from his large paddock to the smaller yard after Sharing Territory and Saying Hullo and then starting Leading from Behind. No pressure, no huge energy I simply get up from my chair and start leading from behind and he does the rest. It does not give the instant results of other methods but the results are achieved with no stress and no flight response.
I still spend hours sharing territory and saying hullo. The other trainers were on time agendas, “we can give you four days and the basic job will be done”. Yes, but at what cost to Sakima was the nagging thought in my head.
I threw away my diary and forgot work and yes it has taken 10 days to start to achieve what others would have done in one or two days. But now the progress is so rapid I come back from each session with him amazed and so proud of what we are achieving together.
Now, while sharing territory and saying hullo I can rub the halter over his heard and ask him to put his nose in the halter and he lets me tie it around his neck. Just doing this can take an hour but the exhilaration you feel when he drops his head into the halter and allows me to clip the lead rope proves time should not be considered when starting a horse.
Sakima adores the mutual grooming that we do together. Not the rubbing of his withers but me untangling his mane. His entire mane was long dreadlocks. It takes 30 minutes to untangled each dreadlock. He stands head down and eyes drooped as his magnificent, long mane takes shape. Each day I brush what I have untangled to keep him looking the best horse in the paddock.
Today Sakima has given me the greatest trust a horse can give. I picked up his front feet, held them and picked them out with a hoof pick. No dramas, no kicking no fear. This is the ultimate statement of trust as a brumby has no life without his legs.
Sakima is such a clever boy and knows the pecking order of apples and carrots. When he has done something that I think is super hard for him he gets apples and the rest of the time it is carrots. Apples are his all time favourite and his tongue literally smothers my hand as he gets his apple. His success in allowing me to hold his front feet has earnt him many apples. Next week the bare foot trimmer is coming so there will be a bag of apples after he has his feet trimmed.
Then I asked my brumby to tie and to accept that he would be tied to a post and no choice to move. For 15 minutes he stood motionless with head calmly relaxed. No dramas, no pull back just complete trust that what I asked him to do he knew it would not hurt him or endanger him. I repeated the exercise again today thinking yesterday was just a fluke. No, it was the same again, a quiet brumby standing tied with me beside him.
Sakima leads with the halter on and turns and it is the softness that I have always heard about but never thought I would have a horse so soft and responsive. I just have to give the slightest gesture and he responds.
It is an amazing experience to be trained by a brumby and it is truly a sharing learning experience. I lead and decide the moves but he is refining my horse skills to a level I have never achieved before.
It is a partnership where we are both learning together. Carolyn, your method as well as the latest DVD have been my constant companion on this special journey with Sakima. The DVD “A Meditation with Horses in Nature” gave me the inspiration and confidence to keep doing the Waterhole Rituals when others had faster, more immediate ways to start Sakima. I played “A Meditation with Horses in Nature” each time before going to be with Sakima.
This DVD is, I think your greatest gift to horse people. The subtlety of your method and messages are bought to life as I watched you communicate with the herds on the DVD. It was the privilege of being able to watch the members of each herd communication and interacting that makes this a unique horse experience. It was so important for Sakima and me. Each time I could see something more unique in the way that horses spend time together interacting. It gave me a window into Sakima’s world and helped me communicate with him the way that he would understand what I was asking and wanting. A wonderful DVD to watch and ponder about the beauty and complexity of horse society and fundamental in starting Sakima to accept the halter, lead, pick up his feet and tie. Thank you Carolyn!
One more thing before I go, at long last we will shortly be releasing the DVD version of my ‘Liberty Training’ video that I made some 20 years or so ago. Many people used it to train their horses and even though my Method has developed since then, I think it’s still a very good training tool as the essence of what I teach hasn’t changed. Anyway, more news on that week, enjoy your week.
Speak to you on Thursday
Carolyn
No related posts.
Truly inspiring story Lynn. Love what you have learned together with Sakima and how you shared the story. Intuition, not time, your master. Just read the story to my daughter Katherine. Wonderful experience.
KSD
I just wanted to answer Vicki that yes I did adopt Sakima from Save the Brumby foundation and Jan Carter. Jan has shared Sakima’s journey so it is me that she has talked about. Adopting a brumby has been the most challenging horse experience of my life and Sakima has made me a better horse person with Carolyn’s guidance and wisdom. Adopting Sakima has been a pivotal experience in my life and I would not have missed it for the world. I am including my mobile and feel free to ring me any time about adopting a brumby. 0418 44 6666 and my email is lynn.scott@creativebydesign.com.au
So inspiring! Thank you for sharing that.
Good reading! Perfect timing also, to have the reminders about trusting ourselves and not going for the quick fix with the local trainer.
Lucky & Carrie
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks very much for sharing your experience! I guess since this is my first year with natural horsemanship, I am having to relearn horses all over again – and I love it even when it brings me something I can’t understand. In the old school, there really was no relationship with the horse (like Carolyn says about the difference between dominance and leadership), so I never got to see this raving jealousy before.
I did get him to work well today by first leading him to the zocalo (town square) for a fun trip out of the pen (my hand was injured and I can’t ride). After all those delicious new impressions he was all heart again. I think I’ll just never work two horses in the same session for now.
Vicki, my heart goes out to you and your son too. I am thinking of Temple Grandon, an autistic woman who works with livestock. If you haven’t heard of her, please do a search and become familiar with her biography. I think you would be very encouraged, seeing what a brilliant professional she has become despite her autism. She works as a consultant, helping various people understand how animals perceive the world. To hear her voice when she speaks, the autism is still quite evident (a friend once went to a presentation by her), yet despite that she lives an amazing life (http://www.grandin.com/inc/visual.thinking.html).
Kerrie, I only have one horse, but she also gets jealous when I’m walking with someone else’s horse. And once somebody asked me to take over lunging her horse because she hurt her hand, and my mare (in the paddock next to the lunging circle) went crazy, she was very upset about it.
I’m not by a million years qualified to give advice, like Carolyn is, but I was thinking about your problem and thought: pherhaps you can think of a way to convince your Capriche that he is not excluded or ignored while you work with your other horse, but that he is now part of a herd of three, in stead of two? I was (for example) thinking of Stina and her videos of her working with some of her horses at the same time.
By the way, the hairdressers remark was funny, it made me laugh
Lynn, thank you for sharing your journey with Sakima. It’s so wonderful, so valuable, when a horse in it’s own time decides to trust you and chooses you to be the leader, in stead of being forced to submit! I’m not finding it difficult at all to take the slow path with my horse, because I just don’t think the words ‘hurry’ and ‘horse’ combine. It’s other people who can’t understand me taking all the time it needs, they ask over and over again “how can you be that patience?” It’s human nature to want to have quick results, regrettably.
That is why it is so good reading about other people’s experiences taking the slow path and great hearing Carolyn say in her WHR dvd: this can take a long time.. and guess what?… we are taking that time!
Sorry for any mistakes in writing, my language is not english.
Vicki/Marja – Google/search online ‘The Horse Boy’ amazing book and documentary about horses and Shamans healing a boy of some of his problems caused by autism. In this the boy clearly already had a connection with horses. But i would say it would be as rashional to say that horses or other animals don’t have feelings becasue they don’t have human feelings. So when we say we talk with horses, we know what we mean – but taken literally, that would be obscure and non-sensical. I think to be in the presence of horses is healing, even before one can identify a language or a dialogue. It is not easy to articulate and to anyone who hasn’t experienced it, they would think us all a bit strange.
Sending good thoughts and healing to Vicki’s son
Carolyn,
This may not have anything to do with the brumby story, but I am remembering in one of our Insider Circle calls you said to put any comments in this area for you.
I was reading a book by Mark Rashid where he talks about the difference between humans and horses in regard to touch. He said that humans are very ‘touchy feely’ and horses are not.
As I thought about this and reflected on my herd, I see that horses do not do much touching among themselves, unless it is mutual grooming. In my herd, they will stand next to each other and rest, or lie down in the grass by each other to sleep, but they are usually not touching.
I am wondering if you could make a few comments about your experiences with this. Do you see the same difference? In your experience with the wild herds was there much touching?
I can see where this difference would have consequences in the way we interact with our horses, and I can see how, if this is true that horses are not very touchy feely, it could have insights for why humans get frustrated when trying to be so close and touching their horses all the time.
I also see that this may be why your sharing territory ritual works so well. Because we are being with the horse, but not necessarily touching, which would feel more natural to the horse.
Personnally, I have a mare who does not like much touching, though she seems to enjoy standing quietly by me. I plan to explore this with my mare. Any suggestions you have are welcome. Thank you.
Dear Marja,
Thanks for your understanding reply. I guess my hairdresser comment sounded so silly (just an expression from I can’t remember where) that it downplayed the heartbreak. I have lost a lot of sleep. I sure could use any ideas about how to reinforce the bond again. I sometimes don’t think well when anxiety occurs. And this, after so much astonished praise from people who watched us. “Pride comes before a fall?” I guess it’s a matter of getting ambition out of the way. I was so psyched to do a video.
Lynn, both times I posted I meant to tell you what a beautiful story you have. It’s an honor to read your story.
Dear Lynn,
Thank you for sharing your story, it is so heartwarming!
You bring your love to all of us.
Stina
Kerrie, I can relate to your story about the jealousy of your horse. My mare Saegola loves to work with me and can get very jealous when I work with one of my other horses. It the horse I’m working with is lower ranked than Saegola, she just chases them away from me, biting and kicking them. She doesn’t do that with the higher ranked ones, but keeps her eye on all that’s going on, to ‘slide’ in when she can. So I can’t work in an open arena when Saegola is around, because she’s always trying to interfere. They are just like people
…
Vicki, do you know this website about the healing of an autistic boy by horses? I haven’t read the book nor seen the film, but I was intrigued by the things I read on this website.
What I am learning is that I will always be learning. Every being in my life, whether it be an animal, or a person in my life, whether it is someone I am drawn to or someone I am irritated by, has a lesson for me. i feel that my job in this life time is to learn as much as I can by hearing what the people in my life are saying to me, what the animals in my life are saying to me. i have begun to think of my children ages 15 and 17 as my teachers, My son is especially insistant on teaching me lesson after lesson -even though he is not aware that I am learning, or at least trying to. My golden mare Maize, now that I have begun trying to listen is teaching me. My cats-which I never was that in to, before we had them, they teach me, they all talk. Its in learning to listen to the quiet and sometimes not so quiet speech of animals that we can be more attuned to the humans in our lives, and our relationships with them can be better as well. Reading all these comments makes me think even more. Keep them coming. Oh, one more thought, my son is a high functioning autistic and always says to me that animals are stupid and don’t have feelings. it’s interesting that his biggest struggle is with socialization issues with his peers. it is extremely difficult for him to interpret the non verbal as well as verbal social cues that we all use to communicate. i have often felt if I could get him close to a horse or any other animal, that it would help him immensely, but he at this point has no interest in them. if anyone prays, please pray for his healing. At one point he was close to his cat and things were a little better with him, then one day he decided he hated her, and things have gone down hill for him and us since. We believe that the continual picking on he recieved at school finally made him just give up trying to be open at all. it has been a very painful thing for him and our entire family as we all love him so much. i believe that as there was physical healing for the eagle man, that there is a healing waiting for our son, I am just praying and waiting for him to accept it.
Hi Carolyn,
If I have sounded dumb as to this question about my horse’s feelings, I apologize.
I tend to think of animals as superior to humans, in a way, in that I don’t anticipate things like retaliatory emotional frameworks. Simple kicks of a lead mare, yes; nipping and herd behavior, yes, but not possessiveness towards the human. Certainly not a punishing behavior over jealousy issues.
So many people here have many horses and I haven’t heard of such a thing as a horse sulking when their owner works with another horse. But I can perfectly understand the feeling from my own dim human perspective.
I don’t want to ascribe anthropomorphic characteristics to a horse, but maybe my point of view is too narrow. I sure would appreciate insight. I hate to think I actually hurt his feelings in the manner I am tempted to suppose, and it has me worried.
I’m going to emphasize looking very pleased with him no matter what he does tomorrow. Maybe my disappointment registers and is putting him off. Our bond has been so extremely close.
I am so happy to hear Lynn and Sakima’s story.
I have a very heavy place in my heart due to
seeing and hearing what is done in the name of training to some of the mustangs at the Extreme
Mustang Makeover events I have attended.
May all of the wild horses find their highest and deepest paths
and the humans who will respect and honor them.
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you again for the way your work has blessed all our lives and made these beautiful relationships possible with horses.
I have a new horse and an unanticipated problem: my little Capricho is taking out his jealousy with me!
For the past few months – totally at liberty – he has gladly trotted or walked beside me, does a version of “go trot and come back” in which he jumps a small string of stones, runs to circle a tree and comes back, circles me at a walk or trot either way, backs up and does a beautiful dance. Tomorrow or Friday a friend is coming to take a video, hopefully you will be able to see this work finally, which is thanks to the WHR program in which I was an “in the box” student.
Here’s the catch: another horse came up for sale in the same stable and we are buying him. I had started working with him in a separate pen (which is going extremely well). The first day, little Capricho just stood astonished, as I had him tied outside the pen. When I took the other horse out, he entered and began doing the lunging routine at a dead gallop, looking frantically at me at times as if to ask “am I doing OK? You still love me, right?”
The past few times I’ve gone to work both horses, Capricho’s vigor first dropped off, then he up and refused to dance or play. When I coaxed him with treats, he did our play together but started nipping me (I had entirely gotten him over that for several months by doing sharing territory). But this is new: sometimes he pretends to ignore me.
A few months ago, while I had him outside his pen, another horse got loose and ran in. I caught the horse and calmed him down, and took that horse back to his stall. When I brought Capricho back in, he just stood dejected with his head down, nose on the ground. He wouldn’t look at me (he is very spirited, full of brio and tends to naturally collect himself and flex the poll). I finally put the halter on him and got on him, and he came around.
I don’t know what to do. I have thought of making sure that when I work with Capricho, I should have no interaction with any other horse. I can work the two on separate trips (we live a block away). A friend who is a lifelong horsewoman says these Spanish-blooded horses (he has some Friesian but evidently something like Paso Fino, for he can walk faster than most horses can trot) are very possessive and jealous.
Do you have any thoughts? Also, can I still post a video?
Thanks very much. I’m so insecure it’s enough to make me visit a hairdresser. Little guy just broke my heart.
Thank you Carolyn and Lynn for sharing how taking the horse into consideration can attain a true and deeper bond than getting the “job” done” in short order and that the horse doesn’t gain the trust you can attain by being trained under duress.
On the mustang front I am increasingly becoming opposed to these contests taking horses and just handing them to “trainers” to see what they can do in a set period of time. What are these horses actually experiencing? What happens to those who do not adapt and are rushed with whatever techniques may employed? Is this humane?
We are happily continuing with our waterhole rituals and playing ball with the horses and see how each one has an individual response to learning to play with the ball or not. Little challenges with all the horses really shows a great difference in learning styles and how to adapt our approach to each individual for his/her best experience and how to build the confidence of that individual.
Carolyn I have your liberty tape in the video form and it is really what started me on giving the horse a choice and for that I am so grateful. I have watched it over and over so many times looking for the little details and then carefully observing the horses in the field to see how they interact with each other based on what I learned from the tape and your book. These tools really improved our observation of how the horses were interacting with each other and taught us new approaches to them from the observations.
Lynn I love the two tier treat idea, we have just started using that a few weeks ago and the filly really knows it went well when she gets a whole apple held in our hands as a thank you. By the way grain and carrots weren’t our better choice for encouragement with her but handfuls of alfalfa were.
I really really enjoyed reading this and it makes me feel more positive about taking time. I have had a recent set back with my horse Charlie. I got him from sales last year semi-ferral. The ‘semi’ part is crucial becasue had he not had any handling, i’m sure my job would have been a lot easier! The handling he had had was rushed and negative and no doubt they fought with him to do his feet for the sale. his feet were newly trimmed when i bought him and yet i could not touch him..let alone below the knees. He was also newly castrated at 3.
All had been going well by using sharing space, leading from behind and companion walking (which he enjoys best). He is a big powerful horse and yet a very gentle soul. But the other day my trimmer came. He has been doing so well with his feet and i could pick them up at liberty without him tensing, just as a part of our time spent together. But this day it was windy and raining and he had escaped into a big field full of lush grass and the sugar no doubt added to his frisky stance! When i brought him down, he was on edge and on the look out. had the trimmer not been coming, i would have just shared some space aa his comfort zone was smaller on this day. I have learned that this work is not a linear process and it’s not about achieving more every day, it’s about exploring more every day and the achievements happen by themselves.
Anyway, Charlie was already on ‘red alert’ when the trimmer came and really wasn’t comfortable about giving up his feet. My trimmer is lovely but she could not understand why he was being ‘naughty’. when he had been so ‘good’ before. This caused the presence and energy around him to be unstable. There was a lot of tooing and froing and in the end we ‘got the job done’ but it has cost me a huge set back. He now does not want to give up his feet as I didn’t full fill my part of the deal. I rushed him when he was asking for time. I fell back into my past techniques of pressure and release and negative/positive reinforcment. There is a skeptism about him now and he even tried to kick me today which is a first.
So i need to rebond. It’s not easy to get it right all the time. I have to remember also that horses live in the moment and don’t bare grudges. I have to let go of this bad experience and move forward again and i think i need to meditate before my next contact to clear my head of any disappointment and negativity.
Thanks again for the inspiration Lynn. I’m loving that Brumby of yours and well done to you. xx
Such a great story of trust and harmony. Thanks!
Lynn and Carolyn,
Thanks for sharing this heart felt story! Good for you Lynn, saying “no” to all the assembly line trainers that only know how to train by perscription within time limits. I believe that every horse owner knows what is best for their own horse, although sometimes it can be difficult to make the choices that are in the best interest of our horses.
Just want to share what I did this afternoon
: I decided to do some WHR in the arena with my Icelandic mare Kría. I had some small problems lately with her hesitating under saddle when at the beginning of our rides. She’d rather stay with her friends than going out for a ride with me. Kría has very strong leading abilities and doesn’t want to be told where to go. She can sometimes get furious if I insist (even with the smallest of pressure), even with bucking and rearing (not all too high 
). She likes a lot of things though and is very curious by nature, and as long as she thinks something’s fun, she is very cooperative. But she’s also bored easily and has a very strong mind then.
We did Saying Hello, Eye contact and then Leading from behind. All went very well but when I decided to lead her from behind through a narrow path (which she knows very well) to another paddock, she got angry, refused, bucked and bolted. She left me so I left her too. Standing on the other side of the arena, she looked at me curiously, as if saying: haha, what are you going to do now??? I walked through the arena and she decided to accompany me. Together we then walked the path she refused to go earlier. When turning back to the arena I switched again to Leading from behind and sent her trotting through the path, which she did without any trouble. After that we did some more Companion walking and she seemed very content and relaxed. Didn’t want to leave me when I said goodbye to her (this can sometimes be such a heartbreaking moment…).
I liked the way she kept her interest in me and decided to accompany me again even though I asked her to go where she actually didn’t want to go.
Thank you for sharing your story Lynn. It has been said before, but I echo the sentiment that your story is the opposite of what is going on in the horse world of quick fixes. And, you re-inforce for others that you don’t have to be a world traveling clinician to train your horse.
The differences I see, are being present, reaching and waiting for harmony, taking the time it takes, and holding a perspective of respect and love through the journey.
I hope you have many years of joy with Sakima.
Thank you Carolyn for sharing this story on your website. I’m sure there are many other stories like this one out there that you may never hear of, but know in your heart they are there.
I have never understood the quick breaking method. I have been told I should enter the The Road to the horse and my response was “how is it good for the horse if I can break him faster then the other trainers?” for those who don’t know, it is a huge competition for trainers each year. It is done in front of a huge audience and it is to see who can get the most done the fastest with an unstarted colt. It symbolizes all that is wrong with the horse world right now. It is encouraging to me to see the people on here taking the journeys with their horse.
Lynn,
Thank you for this wonderful story. I can relate so much to what you say about the pressure from others to do things quickly in order to get quick responses. And yet by taking the time you get fabulous responses without the stress.
Something for me to remember when other people’s “sensible” voices echo in my head.
“They choose you when they have the option not to. I see this as the essence of the Waterhole Rituals.”
Wow, this is one to remember Christian!
Lynn, thank you for sharing your wonderful experiences with Sakima!
Dear Carolyn and Lynn,
Thank you for such a wonderful post – truly heart warming,
Joanna
What a wonderful story to read and to do!
The horses teach us by the response they give when we do something right or wrong. People like Carolyn who teach and guide us what to do will all help us in our journey with horses.
Horses are so beautiful!
Linda
Hi Carolyn
I wished I could explain my appreciation in fluid english. I’m often touched by the stories and your wellwilling to give us feedback. They are of big value to me even though it’s not that easy to pick it all up in a foreign language.
Thank you so much! Tine
Thank you for this wonderful story, Lynn. I will make it read a friend of mine, who asked me for help with her horse Luise. Luise has been a wild living horse in a natural reservation near where I live in Italy. She was captured, joined-up, and then brought to a horse trainer, who started her to be ridden. When my friend after that tried to ride her she immediately threw her off. Luise, I think, is the typical example of a “quick start”, no taking time, saddled too fast. She has the wild spirit inside and you must really deserve her trust. Although she is now giving all her feet (at liberty), she does not trust the halter, and it takes some time to convince her. She hates being touched by her ears. I imagine it’s her trauma when they captured and haltered her. So I really hope to convince my friend not to sell her (that was what she considered to do), but try the patient way. It’s so wonderful and moving when Luise decides to trust. She likes leading from behind like your Brumby. I also started to play and dance with her and she could show her wild beauty and afterwards we contemplated the sunset together. There was this moment of real trust and intimacy when I could hold her head in my arms tears running down my face. Wow!
Thank you…. so true regarding taking the time to share and work together….I h
I just brought home a 4 year old gelding from a resuce situation.. extremely green, innocent and very much untouched… Every expert is saying ” send him to a trainer” … I say NO… it is a matter of time and trust that we will move forward. I am at a similar stage as Lynn… learning the watering hole rituals, and sharing territory. At 23 days in the pasture of 39 acres, the gelding Magic is at liberty. He comes, nickers, I am able to touch him all over, pick ticks off his body and comb out his tail, pick up the feet.
He has been accepted into the herd of 4. Three horses and myself… it is so rewarding… and as you say, I think of the progress and think it is just a fluke that he was so good and relaxed that day. Yet the next day… I observe the relaxation and more acceptance and joy in his eyes and body.
Thank you for sharing..
celia
Dear Lynn,
I am back from my trip and checked in to ready your story again. Thank you for sharing your appreciation of my support. I was with you on every step off your journey once again. It is stories like yours that causes me to belive that the connection that cross spices have is much deeper that with with in a species. When we achieve this conntion with horses it is hard to explain. Wild horses are aware of their heritage and when a connection is made and put to the test the truth of a bond is trully understood.
This is what is was like with my own horse Mustang.
If I had not had that episode in my life I would not have known how to communicate with horses as I do today.
When a horse comes home you think diffrently and communicate differently and trust more and give more and appreciate and understand how to make a natural connection with all things.
Sweet sweet sweet! Thank you for choosing this mystery, for adding to legend and myth and our expanding Awakening with Horse! This sacred path is SO beautiful…..
Lynn–Thank you for sharing this heartwarming story–it made my day to read it and agree with how you are feeling about the choices you are making for the two of you with Carolyn’s coaching. It is exhilarating for the rest of us, too!
Connie Funk
What a wonderful story !!
Lynn, I read your story with interest and was wondering whether you got Sakima from Jan Carter’s ‘Save a Brumby’ program?
My husband and I have been planning on getting a Brumby through them for a year now, and have visited her place a number of times. Jan told us a beautiful story about a woman (also called Lynn Scott) who had an amazing connection with the horse she chose and I asked Jan if I could contact this person. Jan keeps mailing me to say she will contact Lynn to give my particulars so we can make contact, but as she is so busy with all the Brumbries, I think she keeps forgetting!
Kind regards,
Vicki
That is so cool. The Brumby brings back memories of my childhood reading. I am Australian and now live in Minnesota, but I grew up reading the Brumby series of books, one of which I still have. Those stories for those that haven’t read them are told through the eyes of the wild horses….I feel they might be good to read again now, some 40 years later:)
Just today I received the WHR dvd and popped it in the dvd player right away. I was so pleasantly surprised to see that some of the things I have been doing with my horses and their responses are echoed in the dvd. Thank you Carolyn.
I look forward to your next post.
I am also so impressed with Lynn’s progress with Sakima (remembering the many calls we shared over the summer….your winter there, Lynn). Her story of when he returned from the mountains voluntarily is awe-inspiring. And I also relate as my mare Lili has made similar decisions to be with me, even though she has, of course, never been a wild horse. I can now let her loose pretty much anywhere (and not hobble her like so many other “natural” horsemen do), and ask her to come, and she will follow me, away from the most luscious patches of grass. All moments I spend with her now, as long as I have presence of mind, are dialogues. And she appreciates me for understanding and respecting her fears. Now we can dialogue about them until they dissolve, instead of me pushing her to be brave. There is nothing like giving a horse the option to leave you to convince them to be with you. They choose you when they have the option not to. I see this as the essence of the Waterhole Rituals.
To hear this story of working with wild horses and giving away to their lead and timing, and the success achieved is truly inspiring!
Sally
This is so cool. I think back to the first WRIC calls and learning about Sakima and Lynn. To share what they have achived in such a short time wiht Carolyn’s guidance is incredible. Thanks.
So True . I love this method!!!!!!
Bravo!!! What a wonderful story with magnificent results! I share a similar experience, although my boy came from a very neglected/abused background, I can completely understand what you’re saying. The changes and the huge trust, willingness and communication from my boy are just amazing. He’s gone from a horse that tensed up and stopped listening as soon as any equipment came into sight, to one that now knickers loudly and trots over whenever I ask him! He and I are now riding “naked liberty” after I got some ideas from Carolyn’s book and he stands quietly while I clamour on (not a pretty sight).
All the horses have changed completely with sharing territory. It’s one of the most powerful tools I’ve ever come across……along with not rushing anything. Taking everything in the horse’s time vs mine is another major learning step for me.
Thanks so much for sharing your story. It brought tears to my eyes. It’s nice to know that other’s are sharing the wonder of the horse that has choices and chooses to be with us!!!