Out of struggle into practice
Dec 22nd, 2009 by Carolyn Resnick Method
For anyone new to my blog, the programs I offer are about developing better connections between horse to human and human to horse. They are meant to support the equine community by creating better equine partnerships through social interaction and communication that strengthening the bond, trust and dance.
If you are new to my classroom and want to understand more deeply my philosophy and the programs I offer, I would suggest that you order my book Naked Liberty, the DVDs Introduction to the Waterhole Rituals and Panadero’s Journey. I also invite you to join in on the free training course on the Uberstreichen Exercises. These are exercises to develop a better partnership and connection when your ride, by working from the ground teaching a horse to perform the beginning stages of collection.
You can join in the free winter Uberstreichen Exercise Program by going back in the archives and reading from the November 19th entry. Every Thursday there will be a new lesson, Tuesdays will be regular blog entries that might have further information regarding the lessons.
From reading all of your comments, many of you say you are visual learners and are grateful for the YouTube videos. I started thinking of the different ways we have to increase our ability to learn. Some ways would be: relaxation, meditation, having a good time, being interested in the subject, reading, writing, instruction, lecture, listening, taking notes, journaling, emotional well being, feeling, divine guidance, practice, trial and error and plain evolution through time, experience and guidance from your own knowingness, and of course apprenticing.
Comments that have been made on how some of you learn have prompted me to look at my own journey. My life has been spent on improving my abilities of comprehension, reading, writing speaking and teaching and I am still learning. Most animals, especially horses, are in a state of learning through observation, which causes them to have something in common with us, it is one of their key survival skills.
For many years, I stayed away from writing a how-to, step-by-step, horse training book. I thought, it would take every effort to do that. I felt that the only difference between a horse, and me in regards to the ability to write a book is that I have fingers. I wasn’t good with the traditional ways of education.
I grew up with dyslexia at a time when education for someone with my disability was not even thought of, so writing provides me with many stumbling blocks. When I write, you have no idea how many hours I put into it. I also thought that, if I had to get involved with a how-to book, I would loose my talent and stop my evolution as an artist and dancer. I was afraid I would loose my touch by being captured in the side of the brain that deals in the facts of thing rather than the feel and connection. Then I decided that developing my weakness into a strength could help my creativity.
Now I find I am in the thick of it and enjoying every minute of it, as I am sharing it with you. I can’t wait for the next comments from all of you and then the possibilities that you will be sending videos for me to watch because it puts us clearly in the moment. I love that we can stay in touch through the computer; it spurs me forward to offer more insights on the world of horses.
Developing my ability to write a book, I could show how to gain a spiritual connection and dance from a book of practice and method. I made a pact to go to the other side of my brain that is not developed and try to become clear and comprehensible. I was surprised to find that making an effort has already advanced me as an artist.
Often I have spent a day writing to the class, only to accidentally delete what I wrote. I used to catch my breath and want to hit things, not that I ever did but I wanted to, and that happened a lot. Now I just start over, and don’t get incensed by the fact that I will never be able to be as clear to you as the piece I had originally written.
I bet my struggles in writing a book could be as frustrating as training a horse could be for some people. If you are struggling with the practice of the Method, break it down in segments, like getting your horse to stand on a no contact rein, for longer and longer periods of time, with lots of breaks that your horse would tolerate. Then, you could move on to holding the halter for a second, in a floating hold, standing in front of your horse.
When people have training problems, the way to solve the problem is to break it down in smaller, do-able increments that work for your horse. I want to give you some encouragement so that when you see very little progress with your horse and would like to not have to put in practice, remember practice is a strong tool in learning and growing your connection with your horse in the most natural way. From the practice of braking things down for your horse you will then learn how to avoid the struggle.
If you find your horse is struggling with the program, it is usually created from focusing on the goal rather that stepping into the flow of practice. I believe that struggling is an option that we can always avoid, and that practice replaces the struggle.
The Uberstreichen Exercises break down horse training in acceptable do-able exercises once the connection is gained, either through the Waterhole Rituals, or because you have a basic, good relationship with a horse in the moment of your request. Bit by bit, practice is a tool that teaches humility and relaxation and a way to find genius.
Thank you for checking in. I want to remind you that the YouTube of Rosalie and Alessandra shows the connection you really need to have before you start with the Uberstreichen Exercises. You can always try them with your horse if in the moment you have a willing, relaxed horse that is focused on you. From trying them out you might develop the readiness you need to advance with them. If this program is too advanced, I will be offering a class, in the late spring, on the Waterhole Rituals, which is a program that is a foundation for all equestrian pursuits that will prepare you for the Uberstreichen Exercises.
I hope that if you find the exercises are too advanced for you at this time, you will still continue the program as an observer. As many people have already stated that one of the greatest tools for learning is to learn by watching. Thank you for being a part of a better world for horses and thank you for your support of the work I do on their behalf. They have done so much for mankind for centuries and the least we can do is make sure they are properly understood and treated accordingly.
May I take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy Holidays and a wonderfully, exciting New Year to come!
All my best wishes
Carolyn
P.S. By the way, I am still in the process of choosing a new apprentice for next year, so if you are interested, please apply. If you have already done so and I haven’t contacted you, please remind me again. In both instances, you can write to info@carolynresnick.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
No related posts.
Dear Carolyn
I appreciated your response to Kerrie as I am having a similar problem with regard to treats. I created a problem with too many treats and now am trying to fix it. I too am having problems with putting my hands near their nose without them searching for the treat. I think I started to make some progress on that this weekend. But my confusion is when do I treat? If I am doing the UE’s and have a bucket of treats on the outside of the fence and reward periodically, is that good? A couple times, they would walk away from me and go toward the treat bucket to which I would chase them away from that area and they would of course turn toward me and I would bring them back to me. If the bucket is distracting to them, then perhaps it shouldn’t be there at all? I plan to do the WHR in the spring because I know there are “holes” in our connection. The weather, lack of daylight and full time work prohibits doing as much as I would like. We tried doing the circles and infinity circles but I pretty much just had to pretend we were doing them. They still tend to tuck when I do not ask for the tuck, so I’m taking a step back and just looking for more relaxation and feel. They seem to want to figure it out before I ask and then maybe I will leave them alone. I have so much learn and would never have thought there was so much involved in such a seemingly small exercise. I will take the time it takes though. Thank you,
Regina
These exercises have had surprising results. My mare has taken to the gentle “tuck” quite nicely and has been lighter and lighter on the bit. Now if only I could get a little more impulsion from her! My gelding, who mugs for treats, was a bit difficult at first, always looking for food when I stood in front of him. He is a PMU rescue and was weaned at only 3 1/2 months and quite suddenly, so I think this has contributed to his mouthiness. He has calmed down when faced and having his halter held and is beginning to tuck a bit. He has also cut down on his mouthing of my hands when they are near his face. Thanks.
Dear Kerrie,
Carolyn’s response is coming from my address because I wasn’t able to help her with a computer problem and had no other choice than publishing her response to you from my own computer.
These are her words:
Dear Kerrie
Train your horse off of wanting treats on something else other than the UE.
I would suggest you do not use food with the UE because your horse is focused on the taste and not the touch. His whole being needs to be focused on the connection and feel. It is not about the act, it is about the connection through the feel, not through the TASTE.
Can you imagine what it would be like if you were getting a massage and there was a table next to you, with your favorite food on it, and you were very hungry. How this would affect your ability to really feel the massage, especially if you periodically went to eat some of the food. You really could not feel it. You would be distracted. To really feel, you go inside the moment with no distractions.
Imagine what it would feel like when you are directing your horse’s head, because the feel is the most important thing to grasp, not what it looks like. It will give you more skill in the way you ask. This is why I have broken the exercises down like I have.
I separated the looking for the arch from doing the movements. This way you get to work on the look and the feel separately.
In the Liberty Horse Dancing that you wrote about, you want your horse to be a wild dragon with lots of energy when you want him to be that way, and, in a moment notice, when you want him to be slow he would do so. This will take you awhile to accomplish.
The formula to that is knowing how to apply the last Waterhole Ritual, when you send your horse away at great speed and bring him back at the same speed in concert with the Uberstreichen Exercises. If done correctly the horse learns how to offer any kind of energy you ask him for.
The horse begins to understand that the quality of the energy is very important and he will begin to learn to offer it on request. When this happens, the quality of the dance is “spot on”.
I would suggest no treats for you at this time, please, when you are practicing the UE!
I want you to go through the struggle and find something that you have not found yet, and develop something that you have not experienced yet.
You need to develop more feel for what is real and what is unknown!
I want you to get more involved with what feels good rather than what looks good.
Imagine what kind of relationship you would want with your horse if you could not see at all. Your priority would change, you would no longer care if the dance looks good; you would care more that the dance feels good, feels soft, nurturing, safe, exciting and magical. You do not yet believe you are enough for your horse. You are exactly what your horse wants without the need of a reward for your horse to be with YOU!
The connection takes the being together in the moment, nothing more. It takes place in the touch, in the embrace, in the give and float together with your horse that wants your control and direction.
There are many ways to surrender that are life changing. Surrendering without force and coercition. You need more practice in that!
This will develop your magnetism and teach you how to use it.
The reward is the journey and the challenge. Cold turkey, when using the UE, will be more revealing, more challenging and more rewarding in the end! Go ahead and use your treats for other things with the exercise I suggested for getting a better response in using them.
What you are suggesting would work and would be easier, but you would not get the connection I am wanting you to share with your horse.
Carolyn Resnick
Dear Kerrie Stepnick,
I do wish we lived closer. I bet it is trully beautiful were you live and I really enjoyed talking to you on the phone. I am so glad to be part of your journey with your horse. You are really developing the dance you share with your horse creativly and with respct. Looking forward your videos. I am learning all of the time how horses really do give use more perfromance if we can lay back enough to allow them to show use how connected and bright they are.
Some day maybe we wil met in person and I will get to hear your husband play the piano.
Take care, Merry Chirstmans and Happy Holidays and Happy New year!
Carolyn
Hi Carolyn and everyone, and here’s wishing you the very best of holidays. Maybe also we can send some good weather to you from here in Mexico!
Carolyn, it was so wonderful speaking with you Sunday evening. I felt like I was talking to someone I’d known all my life. What a gift, to visit with you at last!
Something you taught us which has become beneficial is trying something three times and pretending the horse did what was requested. Specifically, I know you posted the Honza Blaha video on your “favorites” page, and we are learning a lot of those moves at liberty. I’ve been wanting to sneak in some beginning moves for shoulder-in, so I started stepping sideways into him, then stepping back and saying “good boy!” as though he had done it. Guess what? About the third time he tried to mimic me! Not that we’re fit for prime time by any means. But I wanted you to know as a sort of intangible Christmas present to you that you leave us with pearls of wisdom.
We shot a video yesterday again. There is good play on it, but the trouble is that Capricho is still frightened of nearly all men (save Mark, whose back pocket he would crawl into if he could – “Mr. Carrot”). So when our friend stood in the lot, he would tend to shy back whenever I went near the camera. We’re working on this. Also a girlfriend just came here for the holidays, and although her camera is not such a high quality one, perhaps we can come up with something to send to you.
I’d like to send it just to you at first. I need to do a nice edited version before posting it in public. But if I sent you some of these first attempts, at least you could see the gift you have given us of such a rapport as I never had before with a horse. This little guy will scamper after me at a canter like a puppy!
Thank you Carolyn, have beautiful holidays everyone.
In response to #36:
(not sure if we are not supposed to comment on each other’s postings. I apologize if that is the case, but I just couldn’t help wanting to respond…)
Dear Lynn,
your report is, as always, just wonderful. I remember you well from the WRIC class, and it is just amazing to hear how you and your horses have continued. In any case, I wanted to congratulate you on your decision to trim Sakima yourself rather than exposing him to this professional barbarism that is so typical of many horse professionals. It’s actually because of my colt that I decided that I had to learn trimming myself, and I did. When the farrier came out for Destry’s first trimming when he was two months old, he grabbed him by the halter, which he insisted on putting on, even though Destry was not halter broke yet, but I was able to pick up all his feet at liberty. That grabbing sent him flying across the field, really it taught him to pull back and be afraid of the halter. At that moment, I told the farrier that his services were not needed. I’ve trimmed him ever since then, at liberty. Hobble and twitch Sakima! How horrible!! The thing is, horses will do what is expected/suspected of them. If he expects to be kicked, it wouldn’t be too unusual if it happened. I don’t mean to be dismissive of all farriers. There are certainly ones that have a feel for horses…..I just meant to congratulate you on your firmness to stand up for Sakima.
Christian
.Hi Carolyn,
I had the best Christmas present ever and it relates to your work and the coaching that you have provided over the months and it is because of your work that I am able to celebrate this.
I had an amazing day with Zippin and just needed to share it with you.
I was basically working with Sakima and I need his back feet done so was not intending to do a lot of work with Zippin other than the Uberstreichen exercises.
My horse fly veils were not on and I needed to pop them on and I went into the paddock to do this. Zippin was wanting some time spent with him so I did. I had nothing with me other so it was all spontaneous. At first he just wanted to share territory so we did and then we moved to standing still for the exercise. I had no reward with me so I had to ask him to halt and then walk up the hill to the shed and have him stand while I did this. He did and then I walked back and he was still standing in the same spot and was thrilled to have earnt his reward.
It was amazing, we then did the companion walking and then for some reason and I know not why I asked him to go Trot and come up. I had nothing but my hat to ask him to go out. Zippin took off at a trot going around me and then I started to run with him.
He and I danced together and he matched my rhythm and cantered when I ran with high steps and had a wonderful time and kept pace with me. He was so full of exuberance and was like the horses on the video with bucking and turning and just having fun. We ran all over the paddock until I was out of breathe and I asked him to come in and he came cantering in and stopping in front of me when I asked.
Then we did it again and he left with great energy and excitement and cantered around me and careed off and came back to join me as we danced together matching each others rhythm. It was awesome and the best present I could have before Christmas.
you saying that some will and some wont. It has taken four months of the Water Hole rituals but when it happens the time is so worth it. The feeling of trust, bond and respect that we had together today was what I have worked for.
My managers wife was watching from the veranda and when I came back to the house came running out to say how awesome it looked and it was just wonderful to watch. She was amazed with what she saw.
A magnificent day and it is as you said it happens when you least expect it and there is was.
The Uberstreichen execise I did the holding Zippins’s head in place and floating and he achieved this with a brief hold. What I forgot was to disconnect and I did not do this and when I can home I went back to your notes and realised what I had forgotten to do so I will try again tomorrow. I am learning these and I need to go and do it and then come back and check in and find what I needed to work on. So another go tomorrow and we will see how he goes. even though I forgot to disconnect he did hold his floating head in position for about 30 seconds before moving.
Thanks again for your help and advice and today was a special day for Zippin and I and that is so important as so often it is Sakima and I.
Sakima picks his back feet up and lets me hold them but my bare foot trimmer refused to trim them when he came out as he was concerned that Sakima would kick him, being a brumby. He wanted to hobble him and use a twitch despite having done the front two weeks ago with no problems. It was horrible and I was not a happy client that day.
I said no we will do none of that and then went and bought some nippers and trimmed his feet myself. He was the perfect gentleman and there were no problems.
I continue to despair at the professionals who resort to extreme control methods and so much pressure.
At least I am lucky enough to have found a way that truly is based on respect and communication.
Have a Merry Christmas and thankyou for making my horse world so wonderful.
Dear Carolyn,
as someone else on here already said, each time your new blog comes out, I rush to read up, and when you have posted another comment on any of our questions, I can’t wait to get to it. Your guidance is always inspirational. There are many things about your writings and your personal guidance that are pure genius, but I am particularly indebted to your insistence on finding our own way, and the fine balance between sending us on our own way and having us follow your instructions, sometimes literally. It would be impossible to do this in a “how-to” book, manual or DVD. The “how-to” approach is the death of a method.
Anyway, I hope you never think that your dyslexia stands in the way of your mission, your mission to reach so many people and their horses from all over the globe, your mission to help us reveal our deepest connections, and to improve so many equines’ lives. In the WRIC course over the summer, you once said (and I paraphrase from memory) that the harder the connection with a horse initially is, the deeper it will be (my Lili is certainly proving this to me). The same is true for your relation with your written words. Your (written) communication never falls into the death trap of convention. It is alive, fresh, poetic.
I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and I can’t wait for the next UE blog!
Christian
Carolyn,
Thank you soo much again & my horse thanks you too.
I want you to know that you are a blessing…in what you are doing for the horses & and sharing your insights w/ us humans..it is beautiful and touches many lives..that I do believe.
The best gift my horse & I could have gotten this year was to discover your blog and from there I read Naked Liberty ,watched your DVDs and being able to participate in the !st WRIC class and now the Uberstreichens ..it’s like Christmas everyday
Wishing you & yours and all the class Blessed Holidays & A New Year filled with New Beginnings,Open Hearts, Peaceful Times and Sweet Moments.
Mitzi
Hi
Happy Holidays! I love the way you encourage us all to face our challenges head on as that is my personality. So your teaching suits me. I have been learning how to surf on my vacation which is much like riding a horse. It requires learning how to read the ocean, connecting to it and then riding it! The ocean will give you a nice ride or buck you off if your not careful! It is also the most relaxing place to be waiting for a wave just enjoying floating on the surf board in that warm water with tropical fish and turtles under you. I am going to send you some pictures I think you will like. Back to the freezing east coast and my ponies who I miss!
Carolyn,
I always look forward to your motivational and inspirational comments, as much as your instructional information. Knowing now what you have shared about your challenges makes me appreciate your efforts even more! Your ability to connect with horses definitely spills over to humans as well. I can’t wait to participate in the Spring WHR.
Wanted to share something that happened the other night. It relates to being with horses at night, touching, and connection. I was in the pasture with my horse, Roscoe. It was a clear night, and with the moonlight, the horses’ expressions were clearly visible. I was removing some burrs from Roscoe’s mane when two of his pasture mates came over to observe. One stood very close while the other one touched my head and face with his lips. Then the other horse lowered his head and began yawning continuously. I was amazed that what I was doing with my horse would have such an effect on the others.
Wishing you a lovely holiday,
Karin
Dear Carolyn,
I, like Ginny (12), have hi-lighted, underlined, starred, written in the margins, and dog-eared my copy of Naked Liberty…I, like Evergreen (16), feel the powerful medicine in your teachings, which will reach far beyond my relationship with my horse, Cookie. I, like all, are deeply grateful for your teachings and the opportunity to have such a wonderful classroom with you.
Not being an eloquent writer, many times I’ve written comments and deliberately deleted them for not coming close to saying what I feel as I struggle to express myself thru writing. I do, though, have a serious love for reading and the study of literature; I’ve done a lot…a lot of reading – much of which is horse related. I, like Ginny (12) open emails from you and comments from the class with eager expectancy to read and learn, or sometimes just delight, in your essays, the classroom exchanges and sharings.
Carolyn, your story, your writing, in Naked Liberty is one of those rare books that teaches as it reaches the reader’s heart…there is an old Hasidic proverb that goes:
“Give people a fact or idea and you enlighten their minds;
tell them a story and you touch their souls.”
Your writing your story, sharing your story, is a gift that does both, and as such, is a joyous gift that gives over and over again.
I asked my sister to read Naked Liberty and she did. Your story and teachings have provided a connection for wonderful dialogues between my sister and me in our shared interest of our horse relationships.
Now my daughter has my copy to read at my urging – there is more in the book for her as she prepares herself for a significant leadership role as an officer in our Navy. Naked Liberty, as a multilayer’d story, has much to offer the human herd also.
I am deeply grateful for this, your gift – thank you.
I look forward to hopefully joining your WR-IC when next you offer it.
Here are links to a couple of You Tube videos you and the class may enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoMmH4-X4KM volunteer spinner – looks like he’s inviting someone to play with him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whuPswW3Lag Stacy Westfall – free style Western reining on Wizards Babydoll – notably NO REINS !
I watched the ears on these horses and they seem “happy, attentive” ears – I do wonder what Wizards Babydoll tail swishing is telling us when she’s backing up.
Carolyn, to you and your family, and to all the class here, I wish a Happy Holiday Season and Blessed New Year.
Grasshopper
aka – Beth and Cookie,
In Virginia
Dear Carolyn,
Thank you for your comment about not focusing on the goal so much as on the process. (paraphrased) My horse, Lyle, fell asleep in the first session I tried asking for his head down. The second session, he didn’t want anything to do with it. It was a little frustrating, so I just “hung out” with him for a while and quit.
Then last night an odd thing happened. Lyle was full of burdock, and he hates having it removed from his mane and forelock. I started the task of taking it out and he just put his head down and let me. I walked away several times (not to be so goal oriented), and he was so much more willing. I then brushed him off, “kissed” him goodnight, and left. He had a very soft eye the whole time. It was wonderful!
I will be visiting family in another State over Christmas and New Year, so am checking in now until I return on the 5th.
Praises to our Lord and Saviour this Christmastide. Merry Christmas everyone.
Toni
Dear Carolyn
Happy Christmas to you, and best wishes for the New Year.
I am very glad I decided to do the WRIC programme with my horse this year. It has helped me form a strong bond with my horse, from a place that was not so good. Thank you for sharing all your valuable knowledge to enable me to do so. That you have managed to do so with dsylexia is an even greater inspiration!
I hope to look into the UE next year. Various health care issues with my horses has unfortuatley prevented me from doing so.
Kindest Regards
Caroline
Dear Karen Clouston,
I wrote you a couple of exercises you might like to try. You will find them in the comments section of the blog “Moving on with the UB” Let me know if they are of any help. 109
merry christmas carolyn!! thank you for all that you are doing!
stephani
Hello Carolyn
Merry Christmas to you
“From the practice of breaking things down for your horse you will then learn how to avoid the struggle.”
This is so true. The same is true for breaking down things for yourself. I often get carried away and WANT IT ALL AT ONCE. But it is the little parts to which I give careful thought and time that create wonderful moments with my horse.
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you so much for sharing yourself with us. I’ve always found your book “Naked Liberty” fascinating, not so much as a learning tool, but because I was intrigued by how you came to learn SO much about horses. I’m happy that you now have taken on the new challenge of trying to put your Method into a concise written form because it’s so important that you share what you know so well. I look forward to devouring all future books you’ll write, as well as watching all your future DVDs. Lots of us can write easily–although I think it’s fair to say we all have issues occasionally with the computer, but to have the ability to work with horses as skillfully as you do is so exquisitely rare. What a gift you have!
While my relationship with Banner isn’t as evolved as the one between Rosalie and Alessandra’s, we did finally share some lovely time dancing for the first time last week, and it was amazing. That magical connection really did feel tangible, and I never wanted it to end. What a lovely Christmas gift that was!
Merry Christmas to you, and thank you again. Love, Carol
Thanks so much for your words which have helped me to look at things very differently and to use my mind and senses in new ways. I continue to reap the benefits and strengthen the bonds with my equines each day.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
I think the magical moment happened for Hawk when I quit struggling and quit worrying if he liked me. That happened this summer during our insider circle time. l
ol, you push something and it deletes everything, too? Glad I’m not the only one. Write a book? I cannot imagine how big that must be. Training people to work in harmony with their horses? I have no patients for people. We can be so blind at what is staring us right in the face. If you hadn’t chosen to teach, Hawk would still be dangerous, Eclipse would not dance with me, and Bit would have nothing to say to me at all. And, Ms. Resnick, our newest addition to the pasture would have no idea how to play, dance, or even be a horse. He was a western pleasure show star, and at four, had the joy trained right out of him. Because of you, he dances. Great leaps of joy. Keep writing, keep doing what you do. Merry Christmas and have a joyful New Year!
I’m a little confused on something. I would love to find out more about the Waterhole Rituals & in research, the book about them seems to be more highly praised than the video for being clearer. I don’t find a book you are selling that seems to specifically tell about the Waterhole Rituals. Do you know which book everyone is referring too?
Thank you.
Hi Carolyn,
Thanks as always for your inspiration. I am so grateful that you decided to pursue writing and to overcome your concern about a how to book. I find that the act of writing helps me define my feelings, so in that sense even though it is a left brained activity – it is also whole brained in learning to express to others what we feel. I love you writing and the visual pictures and feelings you share. It allows me to feel connected with you as if we were sitting together having a conversation. Thank you so much for your blog and all your efforts for the beautiful horses.
~ Kim
Dear Barbra,
I will try to fix your problem.
Dear Carolyn,
I’d love to read all the comments but it just isn’t possible to keep up with them all. Please discontinue sending all the comments to me. I’d made an error and shouldn’t have requested them.
Thank you
Barbara
birroyal@aol.com
Dear Carolyn – Although I have no horse at this time, I find your words are helping me in my practice as a person. Isn’t it wonderful that the UE help humans in their own personal growth?!
Have the Merriest of Christmases and I look forward to sharing the New Year with you and your wonderful exercises!
Mary
Carolyn,
There are how-to books already out there. What you do is more important. It’s like the old proverb of ‘give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for life.’ The how-to books only give you one fish. You are teaching us the art of fishing, which we can use and revise as we go along for the rest of our lives with horses.
YOu don’t tell us what to think, you teach us how to think for ourselves.
I’d love to be your next apprentice, but the commute is a bit long
Evergreen
Feliz Navidad from New Mexico. Also Ya’at’eeh Keshmish (Navajo).
Dan
Feliz Navidad from New Mexico.
Dan
Dear Carolyn!
It is always nice to read what you are writing, I look forward to every blog.
Merry christmas to you and may 2010 be joyfull to you.
Your sincerely
Helle
Carolyn,
In one of your paragraphs above you express concern that after you delete an original lesson you won’t be as clear in your rewrite as you were in the original writing. It brought to mind what I remember learning almost 2 years ago when I took your advice as I undertook the challenge and adventure and reward and JOY of teaching my horse at liberty. Your advice was that if I ran into problems or questions, to depend on Nature and I would find the answer.
So you know what I’m going to tell you, don’t you? I want you to know that you WERE AND STILL ARE SO RIGHT about this! In addition, I hope you can alleviate any concern about your own teaching to us humans by thinking of us as your horse, that is, trusting that Nature will guide us to understanding through its own natural power.
We, as your “horse” are so grateful to you for spending time with us and bringing us new and enriching learning experiences. Gosh, if you could see my copy of Naked Liberty, you’d find many underlined examples to remember, plenty of carefully marked stars in the margins and pages of important lists of notes I made on those blank pages you so kindly left at the beginning or end of each chapter!
When I see your name in my mailbox, my hand guides my mouse straight to it to open it expectantly, much the same as we hope our horses run to us when they see we have come to spend time with them. I feel certain I speak for many when I tell you these things.
Thankyou Carolyn for sharing all your gifts and talents with us. I wish you a merry Christmas and a wonderful 2010, filled with more beautiful experiences you can share with us.
Hi Carolyn, you really express things in a lovely way and makes me feel very peaceful, even while rushing around doing last minute Christmas shopping.
Things seem to be going well with both my boys. Midas has really got into the relaxation part and like others have expressed, a kind of sleepy trance like expression comes over his face. He is usually quite a nervous horse but I do believe our relationship is getting better and he is feeling comfortable with my presence. Joker is still a bit more of an inquisitive boy and the slightest movement around us whether it is a cat or a person or the wind distracts him and we have to start over.
I would love to participate in your spring waterhole rituals class, we are already capable of doing a lot of it but I feel it would be useful to follow along with some instruction too. You can’t have enough learning…it is a lifelong venture.
I would like to wish you and all the class a very happy holiday season, and I look forward to the next installment.
Merry Christmas Carolyn, thanks for all you do for us and our partners to better our relationships!
Deb
Dear Carolyn,
Merry Christmas and here’s wishing you a healthy and fulfilling New Year. With your issue of dyslexia you write beautifully. I’m also a writer, and just completed a fictionalized mystery book. And I did struggle too, with “writer’s block”. But I was determined to finish the project with practice, practice, and more re-writes. Keep up with your goal of new writing. I commend you for giving it so much effort. Writing is not an easy task, but when you make the effort it is so heart warming.
By the way, I have been trying the “gently holding my horse’s head, and floating with him.” He certainly closes his eyes and relaxes for a brief time, but then he starts to chew with his teeth. Should I just ignore his mouthy behavior and continue to hold his head?
Happy holidays,
Barbara
birroyal@aol.com
Hello Carolyn,
You have expressed yourself so beautifully and give us all so much inspiration to learn how to use our strengths and build on that which is less
developed so that we can embody balance and joy rather than resitance and struggle.
Since this practice of balance creates peace within, we are the building blocks of peace in the world, one atom at a time.
May the New Year be ever closer to the peaceable kingdom on earth that is possible and that horses are leading us to.
A happy holiday season to all of you!
Connie Funk
Carolyn, I love the way you write. Your heart comes through every word. I have even started a notebook which includes the Ub Exercises as well as many of your comments and answers to questions which contain so much information that I felt I must copy them and have them at hand. I take the notebook to the barn and refresh before I spend time with Moon and Micah. I can say that Micah (3 1/2) in particularly is looking at me with more curiosity and interest. He wants to know what I’m doing and what I’m asking. He will at times leave Moon and come stand with me and touch me enjoying me touching him.
I feel so less pressured and relaxed too. I’m not concerning myself with “goals” which is an effort for me. I am a bit of a goal freak. I love to check things off on my to do lists. So this class is becoming a meditation for me. I do a lot of imagery throughout my day. This past weekend when all were relaxed and quiet I did UE without halters, just using my finger tips very softly, or at times just floating my hands with no touch and they both responded right away and relaxed side by side.
Merry Christmas to all.
Regina
Happiest of Holidays to you and your loved ones, Carolyn.
Thank you for all that you have shared and continue to share. You lead by example in a lovely way. You embody all the qualities of a wonderful lead horse
Looking forward to the wonderful changes in the horse world that I feel are well all the way.
Maureen
Merry Christmas Carolyn and everyone else,
Thank you for your post today (and everyday). Your words are encouraging and full of hope and a great reminder that it is the journey that matters.
Prudenta and I are in kindergarten, but when we play with the exercises, we pretend that we are doing great and beautiful things and for those moments we are soaring together and it is wonderful.
Emma
Carolyn, many many thanks for all your guidance. The WR’s for me are such a blessing as they have helped me go where I knew I should be but I just needed a way – you offered the way.
A very merry Xmas and joyous 2010 to you, your horses and all your students.
Ang
first a very good and happy new year to you Carolyn and all readers of the blog.
You write very well, even with your “handicap” I can understand your thoughts about loosing your creativity. But i think it will stay there as long as you keep beeing yourself, your own identity and dont copy from others.
You let us know that each time. And the horse will help us with that. Because when we are what we realy are the horse will do anything for us. To make us and himself happy by playing and having funn together.
Dreaming next to eachother in the fields, looking far over the sea, smell the air and breathing together. And live in harmony.
Then the rides you will make in the future are even better then before.
Mele Kalikimaka and Haole Makahiki Hou! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, and your family of horses!!!!
Aloha, Anne