Comments on: The Rewards of Liberty Work

By: Jocelyne Boudreau

Jocelyne Boudreau — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:21:37 +0000

I have started the first U.E. on Magik, my 17.y.o. q.h. He used to be a school horse 2 years ago (before I adopted him). So, in the past he was very safe.
I’ve been doing the WHR with him for the last year and have most in place. But… last week I tried putting on his old leather halter (is used to the rope halter) and he wouldn’t permit me to put it on. I couldn’t believe how he had changed. But it’s good. He is showing me that he never really liked being haltered and now he has a say so.

I showed him for about 20 minutes what the halter was. He put his nose on it, I would remove. Anyways, after 20 minutes, he let me put it on.

Then I tried holding onto each side of the halter with no pressure and just relaxing. That also aggravated him. He tossed his head in all four directions. I couldn’t believe it. I would then just hold it about 5 seconds (just before he tossed his head). Then I would disconnect and leave. He would follow me. Then I would go back, try again for 5 seconds until he stayed.
Then I removed the halter and just stroked him.
Wow, did he teach me alot that night!!

By: Beth Schang

Beth Schang — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:53:34 +0000

I often re-read your posts prior to catching up on the class’s comment which I find also wonderful in the sharing. And I wanted to remark on your statement

“If you have raised well-adjusted children, have a good marriage and a well-socialized dog you should be able to use the Rituals to create a great partnership.”

I reflect back on my childhood where my love of animals and my relationship and experiences with so many different animal pets (dogs, cats, ponies, a goat, hamsters, raising orphaned baby rabbits, and even chickens) taught me lessons that actually served me well in the raising of my children. I learned to listen with a quiet mind and observant eye to look beyond a behavior, seeking a root cause; to recognize those magical “teachable” moments full of the delight of “eureka”; I sought to try to comfort a dying pet and learn how to grieve; so many lessons that became such a part of my bedrock that I could “read” my children’s feeling before they knew how to use words to describe them. I was taught by nature to cultivate my intuition and grow my capacity for nurturing. Tis the difference, I think, between “training a child in the way he should go” and “sculpting a soul.” Being with my horse, Cookie, feels like home to me.

By: Dianne

Dianne — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:59:50 +0000

I love your blog, Carolyn. I will buy the book as soon as it comes out (love Naked Liberty), but what is really helping me is getting the information a little at a time. Then I can go out and apply it, and really concentrate on my horse. Oftentimes, I read a book and I am excited and overwhelmed by the information. Re-reading a book is wonderful, but there always seems to be new ones piling up, so this is working for me. Dianne

By: Susan Garvin

Susan Garvin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:07:28 +0000

Dear Carolyn, Many thanks for this response (#30), I guess I made it a general ‘anyone out there’ question because it was a bit ‘off topic’ in the UE blog and also you must be totally inundated with questions and emails! However I very much appreciate your reply, and in fact I had understood whisker touching from the name and from my observations of horses but needed to be sure I had deduced things correctly. I love horses’ whiskers, it makes me so mad when I see them shaved off for showing and competition work! I watch the way they use them to test out the electric fencing wires, and examining strange objects. I’ve read a lot about them and how they are used in grazing and general exploration. I also noticed that horses seemed to show ‘touching’ reactions when they didn’t appear to have physically touched, so saw how utterly sensitive they are, plus basic to their commuication. I started just gently whisker touching with horses who seemed to be OK with this and noticed they liked it and responded to it. If I can get pictures I will surely send them on to you. Many thanks again,
best regards,
susan

By: kate bremer

kate bremer — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:12:06 +0000

I am checking in and will look forward to further installations of the UE’s.
Due to various circumstances, I have made little time for the past several to do my favorite thing which is to share space with the equine herd, however….
when I do go out to visit I notice they have become so much more interactive. They will actually come running toward me and are much more eager to hang out or go walking together on the property. I am sure it is a result of the WHR we have been playing with for several months now!