Posted in Advice on Mar 1st, 2011
I am really excited! I am taking a new horse “Chip” in training for my project horse for the Insider Circle and Extended Circle Program that will be starting this spring on April16th, 2011. The official announcement will be soon, and that is when you will be able to register for those of you who are interested. The Insider Circle will be open to 40 students in two separate classes, and the Extended Circle program will be open to everyone. You will get to read all about the course details soon.
Back to Chip!
Chip is a yearling wild horse that was taken from the Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s band of wild horses in the North Dakota Badlands. He was three months old when he was taken from his mother. He had pneumonia and had to be nursed back to health. In the process of his recovery, he developed orphan foal syndrome. He lost his social skills and instincts he was born with from too much human handling to get him well. It will be my job to raise him back to what his natural behavior would have been.
Natural Instincts
When a foal is born, he is born with… Read more
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Posted in Advice on Mar 16th, 2010
Hello again. Today, I’d like to continue talking with you about the natural instincts of horses and how you can use them to improve your relationship with your horse.
A foal is born polite and from his herd instincts, knows how to stay safe, moving away from anything that is coming toward him and following anything that is leaving him. As he matures and starts to pay attention to the herd, he gets curious and begins to interact. He makes friends through his interactions, movements and self-expressions. As he matures he loses his natural politeness and either is able to direct his friends or be directed. The more he can communicate politely the more horses will respond positively to his communications.
As time passes, the foal generally will test other horses and experiment with rude behavior to see if he can get away with it, just like children do. The herd will set him straight by using a bigger or more aggressive physical display. When he returns to being polite after receiving an attitude adjustment, he returns each time a little wiser and more interested in developing a relationship rather than wanting to have his way with other horses. He… Read more
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Posted in Advice on Jul 25th, 2008
Hi. Before we get on to today´s blog post, I just wanted to say “thank you” to all the people who have been posting comments on my blog. Because of my work with horses, community is something that is very important to me and so to see our little community here growing is wonderful. I will endeavour to get back to you on any questions that are raised as we go along.
Right, today´s blog post is a question concerning how to handle a new foal and comes from Nancy who writes:
Hi Carolyn
I have your DVD on the Waterhole Rituals. I wondered if you could give me some tips on how to handle a new foal. We have a one week old foal who is so cute but he is already charging us, then turning and kicking out towards us and he is trying to nip. He is quite a handful. We aren’t sure what to do so he trusts us and wants to approach us but stop the inappropriate and potentially dangerous behavior. Also, is there anything you recommend teaching young foals?
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Posted in Advice on May 21st, 2008
Hello. Today’s lesson follows nicely on from Victoria’s question on Monday as I like to tie my horses to a post because I think it is a fabulous way to develop a more dependable horse. Before I tie a horse, I prepare the horse how to stand still at liberty on command using the Waterhole Rituals. If it is a foal, I make certain that foal would be happy being separated from its mother and vice versa. From being tied, a horse learns that when I leave him he is responsible for standing still and not fussing.
At the beginning of the training, I tie him with a knot that I can pull loose immediately he might suggest he would try to pull back. The theory is that in early training if a horse never experiences pulling back, he will not choose it as an option later on when he is fully trained.
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Posted in Q&A on May 19th, 2008
I get so many wonderful questions from so many lovely people and so it’s such a pleasure to be able to share them with you.
I sincerely hope you enjoy reading my blog and that the lessons are of practical use to you. If you have faced similar challenges and found my advice useful, then do please share your story with us, we’d love to hear it.
This question comes from Victoria, who is a regular contributor and has her own blog here.
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