What your donations have done is to give me an ability to have live in care for my mother. It is truly heaven sent. There was no way that I could have done this without your donations. Before you came to my rescue I was caring for my mother round the clock, going on ten days with no sleep. I could not run my business as my mother could not be left alone unattended.

I got two good nights of sleep since the donations came in and I have been able to care for my mother for most of the day today.  And again tonight I will get some rest. I felt all of your arms around me holding me and sending me healing energy. I am so blessed and deeply grateful to all of you.

Most of the time my mom’s spirits are up, but she has had some health issues since she left the hospital that Hospice is helping us with. Last light we watched a movie (The best Exotic Marigold Hotel) with a dear friend.

How I was able to reach out to you for your support came from Mena Canonico, a personal life coach and truly … Read more

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Leading a Horse Properly is Important for Performance

It is surprising to me to see well trained dressage horses leading from place to place as badly as they do. Leading is such a valuable tool for the connection and relaxation you have with a horse when you ride, especially a dressage horse.  A horse can be well trained, but if the willingness and acceptance are not there the performance suffers and so does the horse.

When I had my training center in Sanoma California I found out how important it is to a horse’s performance under saddle to train a horse how to lead in hand properly.  My students had noticed that when I had the horse truly trained to leading from the ground in all circumstances, it greatly improved the horse’s performance in competition.

I got so interested in the act of leading a horse as a valuable tool that I got people to form social groups to walk together in nature in order to help improve their connection and relationship with their horse.  This activity was an enjoyable activity for both the horse and the owner.

Walking in nature with friends creates a social activity that horses miss … Read more

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I have been having so much fun back at my ranch training horses with Kai. We have been training from the ground with tack for preparing a horse to be ridden bit-less. We are working with Honey and Maestro. I want to share with you these lessons.

If you are a new reader and have any questions let me know so you can better understand the lessons on bit-less riding. My method offers a unique approach with horses from the very beginning, working first at liberty in an open field or arena rather than a round pen.

The other unique thing about my method is that the rules I follow training horses are different. Most every method agrees to the same rules in how to approach a horse, but almost all the rules you will be following with my method are different. Here is one way in which they are different.

When a horse looses interest or you hit resistance rather than asking again and again until you get what you want, you change the subject to something that your horse would rather do. You never force your horse to give up his resistance or pay any attention to it.

… Read more

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This is the story of a woman and a horse who love each other:  His name is Renn (Renaissance Painter).

Renaissance Painter arrived at Spirit Horse Ranch nearly 6 years ago on the first day of spring.  He was a 10-year-old ranch horse.  When I saw him for the first time, I knew he had been waiting for me.  Our ranch was purchased just for Renn, and he is my heart’s delight.  Every day our connection grows and our spirits entwine deeper.  Our Waterhole Rituals journey has deepened our connection.  Through the process my skill in his own language grew.  In the morning when I get up I see that he’s outside my window waiting for me.  In the autumn of my life I found him—Healer and Stealer of my Heart.

How Renn Came to Me:

One of the most joyful events in my life happened shortly before we moved to Spirit Horse Ranch.  I had leased a mare at a local boarding stable when we lived in the city, and she was not for sale.  I started searching newspaper ads for a suitable horse, and found an interesting ad for a sorrel gelding.  The owner gave me directions to … Read more

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*This week’s guest blogger is Robin Gates, Certified Carolyn Resnick Trainer, California

In 1984 I visited Carolyn’s ranch in Sonoma, California. There I witnessed something so extraordinary that it changed the course of my life. Carolyn was working her horse Stony at liberty in a large area. He had all the fire, spirit and natural expression of a wild stallion and though completely free he was dynamically drawn to her with the utmost respect and connection. It was breathtaking, and to this day I recall the feeling of amazement that swept over me. I had found a truly gifted mentor and as it turned out, a lasting friendship.

As I later ventured into the world of dressage, showing at Prix St. Georges and training through Grand Prix, Carolyn’s work and her guidance helped me to draw out an offered performance in my horse. She stressed the importance of maintaining enthusiasm and expression in my equine partner. Her method has always been the foundation upon which I have built my career as a trainer. Through the years, every horse I have worked with has helped to deepen my understanding of the willingness that awaits us if we offer horses dignity and … Read more

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Second Annual Free Course, Winter 2011

Welcome to week 5!

What we have accomplished up to this point is that your horse can stand on a dropped line or without a line, and will stay in place while you walk around him to the right. (This is the beginning of you horse learning to stay in tune with you without governing his performance. You are creating a horse to be more responsible and in self control.  For a horse to do well in self-carriage, your horse will need the desire to follow your request, and then carry out what you ask of him without your constant direction.)

What we have also accomplished now is that your horse will allow you to take a floating hold, and that your horse will drop his head down at any lower level you ask for. (It is important that your horse is willing to put his head in a lower frame anywhere you request it to go, and hold it there in a natural way.)

So far in this exercise you are getting the horse to unlock the base of the neck where the neck ties into the shoulders. You are not yet asking … Read more

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Here is a list of my Certified trainers as well as a list of suggested trainers. I have not worked with all of these people, however they are familiar with my method and may be of help to you if they are in your area.

CERTIFIED TRAINERS
Robin Gates
Location: Kenwood, CA, will travel
Email: robingates2@gmail.com

Lori Brown Smith
Location: Temecula, CA, will travel
Email: loribrown13@gmail.com

Alessandra Deerinck
Location: Escondido, CA. Italy, will travel
Email: human2horse@me.com

Stina Herberg
Location: Caribbean, and Norway, will travel
Email: stina@richmondvale.org

Julia Felton
Location: United Kingdom, will travel
Email: dukesplace1@yahoo.co.uk

Monique Ros
Location: Holland
Email: mo.ros@planet.nl

Martin Contreras
Location: Colombia, South America, will travel
Email: martin.contreras.carrizosa@gmail.com

SUGGESTED TRAINERS

Joy Blach
Location: Denmark
Email: info@wide-circle.com

Bryan Cutter Smith
Location: Washington
Email: info@libertytraining.net

Farah DeJohnette
Location: Connecticut, serving New England, will travel.
Email: FDT@fdhorsetraining.com

Christian G
Location: New England Area
Email: cgunderm@gmail.com

Lila Harding
Location: Utah
Email: lilaharding@netzero.com

Talley Hutcherson
Location: Malibu, CA
Email: thutch46@gmail.com

Jane Karol
Location: Massachusetts
Email: Jane@watermill.com

Laura Nelson
Location: Florida
Email: LN4Nice@aol.com

Libby Oulette
Location: Ventura, CA
Email: mslibbyo@gmail.com

Hope you are all having a wonderful day!

Carolyn… Read more

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