Carolyn Resnick Horsemanship: Liberty Horse Training

The weekend is over and I had a new horse sighting that I am so excited to share with you! We have a new horse here on the ranch that is difficult to bridle. He is a dressage horse and will do most anything to get out of having to put a bridle on. He hates the bridle – but still every time he winds up losing and performing against his better judgment and wishes.

So Sad. It reminds me of when I was five years old and taking lessons in dance. My mother drove me 20 miles each way to where the dance studio was. My teacher was an old man that always spoke mean to me and hit me with his cane if I did not dance exactly how I was to perform. The ride to the studio was always miserable, and I dreaded going to what I knew would be an awful experience. The funny thing was, no one could tell that I was unhappy about the experience because I looked happy out on the dance floor. The knots in my stomach did not match the joy that I appeared to be experiencing.

I know this… Read more

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I really enjoyed everyone’s response to the last blog. I wanted to share some things with you that are in the works.

Journal Contest
Please if you would re-submit your Journals for the Journal Contest. We have somehow lost the files. For those of you who would like to enter that have not entered the deadline is Oct.1 To qualify you need to have been a student of the Insider Circle or Box Programs. Your journal must be at least 75 pages. The winner will be announced on Nov 1. The winning journal will become the property of the Carolyn Resnick Method. I will try to get the winning journal published in the authors name. If I get it published there will be royalties to the author. Plus you will win a free spot in the 10 day Beyond the Waterhole Rituals clinic. I also want to see if I can get a second book published with expertise from the Journals that were entered. I have few entries at this time so you have a great chance in winning this contest!

Working Student
I am also looking for a working student starting now through the winter. I am… Read more

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Hello. So sorry if you were expecting a blog post yesterday but it was one of those days and I didn’t get round to finishing this till late. Anyway, here is the fourth Uberstreichen Exercise for you to have a go at.

Before I get into it though, each time you practice the exercises, start them from the beginning and do them in order. Remember your horse needs to be willing and in a good mood before you start. Before I start training, I spend at least 15 minuets Sharing Territory with my horse in whatever place he is kept. This way the glue and the connection is always re-established. Stand in front of your horse on a dropped line when you begin each session. Pause for at least a minute and then walk around your horse. If your horse begins to walk off, take the rope and lead him back to the spot he was standing. Hold him for a moment and then release him the moment he is still and say “whoa”.

So, the fourth Uberstreichen Exercise is done like the third exercise with an addition of a halt when you are asking the horse to carry his… Read more

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Hi there. Before I get into today’s post, I wanted to remind you about the call I am doing on Sunday at 10am Pacific, 1pm Eastern on the subject of the use of rollkur in dressage and why I think it’s not only wrong but unnecessary. You can find out more about the call by going to the DressageDisgrace site. Here is the link: http://www.dressagedisgrace.com/teleseminar-carolyn-resnick

I invented the Uberstreichen Exercises to help me train dressage horses and then Arabian show horses for my junior students. They helped me produce more relaxation, performance and consistent collection at the shows for my junior riders. Libby Ouellette suggested the name Uberstreichen Exercises and I thought it was appropriate. She was a Hilda Gurney student at the time who was also a student of mine and is now a long time family friend.

Uberstreichen is a term used in dressage that is a test to see if your horse is in self-carriage or leaning on the rein for support. You release the contact rein and if the horse stays in frame without the reins for a few strides he is in self-carriage. If he falls immediately, he is leaning on… Read more

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I am ready to start us on a new adventure. Fall and Winter is the perfect time to take it slowly, stay in touch and meet new friends and so I am delighted to introduce you to:

Uberstreichen Exercises – Rollkur no more

My Uberstreichen Exercises are ground schooling to introduce the horse to the bridle for all disciplines to support both beginning and advanced training under saddle and are step two of the Carolyn Resnick Method to support all equestrian pursuits.

As part of my continuing effort to support my blog readers, I will be offering free beginning instruction on the Uberstreichen Exercises each week over the Winter.

To qualify and register for free instruction: Leave your full name, a brief introduction of your experience with horses, your interest in my Method, our history if we have one, and the name of your horse and his personal training background in the comments section of the blog. After each blog posting please check in by leaving your full name in the comments section of the blog so that I know you are participating and have read the new material. I will offer more support to the… Read more

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Have you ever dreamed about creating a better relationship with your horse?

I’m searching for an apprentice/working student, who has experience in horse training and a background in dressage preferably, to work alongside me as my personal assistant for a minimum period of at least three months.

The position is unpaid and in exchange for being my personal assistant and working in my office helping me write new teaching materials or creating new educational DVD’s, I offer you the opportunity of a lifetime to learn my Method and possibly go on to receive certification in it.

You will have the opportunity to work with my horses and assist me in teaching clinics and be coached in dressage with my Method from the ground and under saddle.

Times and hours are flexible but generally likely to be Monday-Friday. If you are interested in coming to work for me in Escondido, CA, please send your resume/C.V. to info@carolynresnick.com along with an email explaining why you think you would like to work with me.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Carolyn

Skill Requirements:

• Grooming and caring for my horses (feeding and cleaning is already

… Read more

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Years ago, when I was a kid at a horse show, I took a stand that was way before its time, and way ahead of anyone’s comprehension of what I wanted to show the world.

I was riding my Western Pleasure mare Rizeta, her nick name was Lover, and I had hung her bridle on the saddle and rode in the warm up without it. I put the bridle back on before the class and when I finished, I dismounted in the ring unbridling her, and told her to go back to the stall. She did and I followed her, along with a few people who were interested in what we were doing.

I was before my time then, but if more people did this today the tide would change and more people would be encouraged to join in. The point is that horses don’t need to be forced, they are capable of deeper bonds and abilities in partnering with us, and bits are not essential. Bits get a bad name because they are used improperly. I still use bits along with bridle-less riding and find them not at all abusive when one knows how to use them… Read more

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