The horses’ code
Feb 12th, 2009 by Carolyn Resnick Method
Hello. Thank you all for your wonderful comments and kind words recently. It seemed you enjoyed the HorseConscious call on Tuesday as much as I did!
Today, I’d like to talk to you about the rules that horses have with each other. This is extremely important to grasp not just because for me, it is the foundation of what I do but because it is the foundation for all horse interactions.
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DEAR JAEN: I CAN TOTALLY RELATE, GET THIS I HAD JUST MOVED TO MY PLACE AND WE HAD AN EMERGENCY COME UP ALL MY NEIGHBORS HAVE HORSES (I FOUND OUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN A THING) ANYWAY SHE FED ONE HORSE BUT NOT THE OTHER SO I COULD ONLY IMAGINE MY LITTLE FILLY WATCHING THE OTHER HORSE EATING WHILE SHE JUST STANDS THERE GETTING NO FOOD!!! YOU HAVE TO BE A TOTAL PERSON OUT OF YOUR MIND TO DO THAT. I KNOW BECAUSE HER BAG OF FOOD ALONG WITH HER HAY WAS STILL IN THE HUGE CONTAINER. I ASKED HER WHY AND SHE SAID SHE COULDN’T FIND HER FOOD!!!!!!!!!! OH WELL THAT WAS 4 YEARS AGO AND I HAVE SINCE MADE IT UP TO HER. BUT AT LEAST I FOUND OUT RIGHT AWAY, DON’T LET HER COME OVER. I WAS ‘GUN SHY’ AFTER THAT AND JUST HAD A HARD TIME AS AGAIN ANOTHER NEIGHBOR I ASKED TO FEED, WHEN I CALLED TO SEE HOW THE HORSES WERE DOING THEY SAID ‘OH I WAS JUST GOING OVER TO FEED NOW!!! THEY FORGOT!!!! ANYWAY NOW I FREE FEED I DID RESEARCH AND I GIVE BERMUDA GRASS AND PRAIRIE GRASS HAY HAVE SEVERAL HAY BAGS HUNG UP WITH HAY AND I CAN GO AWAY FOR A FEW DAYS AND JUST ASK THIS ONE NEIGHBOR TO JUST CHECK ON THEM AND THEY DON’T HAVE TO FEED. I ALSO PRAY AND ASK G-D TO SEND HIS ANGELS DOWN TO WATCH OVER THEM WHILE I AM AWAY, AS I ONLY GO AWAY IF I REALLY HAVE TO, BUT I KNOW I CAN COUNT ON HIS PROTECTION!!! I AM SO SORRY THAT HAPPENED TO YOU I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. BLESSINGS CINDEE
hi carolyn,
i just got home from an overnight trip. my reliable neighbor who has always fed coal, my horse…completely forgot to feed him….i feel so bad letting my guy down…i kindof in shock because, of course, there is no changing the past, but i just would hate for him to lose the trust he has in me..we were going to start the waterhole rituals tomorrow…i am thinking it’s a good time to start, allright…
is there anything you would recomend doing??
thanks,
jaen
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you SO much for your advice!!!!!!! I REALLY appreciate it!
I learned a lot from your reply and I am sure I will learn even more when I am putting your suggestions into practice!
I will definitely use all of your suggestions, and stop carrying treats with me.
Thanks again!!!!!
-Nicole H
Hello Stina and Carolyn,
Thank you very much for your detailed answers! It was thought-provoking reading both of your responses.
I really liked what you wrote about changing the subject when the horse is distracted; it seems that that gives a great balance of continuing to be consistent about asking for the horse’s attention and connection, yet the person stewarding it in a responsible way so as to keep the horse attentive. Attention, then, is there also because the person has given the horse a reason to be focused. Interesting.
Yes, I can understand how it is difficult to respond without a more detailed question/description of the situation.
I’m not actually having a truly specific problem right now; I was just asking more in general.
Thanks again,
Hannah
About ears,
I have already written about ears on my blog. Please check it out.
I suggest never having the treats on your person untill this behavior would not be an issue.
The reason it is a problem for people is that they are keeping the treats on them. Don’t do that and the horse will not get into the habit. Do the exercise ears up that I wrote about on this sight somewhere recently. It goes something like this. When the ears are back I say ears up and when then come up I treat otherwise no treats even if the horse has one comming.
Rule;When the horse does the interaction for a treat I might give a treat or not. this is imporntant. When the horse knows the program I seldom treat. I only treat in the begining of the learning process and usually the horse becomes so intrested in the program he doesn’t want treats any more. I have a feeling that people are not weaning thier horse from the treats earily enough. None of my students that do not carry the treats on them have any problem with ears. Work your horse will food on the ground. I work my horses very fast and hang out with them alot setting in a chair in the arena and being at peace in their company. My horses do not write the ruels down for me. I never give a horse a treat if the ears are back and this why the horse will stop this behavior.
The reason your hores are putting there ears back is that they are working for treats. My horses work for the pleasure of learning and working hard. Train your horse with out treats and learn how to connect with your horse and choose a program that would best suit your horses nature.
Don’t use treats at all for a while. Pick up the pace of your horses new programs. Learn how to train with out treats. I trained horses with the Waterhole Rituals for years with out treats so I would build my skill in training. Horses do not train each other with treats. The do train each other from keeping the treats away from each other and then rewarding after a horse will not have an opinon on how he is being directed, they then will allow the horse they are training to share a grazing stop with them. This is why I do not keep treats on my person. It is more about were not to eat than were to eat. Put alots of food down all over and keep your horse away and then then the respct happens allow the horse to eat where you would like him to when the horse stops showing attitude.
Try teaching your horse something new with out treats. If you can not train with out treats then you are not using the Rituals in the right manner. I would suggest a clinic for me. I only do privates for quaility control.
Fast work with also fix the problem. Expect more from your horse because they know the rules know.
Stop the treats and focus on the horse working at a faster pace and not doing tricky stuff.
Work on dancing with your horse using the last ritual. Hard work will fix the problem. Ask your horse to stay in a gate and work in that gait a little faster than its own natual pace. Ask for strong halts. Work on developing in your horses three spends of walk trot and halt.
Never give a horse a treat when its ears are back. Wiat for the ears to come up and then reward. If the ears cannot come up then don’t treat and put your horse back to work.
My horses never have trouble with this problem because I develop a horse to bond deeply with me and I become his focus using the first Ritual. I always spend time with the first ritual more than my students. I would work with the game I wrote on ocasion teaching a horse to put its ears formward on comand.
All of these letters I belive have come form having treats on you
and not moving forward to alots of fast work using the last ritual and on training three spends of walk trot and canter.
It would be a good idea to stop the treats if you are having ears back. If you can not get your horse to perfrom with out treats.
Practise the riutals to gain your skill and leadership with your horses and consider taking a clinic with me.
It is not easy work but trully rewarding for bot horses and humans.
Again I hope this is of help.
interesting, i had to read this 4 times before i think i understand it, that is hannahs question and carolyns answer.
no i think i will go and film this, as we are having the same questions right here, how to pay attention
Thanks for the question and the answer.
Hi Maxine, Did you try the ‘bucket’ exercise with your mare? i did it a few times now Did you read on here my results i wrote it to Carolyn it is a riot on how she responded, it is working however my mare is a ‘pistol’ she is putting her ears back now when i work her in the round pen after a bit and she didn’t before she knows i have the treats in a bucket waiting for her to do the exercise so i didn’t do the bucket thing after working with her on the walk and the trot because i don’t want her to thing she will get those carrots every time she remembers to much and then she expects the treats which isn’t bad but it is putting a damper on the training. now i am going to have to come up with something else. i cannot do something exactly the same 2 days in a row or she thinks it has to be that way. Only if i really want to ENGRAVE something in her will i do it that way but otherwise i have to not be consistant, for example if i take her out and let her graze at the same time each day for a couple of days she throws a fit if i don’t do it on the 3rd day. So i have to be inconsistent with this type of stuff, but it works great for training as then she trains easily, but its hard for me because i have to come up with different types of training as she gets bored. let me know how your mare is doing it sounds like they are both the same. Blessings cindee
Dear Hannah,
Great question. I ask my horse with a cluck and step around to his back end to desplay that if he does not keep and eye on me that I will take his space. If he looks and keeps his focus then I change the subject to something he would be happy to do and then call it a day unless he wants to get down to working hard because he chooses to do so.
The next day practice more on eye contact over food. It should look like your horse getting to eat without being moved because he can control your ability to drive him a way with a look. This exercise builds a habit to stay focused and connected. Practice practice and more practice. Habits are built through routine.
Your horse may not be focused on his work because you need more skill in knowing how to build and choose a program that would create intrest and control at the same time. This takes practice also. Practiceing the rituals every day, you will build your leadership skills in connection, choices and likability.
Another idea that might help is that the last Ritual might help you to build his energy to stay focused but you will not know that with out practiceing the Riutals. Just practice them one after another untill your horse will companion walk and trot at your side and you can send him away and call him back and he likes the game. Do not focus on goals just practice like a zen master no judgment only feel. When you finish notice what you liked about your work and build on that. I work between slow work and fast work to keep the energy in my horse balanced and focused.
It is hard to tell from just a letter to know the best advice to give you. Another thought.
I can tell if a horse is going to perform for me before I ask and I can tell if I am going to loose his focus so if I see that I am not going to get the best response I change to something I know I will get a better result or I go back and practice a ritual that will fix the problem before it happens.
Hope this is of help
Hi Hannah, may i share what i do?
I have been in that situation very many times. I am with my horse in the forest (jungle) and there is the big stone we passed on the way, now on the way back the sun shines on it in a different way and my 2 horses completely disconnect from me, they raise their neck, blow the nose and really try to run very fast in the opposite direction.
I have to help them, i bend down, i talk to them, i give time, i ask the horse to face me and the shiny stone, i give rope so the horse can run away a bit, and ask the horse to face me and the stone again.
then when the horse is no longer trying to run away, i ask one step, and another and i wait, i have an “emergency” cookie box with me and once the horse is trying to take a few steps closer to the danger there is a reward of the favorite treats.
i very seldom bring treats for the horses when we are discovering the jungle as we pass mango, avocados, sweet grass, fresh water, guava on the way, however i have a small “emergency ration available”
i think you also have to give the horse space to “run” away a bit, the horse run and think then act. they dont think and then run
Love from sunny St. Vincent
Stina
Carolyn,
I heard a calling to horses 7 years ago. I wasn’t sure what it meant or how to experience it. I had recently moved to Portland, Oregon and began looking for riding lessons. My only horse experience had been riding bareback in the wheat fields of eastern Washington as a child. I have bumped around to 4 different barns/instructors during this time. Learning something from each but still not satisfied. I’ve taken time off here and there due to financial reasons. Yet I always missed the smell of horses and the only thing I knew was to take more lessons. Always I’ve kept exploring how I could surround my life with horses and make it work. My study in college at Evergreen in Olympia, WA found me involved with performing arts and the dance form Butoh. From there I became interested in dance/movement therapy. I still wasn’t sure of what I wanted to do as a career, nothing spoke to me strongly. I had decided to save up money and study equine body work/massage through Equinology. I was looking for a way to benefit horses in a holistic manner as well as find employment that could be more fulfilling than my current job. I have been a bartender since leaving college. It affords me the time and money to explore other options. I must leave this work soon as it is purely for money and gives me little else. I now see it as a means to further my education with amazing people as yourself. My 1/2 lease at the barn also became unfulfilling. I wasn’t interested just trotting and cantering in circles in the arena. I didn’t know when I’d be able to afford a horse or if I ever wanted to compete. I had read Linda Kohanov’s book Tao of Equus years prior, yet never delved any deeper. Then, I found The Path of the Horse teleseminars. I feel like I finally am understanding my calling. I am currently reading your book, Naked Liberty, awaiting the DVDS from TPOTH. I have quit my 1/2 lease, and begun volunteering at a horse rescue. I am finding it more rewarding and educational. I am also reading Sherry Ackerman’s Dressage in the Fourth Dimension. I feel blessed to have found this group of people, to feel like I am finally on a path that resonates with my heart. I am interested in pursuing a more hands on experience in the future. Please keep me updated on classes or workshops you may be offering. Thank you Carolyn. Each day the path ahead becomes more clear.
Adrienne Sloan
I REALLY enjoyed and learned a lot from both your articles this week!!! They were great, as usual.
I have been making SO much progress since I started using your method about a month ago!! Now we can do leading from behind at the walk and trot, with him stopping whenever I stop, and we have been doing lots of ritual #6 as well, with him walking, trotting , or cantering next to me, and he matches my pace exactly! Its so much fun!!
I have a question about ears though. Lots of the time when my horse is trotting or cantering next to me at liberty, he has his ears back, not pinned back really far, but different than how is ears are when he is just listening. He doesn’t always have them back, but a lots of the time when trotting with me, and he almost always does while he is cantering with me, even though he seems to like it. As soon as I stop, his ears go forward again.
We play at liberty in a big pasture so he could leave me whenever he wanted to. I tried working with the bucket a lot to get his ears forward, but so far, it doesn’t seem like he makes the connection between forward ears, and getting the treat. I usually carry treats with me, but before I give him a treat, I tell him to wait, walk a few feet back, then I bring the treat to him so he doesn’t beg for treats. Could that be a problem? We have no problems at the walk only trot and canter, and he will usually trot, canter, or gallop to me with his ears forward.
Do you have any advice for me about what to do about his ears, or what might be causing him to put them back? He really seems happy to be with me and play with me besides his ears being back. Do I just need to try the bucket training more with him?
Thanks,
Nicole
Hello Carolyn,
I had the privilege of speaking with you on the Teleseminar about treats and keeping/not keeping them on my body. Due to an other circumstances I was not able to be with the horses much this week, but have been following your advice in another matter: doing what seems to “feel” right at the time. I tend to like to analyze my horses and myself to death, and for the past few days, I have simply been doing what seemed right at the time — a treat here, driving the horse away there for them barging in, yet trying not to analyze. I must say it has freed me up a great deal and helps me to enjoy my equine friends much more.
I have a question about the rule, “If I do not pay attention, I will lose my rank.” When a horse is, in general, not paying attention, I understand that the Rituals and especially Taking Territory or Leading from Behind would be helpful. My question lies in this: if a horse who becomes quite connected to you through the Rituals, and then, for whatever reason, becomes fixated on a Monster on the Horizon or some other horrible event
while you are working/playing with him, what is the best response? Clearly he is no longer paying attention to you, but as you are right next to him and cannot easily drive him away/get behind him/etc without the use of physical force (as you do not have the benefit of being some distance away), how do you redirect his focus back to you?
Thank you!
Hannah Rivard
DEAR ANGELA IT WOULD BE MY PLEASURE TO MEET WITH YOU!!!!!!!!! PLEASE EMAIL ME AT
CINDEEGRIMES@MSN.COM AND LET ME KNOW MORE DETAILS!!! I WILL MAKE IT A POINT, TO SEE YOU!!! HOW SWEET AND SPECIAL I FEEL THAT YOU WOULD ASK. EMAIL ME ASAP. I AM EXCITED TO MEET YOU DO YOU HAVE A HORSE NOW. I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO RIDE WHEN I GOT PANAMA, HE HAS GONE BACK TO HEAVEN NOW BUT HE WAS SUCH A BLESSING IN MY LIFE AND I CAN TELL YOU SOME FUNNY STORIES OF SO CALLED ‘HORSE PEOPLE’ THAT TOLD ME WHAT I SHOULD DO WITH HIM. I COMPLETELY IGNORED THEM AND WENT WITH MY HEART, AS I DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT CAROLYN THEN. AND HE TURNED OUT AWESOME BUT THEN HE WAS SWEET WHEN I GOT HIM. THE LITTLE FIRE BALL I HAVE NOW, IT IS A BLESSING I FOUND CAROLYN BECAUSE I HAD TO LEARN TO BE MORE OF A LEADER WITH HER. WELL WE WILL TALK AGAIN DON’T FORGET TO EMAIL ME CINDEEGRIMES@MSN.COM
I am very new to horses having taken about 12 riding lessons. As well, I’ve been hunting at Amazon for books and have read severa. I love reading aboutyouro approach, Carolyn, here, and am amazed that it seems to be so unique. Why wouldn’t horses be treated with respect, their intelligence acknowledged and be cared as these completely awesome creatures should be? Of course I know the answer. I just wonder when I will stop being shocked at the overall blindness so many, maybe most, humans have about animals, who are so much more intelligent than we are. I am visiting Arizona from Nova Scotia from April 1-9, Cindee, and will be south of Tucson. If you are in that area and if it was convenient and would consider meeting up, it would be wonderful. I won’t be offended if, because I am so new to this horse world, you would rather not.
Carolyn you and your website has been a blessing to me. Everything you said just now is so true. The inviting, wait for them to respond. For me IT SOOOOOO REMINDS ME OF HOW ADONAI INVITES US TO COME TO HIM AND THEN HE WAITS. HE HAS GIVEN THAT LOVING AND AWESOME SPIRIT TO THE HORSE FOR US TO MAKE OUR LIVES A LITTLE BETTER HERE ON EARTH, IT IS JUST TO SAD WHEN PEOPLE DON’T SEE THAT AND ARE CRUEL BUT WE ARE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHEN WE KNOW WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. ADONAI HAS GIVING YOU A SPECIAL BLESSING WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER AND HE CHOSE YOU TO SHOW US ABOUT ONE OF HIS WONDERFUL CREATURES THE HORSE! HE EVEN TELLS US: JOB: “WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I GAVE THE HORSE ITS STRENGTH AND CLOTHED ITS NECK WITH A MANE!” WE ARE SO BLESSED AS I KNOW ADONAI HAS GIVEN ME THE HORSE AS PART OF MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM AND ALSO TO HELP WITH EMOTIONAL HEALING. IT IS AMAZING TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE FEEL A ‘SPIRITUAL BOND’ WITH THE HORSE AND I BELIEVE BECAUSE ADONAI CREATED THIS GREAT BEING IT IS A WAY TO DRAW US TO HIM ALSO FOR THE SPIRITUAL PART. MAY ADONAI CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU AS YOU HAVE BEEN A BLESSING TO MANY. P.S. A FEW HAVE EMAILED ME ASKING WHAT ADONAI MEANS JUST TO CLARIFY FOR THEM IT MEANS LORD IN HEBREW, SHALOM AND LOVE CINDEE
Dear Victoria,
Thank you for your letter. It is exciting to me as well to see the growth of my blog and the ability it has to make a better connection for people and their horses.
It is all about greatfulness and sharing. Your greatfulness is what enspires me to share what I know.
Our greatfulness for horses to want to do anything for us at all is an awsome gift!
Working with horses or just being with horses their is always a dance that takes place, it is the nature of horses and huamns to connect.
It is all about listening to the music and waiting to feel the music in our soul.
And then wait utill we are invited, then we are ready to go.
It is a shared partnership when no one gets confuses or tries to lead at the same time.
It is like holding hands and with out stretchs arms and dancing with a friend leaning back and traveling together like a polka and when you are ahead you swing your partner forward and when your partner gets in fort your partner then swings you forward.
If you can imagine this swirling action it is great to practice because it builds partnership skills and timing of your communication and influence.
Carolyn – Thanks so much for sharing your insights on the “Horse Conscious” phone call. I’ve been trying the things you suggested that I do with Siete in her stall, especially offering food and asking her to step away. In just a few days, it’s already had a very positive reaction from her. What you are doing here is so generous, and it’s really great to see the response that you are getting grow bigger and bigger. My horses and I are very grateful for your advice and efforts.
THAT IS SO GREAT STINA I AM SO EXCITED DID YOU READ MY POST ABOUT ME TRYING THE ‘BUCKET’ EXERCISE THAT CAROLYN TOLD ME AND IT WORKED GREAT BUT YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE WHAT SHE DID!!!! IT IS HISTERICAL WHEN YOU GET THE CHANCE READ IT
WHAT IS YOUR WEBSITE AS I AM NEW TO THIS. THANKS CINDEE
we are uploading a small clip on the fixing ears ritual, taking space, eye contact and round 6 on improving connection
i will post link under news on my website to the youtube place
kind regards Stina in the Caribbean
thank you for the tips and blogs it’s so fun to learn more and more on this blog i absolutley love this way of training it feels so obvious yet is a new language i am eagerly learning, i look forward to the dvd’s just ordering them now…so excitin’!
kate
hi carolyn
what a great lovely site this is. and am so happy to read and learn. i live in tanzania in africa…and keep 6 horses next to the house. my new one is a little apaloosa gelding….who is possibly the sweetest spotted creature i have ever met. i always talk to a horse before i get on….i watch ears when i’m on….i am training him for safari riding…amongst wild animals. he has been chased by an elephant before…and am nervous about out trip today..in case we see them…but shall talk nicely and give him courage. he is a very brave little chap..and so willing. already when i go to the stable, he comes to say hello and walks quite willingly out when tacked up….anyway. i shall be back for more when i return from my trip….any tips on horses and their reaction to other wild animals would be most helpful.
wishing you and yours a wonderful week-end.
x
janelle
oh there is a picture of my spotty horse on my site…take a look if you have the time of inclination.
Dear Carolyn I will call it a night after this but I HAD TO SHARE THIS I already told you what happened with the ‘bucket training’ and how she reacted BUT I JUST WENT OUT THERE TO DO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TRAINING BEFORE SHE ‘GOES TO BED’ IT SEEMS TO WORK WHEN I DO A LITTLE TRAINING WITH HER AT NIGHT SHE REALLY SEEMS TO LIKE IT AT NIGHT AS IT IS VERY PEACEFUL AND I THINK IT GIVES HER SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT ANYWAY I WENT OUT THERE TO DO SOME OF YOUR TRAINING WITH THE REED AND YOU ARE GOING TO CRACK UP!!!!! I HAD LEFT THE RUBBER BUCKET IN THE ARENA WE HAD JUST STARTED WORKING WHEN SHE LEFT ME (SHE USUALLY DOESN’T) WALKED OVER TO THE RUBBER BUCKET PICKED IT UP!!!! LOOKED AT ME!! AND THREW IT AT ME I PROMISE YOU THIS IS TRUE IT SOUNDS FAR FETCHED BUT I WAS STUNNED AND I JUST BURST OUT LAUGHING I COULDN’T HELP IT THEN SHE WALKED OVER PICKED IT UP AGAIN AND DROPPED IT AND THEN STARTED MOVING HER MOUTH AROUND IN IT AS IF TO SAY. YOU WANT ME TO WORK, THEN GET ME SOME MORE OF THOSE CARROTS! I JUST HAD TO SHARE THAT AND OF COURSE I ONLY DID A FEW THINGS WITH THE ROD AND THEN GAVE HER MORE TREATS IN THE BUCKET!!!!!! THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR EXPERTISE!! LOVE AND SHALOM Cindee
MAYBE WE CAN MEET AT A CAROLYN RESNICK SEMINAR OR SOMETHING. I WOULD LOVE TO MEET EVERYONE. LOVE YOU ALL Cindee
Hey Cindee, I live in California. Lucky you to live in Arizona!
Good luck in finding folks in your area.
Pam
Hi Carolyn I really have to tell you that i feel so privilaged that you personally have responded to my questions, what an honor for me as i respect your training so much. Also I WENT OUT AND TRIED THE ‘BUCKET TRAINING’ i cut up some carrots put it in the middle of the arena walked her over and her ears were already up as she was kind of “whats up?’ attitude. I let her eat a little bit then i said “come on, lets go, we’ll come back” She went with NO RESISTANCE! AND WHILE SHE WAS WALKING I ASKED HER TO ‘WHOA’ AND SHE DID AND KEPT CHEWING HER CARROTS AND THEN KIND OF LOOKED AT ME TO SAY “AND YOUR POINT IS?” NO EARS WERE BACK, WE WALKED OVER HER EARS WERE UP, I LET HER EAT AWHILE AND THEN DID THE SAME THING AGAIN, EXACTLY. SHE WAS PERFECT EXCEPT FOR THE FIFTH TIME WHEN I TOOK HER AWAY HER EARS WERE UP BUT THEN ON THE 5th TIME BACK SHE DID PUT HER EARS BACK SO I TURNED AROUND AND WENT AWAY FROM THE BUCKET OF CARROTS. WAITED ABOUT 3 SECONDS HER EARS WENT UP I SAID GOOD GIRL WENT BACK TOWARDS THE BUCKET, HER EARS WENT FLAT BACK AND THEN SHE EVEN ROLLED HER HEAD, SO I SAID ‘NO’ TURNED AROUND AND MADE HER WAIT UNTIL HER EARS WENT UP AND THEN WE WALKED OVER AND TADA! SHE DIDN’T FOLD HER EARS DOWN OR ROLL HER HEAD I LET HER FINISH THEM ALL AND TOLD HER GOOD GIRL AND ENDED IT.
DID I DO THIS RIGHT? THANKS CAROLYN!
Hi Lucinda I love that name, Anyway thank you for your input like i said we have to all stick together now and show the world what we know and i will check out that website and info you put down thank you for sharing that Blessings Cindee
Cindee,
To answere your questions about teaching your horse to put her ears forward. Seperate the exercise from your other work with her and as with any new program keep it short about ten minuets with lots of pauses of stillness and pats or rubs, what ever she likes. By seperating it from we other work she will give it more focus and see it as a fun outing and that would be great. You might like to do this twice a day or three times a day you be the judge from how she responds to the exercise. If you see no improvement discontinue because you might be renforcing the negitive behavior.
I belive that the reason it would not work is that I am not clear in sharing the process with you.
Good luck and thank you for helping spread my method to others and buying my DVDs as gifts.
Pam, Thank you so much for those motivational words. What state do you live in? I live in Arizona and what a blessing it would be if anyone of these precious people that are all writing lived in Arizona where i could meet you. Let me know if anyone lives in Arizona. I know Carolyn is in California. Blessings Cindee
I have to say that I have found the same. I kept going through trainers. I have become sick and tired of “forcing” and the idea that the horse knows what you want and is just being bad. So I backed off…mostly because of a horse injury,….I also went through the “Parelli stage” and that still seemed like forcing, and what is natural about a “biting” string halter and a rope with a heavy snap that you can jerk and cause the halter to bite even more…???
Unfortunately, I am engaged in a Masters degree program in Nursing and also working full time. Right now my two little geldings are enjoying time in their 2 1/2 acre pasture. I enjoy watching them from the picture windows that face the back as they engage in their “horse play”. I look forward to graduation in six months and then I plan to put those little guys in the trailer and go take some lessons and I can’t wait!
I also was not looking for a trainer when I came upon Carolyn Resnick. I feel so blessed that her ranch is just a few hours from me.
where has she been all this time? Right there I guess and truthfully I would not have been receptive to the message a few years ago.
I love this journey I am on and I am also enjoying Sherry Ackerman and a web magazine at horsesforlife.com there is lots of great stuff out there once you are ready
Cindee, I did all that searching for trainers too! But when I stopped searching and started looking at things as they really are, I became my horse’s leader. Now the trainers that I do work with are so good and they just sort of appeared in my life. You sound very smart to me for you have common sense (which is not all too common these days) and great love for your horses. That will get you very far in life. Thanks for sharing with everybody.
Pam
Dear Pam if you know the half of it, you probably wouldn’t think i am so smart as it took me a long time to learn but then that was because i kept hoping that i would run into atleast ‘someone who really knew how to train and not just another person who THOUGHT they knew how to train.” The only good thing i did use was my common sense and when i saw my horse getting stressed out i would stop!!!! which usually was only into a few minutes of this ‘natural horsemanship training’ i have found it really is a ‘ruff’ way unless you alter it so it is not! but you are so right in what you say that ‘IT IS YOUR OPINION THAT MATTERS’ see i thought i was the wrong one and if it wasn’t for my ‘over protective’ attitude towards my horses, i probably would have fallen for that training. but when i saw with my first horse how it upset him with this ‘getting out of my space crap’ which don’t get me wrong sometimes it IS A GOOD THING BUT I FOUND YOU HAVE TO USE COMMON SENSE WITH EACH HORSE LIKE CAROLYN SAYS IN HER DVD. there are shy horse and dominant horses and you have to adjust your training for each individual. That is what i love about her, as that is what i felt a long time ago but found no trainer that agreed with me until now. So i guess we will all have to stick together and become ONE with this training and at least slowly i believe WE WILL SHOW MORE PEOPLE, Actually at every clinic (barefoot hoof clinics) i go to they have all been interested when i bring up Carolyn’s method so i am making a lot of progress just getting the word out. Also i have found that when i give the dvd’s away they are more prone to watching. I already gave a Waterhole Ritual DVD away and i am going to get some more to give away. Lets stay in touch You are all a blessing to talk to. Cindee
Cindee, Its sounds like you have had to listen to alot of other people’s opinions about your horses. What I have found is this…..it is Your opinion that matters the most to your horses. Sounds like you have figured that out too!
Regards,
Pam
Dear Stina, Love is the greatest!!!!! Faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is love. Blessings to you. cindee
Cindee: way to go! congratulations with all your results
I am enjoying and learning for you bloggers!
I just felt like sharing this:
Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment.
Gandhi
DEAR SWEET CAROLYN THAT IS GREAT!! I AM GOING TO GO OUT AND TRY THE BUCKET TRAINING RIGHT NOW FOR A FEW TIMES AT LEAST. YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT HER BEING SMART AS EVERY TRAINER I HAD SAID AND I QUOTE “SHE IS VERY SMART HORSE SO YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH HER, SO YOU BETTER GET A HOLD ON HER RIGHT NOW AND BLAH BLAH BLAH,” THEY ALL TOLD ME TO GET ROUGH WITH HER OR SHE WOULD KILL ME. I SAID WOW NOW THAT IS THE SAME THING THE OTHER ‘DIMWITS’ SAID ABOUT PANAMA AND HE WAS THE MOST LOVING HORSE. WHEN I WAS TRYING TO GET TRAINERS TO HELP ME WITH HER THEY ACTUALLY MADE IT WORSE. I DON’T ANYMORE I AM DOING IT MYSELF BUT NOW WITH YOUR HELP AND I HAVE WATCHED YOUR VIDEO WATERHOLE RITUALS SO MANY TIMES, I HAVE SEEN AN IMPROVEMENT THAT THESE OTHER SO CALLED TRAINERS THAT ALL DID PARELLI, MONTY ROBERTS, AND I CAN NAME A BUNCH, THEY ALL SAID SHE WILL BE A HAND FULL. SO WHAT I HAVE SINCE TOLD PEOPLE THAT TELL ME THIS THAT THEY SHOULD ALL HAVE ‘QUARTER HORSE’ AND I DON’T MEAN THE BREED, I MEAN THE WOODEN HORSE YOU PUT A ‘QUARTER’ INTO SO YOU GET ONE THAT DOESN’T HAVE A PERSONALITY, IT WON’T BUCK, BITE, REAR ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE A HORSE A HORSE, HOW SAD FOR ALL THESE SO CALLED TRAINERS THEY ALL WANT ROBOTIC HORSES AND THEN THEY GO DEMO AND SHOW HOW GOOD IT IS. OH WELL I GUESS THE GREAT TRAINERS, LIKE YOURSELF WILL ALWAYS BE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN AN IF YOU REALLY WANT TO FIND THEM OUT, YOU HAVE TO SEARCH AND SEARCH TILL YOU FIND THE GOOD ONE. I AM JUST GRATEFUL I FOUND YOU. YOU CAN LEAD A PERSON TO THE TRUTH BUT YOU CAN’T MAKE THEM BELIEVE IT. I HAVE WATCHED YOUR VIDEO OVER AND OVER AND I HAVE EVEN WATCHED IT WITH ASIIRAH AS SHE WAS EATING AND SHE WOULD COME OVER AND LOOK AT THE DVD, IT WAS FUNNY. ANYWAY I AM GOING TO GO TRY THIS WITH THE BUCKET AND I WILL CONTINUE DOING THIS FOR A FEW DAYS. SHOULD I DO THIS ALL THE TIME WHEN I AM WITH HER. EVERYTIME I FEED WHICH IS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. I MAKE HER STAND AND WAIT UNTIL I PUT MY HAND OUT, LIKE YOU DO IN THE DVD, AND TELL HER IT IS OK TO EAT, AND IT IS AMAZING HOW SHE WAITS FOR ME TO TELL HER IT IS OK. AGAIN, HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD I DO THE BUCKET TRAINING OR SHOULD I JUST MAKE THIS A THING TO DO ALL THE TIME WITH HER. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE RESPONSES! ADONAI’S BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL AND TO YOUR HORSES! Cindee
Hi Carolyn
Love your articles and I am going to purchase your DVD.
I wanted to briefly tell you about a horse I used to own. I had an unbelievable relationship with him and I really haven’t been able to have the same with my other horses.
I don’t know how this relationship developed. Actually it seemed to be a firm one on the first day.
Rip was a three year old gelding when I bought him. He had been abused and he was not one to stand back or go to a corner and cower. He was very assertive. He was a kicker and he would go for anyone he didn’t trust and that seemed like most people.
I didn’t know he was like that when I first saw him. Actually I took one look at him and it was love at first sight. He passed the Vet check and he was mine.
Then I realized how aggressive he could be , but oddly enough never with me. He did become quiter as time went on.
He took me everywhere. We rode out alone through the woods, jumping logs and streams and I eventually evented him. I could ride him out even in the dark and he was steady as a rock.
At one event I had an asthma attack and he carried me over every fence. I trusted him and he trusted me. He and my dog were my best buddies.
He was very protective of me as well.
If he got edgy with some people in the barn and they passed I used to worry he would kick, so I would stand behind him and he would relax and lower his leg.
He was very very smart and he was always the leader in the field. But he never hurt another horse and the other horses liked him but respected him. If there was a nervous horse in the barn Rip and I would go riding with the owner and the horse followed Rip anywhere. We used to go with horses much older- at the beginning he was only three years calming horses in their teens.
I loved that horse.
What I don’t understand is that I never really did anything that I was conscious of. Also I have never really had a relationship with another horse like I did with my Rip
He died at 25 of colic- a twisted colon.
I have another horse since she was a baby but I can’t seem to build this relationship.
Someone said that Rip was a one horse in a lifetime and I can’t expect another.
I hope your DVD will help. My new horse is lovely and sweet. She has a bit of an attitude and she is very sensitive.
Anyway. just thought it was curious.
Thanks
Carolyn
Thank you for your replies and I love the little throw aways that are so helpful…. lots of opinions = smart. I’ll go down and tell her right now : ) not of course that she doesnt know that already ! I hope , through yoru method to be able to read what she is trying to say with those opinions.
Cindee, I also have a little mare who puts her ears back a lot. Her mum was the same. Sometimes it’s “listening” ears and I don’t mind, but when she approaches me for treats or attention with ears back and snarky expression, I ask her to stop until the ears go forward. Then she gets what she wants, whether a carrot or a scratch. I’m going to try Carolyn’s Bucket Method next, it sounds just what we need. And yes, my mare is opinionated in the extreme, but she’s bold and forward and a lot of fun as well.
Maxine
Cindee,
You can fix your horses ears because she seems to be full of opinions and a horse that has opinions is smart. Put food down in the area and walk up to the bucket and if her ears are back stop walking to the bucket wait when her ears are forward again start walking to the bucket then when you get there let her eat a while and then take her away and as long as her ears are back keep walking way from the bucket and when the ears come forward turn around and walk back toward the bucket and repeat.
If this works take some picture and send them to me so we can so others.
Dear Carolyn Its a long story so i will make it short First i believe you are a G-D send to me. i got my first horse, (who just passed away) 13 years ago and all these training methods i felt just didn’t fit for me and my sweet gelding (Qtr/Arab) i was doing just by common sense and asking G-D to help me train because HE knows them the best HE MADE THEM. Anyway everyone told me that he was out of control and he was going to kill me. I just kept bonding with him and whats so funny because when i got him i didn’t know how to ride (i did learn on him eventually) so i would take him for long walks on a lead rope like a dog and just go hang out with him at the stable. People then use to ask me what i did that he would come by me and leave his pasture buddies to come see me and then the big Topper was when i could take his lead rope OFF AND LET HIM WALK AROUND THE PROPERTY WITH ME and people couldn’t believe he wouldn’t run away. One night I was out on the barns property letting him graze and he literally picked up his head so fast and started ‘huffing and puffing and putting his chest out like he was protecting me from something he acted like he was going to attack!! i am not kidding. anyway i just said to him ‘it’s ok , easy, and then i finally notice a man walking down the driveway and Panama(my horse) started breathing heavy and putting his head up and down and acting very funny and he started like picking up his feet like trotting but not going anywhere, so i screamed out ‘Please say something as my horse is upset, would you say something!!!” Then he started to speak in spanish I don’t know what he said but whatever he said did come Panama down. My point is you came along and reminded me of how important bonding is and how i wasn’t wrong in what i was doing with Panama. I have a very fiery little Egyptian and i am trying to do the same thing with her but she is not as easy as Panama was. I did resort to other peoples so called “natural horsemanship” and do believe IT DID NOT WORK!!! ON HER!! She is so smart and constantly tries to take over. I was spending all my money on ‘natural horsemanship’ videos and none were working. i finally found you and the WATERHOLE RITUALS and the TAKING TERRITORY WORKS!!!!!!! PRAISE G-D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I still have some problems with her when i want to work with her, she will work with me but has her ears back the whole time and i don’t work with her long as to not bore her. She will do everything with me though but she doesn’t seem happy about it. She reminds me of one of my Grandaughters, when her mom tells her to do something she puts up a fuss, she will eventually do it but makes this grouchy face! (its kind of funny she is only 3) Do you know why Asiirah (my Egyptian Arabian) puts her ears back when i work with her? She was orphaned and picked on alot by the other baby’s and they use to take her food from her alot until the breeding manager took her out of that environment. Could it have been that. She use to fight constantly with my other horse but he did boss her around alot. WEll G-D CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE BEEN SHOWING PEOPLE ABOUT HIS WONDERFUL ANIMAL THE HORSE. OH DID YOU KNOW IN THE SCRIPTURES (REVELATIONS 19:11) WHEN THE MESSIAH COMES BACK AGAIN HE IS COMING BACK ON A HORSE!!!! HOW GREAT IS THAT! THANKS AGAIN Cindee
hi carolyn,
i am so lucky, i feel, to find myself in throes of a a horse-based life. it was also lucky a friend sent me the pathofthehorse link, and so, over the last 5 weeks, these lectures have let me know many things….many things i am fascinated to learn, and also, i am finding, despite my inexperience, my heart and my instinct have been in the right place all along…despite what all the old experienced competitive style horse people have ‘told’ me to do…i am in this situation with my horses because i first fell in love with my horse, coal, or rather, we fell in love with each other…we both lost our mothers at a very early age…him at 3 months. mine at 6 years…we both are super sensitive, yet courageous, beings, with great mentors such as yourself, our lives are going to continue to be filled with joy.
thanks so much,
jaen
Yes I do believe that all the interaction I enter in with horses are universal truths for partnrships and how to communicate with unity and agreement.
good one!
aah you are both looking great! more pictures please
Love from the sunny caribbean!
Norwegian Stina in St. Vincent
Great rules for leadership! Seems to me they apply to people and their intereactions with each other as well. At least I like to live by this code, anyway. Makes so much sense.
Regards,
Pam