Carolyn Resnick Horsemanship Blog: Horse Training from the ground up

There are segments of time when things work out magically, and there are other times when chaos is present.

Today I was dealing with an upset on the ranch. Two horses had become very agitated with one another from having been switched to one another’s paddock. They worked themselves up so much that I was going to have to put them back in their original paddocks, because of the risks of them running around and getting hurt, as they were looking for a way to get to each other over the top of the fence. They got so wild we could see that we could hardly lead them back to their original homes, because they wanted to fight it out with one another and break away for being lead. Both horses have some unfinished training in regards to getting out of control when being lead in a time that they get angry with another horse. One is a stallion and the other is a tough gelding that exhibits behavior like a Stallion. He was the more difficult of the two.

The natural order of things is harmony, and if you let chaos go through its course, it will on its… Read more

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Positive leadership behavior is using leadership that a horse would appreciate and would be willing to accept. Positive leadership behavior would be to ask and not to expect and to encourage if you are not getting what you want, and then, if you are not getting what you want, change the subject to something that would bring relaxation, trust and harmony to the horse. A good rule of thumb is to train in short windows of time with lots of pause at liberty or on a loose line.

As horse owners, we need to shape a horse’s behavior to fit in harmony with us because of practical reasons and keep their pecking order personalities social and respectful. We need to set an example for our horse in the kind of leadership that we would like him to offer us. This way, the horse learns to treat us exactly like we treat him in regards to leadership. This creates a 50/50 partnership, with the exception that we are the ultimate leaders of our horse because we are setting leadership by example. Captivity requires leadership.

Even very fearful horses can become pushy. At this time of Marilynne’s training, she has become pushy… Read more

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I am so pleased to have all of you in my classrooms and on the blog. I want to thank you for being here with me. Your interest in my programs gives me an opportunity to be able to share with you what is closest to my heart. We have a large enrollment for the ‘In a Box’ Program. I kept the ‘Insider Circle’ Program to a small number so I can coach to offer personalized coaching. For everyone in those Programs, my blogs will help you in the courses so don’t stop reading them. I will use the blog for added lesson material. The blogs going forward will also help the those of you who are not currently in these Programs on the Waterhole Rituals. I will focus on philosophy, how to go about training and the kind of atmosphere that will bring a horse well being. I have always felt that to follow your truth in what is fair, just and moral and effective, will give you the ability to have a way with horses. But the jury is out in how to approach what is fair just and moral. One thing I do know is that we… Read more

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I see us as herd members wanting to achieve a better way to be with horses. There is a saying “People who live in glass houses, should not throw stones,” but I feel it would be better to say, “ do not throw stones.”

There is a pathway to transform & evolve the humane treatment of animals and others. It is a path that does not need to use hurtful finger pointing at individuals that are being abusive to horses from our personal perspective. Personal perspective is always changing. People are really doing the best they can in the situation they are in, even when it looks to us like it could be done better. The way to help them is to build community with them like we are doing with our horses.

There is a way to create empathy in others. All we need to do is become the change we want to see and it really is enough. I believe it is the most inviting way to evolve the communities we live in. We could start by using flexible rules to follow for our own behavior and standards to protect others from our abuse of righteous acts and… Read more

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When I look back on my experience with the wild horses, what it meant to me then and what it means to me now, I realize I have never lost sight of the importance of horses and the natural environment.

Horses have impacted our lives throughout history, and nature promotes their well-being through the harmony of diversity. I appreciate life and wait to be in harmony with my environment before I act. To know horses as deeply as I know them comes from my understanding of harmony. Harmony is not made, it is found. Harmony in nature is the most trusted element in life and is the basis of the success I share with horses.

Humans honor intelligence. We spend time thinking. Horses honor instinct. They spend time being in the moment.

Working with horses is one way people can learn to be here now and get in touch with their instincts. We normally think of instincts as base but I think of instinct as being plugged into the universal connection… and when you are, you do not make mistakes!

Instinct is just as deep and rich as intelligence. Animals know what time it is. They do… Read more

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A cultivated understanding of the culture of horses enables us to fit in with them, train them and befriend them and brings out a horse’s desire to bond and follow our lead, as well as an amazing ability to perform for us in all equestrian pursuits. Just picking up some tips to be able to get along with horses has some serious drawbacks. Trying to fix horses that do not fit with their jobs or with our abilities also has drawbacks. Taking the long journey to get to know horses has no drawbacks and offers a more enjoyable experience that is far reaching. You evolve your ability to create a connection with horses from being able to acquire a state of being and consciousness that horses are drawn to.

The best way to acquire this cultivation is by being present in the moment when a horse feels safe and comfortable. We need to spend time watching horses with a keen eye to learn how horses communicate with one another, and how horses train horses and how leadership in horses can be gross as well as highly sophisticated, since it comes from an care taking approach. Care taking lead horses have… Read more

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Hello again.

So many people have come to my Method who want to ride a horse as well as have a deep bond with them. Some are looking for solutions to behavioral problems. Many people are feeling snubbed by their horses. Others cannot gain respect whilst some are on a journey in search of a way to connect with a horse in the moment of unity and harmony.

What I offer through the Waterhole Rituals™ is support through a journey by accepting the horse for who he is right now and building a relationship in the most natural way. The Waterhole Rituals™ offer an enjoyable process to bring horses and humans together using rituals that horses use to develop a working partnership with one another. If you have the horse of your dreams and a wonderful riding horse, the Rituals will help you to develop a deeper connection in friendship.

Many people have discovered that horses, like people, have different personalities and that this needs to be considered when dealing with horses. The most important aspect of having a horse is picking the right horse to fit your purpose and personality. Horses are like shoes. Not only is… Read more

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