I have created a virtual student to help me in coaching you. My virtual student has a great relationship with her horse. In fact, once she learned how to use my Method she developed a tremendous ability to communicate with her horse telepathically. Once that connection was achieved through the Method, she stopped the practice and focus of my Method and just used telepathic communication alone. Her horse has finally lost interest because she is not focused on the strings of connection that must be maintained. There is no courtship in telepathic communication or the ability to make adjustments in the relationship. While telepathic communication is very natural and beneficial to use it cannot take the place of developing the strings of connection, sharing body language, and intent. When only using telepathic communication, there is no way to create a magnetic connection.
My virtual student wants to exclusively use telepathic communication and this keeps her away from the real experiences and challenges that arise from trial and error, she finds that she also has problems with her other relationships in her life where interplay is needed for cooperation, connection and understanding. Life and relationships are a dance in attitudes, connections, and disconnections. Body language is part of the fun and so are the challenges and the journey of working things out together. If she stayed to the journey of the Method, she would develop herself so she could win friends and influence others to respect, support, and stay interested in her. Don’t miss the classroom opportunity that life, freedom and experimentation have to offer us in the pursuit of the magical connection with others.
Horses have a system that can provide for us the knowledge of how to build support and create loyalty in others and how to work with our losses to achieve our goals. We can learn this by studying the way horses go about building relationships in harmony and unity, and raising their young.
Stick to the program as it was designed, work with the freedom nature provides, the challenges it creates and the unwritten code all animals in nature share.
Horses put their focus on establishing the magnetic support from one another. This is where I chose to put my focus with horses as well. It has helped me become a team player and embarked me in a journey that has made life more rewarding.
Building a true relationship with a horse has many aspects; it is not just about telepathy it is only a part of the whole. Remember the focus is to be aware of where the relationship is going and lead it to a deeper connection.
Carolyn
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Hi Carolyn,
Thank you so much for your reply in #18. My horse is comfortable with my approach, so I have not experienced avoidance from him. I have been experimenting with this delayed reward system with my horse who would rather not get in my trailer when I request. Now I have been taking him out after he goes in at my request, and letting him graze. He was using his desire to graze as a reason not to load….but I have gotten him to use his grazing desire to now load. I have been careful to make sure his time grazing is longer than the time in the trailer…..Much to my surprize, he is grasping the concept and he is getting much more cooperative about his trailer phobia. Grass is a precious commodity to him because he lives in a drylot pen to keep him from overeating. I am learning to think more like my horse these days.
Smiles,
Jan
Dear Carolyn,
I agree with your view. I have been communicating via telephathy with animals for many years. Through your view and the waterhole methods I have become much closer with my horses and I use your methods daily
They tell me what I can do better and I learn allot from them. The horses have a natural and pure movement. It seems to be the opposite with people, I think we can learn allot from them.
I notice that through bonding with the horses through the waterhole methods, gaining mutual trust that telepathy is al little pease of the conection. I also agree with you that during this process that you are made aware of important facts in your own life. The clarity, body language, energy and communication within the heard also shows harmony and alertness to each other, this gives me allot to think about and learn on this subject
As you already indicated, this is an important message from the horses to us to, over how mankind deal with each other.
This is a tremendous new experience for me which gives my horses, other animals and myself lots of love, play and obviously.
Thank you for sharing this gift with me.
Hi Carolyn
Thank you for clarifying that #18, because I had been puzzling over it since the last post about not giving treats in the Hello ritual which I had been doing at the start, but as I am no longer carrying treats on me, hadn’t been doing it when I wasn’t “formally” practicing/sharing territory.
I had planned to re-watch the Waterholes DVD, to see if I had understood it wrongly, but haven’t had time to do that yet.
The responses to the telepathy issue have been interesting reading.
Sue
PS I have just come back from a five day clinic with the teacher who started my 5 yo mare, and he was most impressed by how improved she is from three months ago. Three other people commented on how bonded she is to me now, how much better she is going. The crazy (but fantastic!) thing is that due to a couple of injuries I hadn’t done my “homework” of long reining as much as possible, and although she isn’t the horse I’m using for the class, she has done a little bit, but mainly watching over the fence and a little bit of leading from behind at feeding time to move her into her separate space and then out again into the big paddock(pasture), again not every day as I don’t always have time. Thank you so much.
Dear Jan, 17.
It is a very important question.
The reason you do not treat for hello ritual is so the horse will be focued on you and why you are coming to him. Approching the horse formally as the protocol of the Hello Ritual offers, the horse recognizes the greeting in the same way we would when some one greets us. If you have a treat the horse does not ask himself why you are coming to him he only wants the treat and the meaning of the Ritual is lost. The purpose of the ritual is to let the horse know we are wanting connection and that you will always respect their personal space by waiting for the horse to feel good about your approach before approaching.
Lets say if you are in a market and someone is giving samples away and we are wanting the sample we really are in no way intrested in the person that is give the samples, we just want the free stuff. The hello does not happen or has really no meaning, just the snatch and grap! There was no connection made.
With the Haflinger mare Marilynn I am not practicing the Hello Ritual, I am working with her on the circle game and giving her a treat for some reason. I use the same approach back to her as in the Hello Ritual because from the practise of the hello Ritual she now feels safe when I approach her using the same pattern.
Hope this is clear.
Please respond.
I have watched the video where you are doing the circle game with the Belgin mare, Marilyn. When you move her off of the hay, then go to the fence to get a treat, walk back to her to give it to her (maybe 30 seconds or more later) It looks like your are “saying hello” with a treat. Can you explain what the difference is between the two? I understand they why in the reason not to treat in the hello game……I don’t understand how the delayed reward system is different from a hello with a treat. thanks
Dear class please address you letters to me instead of each other.
Thanks
Great Post Carolyn,
I too feel/think, what Candle Hill said as well.
I think horses are so much more sensitive to physical gestures than people realize and we cue them w/out even realizing it. They listen and then of course, we think we are telepathic! lol
I bet some of our poor Horses probably think we are shouting at them when we really only need to whisper. So glad we are learning to be more sensitive to our horses way of communicating. Speak softly. :~}
Hi Kate (post 13),
yes, kinesthetic…..I don’t remember who said this, but I recall hearing that the human is the animal of the word, and the horse of movement. Most of what we do with words, horses do with movement, therefore we often say “dance” because that’s the closest approximation that we humans have to that kind of language. Definitely an impoverishment if we restricted ourselves to mental images (telepathy) in our communication with them.
All the best,
Christian
Great Post. It reminds me of how kinaesthetic horses are and how that is probably part of their attraction for me. With telepathy only, though it can be a part of relationship, the skin and movement would be left out which would be not as complete of an experience.
Dear Carolyn,
Thank you, as always, for such a beautiful post so filled with your sensitive and insightful knowledge and experiences. I truly love all the thoughtful responses. You are teaching us to approach and interact with horses the way we would love others to respond to us–ultimately following the “Golden Rule” of treating other beings in the ways we wish to be treated. Wholistically, reverently with continual awareness of the subtleties of mind, body, spirit and emotions. When I was up at Liz Mitten Ryan’s ranch last week and the group was talking about the horse- human bond over dinner, I was telling the others how incredible it was for me to be able to share territory with my mare Chasta since she had integrated into Liz’s large family herd and I had spent the day with them in the mountains. Witnessing the Waterhole Rituals playing out naturally all day for 10 days with my beloved horse in the midst of it all was truly thrilling. One of the participants said she felt like she was attending a ‘salon’ conversation about the deep connections between humans and horses. She had also read and loved Naked Liberty and I told her how much I am loving being a part of your circle–she lives in the bay area so will be contacting Robin Gates and hopefully joining your next class.
Other than my horses,you are the best teacher I have ever had, Carolyn, and I thank you more than any words can ever express.
Love,
Connie Funk
Dear Carolyn,
great post. How enlightening. I have had telepathic experiences, and have used animal communicators that are truly amazing and said things they could not have guessed. So I’m not a skeptic. But in fact, in one conversation with one of them, I was talking with her about passing into spirit, and why, if an animal (human included) had passed into spirit and was experiencing such incredible freedom, ability to move, and absence of pain and suffering, would they ever want to return into a body. And the animal in spirit we were communicating with said that there was nothing like having a body, the smells, the sensations, the movement, the taste of food, it all had a richness that was so precious. So I think this is similar to what you were saying: why waste our precious bodyliness with our horses on an ethereal way of communicating if we can be there in the body, feel the rhythm, smell the odors, touch, dance. If anyone, horses can bring us back into our bodies if we somehow have lost the connection (as we humans are prone to sometimes.).
All the best,
Christian
Hi Carolyn,
The message I take from your post is that the magnetic connection needed for true communication with a horse is not only created, but also maintained on a daily basis through reciprocal movements. To move with your horse as one, like birds in a flock or fish in a school, you must be alert to his body language as he is to yours, and the bond allows you both to move – to move – in harmony, as if you had a telepathic link. To dance with your horse, you need to know the rules of horse herd culture, knowing when to turn toward each other, when to twirl away.
I watched my horses yesterday running together, keeping perfect pace in unison, speeding up, slowing down, turning left, turning right, then racing toward a fence and splitting off in two directions, circling around and coming together like a dancers. Telepathy, or body language? Telepathy, if it exists, can only be supplemental to true communication through body language and intimate knowledge of each other. If I can just master the body language, both in understanding hers and talking to her with mine, I’ll achieve more than most people do in a lifetime with horses.
Dear Carolyn – you are ‘spot’ on without the slightest doubt. It is just like the Confucius, notion of the journey of a 1000 miles that begins with the first step, isn’t it? And so that first step is needed to connect to the way.
Re: telepathy – everyday when I clean out the stables, the horses’ poops speak to me. They tell me the state of health of each horse and whether they have slept well or not. When grooming the horses, the contact with the horses also speaks worlds. The whole horse is a landscape which changes subtly each day. But these things gradually dawn on you by simply sharing space with the horse as you point out – as I am doing right now – just being together without any agenda. Sebastian is munching – his munching has a special rhythm and even music, which I would never have noticed, otherwise – it tells me he is happy, music to my ears.
Thanks as always for your kindness, generosity and, above all, the example you set us.
Hey Carolyn, I love your virtual student. I’m not in the least ‘telepathic’ although I use my instinct and interpretation of body language to communicate. Might be the same thing, I don’t know. I guess it is hard for people (including me) to make sure to interpret the communication of the horse, telepathic or not; correctly, and be willing to change one’s hypothesis when the first idea turned out to be wrong. I guess telepathic communication always suffers the danger of becoming a fantasy game, rather than real communication, because people tend to take everything that comes to them for real and not check the facts.
Brilliant! You really are seriously good Carolyn:) This answers a question that has been tapping at the edge of my consciousness for some time, plus clarifies my resistance to the ‘communication’ thing, and opens me up to allow it in the appropriate places (when doing the healing part of my work). Thank you.
Thankyou Carolyn,
I am in danger of heading this way (in telepathy), and this blog lesson has hit the spot for me, and headed me off before it’s too late.
Excellent!!!!!!
Robyn
I have found that my horses are very visual and physical in their communications. Not to say they are not telepathic, they seem plugged into each other and to me, all the time, but they communicate their likes and dislikes physically, rather than telepathically, which is why we can get results with them. they watch every move you make and can anticipate what you want and what your intent is..If I walk towards Flash with a halter, he will cut and pal up with Sky, using Sky as a shield, Sky shields him instinctively using his body as a block, it’s passive aggression. When that happens If I turn towards Sky’s head and approach him, he will turn and look at me with a big question?? His intent is to grab the halter before I can do anything with it. He just knows because of his size and agility, he can take the halter from me or frustrate me while I try to put it on. Usually I achieve my goal, but it takes time and this little ritual with Sky of yes you are big but You are going to do this..Once I win, I win..He just enjoys the game. It sounds like Sky’s got the upper hand, but he just thinks he does.
Dear Carolyn,
This is an interesting post and I look forward to reading other people’s comments, but I am agnostic on the subject of telepathetic communication.
Of the two professional animal communicators I have had dealings with, one was an out-and-out fraud and the other told me nothing except things I told her about my horse’s situation, re-phrased in her own words and view of horse behavior which did not, in substantial part, accord with my own observations, or, as it happens, with yours. When I use the phrase “they read my mind” about non-verbal communication my horses, I am speaking metaphorically. I mean that my horse is so tuned in to reading and responding to the intentions I express in subtle and minute gestures of body language that they respond with alacrity to the preferences I express. I don’t think this is telepathy as I understand the term. When I think “canter” on the ground or on horseback and my horses canter, they are perceiving and responding to physical cues that other observers may not notice, a slight shift of my weight and balance to request a halt or half-halt or flying change, a change in posture and movement of a finger to ask for a change of direction or gait on the ground. When we are connected, I am paying as much attention to my horse’s body language as he is to mine, and we feel linked, and the feeling is glorious, but I cannot call this telepathy. When I try to describe what I believe the horse is feeling, the words come from me, not from him.
I know other people, many of whom I respect and admire, believe otherwise. As I say, I am dubious about telepathy, but open to being convinced.
Hi Carolyn,
I just had this same conversation with a acqaintance at a horse show this weekend. I tried to explain that just using telephathic communication has many holes in it. I sensed that she wanted a quick fix from an animal communicator that she used in our area. I tried to explain telephathy was a great tool and as long as you don’t have any misunderstandings can help validate some things , but most people have relationship problems with their horses when they call me and I need to be able to give them concrete tools and exercises to work with. Your work has helped me give many people the tools to develope connection.
Nancy Proulx
One more aspect of this to consider, learn from, and use in pursuit of a better relationship with my horse. Great post!
Thank you Carolyn, this is really great commentary.
I too have developed communication skills with my horses beyond the norm.
I have also recognized the development came mostly from the WHR.
So valuable are they in strengthening the bond we share—for me to put them aside and only use telepathy, would be like telling my horses, I am superior. It would be choosing ‘my’ way and not the co-creative way. They would not be happy with that at all. Sharing time with them on a physical level makes them very happy.
My horse partners have so much to share when I am with them interacting physically and are so willing to do so, it still blows my mind.
Holistically speaking, it brings great joy to the world and to nature when we participate in the dance of learning as earth beings and sensory beings, together not separate. Balance is key.
Best wishes
Kim Male