Translating My Method Into The Natural Experience
Jun 17th, 2010 by Carolyn Resnick Method
Today I am sharing another success from my Insider Circle course. It is wonderful how Candle takes us over the stepping-stones of her experience. The details convey the feel and the rhythm of what took place with her horse.
Her letter is an excellent reporting that shows the decision she made in how to approach her horse. Following, I have selected a few examples from her letter to comment on that illustrate the evolution of Candle’s thinking. She shows us through her letter to be in the moment with our horse and be willing to work with what is being presented and turn it into something.
Dear Carolyn,
I logged on to tell you about my morning with Z in record hot temperature, more like August than June, that Florida is enduring. However, reading the comments to this blog, all at once as I just did, was so enjoyable I have to comment on it. What a lovely community of people you have drawn around you!
I took to heart your previous blog about upping the energy in our dance without losing the connection by working in a confined area to start. Also, suggested in a couple of comments that certain people should get their horses comfortable with moving quickly for a few minutes to encourage them to get their energy level up. Last week I began taking Z to an unfamiliar paddock, but not until yesterday did he actually seem sufficiently comfortable and relaxed there for me to do more than share territory and lots of hello. Yesterday we did some driving from behind that morphed into companion walking. I was pretty sweaty by then and he felt really with me, so after he jogged to keep up with me as we walked back to the treats, I ended the session and rode him to the pond to cool us both off.
After we shared territory for about ten minutes. He stood with me in the shade of a tree in the middle of the paddock (about 100 x 300 feet) for a long while as I groomed him with my fingers, listened to my ipod, and lost myself in the beauty of the towering trees nearby. When he walked calmly off to drink from the water tank, I walked in the other direction and waited for him in the shade of another tree. He grazed a bit, then joined me in the new spot. I told him how splendid he was and when he started grazing again, walked away about 15 feet. I stood there with my back to him listening to two songs (about 6 minutes) until he joined me again. We repeated that a number of times until he moved off with me as soon as I started walking. When he did, I praised him with enthusiasm and walked fast to the bag of carrots near the gate. He trotted to keep up with me, keeping his head nearly vertical and moving strongly from behind, almost but not quite in passage, as we neared the gate. I gave him two whole carrots and lots of happy talk. He followed me eagerly when I walked away and when we got into the shade, I upped my energy and urged him to canter. He cantered almost a full circle and looked good for more, but I invited him in to me and fast-walked/jogged back to the gate, with him trotting alongside. We repeated this a couple of times more, increasing to two circles at the canter. When, with the last of my energy, I ran back to the gate, he cantered next to me. I was tired but very happy. Z seemed very pleased too. When we got back to his pasture, I had to go fix another horse’s displaced fly mask. Z came with me instead of going to get a drink and a roll as he usually does.
Candle Hill
…taking Z to an unfamiliar paddock, but not until yesterday did he actually seem sufficiently comfortable and relaxed there for me to do more than share territory and lots of hello
This is exactly the way I want my students to work around their horse. Candle shows us here that she is able to read her horse’s feelings and be considerate of her horse in a way that brings out a better performance.
When he walked calmly off to drink from the water tank, I walked in the other direction and waited for him in the shade of another tree.”
How clever of her to have taken the information that I have given the class and understand how to bring a horse back to you, and to put it into just the natural flow of the day she spent with her horse. Brilliant!
…I told him how splendid he was and when he started grazing again, walked away about 15 feet. I stood there with my back to him listening to two songs (about 6 minutes) until he joined me again.
Again following the same pattern, Candle draws the horse back to her in the same natural way using the Draw and the Pause.
He followed me eagerly when I walked away and when we got into the shade, I upped my energy and urged him to canter. He cantered almost a full circle and looked good for more, but I invited him in to me and fast-walked/jogged back to the gate, with him trotting alongside.
This passage shows Candle’s keen and thoughtful observation, knowing that her horse Z would have given her more was good enough for her and she didn’t need to get two more rounds of canter out of him. His willingness was as good as doing it.
I believe that with this kind of focus and awareness anything is possible and Candle proved it. Good awareness and writing Laura, keep up the beautiful dance.
Carolyn
No related posts.
What a neat story about Candle’s time with Z, and the other comments about other people’s experiences. It really helps me to visualize the rhythm of various movements with the horses. I have been doing a lot of leading from behind with Snowy after Sharing Territory and Saying Hello. I have noticed that often he has really not kept his eye on me or walked off very quickly when I ask him to move when leading from behind. So I shifted to Taking Territory/Eye Contact. He is beginning to get it. With his earlier Arabian halter and Arabian Liberty background sometimes he is somewhat desensitized. But the Taking Territory seems to have him paying more attention in general and even being both more respectful and affectionate. He has even stopped putting his ears back when he gets a carrot. (I had to stop giving carrots at all for a while.) I have watched all the videos of Carolyn on the Inner Circle/In the Box program, and they have been really helpful, too, in getting a feel for the slow, easy yet firm attitude necessary to get a response. And I am feeling less worried if he runs off bucking and kicking in protest if he does not like my moving him off–he can get upset and express his disapproval–but he still has to respect my space. Thank you so much for all these helpful posts.
Thank you for sharing this great story! And great job, Candle, on being such a caring partner for your horse. Real-life stories like this are always fun to read.
Blessings,
Hannah
Hi everyone
reading about Candle’s experience and the comment of Carolyn makes things even more clear and inviting.
Thank you
tine
Dear Carolyn,
(Insider Circle)
I was the second caller on Sunday. We talked about how to increase my T. Walker’s (Roscoe) energy level. I told you that I had experimented the first time ever with working Roscoe in a roundpen with the result that his energy level increased without any negative feelings on his part. You suggested how I can carefully use the round pen with a lot of positive reinforcement, treats, and time for grazing.
Yesterday I spent a total of three hours with Roscoe, 3/4 sharing territory and 1/4 working in the round pen and arena. R. eagerly awaited me as I entered his pasture. I spent time scratching his itchy spots, which he enjoys. We re-located to the adjoining paddock, where I had put down hay for him. I sat in a chair nearby as R. ate. Then practiced leading from behind to the far end of the paddock. I stopped and asked R. to come to me, which he did, said hello, and we companion walked back to the pile of hay, doing walk and halt along the way. R. loves the grass outside the paddock, so I took him there to graze at liberty. R. was relaxed and grazing while I groomed him. After grooming him, I sat nearby while he continued to graze. If R. turned so that his back end was facing me, I asked for eye contact by walking toward him and clucked. When he complied, I returned to my chair. If not, I moved him off his food and lead from behind, stopped and asked him to join me and companion walked back to the spot where he had been grazing.
From there we proceeded to the round pen. Before entering the round pen, I allowed R. to graze outside the round pen. Roscoe was relaxed inside the round pen. I asked him to walk and gait to the left on the circle. He did so easily. Practiced halting from a walk, which was not entirely successful (no matter, though) by employing body language and verbal whoa. His energy level was definitely improved, but without any agitation. Then I asked him to change direction to his right. It’s important to mention that Roscoe has always resisted moving to his right, sometimes even refusing to do so (This was when I was still using another well-known training method.) Because I suspected that R. might have an injury, especially because I noticed muscle atrophy on his right shoulder, I had him examined by a vet and chiropractor. Everything checked out. It is believed that R. had sustained an injury sometime prior to my purchasing him.
R. willingly walked to his right. I told him what a good boy he was. To encourage him, I only asked for half a circle before asking for him to change direction to the left. He very athletically and briskly changed direction. R. had a very positive attitude the whole time. After a lap to the left, I asked him to come to me in the center for treats and rubs and lots of praise. I then took R. to graze on very luscious grass outside the round pen before going to a nearby arena. There R. proceeded to investigate the entire arena and the objects such as barrels and cones. After he had satisfied his curiosity, I asked him to walk on a circle to the left as well as to the right, also asking for halts along the way, and then having him come in to me for treats and praise. I then stepped out of his heart area and asked for go trot and come up a few times, which he carried out with more enthusiasm than previous times. We ended the session with companion walking around various objects in the arena.
Before this, I was concerned that maybe I might be pushing R. to much although I thought our bond was strong enough now that I could ask for more. But I wasn’t sure. Then, as if to reassure me, R. nuzzled my face and ears. So, maybe he even enjoyed himself as much as I did?
Karin
Hi Carolyn, I’m still reading your blogs; just haven’t taken time to write.
I have 3 reasons for writing today: First to say thank you for recommending Paul Belasik’s book Songs of Horses! I found it so enriching and have been applying some of the lessons he shared from the teachers he’s encountered.
Second, to tell you I’ve added your reissued DVD to my collection of your materials.
I found several additional tips there too.
And third, Candle mentions she lives in Florida. I do too and am wondering if she’s anywhere near Jacksonville.
I moved to South Florida almost two years ago, with my 18 year old ex police horse named Chusi. Appreciate your story, Candle, with Z. Yes, it’s only June and its so extremely hot here already. It’s nice knowing someone else is using Caroline’s methods effectively in Florida. Z has really bonded with you as my horse has with me, and what a rush knowing it is the horse that initiates this bond!
A friend at the first barn I boarded Chusi at in Florida shared her Water Rituals DVD. I was very much into another very popular method of natural horsemanship. After buying and reading Naked Liberty, Caroline’s methods seem so logical and thorough. Up until I got the blogs to read, I had asked Chusi to do things that she would answer back with a “no” to. The Parks Police (I’ll withhold the city where this occurrred) forced her to do many things she said no to. She physically exhibits some physical injuries (lightly damaged front knees, minor arthritis,slightly pushed in front teeth, stressed hocks)— they eliminated her from the service after 6 years of her objections; ie. she often walked backwards in the arena when being ridden by her officer, breaking up the forward moving line of other horses, all male. The head male police officer of the group would then mount her and force her to obey with the abusive use of his spurs and rein. The same head officer used her specifically to demonstrate jumping, using macho dressage techniques. This is according to the officer’s stories (She rode Chusi for 5 of the 6 years in Parks police).
Now, my experiences with Chusi permit her to express her feelings in a two way communication with me. Riding is non forceful and easy, now, with the intention of providing motivating fun for her—adjusting and going in another (forward, ha-ha) direction if she says no to the trail we are currently on. As I am now watchful of her feelings we , now. only have rare moments of ‘no’ as we are both more respectful of each other. As her leader, I talk to her now, keeping her informed of any next request. For instance, while she’s grazing and keeping an eye on me, I’ll say.’Let’s go for a walk’. Every time I say this, she’ll stop eating, walk over to me so I can halter her, then we go for a lovely walk along a nearby canal. Isn’t that nice — getting that ‘yes’!
I’ve printed and am often rereading the blogs — everything works in Carolines methods with my horse. I extend thanks to Caroline and all of her blog members who sent their videos and letters to share. It’s all good, now!
Dear Carolyn,
Thank you so much for your kind words about my comment. Your approval of my approach is icing on the cake, the cake being the thrill of feeling my connection with Z get deeper and more reliable day by day. Of course, the real thanks belongs to your wonderful program. My horses are happier and more comfortable with me now than ever before. Rather than feeling pleased with myself, what I feel most is humbled.
When I began this course, I figured my horses and I had a better-than-average relationship already. In large part this is because I have the great good fortune to be able to spend a lot of time with them every day and to have done so for years.
There can be no doubt that your program has lifted to a whole new level my ability to communicate with and influence my horses. I can give you a good example. In the past, when I went to the pasture gate to summon Z to come out and play, he usually ambled over. But his status in the herd is not high. More dominant horses usually arrived first and kept him at bay until I shooed them away and maneuvered Z into position to come out alone. Sometimes he would keep on grazing and not approach me, even when I called him. (Like most of my horses, Zar knows his name.)
In recent days, however, this pattern of years has changed dramatically. And it is all Z’s own idea. Yesterday and today, he noticed my car as it approached the pasture. All the horses were grazing several hundred yards away. Z’s head was up, watching me, as I got out of the car and walked to the gate. Before I even called, he swung into a trot, then a canter, and arrived at the gate before everyone else. I had the gate open and Z outside it before the Big Horses, who usually push in first, even arrived. When this happened yesterday, I thought it was a fluke. But it happened again this morning, exactly the same way. Once could be a coincidence. But twice?
And something else happened today. In the early afternoon, a line of thunderstorms developed and headed rapidly towards the farm. The horses were relaxing under the trees at the far end of their 50+ acre pasture, the end farthest from the barn. I went to the gate and called loudly, hoping they’d come quickly so I wouldn’t have to walk all that way in the rain to get them. Once the rain starts, they hate to leave the shelter of the trees. I called by name the ones most likely to come quickly and bring the others with them. Z is not one of them, so I did not call his name. But Z came first, this time, galloping. Everyone else followed him, the first time I’ve ever seen him lead the herd in the eight years of his life. They poured through the open gate, trotted to the barn, and I had 15 horses safe in their stalls before the deluge began.
Something wonderful is happening, and I thank you for it.
Hello Carolyn,
I’m still here and apologize for not writing much, but I really am so enthusiastic about this program you created with the insider circle. I study and learn so much, but unfortunately I am still forced to go on very slowly, because actually I can only visit my mare Clarence twice a week. But it does not matter, because being in the moment with my horse and enjoy it is all that matters. Today I only could see her a quarter of an hour, it was already very late and a friend of mine was so kind to take me there, as I still cannot drive the car due to my accident. I just wanted to say a quick good night to Clarence. As soon as she heard me she turned around leaving her food and came to say hello. My heart melted and it was so nice to end the day this way.
I’m happy to be in this program, to read everone’s stories, to watch your wonderful videos that show us Lucero’s and Marilyn’s journeys. I could fill my whole day with what you offer through this program, if I had the time to dedicate myself completely to this activity. I would love to work with horses and people, and maybe the IC could be a start to go into this direction.
You have the gift to touch the heart of people and horses and help them to beat as one heart in a wonderful unique connection.
Thank you!
Andrea
Hi Carolyn!
Candle demonstrates beautifully and magically that it doesnt matter where we are or that we have the right equipment for the moment. Your Method can be incorporated into every moment we spend with these amazing animals to create such bliss and well being. It feeds our soul and spirit. Wonderful.
Carolyn – I agree, a great comment by Candle and much to learn.
I hope you got to see the videos I posted, not that you need to respond as I know you are very busy.
After reading Candles comment I want to tell you about the other day with Commander. I am still focusing on the bowl in my lap and lots of praise, talking and hello. I’ve found that squatting down with him when he eats his hay or nibbles the bits of grass in the paddock is a real connector. He looks over at me and reaches to blow or just brush by my face, sometimes moving closer. Yesterday I started picking out bits of grass for him. He loves moss! I walked away and squatted down for more bits and encouraged him to follow me. I did this til I ended up at the end of the paddock where there was luscious grass just out of reach. The electric fence keeps the horses from reaching under the fence to get it. So I sat down and pulled out grass for him,scooting along the fence line and he would follow. We did this for about 15 min and then I got up and started walking back to my chair and he began to follow me when a UPS truck rattled by and sent him flying past me to the other end. I kept walking along toward him and when I reached him talked about that mean old truck and headed back to my chair and he came with me. We did a bit of companion walking practice as you suggested. I stood by his shoulder and coaxed him to step forward with me. Praising and fetching carrots for him. He would wait for me. He always accompanies me when I leave, often companion walking. He doesn’t really like it when I go.
A cute thing is that he stands guard by my chair! when I go out of the paddock for some reason.
Dear Carolyn,
hi! Checking in…..
Thanks,
Christian