The Not So Great Escape – Part 1
Nov 17th, 2009 by Carolyn Resnick Method
Today I am sharing the first part of a story with you from a friend and another one of my Insider Circle students, Connie Funk. It is stories such as this that make my work teaching others so rewarding.
Connie writes so beautifully and always from the heart and if you like her style, her first book “Beauty from Brokenness” is now available from the Other Products page of the website.
I’ll be writing again on Thursday with more information on the free Uberstreichen Exercises class that I’ll be running over the Winter. If you haven’t registered yet or have sent in an email or you have just written only a very brief comment to last Thursday’s post, then remember I need the following from you if you want to take part:
- Your full name (if it is not part of your site login)
- A brief introduction of your experience with horses
- Your interest in my Method – what attracts you to it
- Our history if we have one
- The name of your horse(s) and his (their) personal training background(s)
This must be written into the comments section below, please do not send an email. Thank you.
I look forward to talking with you more on Thursday and until then I’ll leave you in Connie’s caring hands.
Carolyn
My name is Constance Funk and I believe this is the first chapter in what may become my third book about my journey with horses and life thus far. The Not So Great Escape is a story that truly illustrates what my study of The Waterhole Rituals™ has done for me and for my horses. Today, because I have read and reread Naked Liberty, studied Carolyn’s Methods and put them into practice in our daily lives, I am able to translate them to what I love to do with my horses, which is to spend time with them on our acreage at home and ride them on the mountain trails nearby.
It was in the most extreme heat of the summer and the pastures at their driest when I broke my promise to my herd. Perhaps Gaela and Max could overlook this blunder, but not their fearless leader, Chasta. I had specifically told them that in the heat of the day I would come and take them to the woods for some shade to look for the verdant grassy spots that they so loved and deserved during the the greatest summer drought that we had experienced in many years.
Instead, I was back in the shade myself, ironically reseeding an area in pasture grass under huge evergreen trees for them that I had been grooming and had kept watered in preparation for unveiling in the spring. As I cranked the wheel to scatter seed from a manual box held under my my arm, I heard a vehicle pull up our long drive and an urgent honking. My first reaction was that it was our mail delivery woman, but realized that she had come earlier in the day and I had taken an oversized package from her when I was out front tending the gardens.
So I came out through the gate to see my friend Tom who had come to repair the antique barn lamp. He had circled the drive and motioned for me to jump in as he hollered in a serious tone, “Your horses are out on the road!!”
What a difference there was in me in that moment of urgency from my early days with Chasta! When this wondrous mare first came into my life, she bolted on and off our property on a regular basis and escaped routinely. Only the grace of God prevented either of us serious injury, but my adrenaline level, and certainly hers, was frequently off the charts.
Now I responded with a deep grounding breath and a quiet and calm question: “Thank you! Did you notice what direction they were headed?” I asked without a trace of panic. Tom looked at me dumbfounded as he pointed in the direction of the river and I went in to the tack room to retrieve a rope halter. “Don’t you need three of those, and to have me drive you?” he asked urgently as I smiled, thanking him, and headed down the drive on foot.
“No, it is the golden one that I need to apologize to. She is the horse who opened that gate when I failed to show up to take them out,” I said as I pointed to their opening to freedom and the wild blue yonder. “But what are you planning to do?” he replied, baffled at my casual demeanor. He thought he had spotted an emergency. And he had, in the respect that it required immediate attention, but I felt certain that Chasta had opened the gate in her left brained calm Houdini mode and was likely leading her charges without any unnecessary exertion to find greener pastures since I had failed to show up as promised. Just a happy field trip. So over my shoulder I exclaimed, “I am going to attempt to negotiate with a very smart mare!” He shrugged his shoulders, shook his head and headed toward the ladder and the lamp.
I looked out as she does with the eye of an eagle down to the ridge of trees by the river but my gut told me that they had headed the other direction once on that road. More than any other teacher, Chasta has taught me to respond to those intuitive instincts, so I turned my head in the direction that I felt their presence and way out in the distance they were enjoying the deep green grass on unfenced neighboring acres that was next to their vegetable garden that was watered regularly! Chasta found the best lush green grass available that was closest for her little herd, exactly as a good lead mare would find with the least amount of energy or danger to get there.
Thanking God they were safe, I repeated my prayer of gratitude that I had uttered aloud when I went to get the halter. “Thank you, God, for sending my horses home safely” as if it was the only outcome and the one I firmly planted in my heart and vision. I knew that Chasta could remain calm, but I wasn’t as convinced that Gaela or Max would with possible traffic in the form of rumbling farm trucks or tourists driving too fast on the back roads, and if they had headed to the woods without a trail, someone could get hurt trying to stay together and keep up. Rather than attempting to surprise them, as if that were possible with this wise mare, I spoke softly and quietly and very directly, feeling my voice would travel across the vast distance both audibly and from our heartstrings of connection (in Carolyn’s enlightened words) from all of the time we have spent practicing her Waterhole Rituals™ particularly Sharing Territory as companions without any agenda.
“You have my sincere apology, Chasta. I lost track of time and did not come to help you find better grass, so I see you have taken up the matter yourself. Well done! I am not coming to catch you. I am coming to spend a moment relaxing with you as you enjoy it and then I would like to take you all home so that you can stay safe. The roads, farm fields and woods are not places I want you to be without me.”
She was a great distance away but I was convinced that she had heard every word and felt my intention and I smiled at this wise soul who never took her head off the ground as she chewed, but her eye and ear spoke volumes. Even though the huge space between us remained, I felt as if the volume of our surroundings and all of my senses had been turned up. I sat down, laid the lead rope and halter on the ground and looked out at the incredible view from this vantage point on top of Pleasant Ridge where we are blessed to live. Though I knew our neighbors had this spectacular setting, I was certainly not used to grazing my horses in their front yard pasture, particularly since their grounds are impeccably maintained! I looked up towards their charming wraparound porch and waved back and forth, hoping they may see me to know that I was tending to the business of removing my herd from their property,however casual I may have appeared.
Before long, Max the Shetland pony headed in my direction and I thought about altering my plan. If I took him home, there would be one less horse who could have a problem and maybe Chasta would take mercy on us. Max follows me everywhere and had never resisted any attempt to being haltered, but as I stood up and took a step in his direction, he trotted off with impunity with an expression that seemed to say, “You have got to be kidding me! Can’t you see I am at large with my mares?!!” I looked over at Chasta and she watched my every move at cheating and not following through on connecting with her as I had clearly stated. She still had not taken her head off the ground, grazing as she observed my flub. As Chasta moved off further away, I immediately sat down again and dropped the halter, owning up to my mistake. Next was Gaela, who is also very loving and comes to me wherever I am.
This time, no matter how tempted I was to think of having her haltered and on her way home, I just stroked her legs and belly and showed her some really nice clover next to my shoulder as I laid down completely next to her, looking up at her magnificent tri-colored markings, with a wonderful perspective on her huge chocolate colored furry heart over her left flank. She grazed nearby me for several minutes, seeming to approve of my calm demeanor at their grand level of liberty before she calmly walked away.
To be continued……
No related posts.
hello carolyn,
this is my first visit to your blogs. i have only just discovered you by searching for furthur liberty guidance with my horses. i have 2 PRE i have raised and trained from youngsters(Vaquero”V” and Chili) and 1 Hispano Arabe(Tammy), . i train and teach natural horsemanship at my farm El Prado in SW Spain.
My life is centred on my horses and sharing them with others who wish to grow through their contact with horses.
Horses have always been a part of my life and i am privileged to now be able to dedicate my time fully to sharing life´s journey at their side.
I have always held horses close to my heart but only in the last few years realised the depth of our bond and am constantly open to developing our relationship. i am drawn to your work because i feel it may be the key to furthur communication between us. i am physically limited by injuries and arthritis and so must limit the riding i do. i see my future more beside my horses rather than onboard so liberty work is a rewarding partnership i see with no limits for me.
thankyou carolyn for being here for us. i look forward to working with you.
daena
Wow, what a journey this is. A little history about my horse involvement.
I rescued my first horse when I was about 10 years old, up until that moment my girlfriend and I spent every waking moment being horses, we galloped everywhere and had many adventures as horses. I was always a pinto and rather feisty. Fast forward to a hot summer day when I decided to be a little nosey and asked a man who had stopped at our local gas station where he was going with the horse in his trailer I was horrified to learn that he was taking the mare to a slaughter house. Without consulting with my father I told the man that if he delivered the horse to my home just across the road my father would probably pay him 100.00 dollars I don’t know how I came up with that exact figure but the man with the horse took me up on my offer. Voile, my dad having a soft spot for animals and his daughter, who thought she was a horse, oh yes and the pleading that this would be my birthday, christmas, passing every occasion covered present ……. agreed to the merger and I had myself a pretty little appaloosa with no name no tack just a halter and a rope. So for the first couple of years I rode her with a rope slept with her, on her, basically loving her and being loved. I really didn’t know any different. I eventually had some tack given to me and would use it from time to time but preferred to just hop on her and go. As life has it I grew up went away to school and my dad took over the bond with my horse. My next experience was after I was married and decided that I needed to get back to horses only this time I entered into the show circuit which took me away from my instinctual feel into a whole different world and I thank God that someone introduced me to the Tellington touch and presto I was back …. feeling and being with my horses.
Fast forward…… I sold my show horse to buy my daughter her first show pony and her life with horses began while mine took a back seat . My life took some twists and turns and I ended up going through a divorce and again my life changed. I have only recently found myself through my own spiritual growth being led full circle back to the love of my life”The Horse”. My latest experiences are definitely divinely guided. My passion was reawakened when my grandson was born 2 years ago this Jan. the 1st. I immediately had visions of training a paint foal to be his companion.My search began but everyone I knew tried to discourage me they would say that it was expensive it would take years before I could do anything with it and on and on. Basically I kind of listened and from time to time I would look at postings on the internet and even went as far as making an appointment to view a paint filly that was about an hour from where I live. Well we drove for hours and hours trying to find the farm where we were to view the filly it just was not meant to be . Again I kind of gave up on my vision quest, that is until through a search for info. on reconditioning a saddle I came across a posting for help to train a 7 month old paint filly.I answered immediately and met my filly a week later. The man who owns the farm has 9 horses and a filly , the girl who posted the add is working for him but I am usually the only one at the farm. When I started working with the filly she had no name and had been purchased at an auction and taken from her mother. She had been in her stall for 3 weeks and no one had touched her. I named her Shilouh and started doing Tellington touch with her she responded immediatly and we have had an amazing connection and bond. I have also been working with a thoroughbred who was head shy and could not be caught he now comes to the gate to greet me and puts his head down to have his halter put on. He has also been helping me bring Shiloh in out of the field as she gets a little stubborn and won’t move forward he nudges her rear until we reach the gate and actually yesterday I was so amazed and moved , I was aprroching the field and the entire herd of hoses escorted Shiloh from the far end of the field all the way to the gate. What team work…….. I have also been using Frank Bell’s methods and I am excited to be guided to you and your work. It seems like a natural progression and deffinitly an extension of my journey. I have the opportunity to work with the entire herd and 6 miniture ponies. I will be very busy this winter………. Namaste Sherry
Bless you Doris for a beautiful horse rhapsody – from a Montana girl!
Carolyn,
Since I started reading your blog, found Stormys DVDs in Canada at the Nevzerov clinic..and watched Hempflings work..I find I am most partial to your work and Hempflings work..both..as I love the dance movements with my horses..when I do graceful movement they really respond. Also I am a classical singer so music is very important to me and I hope to use more with my horses as I progress.
My horse Kenai was off the range in Montana and was not even started until he was 8. He is very street smart in being a horse.unlike many of his barn born domesticated brothers..and I thought after bringing him back here to Pa. that I was way over my head..but it turns out not…. He is a big old time walking horse..big boned..very sound..was never shown or messed up in the abuses in the walking horse show world. I have two others I rescued that were..one came back to soundness..the other has not and cannot be ridden but I keep him safe and sound as my contribution to the horse…as he did not ask for what happened to him…
At any rate, I was lost with Kenai for a long long time because no matter what I tried to do with him ..he seemed always pissed off at me..like I would just rub him the wrong way.. He never liked ground work..and I am 63 and do alot of stuff on the ground with my geldings..but he would just get bored and look at me like I was a loser…(I can laugh about it now). At any rate, I got your book Naked Liberty and was mesmerized by the book and your descriptions and the wonderful experiences you shared with us and you are incidentally a wonderful writer…and I then got your first DVD and started just sitting sharing space with Kenai and the other two geldings..and it was very remarkable…the change in attitude which was most evident in Kenai..even to the point of him following me around even at liberty to the manuere pile and while I would be cleaning stalls…as I allowed him to.
The second thing that made a HUGE difference to Kenai was when I took territory for food. We have only really gotten that far…but I see a very big difference in our total relationship. I have begun to see when he is in his happy place…or when he is irked with me…and I have not figured out what it is that I do or do not do to irk him..but I am looking at myself when it comes up..which is a lot less “training stuff” and just sharing time…and trying to find out. Other thing is because he was started late..I think his attitude about work comes up. He never had a good “work ethic” and I was told by his original owner who is an old time rancher in Trego Montana and is 96 now..that when they started him he was downright “rank”..like a bull..thats the particular word OV used..that Kenai had been rank..H really resented being asked to work by humans as all his life he had been free…at any rate..the good news is that he is never rank with me..and he is a really big gentle ben at heart.and a fantastic trail horse..beyond anything I could have ever been blessed to have in my best dreams..he is my dream horse….but he is a horse who it is hard for me to find how to keep things interesting enough for him..and here is my dilemma..he loves food..and he loves to work for treats…but when I remove them and ask him to work without treats he gets annoyed with me…
I am not sure how to properly use treats as a motivation to work…and I admit I love to treat my horses with everykind of apple and carrot etc..and for awhile before I found Stormy and you and Hempfling I meandered into clicker training using a click and treat method…which I did not use on Kenai much ..but on my other walker Maxie…so with Kenai I transferred some of that information and I would often ask for soft yields and then treat…always teaching something..which has helped a lot…but, now I find he gets annoyed if I dont treat..and..he just wants the treats..
So ..I know alot of people dislike treating and dont use it at all..the Nevzerov people would advocate only working 10 minutes at a time and then treat lavishly if you so choose..and in his DVDs I notice Nevzorov does teach and treat…..as a motivator..although they dont discuss it you can sometimes see it in the DVDs…
What is your feeling about treating and or using it as motivator to do work when a horse is like my Kenai …sometimes bored about doing stuff but finds really great motivation in working for a treat..? It is particularly seducing to use treating with a horse like Kenai because there is so little else in life he is interested in working for. I try very much to get him interested in me and our partnership and spend a lot of time these days..but as you teach he always has the right to walk away and often he still does..so I just let that happen and stay there until he comes back..we are still not there..the way I would like but it continues to progress…
Thanks Carolyn for all you do for the horse and us.
Incidentally..I am hoping to get retired end of next year and dont know if I could afford a full program with you but my dream is to travel out there and spend some time for a few days with you…dont know if you ever do that or what you would charge or if you give local programs….since I am on the East coast it would a huge financial undertaking for me once on social security but would love to save dough towards doing something like that with you…my dream would be to bring Kenai out with me..but dont know if I could ever truly cross country with him..as he came in from Montana successfully but after coming cross country is not crazy about the trailer…at this point in his life..
at any rate..I would probably come without him..if I could swing it…I have a camper if there was a place to came locally near you to come for lessons or a seminar..etc.
(thinking out loud)
Doris in Effort Pa.
Thank you so much for making your expertise available. I recently came across Naked Liberty and was profoundly moved by it and am looking forward to ordering your other material.
I’ve been loving and riding horses since the age of three, though I was not able to afford my own until I was 40. My first horse, a grade Arabian mare, died 2 years ago at nearly 30 years of age. Now I have Native, a 17 year old OTTB, Amaya, a 5 year old Morgan, and Joy, a 6 year old Arabian – all mares who share a pasture. Native was very troubled by her track experiences, which sadly included being abused with a “hot shot”. I worked with her extensively using Natural Horsemanship techniques as well as working with an excellent and kind dressage trainer. Ultimately her fears resulted in unseating me one day, doing a gallop depart off my right ankle, which was dislocated and shattered. Though I have ridden her a few times since the accident, I discovered I had osteoporosis and decided that our relationship would be best served with me on the ground. She is extremely kind, intuitive and healing to participants in the equine facilitated workshops that I host as part of my practice as a Naturopath. Amaya is a bold, inquisitive girl who loves dressage work and has been with me since she was a yearling. Joy, formerly a brood mare, has had a small amount of riding, and while laid-back, is not partial to fulfilling requests. My riding background is a combination of dressage and natural horsemanship. My interest in your work stems from both an interest in our communication journey and a comment in your book about Ora Rhodes and his/your ability to ride in your horse’s footprints. I have been researching for writing a book on vaquero horsemanship and whether it is possible for a horse to be comfortable working as both a bridle horse and a classic dressage horse. I feel fortunate to have found you at this time in my life and am looking forward to learning from your online blogs. By the way, what is the Inner Circle?
Pam Houghton
Your full name : Celia McCormack
A brief introduction of your experience with horses.:
I am a back yard 4-H girl… Now 53 years of age. I was introduced to riding at age 4, loved horses.. only bareback most my life. My first horse was “Pal” at age nine, I was able to have a horse of my own for 4-H. I could not show as I had no saddle. I have some how been envolved with horses in my life in and out of college, adult life and now.
I hike, ride and love my companion of 28 years. An arab gelding and I had my 1/2 arab mare 19 years…I was fortunated to have the experience of training and conditioned for a family who rode the Tevis Cup back in the 70′s.
I learned so much riding and conditioning horses for them as I learned to depend on my horse!!. I rode with halters and lead ropes, seldom a bit..
I play hide and seek with my herd. I did not know the term “liberty”, yet that is how all my horses on the property of 39 acres have been treated over the years. no barn, no stalls, just land, grass, hills, trees and a pond. Feeding time is all at liberty with direction and food from me.
Just this Saturday.. . The shoer comes, my gelding, he walks to the truck, he greets the shoer, the shoer trims and files all 4 feet with out halter or rope.
I just acquired a 4 year old..I hope for him to be my new companion. I have done every thing in the past by intuition. I wish to grow, learn and understand what I am doing to improve the things I do with the new young gelding.
Your interest in my Method – what attracts you to it:
I enjoyed watching the freedom and relationship between you and the horse. Some thing I have experienced but did not really understand the significance of. I listened to your DVD, I read your book. It all speaks to me.. makes sense and I have similar stories. It resonates with me.
Our history if we have one:
I signed up for the program this fall that just got canceled.
The name of your horse(s) and his (their) personal training background(s)
Sun is the 28 year old gelding… we are buddies, ride and do every thing. I do not use or have an arena, we ride all open fields, trails and hills. Redwoods and mostly hiking, bareback and tailing up the trails.
The 4 year old gelding is ” Magic” 1/4 conamara,1/4 arab and 1/2 TB.
I have had him 21 days, He was a rescue horse, he has limited handling and/or training of any kind.
We are making huge adjustments and is now welcomed into the herd. I can touch him all over and go for walks and lead with and with/out a halter. He was most willing and accommodating to have his feet trimmed and filed Saturday!! He has a great mentor of My Gelding!! Looking forward to learning and teaching eachother.
Celia McCormack
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you for wanting to share your Ueberstreichen exercises. I am very excited to see you taking an active approach in teaching people a viable and humane alternative to the Rollkur. I have had horses now for 6 years and consider myself one of the lucky ones since I quickly realized that there had to be a better way than what I was being shown during my riding lessons. Shortly after starting lessons, I bought my gelding Chase who drove him this point each and every day. He had very little trust in people and no confidence in our ability to understand him. I have had an amazing journey with him for the last 6 years and in October 2008 decided to buy a mare he was pastured with. Our little herd of 3 has created quite a stir at the barn I am at. I spend a lot of time not doing anything or seemingly very little but my horses are both very connected to me. I came across your book “Naked Liberty” a while back but had not read it until about 6months ago (I have a VERY large pile of “to read” material). I found it very much spoke to my heart and I have been reading your blog regularly. Both Chase and Sassy (my mare) are very sensitive horses while I am a rather Type-A personality. Neither one of them enjoyed their prior circumstances but are now very content. I’d like to build on that and also improve my own craft. I think your approach can help me immensely.
thank you again for sharing.
Sincerely
Daniela
Hello! Thank you Carolyn, for your willingness to share this story–You did a wonderful job presenting it in two parts and creating a ‘cliffhanger moment’ so that others would be drawn in—the “to be continued” seems like the perfect metaphor for what our horse companions offer us—Every day together, our journey continues, and it can be such a joy to fully experience what will happen next. As so many others mentioned in their responses, we have tried many methods with little,some or significant success, but the overall picture changes dramatically when we allow true liberty and your Waterhole Rituals to become our language.
Though I do have a desire and intention today to continue to improve my skills as a horsewoman, it is not a linear approach. Rather, I am showing up every day far more present in every situation so that ‘the now’ becomes our shared joy. This naturally leads to ease and connection. Mistakes and missteps become interesting ways to gather information. Choices that create desired responses become relaxed and intuitive.
I am very eager to learn the exercises and know that they will be a way for Me to express my love for my herd, and to feel their appreciation for our bond. Everything I offer them in love returns to me a thousandfold!
My best wishes to you and all of your students for a lovely Thanksgiving in the states and blessings of the season to those around the world. Because of you, Carolyn, the Heartstrings of Connection unite us. Reading Naked Liberty changed my life and therefore the lives of everyone I touch. So to you, I am incredibly thankful.
Love,
Connie Funk
Dear Carolyn, I’m not sure if it’s too late to still try and get on board for the exercise, but I thought I’d give it a shot.
I’ve been riding horses since I was about 3 years old. I grew up in Colorado and always had horses at home and also worked for my hunter-jumper trainer training horses for about 10 years in my late teens and twenties. I took a bit of a break for law school, and I now live in South Africa, but I recently purchased an ex-racehorse. I’ve put showing to the side and now practice natural horsemanship techniques like Parelli exclusively. I’m an avid Parelli student, but also am interested in other complementary natural techniques, which is what attracts me to your methods.
My horse’s name is Toby, and he’s a 7 year old dark bay thoroughbred. He was neglected by his previous owners, who stopped feeding him properly when they stopped racing him, but he’s bounced back and is an incredibly good-natured and understanding horse given his background. I’m his first experience with the non-racing world and it’s been a treat to teach him that he is now a pet and loved and not just a machine. Little things like teaching him what treats are has been really fun.
Jenny
nice
Hi Carolyn,
I would love to learn about the Uberstreichen exercises.
I have owned horses on an acreage for 40 years. I knew little about riding to begin with despite training in veterinary medicine. I have never had the desire to compete, only to enjoy my horses. I did enjoy 15 wonderful years with a special Andalusian mare who was very willing to please.I spent many years taking dressage and jumping lessons, but do not consider myself to be a “great rider”.We have owned and bred Andalusian horses on a small scale.
But I always felt that there was a dictatorship when it comes to horse training in general.I started my journey with The Payh of The Horse, discovered your book and DVDs, participated in the In The Box Program and read your newsletters faithfully.I have been doing ground-work only this past summer with my aloof mare, Esencia, who was very nice to ride but with which I had no real connection. She was also at the bottom of the pecking order.Things have really improved a lot, she has much more self-confidence now.I also have another mare, Ama-Retta, who was orphaned at 3 months ,then spoiled, then Parelli-trained, but now is benefitting from your Method.
Dear Connie, I so love your stories. I can just see Shasta leading the herd down the road, without too much worry. This story caused me to recall when Sully, now 23 yo Arab gelding, decided it would be a good idea to trot down the driveway, turn left and head toward a busy street. So funny how when I ran behind him, he ran ahead of me… just like Carolyn talks about with her wild horses. It took a moment for Sully, and I, to come back to our left brains, which is when he decided the grass at my neighbour Sheila was perfect…
Thanks for sharing this story Carolyn