Carolyn Resnick Horsemanship Blog: Horse Training from the ground up

It’s really touching that people have been responding so deeply on the subject of such a small issue regarding a horse being so unwilling to have a halter put on, or the horse being so freaked out about the need to rip away from a human, because of the distasteful feeling of being with a human.

I appreciate that many people are willing to take the long journey to build a relationship with a horse as Robin and Carry have done with Pony.

In the traditional programs of leaning how to fix problems with horses, the problem gets fixed from an overall system and does not take in to consideration of the needs of the individual horse and human. Recently I watched a Youtube of a horse, he has a similar problem as Pony, not as bad, but still a problem of putting a bridle. The method just used force and persistence at the time the horse was fighting to get away.

I am working on my book and I just finished my prologue and what I wrote really pertains to the subject of how to approach really big problems such as with Cary’s experience with her horse. It requires… Read more

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Today’s blog comes to you courtesy of my apprentice, Lila.

Working on the ranch as Carolyn’s apprentice student I am having many opportunities to appreciate the subtleties of the Waterhole Rituals and learning what creating willing relationships with a horses REALLY looks like.

As a professional consultant and coach, working at training people for the past 25 years, working intensely with horses for the past 12 of those years, I feel that I have a good grasp on what it takes to create willing partnership in my students and trainees etc. But that being said, I must tell you that what horses are showing and teaching me is dramatically expanding that understanding.  I want to share with you the continued evolution of what my horse Sebastian and I are creating together.

Some of you may have heard about my experience with my horse Sebastian at liberty in the arena a few weeks ago; how I was playing with him looking to see what training opportunities would evolve.  We played with a barrel and I learned about the power of focus and sharing leadership though reciprocal movements.   As I have observed Carolyn with horses I see that with some horses

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The art of horsemanship starts every day not at the end of the journey. It starts with the first breath and at the moment you and your horse are in the same state of awareness in harmony. It takes a spiritual journey to develop a partnership with a horse. It takes consistently focusing on keeping the magnetic connection alive between you and your horse by managing the relationship and keeping the training on the horse as well as adding training. This keeps the horse young and motivated.

Working a horse at liberty gives the horse a sense of freedom and the horse can express himself more honestly. From this honesty, you can see more how to approach your training. The other aspect of working a horse at liberty is that a horse will trust you more, bringing out the side of his nature to follow your lead naturally.

The act of controlling a horse will develop a horse that needs to be controlled. What would be better is that the horse is more than willing to perform and take direction. Taking the time to get a horse to volunteer his performance is fun and life enhancing and will achieve a… Read more

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As every one knows, I had an unusual life growing up in the desert with horses. Our horses were able to run free most of the day in a herd and go where they wished. They were loose and there were no fences to keep them in from doing exactly what they wanted to do. The freedom, connection and performance I shared with them caused me never to really accept the conditions horses are faced with today. Horses are not free anymore and we keep them in captivity. This is one of the reasons I invented the Waterhole Rituals. We have taken their land, called it our home and horses haven’t any claim to the motherland that frees their spirit, leaves them to raise their families and keeps them together as they wish.

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Hello again. Today’s post is a long one and comes from a message I received via my blog. It was a lovely letter, full of heart and I felt moved to write a response. So with your approval, here is the letter and my reply in full.

Have a lovely weekend!

Carolyn

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Hi

I just read your book and loved it. I’ve been ploughing through various horse training methods and ideas with some positive outcomes but not without feeling like a perfectionist, pushing up the pressure in getting the job done. I was left with a feeling of anxiety every time I went to work with a horse.

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