My Clinic on Catalina Island
Oct 8th, 2009 by Carolyn
I am back from my presentation to a group of equestrian women that gather each year with their horses to celebrate and promote community activities on horseback. Julia Felton from the UK, a working student for the past four months, went with me as my coordinator and personal assistant. This year the group had 51 riders. It was their 15th Annual Ride on Catalina Island. They call their organization the Las Caballeras ride.
I gave one of my presentations at the Escondido Ranch, which is the original Wrigley Ranch, and I got to meet Alison Wrigley-Rusack. Not only did I have the opportunity to meet Alison but I got to use her prize black Arabian Gelding, Zanadu, for my presentation of the Waterhole Rituals™. Alison had purchased Zanadu to be her special horse after falling in love with the stallion in the movie the Black Stallion. Zanadu had led most of his life as a stallion and was recently gelded. Even gelded Zanadu was every bit as animated and beautiful as the stallion in the movie.
We also got a private tour of the Wrigley museum that held at least 15 Bohlin saddles, matching bridles and breast collars belonging to various generations of the Wrigley family. The saddles were laden with lots of silver and some with gold and silver. There were a range of saddles from work saddles to parade saddles. I have ridden in many Bohlin saddles myself and always felt quite special getting to ride in one. I still have a Bohlin saddle that my friend Ray Hackworth, an all time gifted horse communicator, trainer, and competitor of reining horses, gave me. The tour brought back the feelings and the sentiments of the old times for me.
I want to recommend this annual ride for anyone that has a horse. It is the event of a lifetime. It is a non-profit ride so it is very reasonably priced but you do need to get someone to sponsor you to attend. The price includes your horse being transported to the Island and back plus all your accommodation, food and a full schedule of activities – both night and day. You get to camp out on at the beach and can even take your horse in the ocean.
I stayed at the Banning House Lodge, a bed and breakfast at Two Harbors, which actually looks over two harbors – one on each side of the Isthmus. I intend on returning to the Island in the future. The island was so unusual as it has been left in a natural state, almost frozen in time, and it reminded me of my childhood. The buildings were like most of the buildings I remember from my childhood. Nehtia Barrios a member of Los Caballeras, who was raised on the island, volunteered to take care of our transportation driving us everywhere we needed to go. She drove us around on the back dirt roads of the island that sported beautiful ocean views and bays and waves. During these incredible tours I never spotted any civilization or telephone poles outside of the horse ranches we visited. It was like I had gone into a time capsule and stepped out into my idea of paradise.
And now I am back home I am looking forward to my long awaited vacation to Jacksonville, Oregon to visit family.
I would encourage everyone to read Leanna Kielian’s comment to last Thursday’s blog Benefits of The Waterhole Rituals to Riding – Part Two and my response. I think many of you will find this helpful in giving you more ideas in how to start a daily connection with your horse.
Going forward I would like it if even more of you would leave comments to help build mine and everyone else’s enthusiasm and to bring more awareness that many people are evolving to a new attitude in how to connect with horses and life in general. The larger the number of comments the more energy you also bring to me to write. I will write anyway but your comments even if just to say ‘thanks’ always gives me a shot in the arm to think of new things to share with you.
Whilst I’m away on vacation, it would be great if you could help with my blog by sharing your beautiful ideas and stories about what’s happening in your life right now as Margaret did earlier in the year. For example, I would like to feature entire stories of some of the results you have had with my Method, especially if you have been in the Insider Circle Club.
[More news on that next week, I promise!].
If you have some stories you would like to share, please send an email to
info@carolynresnick.com
Finally, I would like to tell you something that my mother told me recently about a ground squirrel that has been stealing the bird’s feed. He has been running away when my mother steps outside. He is so quick in leaving when she goes outside that he looks like a blur running. He never stops until he is out of sight. Today my mother spoke to him in a sweet voice saying “Don’t go” and he turned around and came right back to her and sat right up at her feet. It is in moments like this that I am able to see evolution in the process of change. I told my mother that I want to get something like a rabbit hutch that is artistic for him and keep the door open so that he can come and go freely and he would look like a pet. Who knows where this will lead. I will share pictures with you when he is in it.
I have always wanted to have artistic birdcages as bird feeders without doors on them so that the birds could come and go as they choose. This way I can enjoy having pet birds and the birds do not have to give up their freedom for my need of another pet. I see these cages as outdoor art forms for the garden or in nature where the wild life is an active part of the art itself.
I am always creating art forms in my mind. An example of this is that I have created a standing figure of Saint Francis that is made so the wild animals can actually sit on him and interact with the sculpture because you can place food in his out stretched hands and on his shoulders and arms. This year for Halloween, I might make a scarecrow feeder for the crows.
I have always loved when the imagined and the real can be seen interacting together in movies and plays like puppets talking with real people or Gene Kelly dancing with an animated Mickey Mouse in the musical Anchors Aweigh. What project would you like to share with us this winter?
Have a lovely weekend and do let me know how my blog is helping you and the relationship with your horse. Thank you.
Carolyn
Related posts:
What a beatutiful post, Carolyn! And what a wonderful place and a arabian horse to dream about! If living in the US, this would be my vacation-spot for me and my horse!
I love this work Stina posted of Ephraim Chaurika. It is beautiful!
hi there,
just a little observation about Patch, my daughter’s pony. I’ve been sharing space with him and my Andalusian Tom who has a light delicate touch and hangs out with me at every opportunity. Patch is dominant, so I’ve been practicing catching him unawares from behind as well. The other day I noticed when he came to push my book around that he has a heavy touch. At first I assumed he was being dominant as usual, and went to shoo him away, and realised that maybe he just touches strongly (which i notice he does with the other horses) so I didn’t react, and let him feel me all over with his lip. He took a deep sigh, positioned himself behind me and i woke up with him a while later. It was a good lesson for me in allowing him to be himself, and learning him as an individual, and a great relief for him. We’ve both been more thoughtful of eachother since.
Thankyou for giving me something to play with that’s not “me telling him what to do”!! I think ponies especially get bossed around a lot (by people and horses), and it’s heartening for him to be heard.
Thankyou also for giving my mind and heart something to play with, and the permission to follow this direction which i started as a child, sleeping on my shetland pony’s rump as he grazed.
Wow ! Carolyn…you never cease to inspire me !!
I too am missing the WRIC group calls , but am continuing to getting that magical connection with my horse .
I too love creating ..in fact I make jewelry from horse hair .
My website is
http://www.equinetrendz.com
Click on BraidedTales to see
I have made many a bracelet for people whose horses have passed over the Bridge…it has warmed my heart by doing this as it’s a way to honor and celebrate our dear equine partners.
I have just finished reading Naked Liberty. Carolyn, I used to have one of your earlier videos when I was around 11 years old, and I actually wrote a letter to ask for more information, but I don’t think it ever got mailed… However, recently when I was taking Equine Behavior as part of my Diploma in Equine Studies from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, I remembered the phrase “liberty training,” and looked that up, and I found you! I am overjoyed. I have wanted to learn your training method ever since I saw that video. I took notes, and I still have the notes. I remember trying out your method with my mare Sugar when I lived in Guatemala, but I don’t think I got very far- though I did learn to give my horse my full attention, and that horses move towards what moves away, and away from what moves towards them.
I am wondering if you could write more about the transition between groundwork and riding. Do you always advocate no or very little tack? What about riding schools- should all the students spend a few months on the ground getting to know a horse before they learn how to ride? Right now I’m writing a business plan for my course, and I’m writing about starting a pony club/lessons/training facility, and I’m wondering about horses used in this situation. Of course I would want them to be willing participants in teaching kids and adults how to ride, but how does that work in a business situation if the horses decide they don’t want to be ridden?
As I’m in school, I don’t have much money for books or videos, but as soon as I can, I’m going to get more of your material- I can hardly wait!
Hi Carolyn, I miss the insider circle program but am very happy with the results. The other day Tahnis had not been in the arena for 3 days and was acting extremely dominant and fisty, wanting to pick a fight with whatever thing closest to her, feeling completely full of herself (she went over to the pig and reared and turned around to kick it and I chased her off since that kind of dominant behavior is not allowed with me around). Leading from behind removed the aggression/dominance and it felt so good to know what I needed to do and to see that it worked. I enjoyed leading her from behind, knowing that was exactly what she needed, and I felt that she enjoyed it too as she listened to me ready to stop whenever I’d ask her. I’m leaving today for my vacations so I won’t see her until I get back and by then I’ll have to figure out a safe way to get her from the corral to the arena with all that pent up energy that seems to make her so dominant and fisty (she doesn’t act that way in her corral though, only once she’s on the leadrope on her way to the arena).
I also wanted to comment that Catalina is a beautiful island and it’s true that it seems to be frozen in time although I probably haven’t seen as much of it as you have (I’ve just gone there for the diving).
WOWOWOWOW, what fantastic links to amazing art is posted here in our classroom, thank you!
So, my turn, and I will ad one of my favorite arts are called Friends for Ever stone sculptures from Zimbabwe.
This kind of art is called Living Stones.
One of the artists, Ephrahim, makes horses – he writes
—————————–
“I see horses which play like lambs in the field…”
Ephraim was brought up on a farm where the flaming nostrils and the rolling whites of the eyes of the horse caused him no fear. The Madzimu Bulls with heads of baroque gargoyles, speak of the Minotaur and the bull as myth. Ephraim brought the horse and the bull into the farmyard from the paddock, into the pen and the stable from the wilderness.
Ephraim Chaurika is an example of that kind of artist, who keep on exploring the possibilities in a few themes – proud horses, dancing horses, the beauty of the stone combined with the elegant features of the animal, and the friendliness of the expression – not two of them the same, always new and genuine pieces of art.
Ephraim is one of the first generation artists. Ephraim currently works from his home and farm in Guruve, near to where Enos Gunja lives and works.
———————
You can see photos of his and the other african artists on their website
http://www.friendsforeverzimbabwe.com/browse.asp?ArtistID=28
Enjoy your weekend!
Love from Stina and the horses in St. Vincent
What a wonderfully creative group of people. The WHR also reactivated my creativity. I love the ideas of places of sculpture for birds or animals to inhabit. I love birds and have many magpies who visit me especially during the Spring.
When their young fledge the parents introduce them so they learn that when times are hard there is a place to visit. Several years ago when times were very dry even in the city, a large crow turned up on the roof and we became friends, and I could handfeed him, he was so beautiful with gorgeous blue eyes then he found a mate, and they used to sit on top of the grid at the backdoor and preen each other. Pearly and Round Eyes
Then they had a couple of babies and they came too.
Now I shall think of creating feed shelters with a bird bath
Carolyn I am doing Kim’s course from the DVD too. As a medium I am drawn to collage because I can use photos drawings and poetry and of course the main theme will be horses and nature.so I will be exploring a workshop to learn the technical details, I am bursting with ideas.
Patty your concerts sound wonderful and I love Farah’s wowbands.
The journey with the WHR will continue with Andre, Rikki and Razz once they are settled in the new agistment next week.
Carolyn have a wonderful break.
Dear Stina,
Thank you for the invite.
Happy Holidays, wish you could come here!
Br Stina
Carolyn,
Thanks for your reply – I looked up Andy Goldsworty and was completely inspired and amazed this morning. Now I have even more ideas for a path to pursue for my own backyard art trail. Thank you for sharing that! A few years ago I did a concert project – I am a performing classical pianist and love nature. I spent one year photographing the area around my home throughout the seasons.It included animals, landscapes, skies, close-ups. Then I used those images as a slide show that was projected behind the piano as I performed music by Schubert, Liszt, and other composers. The images reflected both the moods of the music and also the form and structure of the compositions. My audience still remembers this concert. Now I am preparing a concert that is all dance music and will project paintings and scuptures and nature photographs that involve dance while I am playing. I would like to get some photos of my horses and me dancing together in the WHRs!
Some time ago I discovered this website: http://www.heatherjansch.com/ . Amazing what this woman can do with driftwood. It’s as if these horses can come alive any moment!
Dear Patty,
Thanks for sharing about the sculptors in nature. I love just love all forms of art and the people who are so inspired. I love Liz Mitten Ryans work as well as Kim McEroy’s work.I also like art that is able to fad back in nature and is only seen for a short time like a flower blooming in spring. I quite like Andy Goldsworty’s art.
Any photos you would like to share I would love to see them. I also like any interactive art.
Kim McElroy as a course she offer with a DVD as a guide. I just started some of her exercises and I am feeling even more alive loving and appreciative of myself and of the easy days ahead as nature begins to slow things down or brings more work to prepare for the long rest.
This time of year is always leaves feeling a longing and feeling complete at the same time.
Dear Erin,
How nice I would love to see you when I am your way. If you do not have my number ask Robin for it and then call me and we can get together.
Today I shared space with Mercury for the first time in the hay fields truly at liberty. NO fences no ropes nothing but me, my chair and reading your blog post on my blackberry. Yay technology! He has come down with Erhlichiosis (a tick virus) and is feeling pretty bad. They run a high fever from it and their legs swell up. So I have been taking care of him and he seems to want a lot of fresh grass and doesn’t want his hay and feed so I decided to take him to the hay field to graze. I am a firm believer in horses knowing what they need and he seemed to want fresh grass so I took him there. I often take my horses to meadows when they are ill to let them find “natural Medicine” I am amazed at how they know exactly what herbs and leaves to eat. Anyway, we stayed out there for a good hour and when it was time to walk back to the barn we did leading from behind, companion walking and taking territory. I will be taking him out there more while he is recovering so we will get good practice at truly free liberty.
I wanted to add a link to some art that I do. Although, Carolyn it will probably not surprise you that I went to Art school, My father is a jazz musician, and my mother paints. I used to design Jewelery as a business and I started to design Browbands (or as I call them WOW!bands) with genuine Garnets, Amethysts, Lapis etc. and sterling silver. I pick the stones for their energy and positive effect on the horses. They can be calming and grounding as well as gorgeous! I married my too passions in one! Here’s a link:
http://fdhorsetraining.blogspot.com/2008/08/wowbands-are-now-for-sale.html
Carolyn, you look great with that horse, Catalina sounds like it was a wonderful trip. I’ve always wanted to go there. Have fun on your vacation and let me know if you happen to pass through Northern California! I miss you!
I don’t have a “before” with Eclipse to compare to. I bought her, and met you. It was perfect. I can say that when I began whr’s, Hawk reared, came down on my head and sent me to the hospital. Yesterday, I sat at his feet reading my book. With him, everything changed. Everything.
I just want to say how sharing space has/is totally chilled out my horse in the presence of not just me, but all who tend to him.
I have been sticking at sharing space for a long while now as i feel i need more guidence for the next rituals, but this has turned into a good thing.
Charlie was ferral when i bought him last year from market at 3. Pretty much untouched but the contact he had had was negative.
He’s a big boy, not so much by height, but he is stocky and still quite stallion-like as he spent time covering mares before i bought him, so he has that kind of rough and ready big I AM look about him!
He got an abscess in his foot yesterday it became very apparent and he was hopping lame. I was so scared because when i got him, i couldn’t get any checks done as he was not good for the vets and dentist ect.
He was so brillient today and i put it all down to sharing space. Vet popped his abscess, I tubbed and dressed his foot. He had his teeth rasped with no sedation (she siad that was a first and was amzazed by his behaviour) He had his vaccinations while we were at it too. No stress, happy horse.
She asked me how i trained him in such a short space of time and i didn’t know what to say!!! Sat down in the sunshine and meditated together!! I did say that i was following Carolyn’s methods so she said she’d look her up. Isn’t it great!! My horse is not just happy for me to be around him, but thatb trust has tipped over to everyone now. What an amazing change!! You couldn’t even scratch your nose without him bolting at the sight of a moving finger before!
Needless to say, despite my vets bill, i am very very happy.
Thanks xxx
Oh my! You have really struck a chord with me in this blog post, Carolyn.
There is a botanical garden/art museum not too far from my home. One of the features is a sculpture trail that you can hike on. Various sculptures can be found outside around the trail. It is so much fun to walk and see how they blend in with the environment and how they change with the seasons or how animals are using them for their purposes. I dream of doing this on my small piece of land somehow. Perhaps your blog will be the motivation to take some action. I like the idea of purposefully making the sculptures usable for feeding or hiding or resting. Here is a website of a sculptor who uses recycled horse shoes in his work. There is one of a camel where the camel is stuffed with hay and smaller animals could use it as a hay feeder. His sculptures manage to convey quite a bit of personality and motion with the simple horseshoe.
http://www.tomhillsculpture.com/horses.php
My horses and I are doing so well and our relationship is developing each day – I will post a description of this a little later as it will take some time to articulate my thoughts clearly about the whole experience. I hope you have a good time in Oregon!