The “Waterhole Rituals” are the tea ceremony to develop a harmonious relationship with a horse and with life. It is a continual practice in awareness and being present to the moment.

The Waterhole Rituals create a deep friendship with a horse and a working bond that is the foundation for all equestrian pursuits. The Waterhole Rituals develop a horse that wants to learn and perform the task at hand while creating a feeling of well-being in a horse along with an optimistic attitude for what he does – the opposite of a trained bear.

What I find is that horses in general receive their well-being from sharing companionship with one another and enjoy this kind of relationship with humans too. However we do a lot to spoil this by not fulfilling their companionship need by the way we house them and the way we go about training them.

All the Waterhole Rituals are focused on developing a certain quality of connection that is present in a relationship where the bond is deep. I call these separate qualities of connection that each Ritual develops in a horse “the heart felt strings of connection” because they are the vibrations that exist when … Read more

Read Full Post »

Let’s look at how the magnetic connection with your horse and your leadership role work together to bring about a magical performance at Liberty.

Let’s first look at the dance with your horse as a spontaneous one.  A spontaneous dance is not a dance of predator and prey; it is not a dance of rivals; it is not a dance of a trained bear.   A spontaneous liberty dance is a dance of meaningful friendship that is special between horse and human, where the horse is drawn to follow the leadership of his human partner.

A trained dance differs from a spontaneous dance in that the horse and human are more focused on the performance. The dance does not arise out of them from the magnetism they offer to one another.  A spontaneous dance needs a clear leader that can follow and lead to be able to keep the dance alive. Like playing with a cat with a string, your role is to lead the cat by making the string come alive in a way that would attract the cat. The cat wants you to lead his dance and there must be a bond first for the cat to trust you enough … Read more

Read Full Post »

What approach do you use with your horse when leading with a halter and rope?

Have you ever thought about how the influence of tack affects your relationship with your horse? When using tack, many times a person will catch their horse as quickly as possible with no thought to rekindling the friendship and the horse’s desire to stick to you and follow your lead. A reason that this can happen is from thinking that the halter and rope will create the connection you need with your horse.

Tack can create sloppy connections with your horse. Think about it: If you took off the halter would you still be able to lead your horse and keep him at your side? If you can, it came from your attention to the relationship and the bond minutes before you put it on. What would your horse do if you took off his halter? Most likely you would no longer be able to lead your horse anywhere. But, if you have worked your horse at Liberty first without tack to gain the Magnetic Connection in Companion Walking, using tack would be a benefit rather than a device that enslaves the horse.

Tack can … Read more

Read Full Post »

Second Annual Free Course, Winter 2011

Welcome to week 5!

What we have accomplished up to this point is that your horse can stand on a dropped line or without a line, and will stay in place while you walk around him to the right. (This is the beginning of you horse learning to stay in tune with you without governing his performance. You are creating a horse to be more responsible and in self control.  For a horse to do well in self-carriage, your horse will need the desire to follow your request, and then carry out what you ask of him without your constant direction.)

What we have also accomplished now is that your horse will allow you to take a floating hold, and that your horse will drop his head down at any lower level you ask for. (It is important that your horse is willing to put his head in a lower frame anywhere you request it to go, and hold it there in a natural way.)

So far in this exercise you are getting the horse to unlock the base of the neck where the neck ties into the shoulders. You are not yet asking … Read more

Read Full Post »

I can’t believe how much fun we have all been having during this Beyond the Waterhole Rituals™ Clinic! The other day we had the opportunity to visit the ranch of a dear friend of mine, Linda Harris. The following photos that I am sharing with you were taken at her beautiful ranch with her wonderful Thoroughbreds! Thank you Linda for giving us this very special opportunity!

As the photos show, our weather has been truly spectacular! You can see the beautiful sunlight that seemed to gently touch everything around us with a sparkling golden hue. Everything was perfect- from the crispness of the air, to the excellent Companion Walking dance that we shared- it was one of those days that I know I will never forget.

I would also like to share a poem that Kathy Cavanah wrote during our poetry break out session. Thank you Kathy for sharing your inspiring words!

Elmo and the Bucket Game by Kathy Cavanah

The bucket’s there,
I stand and stare.
I want to move
but I don’t dare.

I’m on my spot,
my treat may rot!
And then she says,
“Elmo, Go Trot!”

I trot around.
I love the sound
of my hooves
upon … Read more

Read Full Post »

Hope you all are staying warm and enjoying the holidays! We are in full swing of the WRIC and In–the-Box Program’s Beyond the Waterhole Rituals™ Clinic and I wanted to share some of the highlights with you! Our weather has been great! We have not had any rainfall, and some days have actually been T-Shirt weather. Sometimes we have to bundle up in the morning, but then it warms right up. The girls in the clinic inspire me to work till the sun goes down! As for our daily activities, we have started with morning meditations and Sharing Territory ™. Then we go into Liberty Dancing, Uberstriechen Exercises, and Single Lining. My horse Liberty has had the opportunity to demonstrate the Dinner and Dancing room as well! Alessandra’s horse Rosalie has been the star teacher! I think we are all having a great time- I know I am, and so are the ponies! I am amazed at how fast the class is learning. The Insider Circle and the new Extended Circle program for next year, is definitely the way to go. We are getting rid of the name “In the Box” program – nobody wants to be in a box! … Read more

Read Full Post »

Sorry we missed posting on Thanksgiving! We hope you shared some lovely quality time with your family and your horse! Today I wanted to share a story from one of my Insider Circle students, she writes…..

HI Carolyn,

I just wanted to share with you what happened today with my horse Jeri. Jeri is a Thoroughbred/Trakhener and about 15 years old and he came to me as a green broke 10 year old. I bought him to show him in dressage which I did successfully. He is the kind of horse who will to do what you want when tethered to you but he never really had his heart in his work.

When time permits I have been doing the WR with him, so about 2-3 times a week since the WRIC course started in April.

Today as I shared territory he stood in front of my chair, relaxed for 5-10 minutes. He spent a few minutes with his nose touching mine just breathing in and out with my breath. It was a very magical moment.

Later I did some companion walking. He just connects to me as soon as I get off my chair and start walking. After a

… Read more

Read Full Post »