Posted in Lessons 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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Posted in Advice, Misc on Jan 4th, 2011
Announcement: Caribbean Clinic!
It is my hope that my students will take this opportunity to go someplace special to learn my Method with Stina Herberg. I have been working with Stina and her wild horse herd intimately over the last three years. What Stina has learned is very important to the world at many levels. The program that developed from this three-year experience is not to be missed. Stina is officially opening her horsemanship programs at the Richmond Vale Academy and Nature Center in St. Vincent. The kick off will be this exciting new clinic happening on April 4th – 9th 2011 featuring Yoga and Horsemanship in the “Yoga and Rituals for Riding” clinic! The center that is hosting the program is a place that will afford you experiences with horses more magical than you can imagine! I assure you – you will have the experience of connecting with a horse like the boy in the movie, The Black Stallion. St. Vincent, one of the most beautiful places on earth is a paradise of private beaches, tropical flowers, fruit trails, waterfalls, streams, and swimming at the base of waterfalls with horses! I wish I could be there- but all of… Read more
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Posted in Advice on Dec 30th, 2010
Recently I was working with a new student, showing how I introduce teaching halt from trot on a circle at liberty after I have the basic connection with a horse that the Waterhole Rituals provide to the partnership. I asked the horse to whoa, and about eight strides later, he stopped, and looked at me with a look that seemed to say “Is this what you wanted?” I then told him he was a good boy, and gave him a treat.
My student asked why I treated the horse since he stopped eight strides later than when I first asked for it. Since the horse had not been asked to halt this way before, the fact that he stopped at all was quite an accomplishment. Of course, with more time and training, soon the horse will be stopping on a dime and will be happy to do so. As our training session progressed, gradually, the horse stopped in fewer and fewer strides. It was the pause which allowed him to think about the request, and gave him the time to put his body in the right frame which would allow him to stop from a trot.
The next stage of… Read more
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Posted in Advice, Misc on Dec 21st, 2010
I went to our local New Age store and found a children’s book titled Zen Shorts. I took a look, read a few pages, and had to have it! I want to suggest it to any one who likes children’s books and the lessons learned from them. Let’s exchange ideas on what to read this winter.
All through the year, I love to have people over to my house. In order to make them welcome I like to keep treats in the bathroom and many interesting books on my coffee table. I have found that people will take treats from the bathroom quicker than if I have them anywhere else. When people come to visit they even go into the guest bathroom to see what treats might be there. What they like is chocolate. It is all experimentation on how to please others and stay connected just like working a horse at liberty. It takes the same kind of experimentation working a horse at liberty as it does creating a social environment for people. I also make sure I have beautiful music playing, and I like to listen to everything my guests want to talk about.
The other… Read more
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Posted in Misc on Dec 9th, 2010
I can’t believe how much fun we have all been having during this Beyond the Waterhole Rituals™ Clinic! The other day we had the opportunity to visit the ranch of a dear friend of mine, Linda Harris. The following photos that I am sharing with you were taken at her beautiful ranch with her wonderful Thoroughbreds! Thank you Linda for giving us this very special opportunity!
As the photos show, our weather has been truly spectacular! You can see the beautiful sunlight that seemed to gently touch everything around us with a sparkling golden hue. Everything was perfect- from the crispness of the air, to the excellent Companion Walking dance that we shared- it was one of those days that I know I will never forget.
I would also like to share a poem that Kathy Cavanah wrote during our poetry break out session. Thank you Kathy for sharing your inspiring words!
Elmo and the Bucket Game by Kathy Cavanah
The bucket’s there,
I stand and stare.
I want to move
but I don’t dare.
I’m on my spot,Read more
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Posted in Advice on Dec 7th, 2010
Hope you all are staying warm and enjoying the holidays! We are in full swing of the WRIC and In–the-Box Program’s Beyond the Waterhole Rituals™ Clinic and I wanted to share some of the highlights with you! Our weather has been great! We have not had any rainfall, and some days have actually been T-Shirt weather. Sometimes we have to bundle up in the morning, but then it warms right up. The girls in the clinic inspire me to work till the sun goes down! As for our daily activities, we have started with morning meditations and Sharing Territory ™. Then we go into Liberty Dancing, Uberstriechen Exercises, and Single Lining. My horse Liberty has had the opportunity to demonstrate the Dinner and Dancing room as well! Alessandra’s horse Rosalie has been the star teacher! I think we are all having a great time- I know I am, and so are the ponies! I am amazed at how fast the class is learning. The Insider Circle and the new Extended Circle program for next year, is definitely the way to go. We are getting rid of the name “In the Box” program – nobody wants to be in a box!… Read more
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