Carolyn Resnick Horsemanship Blog: Horse Training from the ground up

Several people learning my method have horses that have not yet been trained to accept the halter, and they have asked for my guidance. Of course, there are lots of halter breaking methods. They call it halter “breaking” because you must be very careful with the horse or foal, as you can easily run into resistance you cannot handle from the sheer strength of the horse fighting to get away. You need to stay away from the resistance and train the horse to never use resistance in response to a direct request from a pull of the lead rope.

I find it very interesting that we see very few DVDs on the subject of halter training a wild horse. It takes great skill, and trainers who are not at all intimidated by getting in a fight with the horse or foal, or putting a horse though a process where he learns that, if he gets into a fight with the trainer, he will lose. This is why it is called halter breaking. Many trainers are not comfortable if the horse has not experienced this fight and lost to the trainer. Many feel that it is mandatory for a wild horse… Read more

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This is a note on how the ‘Insider Circle’ and ‘In a Box’ Programs are doing. I have read your stories showing how many of you are on the cutting edge of having incredible experiences with your horses doing nothing… leading to something that could have never taken place if we had not be practicing the importance of the “pause” with the First Ritual, “Sharing Territory”. Some of you are going to be able to bring new discoveries to the horse world and me from your experiences being in this class. From these shared experiences, we will discover things together that will help the world of horsemanship advance and evolve.

We are always in the experimentation of creating willing connections and growing friendships with horses if we are truly present in the moment. We want to be always learning more about horses. We want to be a student of the horse and comfortable not knowing where our journey might lead. What ever we reach at the end of the journey is usually greater than we can imagine. The horses enjoy our company as much as we do theirs and when this happens, the dance is really quite natural. Sharing… Read more

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When I was growing up, I couldn’t wait for my two horsemanship magazines each month. One was called Western Horseman and the other was called Horse Lovers. They cost 36 cents a copy and they held free lessons in them and free things to send away for. With my horses and these magazines, my days were filled with things I could do and ways I could train. Over time, my skill grew with horses. The horses helped me along in their training because of the connection in friendship that we shared. They made me look like I knew what I was doing even when I did not. It was like a Dr. Dolittle adventure. The reason for this is that I focused on how to get the horse to help me from my lack of experience in training horses. From the bond I had developed with my horses, we had a desire to do things together and my horses would try to figure out how to support me on our adventures in our ever-deepening cross-species bond.

Not only have I been able to help you to develop a cross-species bond with your horse through this site, but also my blog… Read more

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Hello. Today I want to talk to you about my new Waterhole Rituals Insider Circle Program and why I believe it is the foundation for all your equestrian pursuits. Before I do though, let me ask you a few questions.

• Do you dream of dancing with your horse in the same way the boy did in the movie “The Black Stallion”?
• Would you like to truly enjoy the tranquility and peace of being together with your horse like horses do in nature?
• Do you want to be able to read the moods of your horse and be able to change them for the better?
• Would you at last love to really communicate with your horse?
• And do you want to be his best friend but at the same time maintain an ideal working relationship?
• So how do you do all this?

Of course, there are many horsemanship schools available out there. They often speak of a philosophy that is based on the high ideals of bringing about a partnership built on trust. Far too often their formulae and rules are so inflexible that the horse has no choice in the matter, he simply has to comply.

The two… Read more

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I am setting the U.E. Class aside. I want to have an open phone session class on the U.E.. I will offer it at $35.00 for those who are interested. I want to reward the people who are enjoying the U.E.

As you know I did not think that very many people would see the benefit in the exercises, so I have never offered them to anyone who was not a professional. I will have two more classes to finish up the winter program on the U.E. For anyone that wants guidance on them after that just send me your YouTubes and I will continue to guide you forward. I may choose to post your YouTubes and our correspondence on the blog if I feel it would benefit everyone.

I am getting ready to set a date for the Waterhole Rituals online course, so if you have any questions about the Method or course write me in the comments section and I will answer you or do a blog that will address your questions.

I want to address a concern that I hear crop up from time to time. A few of you feel that your horse may not like… Read more

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In today’s classroom there are some things I want to share and a book I would like to recommend that you can read at this time with your horse, if the weather will permit. I will give you the 5th Ueberstreichen Exercise next Tuesday because it is time for us to pause, reflect and witness our forward progress.

Many people are still working on the first two Uberstreichen Exercises so there is no really need to progress to the 5th one at this time. I will extend the classroom to next Tuesday, which is usually a time for sharing my thoughts.

The blog is becoming a classroom where we are all learning form each other from sharing our experiences, while becoming aware of our surroundings in nature like a horse would do. ‘New magic’ is on the horizon, it is happening all around us from our awareness of our horses in the moment. It was what I was hoping to build.

I am watching the YouTubes that I have inspired people to create. I am watching YouTubes where people keep the camera rolling in real time in the environment and holding beautiful vibrations. On their journey with my… Read more

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I have many friends who are trainers, coaches and skilled riders, who I enjoy talking with on the subject of horses and how to get along with them. Yesterday morning I was having a conversation on the phone with Vincent Spiaggia a friend of mine who is a lifetime student of horses and teacher of horsemanship, like me. Many times we get onto the subject of the different methods of training that have been used over the ages in horsemanship, dressage and other schools of training. Talking with Vincent is always a rewarding adventure.

We were both remarking on the fact that if you choose the right approach with a horse when riding, then less training is necessary. Also how training from the ground translates so beautifully to the saddle if you take the right approach.

The key to this is to have the same considerations in the saddle that you have from the ground, then the connection you have with a horse trained at liberty will translate to the saddle. People who don’t believe that groundwork does translate to the saddle, do not understand the importance of relationship and the true significance of partnership with the horse. From… Read more

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