A Letter from Bonnie Beresford:

Carolyn, today I went out to the herd with a purpose, both of my horses had forelocks that were tight with burrs and I wanted to remove them. I am writing here today because of what I believed happened as a result of sharing territory with the herd.

The horses were resting in the shade when I found them and there was no wind to keep the flies down. I rubbed some detangler into Chance’s forelock and let it penetrate for a few minutes. I then turned away and came face to face with June, the quarter horse mare with parrot mouth, who had walked up very close to me.  This was the first time she had ever approached me, though I have said hello to her a few times.

I stroked her face and turned away, but she stayed with me and put her head very close to me. She seemed to be seeking my attention. I noticed that her eyes were covered with flies, and she stood quietly as I rubbed my hands over her eyes and waved the flies away.

Then beside June, Cappy came up to me. … Read more

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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

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Continued From Last Week: “After Liberty Training – The Importance of Leading Your Horse” After all your comments of anticipation for this lesson, I surely hope I do not let you down! These simple exercises that follow will teach you how to hold Ora’s horse. You can use them any time you are leading your horse.

Reminder of the upcoming clinic in March:

Developing Your Approach to Connection: In a Nutshell

Taking this approach will help your horse to follow your lead. Become the change you want in your horse and accept what you get back from your horse. Do not beat yourself up when you do not receive what you think you should get back, either.

Imagine your approach and the connection you are wanting to gain before you do this exercise. Before you begin, take a few moments or an afternoon to become relaxed and grounded. Feeling calmness will help your horse become centered when he feels scattered. Not being scattered yourself draws a horse to your leadership. Develop a habit of projecting calmness when your horse feels scattered. As you are practicing this exercise, take your horse to places he can feel a … Read more

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It is amazing to me how approaching a daily connection with my horses can make such a difference.

The daily connection can make the behavior of the horse be either balanced for a good ride or a ride that would be full of resistance. To get on the good side of a horse, I put my attention on letting go of my agenda and watch for when the horse and I feel a mutual connection. If you can not tell if there is a mutual connection, chances are you need to wait longer with your horse before you put on the halter. This point is so important to learn how to connect with a horse, it is worth taking some practice time to work on it. I would suggest to you that if it took days of doing nothing with a horse but waiting for a feeling of connection it would change your whole experience with horses to magical proportions.

Leadership and Timing the “Ask”

I never ask a horse to follow my lead unless I know I have a connection with him. When I ask, I do not tell, meaning that I am very prepared to accept his … Read more

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Welcome To My Blog -To Get You Started!

The purpose of my blog is to make a connection with you. I can connect with people all over the world, thanks to the computer, and we can explore and correspond with one another on the experiences we’re having with our horses in our life!
I also use the blog as a way, to educate, to raise consciousness, and to use philosophical viewpoints that will lead to a better relationship with horses; for training, partnering, and performance.

The blog is also here to help support interested people and my students who are learning my method through the educational material I offer and direct coaching. Feel free to ask questions on horse behavior, pecking order, leadership, self-realization, meditation, and the training and performance of horses. I may answer your question, or I may choose it for a blog topic for a later date. Of course, I can’t answer everyone’s questions, but I will read all your comments and I will respond to several questions on each blog.

I look forward to dialoging on the subject of what creates a better connection with a horse. Enjoy!

I will give you a lesson from my … Read more

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Last week I had the opportunity to be back stage with the horses of Cavalia. We were able to see the horses unload from the trailers that came from the last location of the show in San Francisco, California. I have to say I have never seen so many horses that looked so calm and relaxed about getting off the trailer and in such good condition and happy! Also impressive was the team of handlers and riders that helped to create a relaxed and extremely well organized environment.

Once the horses were out of the truck, we were given a private tour of the stable area of all of the horse stars of the show. It was amazing to see incredible tents and the immaculate stalls. The horses were groomed impeccably and the atmosphere was wonderful!

I was also able to meet the founder and artistic director of Cavalia- Normand Latourelle, which was quite an honor. His vision and the production of the show is incredible, and my hat is off to him!

We then were invited to watch Sylvia Zerbini working with her 9 Arabian horses at liberty. The fluidity of their movement watching them trot around the tent … Read more

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Second Annual Free Course, Winter 2011
Welcome to week 2! It looks like we have a very full classroom!
I’d like to continue writing on the subject of theory and the Uberstreichen Exercises a little bit more before I give you the first exercise. I would like to add and revisit some finer points as well.

Some Additional Benefits of the Uberstreichen Exercises:

1. I developed the Uberstreichen Exercises to help me in my training center in order to develop a horse that would work well for others in collection, presentation, and the attitude of the horse.

2. I also developed the Uberstreichen Exercises so that when the horse went home, the training and connection would stick for the owner.

3. When a horse got excited and fearful at the shows I could return his focus easily to feeling secure and relaxed.

Some Surprise Benefits are:

4. I could return an out of control stallion in a new environment around mares and other stallions to relax and return his focus back to me. In those days I had 5 stallions at the time I was developing the Uberstreichen Exercises, and accidentally found out how brilliantly they helped me in my … Read more

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