Posted in Advice on Nov 18th, 2010
My method of training is a method that does not replace any other method of training a horse. My method’s main purpose is to create a cross species bond and working partnership with a horse that will help you in all equestrian training methods and pursuits with your horse. My method is meant to develop clear sightedness in knowing how to put your horse in the right state of mind to work with you from a willing and enthusiastic attitude. This will allow your horse to be able to put forth his best effort for that day in whatever your plans are, whether it be riding or training or just an activity that brings more enrichment to your horse’s well being at liberty without tack.
If you have come to my site to get help with fixing a problem, I do not have any formula to help you because I do not fix problems, or care to with my own horses. What I do is shape the horse’s character to fit in harmony with me from a growing foal to a finished riding horse. There are many other methods that fix problems. My method of training is not really training… Read more
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Posted in Misc on Nov 4th, 2010
My experiences in nature with horses unveiled an understanding that horses naturally want to bond with us and enjoy being ridden if it happens naturally.
The equestrian world increasingly begins training the horse to be ridden at a time when a horse is not ready, so lots of preparation must occur. In this modern day, a lack of Sharing Territory™ to grow and maintain the connection with horses is more than half of the reason why it takes a well-seasoned trainer to train a horse to be dependable and trustworthy.
Not sharing our daily lives with horses causes horses to be more wary of us. Rather than working with the horse when the horse feels safe and secure, most equestrians end up spending more time desensitizing the horse and showing the horse how not to be afraid in the moments he is fearful to gain trust. When we establish security we can then easily bring to the horse social activities that are more natural for the horse and human. This helps to develop the kind of trust and respect that creates a cross-species bond that brings about a unified working partnership.… Read more
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Posted in Advice, Misc on Nov 3rd, 2010
Better late than never. It took me this long to pick the winner of the journal contest. The journals were not typical journals. They were a combination of journal writing along with guidance to the reader on many points to better understand the Insider Circle and In the Box Programs and the difference in my Method in relationship to the classical Methods that are out there today. The reason I was looking to have a journal contest was so the winners journal could be used to help prospective new students better understand the courses and the Waterhole Rituals enabling them to evaluate whether or not this is the program for them.
The journal entries were all amazing and it was very hard to pick the winner. I do appreciate every single entry. We had five entries and I loved every one. I derived so much benefit from reading them all and they helped me to know more in how I want to go forward as a teacher.
I wish I could have talked personally with each person as I was reading their journals. Each person wrote from their heart of hearts, something that we seldom share with one another.… Read more
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Posted in Advice on Jun 24th, 2010
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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Posted in Advice on Apr 22nd, 2010
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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Posted in Misc on Apr 6th, 2010
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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Posted in Misc on Mar 25th, 2010
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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