The Waterhole Rituals Insider Circle Class
Sep 8th, 2009 by Carolyn Resnick Method
Hello. This week finds me in the middle of my Self-Realization through the Waterhole Rituals™ course, which lasts for ten days. Actually, we are three days into the course already and having such fun! I will tell you more about it in future blog posts.
However, with the next Insider Circle Program fast approaching, I’ve written down some thoughts covering the more important points for people who may be interested in taking the next class. Hopefully what I say will give you some clarity as to whether to choose the Insider Circle as a way to learn my Method over working directly with me from my ranch, telephone coaching or using my DVD’s.
Working with horses at liberty can be more challenging than working a horse with tack because you are giving him or her the freedom to experience their true feelings. This is why we take it slowly with the Insider Circle Course. You are learning how to train a horse in a free, open environment by developing a bond in a slow and natural process like the boy in the movie ‘The Black Stallion’. It is truly natural and time consuming and more rewarding than you can imagine.
I have mentioned this many times before but I cannot put too much emphasis on the importance of the First Ritual, Sharing Territory. I know everyone wants to rush ahead and get onto the other Rituals but I’m here to tell you that to skip the First Ritual is to miss out on all the magic that it can bring. During the summer class, we had probably reached session number 3 and were still focusing on Sharing Territory and this caused some amount of frustration within the class. What you must understand is that the natural world goes along at it’s own pace and you can’t rush these things. Aren’t the best things in life worth waiting for?
This is what one of the class wrote:
It is a priceless program for anyone with a horse, no matter who you are. If you are interested in developing skills and techniques, or want to develop a deeper bond with your horse, you will find answers here. You will also be surprised by the process, and may find that your needs/questions/desires change as the course progresses and you move through the rituals. I have recommended it to several already!
I think everyone who took the class will agree too that working in groups is really great. You get to learn so much by listening, reading and watching other people’s YouTube videos as well as writing about your own experiences and making your own videos.
The feedback we have received from current Insider Circle Program students on how to improve the course has been very helpful, so thank you and we will be incorporating many of your suggestions to enhance the next program. I know many of you have completed the survey but I’m sure it would be very helpful if you could leave any comments of encouragement below including what was enjoyable about the process for you, what your skill level was and is now and how the Insider Circle Program has improved your horsemanship.
The next Insider Circle program will be begin either the end of September or the beginning of October and I’m really looking forward to it. I want to make this next program even more successful than the first and therefore I have decided I will only take a maximum of 25 students this time so that I can give you more of my personal attention and support.
One other important point I should make. In order to participate in the Insider Circle Program or the ‘In a Box’ version of the Program, I recommend that you should at least have a basic ability to direct a horse and protect yourself. I really don’t wish anyone to get hurt and so if you are in any doubt as to whether you should participate, I strongly advise you to err on the side of caution.
If you have not already signed up for the waiting list and get first preference on entry to the Program, then I urge you to do so by going to the Coaching Programs page. If you any specific questions that you think require a personal answer from me, please feel free to email with your telephone number and the times that I can reach you and I will try and call you.
Thank you.
Carolyn
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My horse Gitano, Spanish for Gypsy, is an adopted BLM Mustang gelding, now 8 years old. We’ve been together 5 years plus. His basic training was provided by a professional trainer; he is a very safe, reliable animal. My wish is to continue the partnership but it to move to a higher level. At age 70, I’m not as “flexible” as I was in my 20s. I believe your guidlines will have us “ebbing and flowing in unison”. I welcome the opportunity to try!
Here is a video meditation I created with my friend Dawn. I wrote the music specifically for her this winter, and added the video this summer. I hope you will enjoy it. I believe it speaks to the deep love we share with our horses.
http://alderlore.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/dawns-first-light/
Several weeks ago I made our first exploration into the Waterhole Rituals. It wasn’t perfectly set up as I don’t yet have a horsetail/swisher. And I had the treats with me inside a little 6 pack cooler. And I brought my Lab, Bodacious, into the paddock to keep me company rather than a book.
Anyway, I set up my camp chair in the middle of a paddock adjoining the huge pasture where Mandy lives. There were plenty of sweet grasses and weeds throughout the paddock to keep Mandy busy. I settled in with Bo at my feet, stroking her ears while watching the deer off in the far distance. I was turned away from Mandy and I occasionally peeked her way. She was usually facing away from me while she grazed.
We spent about 45 minutes like this. Mandy off in her own world and me and Bo in ours. Then Mandy started doing elliptical orbits around me and Bo…and the cooler of treats by my chair. Eventually she passed by at a slow walk behind me and my chair. She was momentarily within reach and then continued cruising off to another grassy clump. I pretended to not notice.
This went on for a few more minutes but her ellipses became tighter and tighter around me. Just when I think she is going to stop, she comes around behind me and almost steps on Bo at my feet as she arcs around us. Bo zigs out of the way and Mandy zags off in another one of her orbits.
Next thing I know she has stopped alongside and bumped my arm with her nose, demanding my attention. I quietly ease out of my chair and swing the detached string from my Carrot Stick at her. Mandy responds by doing one of the prettiest ‘side passes’ back across the paddock. I turn back to my chair and look away from her.
She hesitates a moment and then barges in again. This time to investigate the cooler, the treasure chest of treats. She knocks over my drink that was resting on top of the cooler. I chuckle at her sudden interest in my territory. I get up again, swing my string at her and she now moves away from me in a tiny arc around my chair and cooler. Mandy is a Left Brain Introvert in ParelliSpeak that does not enjoy doing the circling game. I’ve often wondered if she can even bend her long body around a turn. And here she was nimbly trotting around me with bent frame on a tiny circle not much wider than she is long. Running away from me but not leaving the cooler.
Once again I send her away out of my territory and return to my seat. After a few moments watching me, she slowly approaches me and stops at a respectable distance from me and my chair…and cooler. With some fanfare, I quickly flip open the cooler, grab a carrot chunk, rise from my seat and present her with her treat. I praise her with a “good girrlll” and return to my territory.
I turn my chair again away from her and settle in to watch the warm glow of the sunset coloring the clouds to the south. Before long I apparently dose off into a dreamy place far far away.
Something soft brings me back. I slowly realize that a velvet muzzle is barely nudging my ball cap on my head. I feel warm, moist breath on my ear. Mandy has quietly come up behind me and is standing back there right next to me. Her chin is lightly resting on my head. I carefully roll my head back and forth against her chin…and realize that I have the biggest grin on my face. We spent the rest of the daylight together like that. Sharing territory.
As a 23 year old in a 56 year old body, with a back injury, I had no problem with the program. The relationship and bond that has resulted from participating in this program is nothing short of magical. I foresee your only problem being that your horse will never have “enough” of you ever again.
Dear Carolyn, I’m on the waiting list for the next class.
I wonder, whether the circumstances me and my horses are in are good enough for the WHR class.
I have a small pasture which I can use (however might be challenging with rain and winter coming up in Germany) or else a small hall of 15m x 15m, which is to use for 30 minutes per horse only but usually available the evenings from 9 p.m. on …
So, I will really make an effort to … but in case I could not manage to do e.g. WHR No. 1 every single day, can I still participate in your class or would this knock the whole system out?
Thank you for your kind advice and regards from Germany!
Rebekka
Hi Beth,
Good to see you here.
I have 3 draft horses as you know and have had a wonderful bond with them for 7 years…..they are like big lap dogs and such big loves.
Even so, I knew there was something missing…more in myself—I wanted an even deeper connection and bond. I wanted a way to really communicate with my horses–on their level. I didn’t want a training method. I wanted to learn how to communicate.
I found it with Carolyn—like a gift from the Universe–it all happened so fast, I knew it was what I had been looking for…and it is!and more!
The way I see it, it’s like going to another country and learning that culture’s language and customs, so you can live happily among them…it isn’t about a training method…like going to another country and teaching them your technology.
It’s reciprocal too. Once Cookie sees what you are doing she will show you the way…you will share back and forth, learning from each other.
The bond you already have, will shine like the sun and Cookie will be sharing even more with you—-heh–’cookie love stares’…..
You don’t have to move around a lot, much of it, in the beginning is in a chair and just hanging out with her. When you get up, it’s slow movements, never quick. The rest can be accomplished slowly too.
You can move through the program at your own pace….there is never any pressure.
Carolyn will guide you.
I hope this helps.
And I hope, Carolyn I described this ok.
Best wishes
Kim
Dear Shannon,
I call this a new horse moment. It is things like this that cause me to help horses and humans to shift their focus on the subject of relationship and the dance.
I love sharing territory with my horse Pablo, and the other day when I was leading him from behind, he actually went over to my chair in the middle of the field where I usually read to him, turned around and I swear he said- “read to me please”, so I did and he stood there the whole time-(usually he walks away after awhile),
thanks for the great training techniques!
Shannon
Hello Carolyn,Just wanted to comment on how the sharing territory has helped my relationship with my horse. It has made him very enthusiastic when being asked to do our normal everyday training. His whole demeanor has changed. Also he is happy to stand at liberty while I saddle him and trim his feet.
My attitude has also changed. Like yesterday I wanted to halter him and do some training without sharing territory first because I didn’t have too much time. He didn’t want to do it and walked away.
Instead of getting him anyway I just left him and spent time with my filly who did want to be with me at that time.So yes I do agree that sharing territory is very important to the
relationship. I didn’t manage to get a utube up this time Carolyn but will in the next program,if I get in.
Many thanks for your great kindness and patience with us all throughout the course.
Carolyn, thank you again for reminding me to be patient. Two days ago, I did the Taking Territory ritual with Amber, even though I did not think Amber had really bonded with me in the Sharing Territory ritual, but I wanted to move forward. Taking Territory went very well, with Amber moving off of her food and standing away from me. She did not try to move back to the food until I reassured her. I also worked a bit on Leading from Behind.
The real reason I am writing is that after reading this post, I decided to go back to Sharing Territory. Tonight, I did this ritual with Amber and, for the first time, instead of standing at the fence staring at her herd mates, Amber came and stood about 10 feet from me. I think we have had a breakthrough!
I am a professional trainer and I would highly recommend the classes and Carolyn’s work. It has added a piece to my training program that is irreplaceable. I was always good with horses but it has taken my horsemanship to another level. It is also fun and interesting. It will fit into your relationship with your horse so easily and seemlessly, you’ll wonder what you did before you knew it. It integrates wonderfully with any discipline or just a creative journey for liberty work. I would like to encourage people to not just order the DVD but try to at least do the “In a box” version as you will get a lot more then what is on the discs and what this work is really about.
…that read like i’d been on ‘other planets’…well, that might well be the case – especially where horses are concerned!
Well, i took MM’s advice and got started with just ‘hanging out’ with my horses….i think anyone who tells me as part of a program i have to sit under a tree and read a book with my horse nearby – well, that can’t be bad!! I’m in no hurry!
Seriously though, i really am looking forward to getting started and using the supportive envoironment of the circle. It’s my birthday on the !st October, and i can’t think of a better way to start my 33rd year on this planet!!
Greetings Carolyn,
The 23 year old in me wants desperately to participate.
The 57 year old reality is I’ve RA that seriously limits my running around…
and, frankly,
my beloved Cookie, a Percheron/Paint cross mare, would rather eat than play
– in fact, she is very devoted, very, to eating.
Read and loved your book – I feel Cookie and I have a solid connection, but seriously wonder who is training whom.
Would this WR Insider Circle program be help us achieve a closer bond? She comes to me for horsefly removal, and delivers me to the mounting block unbidden when she’s had enuf
Not sure you need to call, an email response may do, but just in case, my phone # is 540-552-7198; either before 4pm or after 9pm daily est.
Thanks,
Beth and Cookie,
in Virginia