Posted in Misc on Jul 7th, 2011
Learn how to shape the energy of the horse to be appropriate in the moment in the interactions you share.
People are talking about Robin Gates and her amazing dancing horses and her amazing clinics. I want to announce that Robin is getting ready for another clinic on September 3rd and 4th 2011 in Sebastopol, California.
Attending Robin’s clinic you will get the opportunity to experience breathtaking interactions with horses at liberty. You will learn how horses in nature develop their bonds and ability to flow together in a dance of unity and harmony right in front of your eyes by watching Robin working at liberty. Robin will explain in detail what is occurring in the horse’s mind so that you may approach your horse in a way that will bring out willingness, cooperation, and trust. The dynamics are the most important part in how to build a working partnership with a horse at liberty and this is what she will be sharing with you.
Robin leaves nothing out, and offers plenty of action. She does this in a humorous and entertaining way that makes complete sense. If you do… Read more
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Posted in Misc on Jun 30th, 2011
I received an email the other day of short jokes. There was one joke that stood out and made me laugh: “There is a big difference between cuddling and holding someone down so they can’t get up.” The reason I found this funny is that it so relates to understanding how not to overdo it with horses by being too aggressive or demanding. How to get along in an everyday relationship with a horse as well as two leggeds, is to understanding how to use boundaries as a way to create harmonious interactions with the ones we are connected with so cuddling does not turn into abuse. Many times I see people taking advantage of people by creating a friendship just to take advantage of them. This can happen and happens a lot- that horses will take advantage of their humans that love them. Many times horses become completely in charge of their humans because their human care taker sets no clear boundaries so that the horse knows how to be in a relationship with them.
Here is The Lesson in How to Be
Many horse lovers need to be stronger in their boundaries, and even firm. While others… Read more
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Posted in Misc on Jun 28th, 2011
The unity in movement in a herd is created by the subtle interactions that individual horses share with one another. Like with us, in our human culture, it is the little things in life that draws us to someone and repels us from others. Believe it or not, this is what brings harmony and unity to our own culture. It is the little things of working and living side by side with someone that builds an ability to develop a close working bond.
Dogs and cats live in our homes and get all the benefits of the subtleties in how to be with us, just like Apollo does with me. Horses do not get that chance to be that intimate with us. Because of this, horses do not see us as a family member. Not feeling like a family member, a horse views us with misgivings. In the interactions a horse experiences with us- he has no choice but to do as he is told. His feelings are hardly considered unless he makes a great fuss.
A horse is a captive slave by the performance we expect him to fulfill. Or, he can play the role of having to… Read more
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Posted in Misc on Jun 7th, 2011
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… Read more
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Posted in Advice, Misc on Feb 17th, 2011
Announcement: Please check back to Tuesday’s blog on the Uberstreichen Class, we have new videos posted.
The conference call was wonderful because of our group and the interesting questions asked. It is so uplifting to be heard and appreciated! Thank you all for your contributions to the call! I am more and more aware that I am making a difference for the horse getting a better deal, and helping the cause of finding other uses of horses from the connection we share with them. They have so much to offer mankind in our evolution, well-being, and life enrichment that they bring to us. We need to take care of the horses we have produced- it is our moral responsibility, and it is important to man’s own salvation. The mind set that would take care of a horse after its practical need for labor and transportation and entertainment is a mind that will help to form peace on the planet.
The Question
Someone on the call asked a question about her trainer who felt that her riding was setting her horse’s training back, and she wanted to know if this is possible. I want to add more to my answer to… Read more
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Posted in Misc on Feb 8th, 2011
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… Read more
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Posted in Misc on Jan 13th, 2011
Today’s post is in response to a letter I received recently from someone:
Dear Carolyn,
I am also incredibly excited about the reformation. It has been a question of mine for a long while, as to how can one influence herd behavior.
Actually, Joost helped me come up with the plan. He too is using the Waterhole Rituals to influence with all of the horses he works with.
He has a 2 year old filly in training who bites everything she can reach.
Last week while grooming her he stuffed a cookie in her mouth when she reached for his elbow.
Well! That totally interrupted the deal and then he asked her for several steps back.
She was very different all morning.
Thinking things through in this way is becoming 2nd nature, and we are doing everything possible to coax that along.
I do have something to report back to you about our mustang, Geronimo.
We have been doing the intimacy exercises with him for about 4 weeks. He can now eat out of a bucket, keeping his head inside the whole time, which is a huge improvement.
His normal behavior is to grab a mouthful and then move away
… Read more
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