Winning friends and influencing horses. Comments Off
Welcome to an excerpt from my up coming E book !
…..And so began my real journey, Unwrapping “D”
Layer by layer, “My Onion” , as I call her, began to reveal herself to me. How privileged I was. In my opinion she was just passed on owner to owner due to her very pretty head and finer features, but not really seen for who she really was. Im thinking the issues I found, were what others came across as well and passed her on rather than venture to help her find her real self. Take the time it took.
I made a promise to her she would never be passed on again. She needed to be grounded and trust, to feel like she belonged. We have a special bond. Not always perfect, sometimes like oil and water, but to me it is special and good. Why? You ask, if its not “Perfect”. You see D is so sensative she can feel you coming a mile away. Read your mind before you even know your thoughts. I had to do in myself what I knew she needed to do. This is a part of Horsemanship not many promote. It should be! Im blessed to have linked up with the perfect program to go forward for both of us.
The first witner I had her it took all of a couple months to just get her to relax with me ,or anyone else, for that matter in her personal space. A very big personal bubble. Treats, time and quiet all came together along with my little voice tellng me I needed to find a different way to be with her.
As fate would have it when we moved here we got satalite TV. Now I had horses on TV, how awesome! I began to watch the shows even more so when I knew I needed help, to see who made more sense to me. I had many years, since age 7, of ridng experience. Fox Hunting both as a lay member and as professional staff, hunter paces, eventing , showing , collegiate team riding etc , but something was missing. Innately I knew D needed to trust, so I was on track with taking that first winter to allow her to chill. Imagine what the “Real” world was saying? Peer pressure, Phooey!
My Missions: How to be with her and have her feel the same trust while riden, and to not be so bracy. Is it Physical? Is it emotional? Is it Me? ( This is a whole other topic but you do know “most often” it is us.) These are all questions we should ask when things don’t go right. Follow the journey your horse is laying out for you. I did! Grow and get uncomfortable. This was not simply a door opening, it was a gate way to a powerful journey,
“Making” her didn’t compute, aside from the fact I wasnt 16 any more. 4 kids and a few growing yrs with kids off from real intence horse time changed my perspecitve. Age begins to enter the picture. Any way, enter my decision to follow the world of “Natural Horsemanship” and what an amazing addition that was to my already well established foundation.
NH filled in so many pieces and allowed me to acknowledge my feelings, good bad or indifferent as well what I felt the horse was relaying. Imagine that taking the horses perspective into consideration. Wow! This was like the best thing. Now I could acknowledge what I had instinctively done but never spoke of it.
To date I still refer to D as “My Onion” I also call her my monitor. When I’m good with her I’m great with everyone else. I am still peeling back layers on both of us. Even as rescently as the last 6 months or so we have reached a new level of communication and understanding. So cool.
Biggest lesson, you cannot make anything happen, and expect to win friends and infuence horses.
***** Look for more excerpts from the E Book, slated to launch early summer.
Re-naturalizing…. 2
Meet and greet
Recently on a FB question asked about herd dynamics, I got to thinking about some of the answers given. While doing stalls a few days ago I got chatting to
Myself , a usual occurrence, I may add. The topic came up of this question and I began to answer it myself, taking in all perspectives and came up with ,
“Hmm? Can you re-naturalize a horse?” In turn I posted that question to the FB community and was asked to give my version of what Re-naturalize meant.
So here it goes as it pertains to mainly the Herd Dynamic thought.
Sable View , has been termed by many a sanctuary! Horses and riders come to me, Sable View , misunderstood, missing puzzle pieces to the ”Fun” part of being with horses and riding, and horses forgetting how to be a horse. Honestly I can not tell you what it is but with out a doubt horses here change regardless of weather they are assigned to work with me or not. There is a great energy here, calm , quiet, and safe. I try as much as possible to keep the horses here as natural as possible , integrate the herds, full turn out 24/7 unless bad bad weather. All this makes a difference right off the bat. The quiet nature of what I do and how I do it permiates and as much as they can with hands off so to speak, they settle. Some horses by request of owners are mutually worked with. By this I mean owner/ horse time is spent with me. This is more for the relationship and safety parts of the puzzle, but still can relate to the herd dynamic as well. Acknowledging, and reading body language with respect.
I have had horses come in very boldened to humans and so clueless to equine signals its mind boggling. All I can do is refer back to the Movie “Buck” . No, my experiences were not as extreme, Thank God, but the basic premise of human error , or lack of herd socialization as a youngster jumps to the fore front as reasons.
Why?? Money, production, the prize, OR maybe a mare dies, or rejected the foal, lots of reason why humans step in but I beleive the error is we raise them as our “Babies” and not as a by nature a wild herd animal. Those instincts are still there . All of a sudden the baby is big and has no manners. Bad news!
I hear all the time, ” I don’t want to hurt him/her”. Or “I don’t want him/ her to not like me”, OMG people, REALLY! Think, in a herd if they don’t get it by the third signal they get a swift double barrel , a snaking charge, and or a chunk taken from them.
Think do we take lip from our kids? I will answer for me, NO! I can tell you , I’m a tough mom, and my kids and I still laugh and kid around together all the time. They still love me! There is a respect that is understood. Boundaries! In herd or house gotta have them!
So, in horse body language and communication, how would the mare correct her foal? You all can think through this and Im sure can see in your imagination at least the answers , as there are many. And , for as many as there are there are degrees of severity too.
When I have a horse come in with an owner who is fearful, It’s usually the “Oh my Baby ” thing. Fixable once owner gains ground in confidence as the alpha of their herd of 2. When it stems to the herd, and not being able to mingle and find a place without endangering others , whether it be dominance or submission or shear confusion, (I have seen it to where it would be banishment in the wild, my alpha knows its not quite right and will not allow it in , entering horse just doesn’t get the idea to keep his place. and ask permission to enter closer, sound familiar!). I begin to think something is missing from its “Natural” development, social skills.
Enter “Re – Naturalizing” as I put it. To try to get a horse to be accepted into herd and be aware of the natural cues after missing the memo is not an easy task. I am very fortunate to have for the most part two herds with inter-changable members. So if full integration is not a doable thing, a herd is still an option with less pressure . 2 herds , 2 different energies. With inter-chageable members I can slowly allow my more dominant members, mare or gelding, to meet and greet, supervised of course. This is a slow process.
For sure over the fence happens first, and one on one time in a private paddock area. I learn a lot from the over the fence time I carefully watch, as to how far I can take the next step and who I can make it with.
In the one on one time I personally am hands off as I see the behaviors are not ”Bullying” but clear and consistent with “Natural selection of a pecking order”.
I will and do make my presence known in the intro process. I feel it is important to let my place in the order of things be very clear. In the end , the buck stops with me. Among themselves , they have their own order, enter human, owner, me , whomever, a shift should be made to give acknowledgement and respect with a feeling of comfort and ease.
In a nut shell this is my interpretation of what i call Re-Naturalizing” a horse. It can be taken deeper in many aspect , but for this post my point was to just give an overview. I look forward to more posts on this topic. Its unfortunate they are needed.
Adjustments in Rain Drop Therapy 0
What better thing to be able to give yourself or your horse, dog , cat, than a spa day. Instilling health, wellness, peace of mind, cleansing of the systems. This isn’t the real reason I love doing them… especially to horses but it is simply that once at ease with the energy flow of the oils they often fall asleep. Snore even! How cute!
For some horses the oils are not so welcome because in my mind they open up too much too soon. For others they welcome the Rain Drop Therapy from the get go. All depends on the day , the horse , the human, the underlying issues .
What I came to find was that on one of mine, he really began to let the oils do the healing after his 3rd or 4th time, but it was too much and he is so sensative emotionally it really got to him. Very similar reaction I have to accupuncture treatments. I get all shakey , i can reason my way through it though, horses,
( Animals ) not so much. The results for that Break Through treatment were astounding but the application had to be changed as the memory of the protocol application was not pleasent.
So, I took it upon myself to adjust application to this horse . My test dummy! Now a very willing, happy participant in spa days!
Last application to said horse was so relaxing. Applied V6 oil first to back and legs and coronet, then applied oils as recommneded. The hotter oils I applied to my hands first and massaged in. Just sublte changes made all the difference. It is important to remember it is that no matter how the oils are applied, Vita Flex technique, or not, they will do their task well. As we are speaking now of the Rain Drop they are typically dripped on but best to get them on so to apply by hand is fine with gentle massage strokes that suite the patient and its all good. Always follow basic directions for each oil whenever in use and always note the patients needs and reactions for further applications.
If all else fails Defuse!!
Don’t Miss the Upcoming Animal Reiki I Class! 0
We are excited to announce the upcoming Animal Reiki I Class that will be held at Sable View Natural Hosemanship!
This class will cover:
- Self care and working with animals
- History of Reiki, Reiki precepts, the Japanese energy system, meditations and the protocol for animals
- Basic hand positions for both humans and animals with the main focus being on animals
- Includes a manual and certificate!
Here are the details:
- Dates: March 24th and 25th
- Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Location: Sable View Natural Horsemanship Development Center, Stockbridge, VT
- Instructed by
- Price: $175 (A $25 deposit is required to register)
- A portion of the class fee will be donated to the Hooved Animal Sanctuary
Facebook RSVP link coming soon!
Click here to download the Event Information Flyer!
The rules of engagement and Grey Matter. 0
In the “Natural Horsemanship” world how horses interact is referred to as many things, I like to call them “The Rules of Engagement!” I believe they have a progression. If you watch a herd it becomes clear. Messages are given, brief time to understand and respond, then if the response isn’t correct or fast enough, the transmission mode of the message increases through its stages to the end being full on contact or a very intent driving force. We have all seen it. No Grey Matter involved. What the stages and processes are is a whole different blog.
I have been thinking, again, of how we mentally need to be engaged with our horses, to really be a part of them. So much of my horsemanship journey is a mind game. Im not alone in this , I know! In general we have a need to concure our fears, phobia, insecurites and the horse for many of us is our pathway to freedom of Grey Matter, Baggage. A way to find ourselves again.
Amongst themselves, horses communicate seemingly telepathically . The key to their ” Rules of Engagement “ is Clarity. They throw energy by simply stopping chewing or a twitch of an ear. They make their point and get on with grazing. No Grey Matter involved. How wonderful ! Think about it , no hangin’ onto the emotive side of things. The ability to let go is a wonder!
I have to say I foster an decent ability to let a lot go and move on. Forgive and forget so to speak but our human make up is not that we can really ever let go. An instant may arise and we are brought back to a situation and we are steaming again. When we work with our horses we carry what might happen with us, or what happened at work or at home etc etc. We as humans are so not moment to moment . It’s a real talent to shut off the world and tune in or tune out , however you wish to think of it. All this baggage is transmitting energy. Horses feel it long before you enter the barn yard. Not the horse. Other than a stand made for herd breeding rights, and that watchful eye that must be kept , life is as it is, moment to moment. A Get it, got it, good attitude.
Recently I attended The Vermont Grazing Conference and the guest speaker was Dr, Temple Grandin, need I say more. No Grey Matter , just as it is. I envy her in so many ways. Speaking for myself , I think having read her work and now meeting her , I have a clearer vision of what I need to try and mimic in order to get what I think would be the ultimate in communication between my horses and me. If I wish to be more like a horse, I need to be more black and white in my communication. Horses live as I said before , moment to moment . So other than a really bad experience , usually human induced or involved in some way, they go on. No bagggage attatched, no grudges . Each day, each moment is fresh. The hierarchy is established, plain and simple , Black and White, and there is a symbiotic flow of energy, it very natural! Though, naturally there are shifts in leadership , and the flow is broken, as in any Family Unit or Herd, it is handled, and finished, sorted out , shift either happens or was held a bay, done, life goes on.
The Rules of Engagement: simple laws followed and lived by with great results.
How can we develop and fine tune the practice of ” Turning on – and – Turning off” of emotions. Wouldnt it be great to have a “Clapper.” Honestly ! Its an on going study for me. I continuously attend clinic , and expo events to watch , listen and learn, and still take lessons myself. I also do a good bit of reading , a
ll to grow through my own “Grey Matter” and see and communicate more clearly…. Black and White!
I think as I near the end of this Blog post one of the first steps to no Grey Matter is …..
Dont Take it personally. I want to make a suggestion, read the Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz.
How many lessons .. Part 2 0
A revelation to say the least. Since that day I often think back to the exact moment I spoke those words to myself and am amazed at its simplicity and it magnitude .
Protecting and Compensating. These are two “Guarding” words if you thing about them, right? Technically I was reffering to my leg, but symbolically, well there is a different story.
My Horsemanship Journey though technical in many ways is not so much about the horse aspect but the personal growth and development. Horses are my therapy. My poor horses! 
Over the last 8 yrs I have been on a wonderful journey, and of the last 2-3 its been getting really good. I have begun to unlock and reveal me. How did it begin , at a clinic of all places. It really is so much more than riding. The obstacles and set backs I encounter with my horses all have a greater purpose. If it were not for them I would not be writing this blog post. Why??? Because I would not be aware enough or ready to hear what those words really meant for me! And more importantly , those of my students .
Compensating and Protecting, it’s not about the ….leg , but My heart and emotions. Long story , not a bad one just the way it was. Easier not to feel or express feelings. I know I am not alone in this.
So what came out of this wonderful Ah ha Moment??? I realized how emotionally exhausting it was for me to be on guard, and, that I was.
What was I “Really” scared of anyway??? This was a wake up call. Now its up to me to realistically look at what is holding me back and move it aside, or move through it .
**After adding this link to an older post , I had to laugh, and needed to fess up. I wasn’t denying the disease energy, I was denying myself emotional release,
( Chicken! Just didn’t want to feel).
” You gain strength, courage and confidnece by every experience in which you really stop and look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the things you think you can not do.” Eleanor Roosevelt
Break free and Play!
How many lessons will I learn ?? Part 1 0
Compensating and protecting is exhausting…
Everything I do is in slow motion….Hmm??
Its taken me a while to get to this blog post. It holds a lot and I think I needed to get distance from the event that prompted it before I could write about it.
Let me begin with the first statement….
Nearly 9 weeks ago now I under went surgery for Melanoma Cancer. This was the last straw after taking our eldest to college in DC, ( emotionally hard), getting stuck due to Hurricane Irene,( fun having extra time with her). Got home after a week, thank God, to begin my next 6 weeks of service at the food shelf developed due to Irene. During this period I knew I needed to get to the Dr to have things checked, finally I did, and long story short, here I am and its all good!
When I began to get back to my barn routine I was cautious with my leg, walking softly to say the least. One day I was puttering at best , chipping away at stalls etc when I realised I was so protective of my right leg and really giving my left leg a run for its money with compensating . Often times I would take a break and sit on the shavings bags to rest my leg and back, and move my shoulders around a bit then back to work. I said out loud, to myself, as I often do while in the barn,” Boy this compensating and protecting stuff is hard work”.
With that statement I had so many revelations come rushing in ……..
Introduction to Essential Oils Workshop 1
The Intro to Essential Oils workshop will be held in Johnson VT at The Center for America’s First Horse.
Yes, these oils should be in you barn first aid kit too!
The workshop will begin with a discussion of the “Every Day Oils,” their uses, and applications procedures.
All attendees will have access to the oils. After the discussion portion we will take the oils to the horses and show how and why to apply them.
Time 10-2 approx
Directions will be posted.
RSVP required: RSVP here on Facebook!
Further details will be posted as they become available.
“Catatonic”, Learn to read! 0
Of late I have been blessed, really, to have been personally enlightened to the potentially scary life of a RBI.
Ask yourself what it means to you to be “Catatonic.”
Just take the time
For me it is any of the following:
Vague, A lost or far away look , gone to happier place, Non responsive, frozen any of these can be used to discribe the word.
A few days ago I was put in a situation where I was so aware of what a RBI(Right Brained Introvert), must feel when being pushed to a point of needing to hide. I guess though a RBI would tend ot go there more readily if pushed, any Introvert or horse treated without a say in the conversation would or could go “Catatonic”.
Lets just say there would be a degree of difficulty in scoring as in diving or gymnastics.
Never have I felt so scared and unsure.
My only way to find escape from the pressure of the external enviroment was to close my eyes and go away, litterally to an instant deep sleep.
I figured it out pretty quickly and used it to my advantage when I didn’t want to deal or answer questions. it was clearly a very deliberate response.
If any of you have not seen this happen in a horse, take a better look at your own! Most of us are guilty to some extent of not understanding how to read our horses language when it is subtle and not explosive. Is it “Submissive” or is it “I can’t cope, Im going far, far away”.
To the untrained eye and spirit it could be mis read, IF read at all.
Trying to please all around me and coping with building stress I had not filtered well, my error, I was mentally and emotionally fried! I had no options given to me other than do, this try this, etc etc .
Finally by default, I was given an opportunity to have a voice and choose a way out. OMG, what a relief! Time was running out, and people needed to move on so by necessity I was given an option to get relief. Ever seen a horse push you to a point where you have to stop pushing and give up, all of a sudden they make a move and start to offer things? Yup! They just needed to be given an option!
I have a whole new respect for the impact of pressure for both ” H factors”. I do have a very good eye for reading horses and humans but this expereince has been a lesson I will never forget and will bring with me as I interact with my own horses and others. A real gift!
Always read your partner ….. Don’t make them have to escape because they are not heard and cant cope. Just because we think they should do it or others are watching! and putting pressure on you!
Don’t get me started!
Gage your pressure and monitor your mind set.
LEARN TO READ!!
….even if you stand on your head! 0
What???
Yup , that’s what I tell my students if it gets their horse in a working mode while ridden.
I recall back when I was studying in England for my AI certification I learned so much about riding. You had to be a part of the barn life , chores etc , have lessons , burst through comfort bubbles right and left and do this 6 days a week. And on the odd saturday we had schooling shows.
OMG barn work and show in a day, half day actually!… so warm up, NOT!
I had this one horse Biggles, a grey gelding, that I was to show. He was not my charge horse but we all knew his rep. Cold backed! Yeah!
Well this day I proved a lot to myself… not how I would do it now but then I was young, in college, and dong what I was told. It was a grade and a certificate on the line. Had a lot riding on my outcome.
No pressure!
So my AM chores were done and I was needing to get to my dressage test time and so had groomed Biggles early , had to tack up after a quick brush off and yup hop on and yup hang on! HOLY….!!! well Im still here so it all worked out. Honestly I dont recall if he got me off or not. I know I had a time with him but dont think I came off.
I went in and did my test and it was ok. I dont even remeber my score. I didnt care I just knew I needed to do what I had to do to get him to chill through it.
Muriel Harris was out head master in charge of the program and she was having a ball with the American style of equitation. I was not a show rider so it didnt bother me to not look perfect, like a china doll. She liked me as I was more of a ride by the seat of my pants rider , who hunted and rode a variety of horses in uncontrolled situations, so I had good instincts , what I call servival instincts! Literally!
Anyway the whole experience of that one Saturday of my time(6 weeks) there was so telling, Obviously as I can still recall the events. As Muriel told me before I went into my test and durring a lesson after the show…yeah I had to ride him again… and again, and again… she said, ” losen up!!!! I dont care what you look like nor does he , he just need to be ridden how he needs to be ridden, now get on with it!” She was a no non sense person!
Biggles was a huge influence on me…. I know why Muriel had me on him often. She knew I had it in me and she was right . By the time I was done I had him pegged and others as well.
So, comes my attitude of justice. I dont care if you ride on your head if it gets your horse to travel in a fluid forward frame.
I thought of this whole expereince today as I was on route to teach lessons . One lady very much uptight to be perfect and had some fear issues etc etc, so I knew I needed to recall on my own past to pull her forward.
I also thought of my own Sarah especially and Popeye who I have been bringing on as they developed not on my schedule but theirs. I have been serching for a real connection for Sarah and her riding and have made huge progress but deep down know I need to think for myself an acknowledge my little voices. I have great instruction with my horses, yes i get lessons too! but ultimaltey as I tell my own students it’s your horse and when they, we, are not there it up to you to make it work so make it your own. We cannot be a mirrow image of our instructors, we are not them. We surely can learn from all, lick and chew and use our own minds to make it work and find the puzzle pieces that are missing.
I thought on this and made a dicision as I drove and recorded a reminder on my phone to write this blog about my thought pattern.
**to go with my recurring thought re sarah, its recurring for a reason. I pride myself in being well educated horseperson , up to date, a good thinker, and listener (especially with my eyes). I instill confidence with ease.
**Im the best judge of my horses and know how to balance things. I needed to remind myself to trust my own expertise, (The Hybrid Method), and just do it! Even instructors are human! We should NEVER forget that…
**Follow their feel and feel my way through.
**Allow a “2 way conversation” to take place. Allow questions to be asked and anwers to be acknowledged, never ignored.
** Never forget where you came from.
10/24/11 addition!
Got thinking about this and wanted to clarify a bit. I don’t want to promote not listening to or trying to mimic your, our instructors. Its how we all have to start and then we develop our own styles. What I do want to promote is this:
My head is saying try something different. Push a little bit to let her see what it is you are looking for. Dont blow her away by doing too much but go to where she can explore the new frame desired not only in walk but in trot.
Open hands , closed hands? Hands to the side and high , or low? soft outside rein to allow the bend , or maybe a more steady feel? Or maybe one way its one way and another its another. Seat position??? How does it effect her if I move this way? No thats not good, shoulder dives in, how can I correct it? Leg, one or both? don’t stiffen, push sideways, open a hand/ rein(direct), raise a hand? Let the contact go and not play the game of holding her stiffness.
You see this is what I mean. Eventually we are all in our own little world and need to be able to work things out on our own in our own way., in full conversation with our horses.
Remember to be just in your responses and reward tries.
In the typical english riding world a relaxed back is not advocated, but if it gives the feel to the horse of release and they do then DO IT!
Who cares? Your horse! The only one who should really matter!!
I hope this makes sense. It took me a long time to get so I saw and accepted the “holes” in the most vested of my foundations methods and sought to fill those holes with other methods in order to find harmony and the best communication per horse, not to mention body awareness.
Now with each of the three main methods I encompass in my work with horses, I can confidently say I have the bases covered. What ever might be missing , needs a tweak, Ill stand on my head!
So go ahead and “Stand on your head!” if it gets the message across and you have a horse under you who is free, fluid and happy.