My tip for the week:

If you are new to the game of horses, and you have a horse, make sure that your horse has other horses for company. It is cruel for a horse not to be kept with other horses. I mention this only because many people just starting out with horses would not necessarily know this. Nothing wants to be separated from their friends or from an environment that brings them well-being. Even if you only own one horse, it is good to keep him in an environment that has other horses around.

If you are new to my blog and new to horses:

What I am about to share with you might give you some food for thought and empower your approach with your horse. It might also answer some questions about what makes your horse tick. Today’s blog will get you acquainted with my method and how I approach the training of horses.

For my students that know my method:

Today’s blog will serve as an outline and a reminder of what you have learned. I hope it will also open your imagination to support you wherever you are right now in the training of your horse. The story about … Read more

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This week’s guest blog is by Carolyn Resnick Recommended Trainer : Sharolyn Wandzura of Ears Forward Coaching.

“It was a dark and stormy night and only the brief flash of white let me know that he was moving through the darkness around me.”

This would be a great opening line for a halloween adventure or romantic evening but alas it was me in the pasture once again trying to convince my horse that I am a good person and he should listen to me.

“It might even be fun”, I try to convince him. He is not convinced. Since it was usually dark by the time I got to the barn, and he is black, I would pay close attention to the location of his white sock on his right hind. This flash of white would let me know how close he was getting into my space as he was known for relentlessly testing my boundaries.

I was continually negotiating with him that he need not chase me away from his food. “I don’t want your food. Truly. Stop flattening your ears at me. No really… get those ears forward – now! I mean it” and there I was on … Read more

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A Letter from Bonnie Beresford:

Carolyn, today I went out to the herd with a purpose, both of my horses had forelocks that were tight with burrs and I wanted to remove them. I am writing here today because of what I believed happened as a result of sharing territory with the herd.

The horses were resting in the shade when I found them and there was no wind to keep the flies down. I rubbed some detangler into Chance’s forelock and let it penetrate for a few minutes. I then turned away and came face to face with June, the quarter horse mare with parrot mouth, who had walked up very close to me.  This was the first time she had ever approached me, though I have said hello to her a few times.

I stroked her face and turned away, but she stayed with me and put her head very close to me. She seemed to be seeking my attention. I noticed that her eyes were covered with flies, and she stood quietly as I rubbed my hands over her eyes and waved the flies away.

Then beside June, Cappy came up to me. … Read more

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Learning more about the magic of the co-creative process

Horses are flexible in their attitude and emotions from willing to unwilling, from trusting to fearful, from relaxed to hyper. Basically a horse’s nature is dynamic, cautious and willing. That makes sense, we are a lot like that ourselves. Horses have two changeable behaviors, fluctuating from trusting to not trusting, from social to antisocial… a bit like we are in our own society. They also seek friendship and live in communities and family groups…again a bit like us. When they feel secure and have enough space, food and water, they life in unity and harmony with one another.

Horses are very social, caring, outwardly affectionate and seek unity and harmony with one another most of the time.  Once we have formed a deep bond with a horse it will be deeper than the one we can share with our own species. When we share a cross-species bond, the horse shows us how deep our feeling for friendship can be. If we choose to look for this connection with all things our well-being and appreciations for life is enhanced. Then, when we can extend this connection to the people in our life, … Read more

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Welcome To My Blog -To Get You Started!

The purpose of my blog is to make a connection with you. I can connect with people all over the world, thanks to the computer, and we can explore and correspond with one another on the experiences we’re having with our horses in our life!
I also use the blog as a way, to educate, to raise consciousness, and to use philosophical viewpoints that will lead to a better relationship with horses; for training, partnering, and performance.

The blog is also here to help support interested people and my students who are learning my method through the educational material I offer and direct coaching. Feel free to ask questions on horse behavior, pecking order, leadership, self-realization, meditation, and the training and performance of horses. I may answer your question, or I may choose it for a blog topic for a later date. Of course, I can’t answer everyone’s questions, but I will read all your comments and I will respond to several questions on each blog.

I look forward to dialoging on the subject of what creates a better connection with a horse. Enjoy!

I will give you a lesson from my … Read more

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As the Insider Circle and Extended Circle classes are going on, I want to share with my bloggers and the class more detail on how to approach Leading From Behind™ that I offered to Karin in the comments section of my last blog. I also added some information about how to approach your horse with reciprocal movements (leading and following in connection) and Leading From Behind at liberty, and the attitude and energy level that will help in how to approach this Ritual.
When you first start out with Leading From Behind, you start out easy and stay easy. You follow slowly, and when your horse stops, wait a moment. Then ask him to step forward- and when he does, you can either follow behind him, or if you feel he might take off, immediately walk in the opposite direction, and wait for your horse to relax. Use the “Hello” Ritual, but this time, stay with your horse and wait-and when your horse walks off, repeat by slowly following him again. Slowly and surely, Leading From Behind will look like a parade in harmony and unity.
Get to the Ridge By Sundown!
Visualize that you are on the plains as … Read more

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Back at the desk again after our 10-day WRIC and In the Box Program’s First Annual Beyond the Waterhole Rituals™ clinic with nine students. It was an amazing journey! The group was focused, understanding, nurturing, happy, supportive and very willing. I am sure you who were in the clinic are safely back home. I am still resting up. Thank you for bringing your smiling faces and opens hearts.

Over the 10 days, we learned more about who we are, and how we as individuals want to go about approaching our horses, each other, and our lives ahead.

The art of horsemanship starts every day rather than being found at the end of the journey. My Method is so different that it takes some time to catch on in how to train a horse without tack and only in the moments of connection without repromand. Everyone in the class was really comfortable with my method. I was very impressed.

Liberty Training, a word I coined, is a training method that begins at liberty rather than a method of training that ends at liberty. It starts with the first breath, and at the moment you and your horse are in the same … Read more

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