Free Instruction with Carolyn – First Annual Winter Program Nov ’09 – Feb ’10
Nov 12th, 2009 by Carolyn
I am ready to start us on a new adventure. Fall and Winter is the perfect time to take it slowly, stay in touch and meet new friends and so I am delighted to introduce you to:
Uberstreichen Exercises – Rollkur no more
My Uberstreichen Exercises are ground schooling to introduce the horse to the bridle for all disciplines to support both beginning and advanced training under saddle and are step two of the Carolyn Resnick Method to support all equestrian pursuits.
As part of my continuing effort to support my blog readers, I will be offering free beginning instruction on the Uberstreichen Exercises each week over the Winter.
To qualify and register for free instruction: Leave your full name, a brief introduction of your experience with horses, your interest in my Method, our history if we have one, and the name of your horse and his personal training background in the comments section of the blog. After each blog posting please check in by leaving your full name in the comments section of the blog so that I know you are participating and have read the new material. I will offer more support to the regular students. As usual I will not be able to answer all questions. If you need to catch up or need more support or a review then I would encourage you to take a private telephone coaching session with me at the regular rate. For Insider Circle people, when you leave your name please also state that you are an Insider Circle student. The Uberstreichen Exercises are the next step for you but remember to keep warming up your horse with the Waterhole Rituals finishing with a lot of Companion Walking, trotting and halting before moving into the Uberstreichen Exercises each day.
Purpose: The Uberstreichen Exercises will teach a horse to collect and lengthen from the slightest request from light rein aids, gas pedal and brakes for a bit as well as bitless riding. All exercises are taught with only a halter and short rope.
How to start: There are 10 Uberstreichen Exercises, 8 are done at the sides of the horse and 2 standing in front of the horse. 5 Exercises are focused on training the horse to respond to a rein aid to relax and to give at the poll, neck and shoulders and 5 are lateral flexions. Both sets of 5 begin standing still facing your horse and then they advance to walking and trotting in hand. The beginning ones are the easiest to apply. They build in difficulty very naturally so when you get to the more difficult ones, they are even easier than the first ones because of how the relationship is building. In a slow and methodical pace, you will create a connection from the ground that well create a centaur ride and aids that are light from a Method that is based in lightness. Utilizing all 10 Exercises you will see significant results in two to four months in producing self-carriage without a contact rein. But take as long as you like. It might take you longer because I am not working directly with you or you might have a horse that you will need to take more time with. It is important to take it slowly. Training horses is like running a vacuum cleaner. If you are in a hurry, the vacuum cleaner is not as effective as it would be if you pushed it slowly.
Work with the Uberstreichen Exercises for about 15 minutes a day. You can continue your usual program. If you have a program already the 15 minutes will be very beneficial. If you have no program then you can take an hour with them with lots of breaks. Start with the beginning exercises each day and work through them. Move on to the next Uberstreichen Exercise only when you get the desired result with the one before. Each day your horse will respond differently. Sometimes he will be easy and sometimes he will be locked. If he is locked, do not move on and enjoy the process of making a real connection and a true release. During the first week you might only do one exercise. Over the course of a week do not do more than three different levels as a horse needs plenty of repetition with these kind of exercises so they become second nature to him and that he can hold the posture you ask him to maintain on his own for short intervals.
Horses on stall-rest can be trained in these exercises with a bit of adjustment that I will explain later. With a horse on stall-rest, give him as much time as you can. A horse welcomes the time you spend with him. It helps him relax, de-stress and connect with you which helps in the healing process.
When is a horse ready to begin with the Uberstreichen Exercises? When you have a good working relationship at liberty with the Waterhole Rituals™, you are ready to start with the Uberstreichen Exercises. You can also start the exercises with a horse that has good ground manners and attitude. You should be able to touch and rub your horse anywhere and pick up his feet easily and when you put his foot back down you can set it gently on the ground on a designated spot. You also need to be able to hold his foot off the ground as long as you need without the horse leaning his weight on you. When you can achieve this, you and your horse have an ability to work together well enough to begin to work with the Uberstreichen Exercises. You should also be able to fly spray your horse and he will stand relaxed. When you can do this, you have the skill in changing your horse’s mind and getting him to do something he would rather not do because you will be working with resistance to achieve relaxation. Your horse should be respectful and obedient naturally over small matters and enjoy your company. You need to be able to drive your horse forward on a rope from your request because it is something you will be doing with the Exercises. Your horse needs to be able to walk at your side and halt without the influence of the rope. If your horse cannot do these things, the Waterhole Rituals™ will help you to gain this kind of partnership, trust, connection and horsemanship skills you will need to be able to start the Uberstreichen Exercises. If your horse is not ready yet to do the Uberstreichen Exercises, in the spring I be offering another class on the Waterhole Rituals™ that you can attend.
The tack you will need is a halter, but not a rope halter, and a lead rope of any length. Short is the easiest to manage. You will need to train on a flat 20 meter circle with proper footing. A surface that is not too deep or too hard. A surface that is too hard hurts the joints and too deep hurts the ligaments.
I will run this program each Thursday, so the next one will appear a week from now when we will examine the benefits of the Uberstreichen Exercises.
While the free program is going on, please share anything off the subject that you want to about your uplifting and fun experiences with your horses and the magic they bring into your life. I would love to read them. Lastly, as I am instructing you, I do not focus on solving problems. If you get stuck, I will work with you in how to go forward. If you find yourself struggling with the Exercises, discontinue the instruction. The indication that you are on the right path is that the material is easy to understand, apply and enjoyable for both you and your horse. It would be a good idea if you keep notes and a journal and share it with the class in the comments section.
Carolyn
Related posts:
Tricia, I couldn’t get the link to function which I provided, so here is a youtube of Silke Vallenin playing at liberty with her horses using her motorized wheelchair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u0diNIq-Z0&NR=1
Carolyn, I’m not intending to big up Parelli – I’m so glad I went with you instead – only to show what a person can do with horses. I hope it is not problem that I alerted everyone to Silke’s work.
To Tricia Myler: Thanks for sharing your story. Here is wishing you all the courage and joy you can get with your horse journey. Consider yourself fortunate for not having lived through the decades of forceful horsemanship that so many of us are here to lament. Don’t let anyone tell you that horses are not for you. One example of why that is not true is Silke Vallentin ( http://www.silkevallentin.de/video.htm ) who works horses at liberty from a motorized wheelchair.
YOU GO, GIRL!
I found you via endless hours of trolling the web, looking for ideas that resonate for me and for the horses I work with. Also found you via Path of the Horse…nice coincidence…or maybe just the way the universe is supposed to work if we let it, huh?
Have loved horses my entire life…and in my mid-fifties finally decided to stop wishing about what “should have been” and instead figured out how to bring them into my life…so I worked at a friend’s barn, trading muckouts for rides, then worked at a riding stable, doing their office computer work, and their muckouts for 16 horses, in return for an occasional trail ride. Several years back I talked a friend into letting me practice some natural horsemanship ideas with her “yard ornament” horse. I am proud to say that he now has manners, is not afraid of people, can be ridden with rope halter and leadrope, and no longer tries to fend people away by hitting them with his head–thanks to consistent and purposeful work wth him. I still drive 100 miles one way twice a month to be (and work ) with this horse.
Finally got to take a few riding lessons at age 57, then a brain tumor waylaid me for a while this past year.
There are new physical issues due to the radiation for the tumor, but I am again working with Keenah (grade quarterhorse-15 yrs), and have begun working with another Belgian/Quarter mix named Misfire, age 15 years. Riding them bareback, lots of groundwork, beginning to apply the watering hole concepts, spending lots of “be together” time. My balance is better ON the back of a horse than on the ground!!
I refuse to listen to those confused folks who say that I am too old to do this type of work with horses; people can say what they want, but my time spent learning about (and with) horses is what keeps me alive, happy, and sane.
I won’t post so much next time, but I just had to write all this, at least once.
I feel that in so many ways my life is just beginning–and it is–the life I’ve always wanted (with horses) is happening. Differently than how I dreamed as a little girl, but just as good, just as fulfilling, because I’ve worked so hard to make it happen in spite of lots of things. The work, (figuring out how to create a horse-filled life) has made it so much sweeter actually. My closet smells like horses, I have a barn jacket that I get to wear at a real HORSE barn, and I LOVE all of it!!!!
And, finally, I have to say… finding a site like yours is like finding a drink of water in the desert! Another place to find things to help my horses, and myself. You are bookmarked!!!!
Thanks to you, and thanks for what your ideas will do for horses–mine and others
Tricia Myler
Georgia
I have a former PMU mare who was a terrible bucker and rearer. There seemed to be no end to it and no signal to the beginning of these bucking and rearing antics. Until…..I found natural horsemanship of my own brand after much observation and time , lots of time as well as my developing a language we could both understand we are now able to go out for a long ride and even children ride this horse she has become the most docile creature I know. She will lead without a lead line and knows her leader is trust worthy.
I am here to gain knowledge of your methods and learn better ways to communicate with my horse.
I have a 10 yr old Arabian mare that was used by previous owners as a barrel racing horse.I have owned her for two months now and her and I are bonding well.This past week-end I decided to take my saddle and placed it on the rack in the alley way..as soon as she spotted the saddle,it was a scary reaction for me..she became agitated and stressed.Could this be post traumatic stress? This little mare is most beautifull with longing heart for love..
J.Bacon
Hi Caroline
Late Joiner!
Sunrise and I will follow happily along behind – will post our details in a current blog reply. THANKSSS!!!!!
Hi My name is Kay Sinclair. I grew up on a farm where horses were for work not pleasure. I loved riding out through through the neighbours paddocks by myself for hours. After leaving home my jouney with horses came to an end but always grabbed any opportunity that presented itself to ride. It wasn’t until I cmae back to settle in my home area that I got heavily involved with horses again buying my own and having him stay at commercial trail riding business. Through the owner of the business I became very involved with a differnt type of trainning with a gentleman called Merv Kildey whose method of working with horses was very inspirational based on his softness and connection with the horses. He always believed when horses were bougth to him with a “problem” the actual problem was with the owner!
I ended up wotking at the business and leading trail rides so got to work with a gropup of 24 horses. This is were I met Lyn Scott and our friendship has grown over the years. I now am teaching at a high school and recently lost my faithful horse that was a large part of my life at the trial riding business. With having another horse come into my life and listening to Lyn’s experiences I started to become more and more interested in Carolyn’s rituals with Harry to develop a deep bond between us. So this is taking a while but prepared to put in the time and am not riding him until I feel we have that bond and he is listening and following my lead on the ground. This has met with some resistance and surprise from some of my friends.
So I am very interested in next program on the waterhole rituals have your video and meditation video. I was interested in the other excersises but not necessarily doing them yet. I have only just worked out to access them, I think So looking forward to working together
Kay
Carolyn,
My name is John Barry, a 53 year old male, married to Leanna Kielian who was in your last in the box program. I am working with two of our five horses, Raisin, my 14 year old retired gelding quarter horse, blown right rear stiffle, and no longer ridable, and Murphy a 12 year old, never raced, TB gelding. I am relatively new to horses, adopting a pair of premarin mares with my ex wife in 2004. One of the mares and both foals went with her when we parted ways and I began following the path of the bridle horse in the Californio Vaquero tradition with a 20 something ranch horse, JR, who had been there and done that. JR took care of this novice rider and showed me that I should listen to my horse and get the feel of him. The remaining premarin mare shattered his leg in December 2006 after way too short a time together. Raisin, his replacement came with a veiled heart, and a blown stiffle that somehow didn’t show up in his vet check. After a fall on trail on a nearly level slope, we discovered the cause and a new phase of my journey with horses.
Wedding Leanna, we merged our herds and are on a path to discover more about being with horses. Pony the PM was happier with her own and did not want to befriend any of the rest of the herd. With great sorrow, she went back to her friends at United Pegasus and is content sharing space with those who had been similarly used.
Our herd now consists of Prefect, a retired 29 YO Hannoverian/TB gelding; AMA, a 19 YO retired Andalusian broodmare; True, AMA’s 2 YO filly and Leanna’s in the box horse; Murphy, a 12 YO unraced TB gelding; and Raisin, QH gelding who is enjoying not being ridden with his bad leg.
I worked with Murphy following your waterhole rituals, and am having a great time being with him and creating the bond that we will need for me to resume riding and build my skills.
John Barry
Leave your full name (Meg), a brief introduction of your experience with horses (horses first as teenager and off/on through current time – currently 2 Icelandic geldings), your interest in my Method (learned about you from Stinahumana on Youtube), our history if we have one (n/a), and the name of your horse and his personal training (Bangsi & Twistur we have for trail riding – I am using a clicker reward type methodology with lots of groundwork at liberty and working to finding better fitting saddles to begin riding more).
Saw the Uberstreichen Exercises on Youtube this morning and came to your blog to investigate. Didn’t know you were doing this over the winter, but will try to follow along with whatever you have to offer.
I like that you aren’t a round pen based method and not just a clone of many of the natural horsemanship trainers. I like the rapport developed with the horses and working on groundwork before worrying so much about riding.
Hello, my name is Susan Garvin, I’m a Brit, been living in Italy for the last 30 years. I started with ponies over 50 years ago in the good old pony club and while that gave me a lot of good basics, especially in horse and pony care, it also meant I’ve had to ‘unlearn’ a lot! Once I got to Italy I couldn’t find an instructor or a ‘method’/'school’ that resonated with my ideas and what and how I wanted to ride, dominance riding traditions are still very firmly in place here. Finally however I now have a classically trained (Philippe Karl) instructress and am in touch with many people who want to ride and to train in better ways – apart from the riding aspect there is here a very encouraging and growing interest in free work, ground work and so on.
I’ve read ‘Naked Liberty’ and was ‘hooked’ from the start. I’ve ordered the Waterhold Ritual dvd and will definitely get the new series as soon as it’s out!
I shared my life with a part-Lippizaner gelding, Ghibli, for 25 years and when he passed away four years ago Michy came into my life – I was looking for a smallish quiet horse to do mainly trekking with, and Michy is a 16.3 anglo-arab, now 14 years old, very nervous out on the trail alone…He was born and bred to jump but never really got far in that as his owner had no time (thank goodness!). Consequently while Michy was only semi-trained to be ridden he was unspoiled physically and still very open mentally so at 14 he has excellent health, legs, back etc. I’ve learned so much from him already, mainly about myself (that’s probably why I’m here on this blog now….) but also about him and horses in general; with Ghibli I didn’t need to ‘bother’ since he was so humbly accepting and obedient, so I never knew what was there to learn, whereas with Michy I cannot avoid seeing what I need to learn….we’ve both made a lot of progress in trust, respect, and balance of all kinds and I want to take all that very much deeper. He’s a generous affectionate playful horse who is overcoming his extreme panic/flight responses very admirably. I’ve become so much more patient, accepting, humble, open and joyful in my relationship with him.
This is a bit long, thanks for reading thus far! I’m so looking forward to sharing this course with so many other like-minded people – it can get very lonely, when you feel you are the only one for miles and miles around …. I am sure many others in this group know just what I mean!
Hi Carolyn – I just saw this today and would love to follow the instruction and try the exercises with my horses. I was disappointed when you canceled the WHR program for this winter so this sounds very exciting. I have several horses at different stages of their training but the one I would try this with is a 14 year old Morgan named Axel – he was a rescue horse and has been a difficult horse to train and ride but is really starting to come along with his dressage training thanks to my trainer Farah. She did one of your programs and she has also worked with me and my horses on the WHRs so I am familiar with the rituals. I’m really looking forward to learning these exercises and to the teleseminar on Sunday. Thank you so much for offering this training! Very awesome!
My horse is a palomino, Rocky Mountain gelding. His registered name is OR Yankees’ Second Chance and he is called by Chance. Chance is seven years old and had only two owners before coming to me, his breeder and then his first home when he was weaned at six months. He was very spoiled when he came to me at 3 three and one half years of age as his first owner took very good care of his physical health but did not do anything much to help him grow up to be a good citizen. Non the less, he is a very kind and willing horse and we had him under saddle by the time he was four. He has proven to be a very steady fellow and is an excellent trail horse, which is my riding discipline.
Unbeknown to be, I was actually using the Waterhole Rituals to teach Chance his life lessons, I just didn’t know about your formal methodology until a friend witnessed our training sessions (with music), our territory ownership and sharing and suggested that I investigate the teachings of Carolyn Resnick and Klaus Hempfling. I was already a big fan of Storm May, Elizabeth Graves, Dominique Barbier and Mark Rashid so your teachings where a natural progression for me. I already have to of your DVDs and have ordered Waterhole Rituals and The Path of the Horse so that I can learn more and be inspired to continue of this path that is seldom followed where I live. My horse friends are very interested though, or maybe more likely curious and they cannot refute the results that Chance and I have attained practicing liberty horseplay, companionship and just plain having lots of fun together. I look forward to learning and sharing more with my gelding as each time I do we open a new door in our relationship
Hi Carolyn,
I am new to the WHR and just starting them. But I would like to follow along with the Uberstreichen Exercises so I can start applying them after working through the Rituals. This sounds like exactly what my horse and I need…the centaur connection where the horse wants to stay under you, collection and relaxation–and being able to communicate and break it all down into pieces the horse understands. It sounds fabulous.
I look forward to learning more in the coming weeks.
Hi Carolyn,
I have decided that my daughter Deanna and I are not ready to begin with your Uberstreichen exercises but was very excited to see that you will be offering a course with the Waterhole Rituals in the spring. We will watch for that course to be offered. In the meantime, we will continue watching the Waterhole Rituals DVD often and also read posts on your website to keep learning. I am wondering if you will soon be offering a DVD set with Waterhole Ritual instruction? I thought I read that the DVD set would soon be available, but can’t find more information on your website. Thanks so much and I hope you had a wonderful vacation.
Hi Carolyn and All,
In my first email I neglected to mention my filly’s name, which is Solo. I have been doing some in hand work with her and some ground driving with a surcingle and a bit. She has had a saddle on her back a few times.
I am very much interested in this natural horsemanship method because I believe it concentrates on serious communication with horses on many different levels.
H Caroline thank,s for this wonderful oportunity.
am so excited.
I had the opportunity to practice the light pull down on the halter to get her head down. She did not show much resistance but I did imagine her head going down lower. After 2 weeks seeing her twice a week I can visualize her head down and she will do it. It’s as if she is watching me!
So simple yet powerful.
thank you!
signing in for class. Thanks!
Hi Carolyn I REALLy want to participate in this class!
I have three horses 12, 5 and 4 that I try to educate in selfcarriage and balance. Due to a very stupid freak accident I can’t ride for some more months (I fractured my axis vertebrae, simply loosing my balance and falling off the 5 year old in walk
I have lived close to horses all my life but my 12 year old mare Jazz is the one that lead me to more gentle methods by showing me how small and puny I really were;-) I have been training my horses for the last three years by using ONLY positive reinforcement and we have a lovely close working connection. All my horses are drafts or as we say in Sweden coldbloods which means they are very muscular, very intelligent and very apt at using their intelligence to their best. Horses like this you cannot intimidate, you have to prove you are worthy of their attention or you wont have any attention at all;-) Built like tanks they need help to be supple and in control of their bodies so I believe stronly they would benefit from you uberstreichen exersises.
Ulrika Rogert Ekholm Sweden
I was away and am late requesting to join your Uberstreichen exercises. I signed up for the Insider program that was cancelled due to winter weather. I have your book and all the dvd’s. I am an equine muscle therapist for the past 17 years and I ride for pleasure and worked at dressage. I now have a 3yo filly TB off the track and my dream horse of all time, a PRE gelding who is 16 mos. I have moved from natural horsemanship and found your blog and am very interested in doing all the right things with my baby and my new filly. Please let me join this class. I will be a good student and keep in contact. Thank you so much for all your wonderful blogs and your books and information.
I tried to just send an e-mail but it would not work. Thank you again for your consideration
Carolyn and all,
I would very much like to be considered for this class. I am not familiar with
the WR yet, so I may not be ready.
I have been a horse owner for over 35 years. My first horse (An Appy mare) and I were best friends, I had this special mare for 28 years. She was an alpha mare, and filled in for me when I needed it. I rode her bareback a lot, and we travelled all over the neighborhood and surrounding areas, exploring. Sometimes we would be gone for 4 hours!
Had a break from horses for a few years. I had always wanted a dressage prospect and 1 1/2 years ago, I found a yearling that I fell in love with. She is 2 1/2 now. My filly is an Andalusian/Dutch Warmblood cross, also an alpha mare in the making. She is going through her terrible twos and I feel like I have lost my way some days with her, when she will not listen to me. I did take a natural horsemanship class some years ago, but did not have a horse at the time. I am working to remember what I was taught and to learn everything else that I can. So I got very excited when I found this free course!
Very curious about Uberstreichen Exercises!
After reading someone’s reply saying that we needed to stand in front, and give pressure until the release, or fake the release and then ask again, I tried it today. My mare has been ‘up’ the last few days as she is being confined in a smaller area of her paddock, (as all the others are too) because of the wet adobe earth,Today I tried this with her before we went to the tack up area, in the tack area, and after riding, and actually also when she was in her bridle. She would drop her head easily, but then when i went to take my hands away, she would raise her head quickly. So I just did it some more and kept my hands on the sides of her halter, and then her bridle. I remembered how much she likes to toss her head when she wants to canter and I haven’t asked yet! Riding went extremely well, no head tossing today while riding, (some displeasure snorting) and she spooked in hand twice, and came back to me in a second. Grazing her went better too, I would just kind of mimic my ask, by a slight tug and release and being next to her we walked slowly back to her pod. MUCH MORE PLEASANT! She did lick and chew after the first ‘real me’ standing at her head and holding on, asking, releasing, and also doing it again after a real head up pull. I can see why doing this for 2 weeks, in different situations would be very beneficial..!! I feel more confident with her, and I think her with me.
Thanks, Anne.
Carolyn and equestrian friends,
I just had to share a moment that John and I had with Ama the andalusian mare. We needed to treat her the night before last for some small cuts on her fetlock joint and after cleaning the wounds John held out the ointment container for her too smell, a practice we started quite a while ago with all the horses(the others all approve of this product.) She had prior to this moment been very cooperative. She leaned over took one whif and stormed out the stall door. We stood there shaking our heads that we were certainly told her opinion in no uncertain terms. We were trying to decide if she really should have it or let that decision sit, when after a few minutes she returned sniffed the shavings pile and appeared to consider urinating, then walked directly over to us and stood like a rock. We proceeded to apply the ointment and then rewarded her with strokes and cookies. This was a wonderful experience for us because she was a mare that when she arrived didn’t show much emotion or open herself up. I would call her behavior guarded or veiled and if she really didn’t care for something just might “accidently step on your foot.” She has been slowly changing over the 4 years she has been with us and is really showing the depth of her fun personality, as I had described in an earlier post regarding the dressage lessons etc. We are very touched that she was able to offer her cooperation without the use of any restraint and relieved that we could doctor the leg, it made me feel better! This is the same way I am giving our oldest horse his legend injection IV once a month. He makes the choice to stand absolutely still when he is ready although we do use a halter and treats before and after and the words ” I’m sorry, got to do it.” It is very wonderful to be able to work with such generous forgiving animals. This is why I am so excited about doing the Uberstreichen exercises our relationships will only grow deeper. I am really seeing more and more that we generally do not give these beautiful beings enough time to adjust to our activities. I really liked the way you described using the float to assist in helping the horse to drop their head, I think it falls into the allowing the desired response rather than just pressure and release. This is another example of why your programs are so unique, it reminds me of how you decribed your method of how to get a horse to lie down for you. Thank you again for your refreshing insights and sincere dedication to the well being of all horses.
Hi Carolyn,
My name is Bonnitta (Bonnie) and I participated in the WHC Box program over the winter. I have a 5 year old Bay stallion ChoCho — I sent you in a video last winter called “small dance” that you posted. I have been working at liberty with ChoCho for four years. Having been a long-distance trail rider all my life, I am now starting to learn some basic dressage. MY approach is both from on the ground and on his back with a snaflle bridle. We are doing some liberty riding to music. Your own love of dressage — the way you speak about it — has been an encouragement to me, because conventional dressage is not appealing to me, due to the methods. I want to base everything I do with my horses on relationship. I just saw your post on the exercises. Like so many of your posts, it has come in a very timely way. I have read your book and watched you DVD’s on the waterhole ritual. Now I need to learn about dressage and the art of riding. I look forward to your instructional posts.
hi ruella yates,
how on earth did you work out what to do for the first excercise????!!!!!!
i’m kind of hanging out for the first instructions on Thursday,
have i missed something????!!!!!
thanks,
robyn, NZ
My Paint gelding, Renaissance Painter, and I started the program this afternoon. It was the first time I’ve used a web halter with him; he accepted it willingly, and it seemed he knew what I wanted before I asked. I took the rope in my hand and he lowered his head; then I touched his nose and he tucked a bit. We did it several times with great success. I did it from the front; is that correct? We did some of the Rituals as well; he did “go trot and come back” twice, better than he’s ever done. We had a lovely bridle-less ride in beautiful sunny, cool/crisp weather. I could go on forever about how wonderful he is. Thanks for doing this winter program, Carolyn; it can only make things better for us!
Ruella and Renn
Hi Carolyn, I would love to take part in the Uberstreichen Exercises. My name is Lisa and my horse’s name “Matrix”. He came to me 5 years ago as an emaciated 6 yo ex-racehorse. He has an enormous heart and willingness to please, however he also has some of the baggage that ex-racehorses get burdened with. Dressage is my passion and we have started our laterals and looking for more collection now. I’m extremely happy in my arena, but lack confidence on the outside. I know my horse needs variety in his life and I strongly feel that what you have to offer will be invaluable in many areas.
I have been riding for 17 years and have had four riding horses. I still have three, although two are retired. When I first started riding, I was lucky to have been introduced to a wonderful man who saw starting, training, helping horses etc. through very different eyes than most. I spent 10 years following him closely but sadly he passed away. His shoes have been hard to fill and I was so excited when a friend sent me your details. In Australia, we are coming into summer and very hot weather, so I can’t think of a better time to be doing these exersizes.
Matrix is a joy to work with on the ground (and under saddle) and I know he will appreciate the Uberstreichen Exercises as much as I will.
CAN’T WAIT
Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge.
Warm regards ……… Lisa
Hello Carolyn
I would love to join your Uberstreichen exercise program. I participated in The Waterhole Rituals “In the Box” program and my quarter horse Bird and I, loved the experience. It was Marta Williams who suggested your work to me for this horse and it really has been a transformational time for our relationship. Where formerly Bird had been dominant and unconfident he has grown into a willing partner.
Bird is 6 and has only known natural horsemanship. On line he relaxes into long and low, althought I know his weight is too much on the forhand. Currently we are doing a lot of riding with a neck string and he is soft and obliging. Our liberty is great fun and he now has a very positive draw.
I look forward to going to the next level with him.
My passion for horses goes back as far as I can remember. I started riding at the age of 8, tried all the disciplines available as I grew up and increasingly became interested in dressage. I was not born into a horse loving, or wealthy family and had to make the most of what came my way. I often stayed up into the early hours of the morning studying a new training technique or principle that I could later try. In my search for the correct methods, I too shamefully used incorrect and damaging methods on my poor horses.
Fortunately for them I had not been able to follow blindly and conform to what is taught without method or reason and I could not compromise. As my knowledge increased, that proved to be increasingly difficult. Ignorance is bliss to some extent! It is a lonely existence though, but something I have become accustomed to over the years. (I am now 42) My journey led me to a point where I realized that the classical masters held the key to the next chapter in my journey – hence the name of my facility – Xenophon Equus Centre. I am so sad that I only discovered the knowledge and richness in their teachings so late in my life.
On the first of May 2008 I opened my own facilities and started an exclusive livery yard and am living my life long dream of spending all my time with horses. I run the livery yard, teach and train my own and clients’ horses full time and enjoy every moment. I continue to read books, watch DVDs, practice on my horses and learn on my own. I was so impressed with your subtle way of interacting with the horse that I instantly fell in love with your method of training and made it my goal to make contact with you to aquire more knowledge on this method. And I love the fact that you use music as I thought I was the only one to do that !
I’m not interested in the modern competition sphere of horses and sport where the respect for the horse is lost and the riders ego and needs are more often than not the priority. What interests me is having a REAL connection with my horses and the ART of equitation. It would be an honour for me to become part of a process to promote a softer way which would enlighten dedicated horseman in South Africa to an alternative to what has become the norm. A lighter and better way of working and communicating with their horses which will increase the standard of riding and awareness and in the long term only benefit horse and rider. To ride those movements correctly, joyfully and in lightness with a willing partner.
Hi Carolyn,
I have 2 mares, a 18 year old appaloosa, Etta and a 9 year old TWH, Reba.
We have been following Parelli methods the last 3-4 years, and followed along with the WHR this last spring through the “Its About the Horse” forum where some of your students kept us updated on their progress. I did the WHR with both of mine and have seen a better connection because of them. I have owned Etta since 2001, she was shown by my niece and myself in the western and english appaloosa arenas. She is an amazing lovely girl who will do anything for you, but she will definitely be the leader if you are not. I have owned Reba for 2 years now, she is a smart lovely girl who will do anything for a treat! She loves to trail ride, will willingly go anywhere and try anything that comes up on the trail. She see’s no purpose to arena work under saddle, but will do ground work with enthusiasm. I am hoping to learn more about getting both of them to have more connection with me under saddle and hopefully get Reba gaiting more consistently. She is all over with the gaits, and since she is my first gaited horse we are learning as we go!
Thanks for this new adventure!
Sincerely, Deb
I would love to take part in your winter training class. I am older, an intermediate level hunt seat rider, with a green 10 y.o. Morab gelding. I’ve had Asher 5 years now and we have built a good relationship on the ground at liberty and online but I am ready for more and seeking the best deal for both of us. I am just now getting acquainted with the WHR and think they will fill in some of the holes in our relationship. Asher spent one month with a western trainer before coming to me but has had minimal riding since. We are just now getting into it and I am using a very gentle jaquima.
Hi Carolyn,
I read your book a couple of years ago and have used the Waterhole Rituals quite a bit. I have four horses between the ages of 9 and 18, one is blind, and I just adopted him this summer.
I have quite a bit of experience with horses, including 9 years of riding instruction in hunter/jumper and dressage, as well as a certification in equine guided education. But I live in Homer, Alaska, and conditions during winter are not conducive to much work with the horses. The horses live as “natural” a life as I can give them, with a paddock of about 4 acres that includes some fairly dense spruce woods and some wide open areas. I would love to follow the Uberstreichen lessons and hope I am not registering too late. Even if I can do only a few minutes with a horse or two every day or so, we will all enjoy the adventure so much!!
Hi Carolyn
Thank you for your generosity. I have enjoyed your blog since hearing about you on some Parelli sites.
I got your book and DVD (Intro to WHR) a couple of months ago, have read the book several times, and watched the DVD twice.
I have been studying the art of horsemanship for about a decade and your observations really resonate. You certainly are at the heart of the onion (if one looks at horsemanship as having many many layers like an onion).
I’ve had horses and ponies a good part of my life, (I’m 51) but it never worked very well. Just all came together the last decade when “natural” horsemanship ideas have become available through books and CDs and DVDs. I started studying it because I had got a yearling half-arab (but I think the other half is arab too) and I was way out of my depth.
Well, it has been a very interesting journey.
I still have the arab, now 11, but he is on sabbatical. A friend of mine rides him occasionally, but even she is not always up for the challenge. I always say I had to be on top of my game to ride him. He is a great ride, but a lot of horse.
My other horse is a QH, 7yo mare Tea Jae – I started her using the Parelli program at 3 and we have come a long way as I had some fear problems left over from other horses. We have been doing some collection the last couple of years and she loves it. We are happy riding in a rope halter. She responds to very light cues – at first I thought she was a very dull, heavy horse, but when I lightened my cues, I got a much better response. She is a lovely horse.
I also have a pony mare since about 3 months ago. She was being starved by some people that didn’t know any better. She has a poor opinion of humans.
Anyways, they live in our large pasture/bush area of several hundred acres but always come back and hang around the barnyard in the day time. At night they travel. My brothers say they find horse droppings everywhere in the bush and on the trails.
At the same time the arab and QH are the tamest and kindliest horses I’ve ever had (although they have lived this way since they were yearlings) because of the language I have developed with them. It is mostly Parelli based, but I have also studied Monty Roberts, Chris Irwin, John Lyons and others, then Bill Dorrance, Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt, also Karen Rohlf (dressage) and now you with your Waterhole Rituals.
I hope this is not too long.
Wilma
Thank you Carolyn for offering this to us and to our horses. I participated in the recent WRIC Program in a Box and really benefited from it. I have read your book, twice so far and I get something else from it each time I sit with it. I have three horses and a donkey who are kept at home here. I am fortunate to have ample time and space to enjoy them. I ride french classical dressage and have been able to achieve a high level of lightnesss and comunication with my horses. I have had 4 horses of my own so far and three of those horses came into my life because they were shut down, depressed and very unwilling and their owners wanted them gone. Lucky me, the recipient of some great horse deals and incredible horses. I used to teach dressage and horsemanship but took time off from it so I could figure out where and if I wanted to be in the professional horseworld, which I seemed to be drifitng away from. I recently started teaching again to share what I have learned and I have attracted students who are willing to “take the time it takes”. I had a private phone session with you also. I am inspired to take some video of what I’ve been up to with my guys and the WRIC – I wasn’t sure if I should send anything in since I was an in the box. Thanks again.