New Series: How Liberty work helped me with riding

This is the first video in a series I wanted to do on the link between Liberty work, riding issues and how you can overcome them. I am sharing my journey with my mare Phoenix who has been a challenge from the get go. I feel like it is important to share the links I am finding with my horse to our riding issues. My hope is for people to understand the deep importance and role of Carolyn Resnick and the Waterhole Rituals to your mounted work.
If you are unfamiliar with the Waterhole Rituals, They are 7 exercises which progressively build Bond, Trust, Willingness, Focus, Respect, Connection, and Desire in the Horse and Person Simultaneously. And yes, I said it builds these qualities in the person as well.

Through the exercises, you learn how to emulate and step into the role of a "Lead" horse versus a Dominant horse and the difference. A lead horse makes requests of other horses. A Dominant horse seeks to Dominate other horses. You become a Leader you horse WANTS to follow because he chooses to.

The exercises teach you to slow down, and be present when working or riding your horse and eventually be more present in general. They are not meant to be something you do and then once you learn them you stop. They are meant to be a permanent addition to your practice and a continual method to build better and better communication, feel, and connection. The Connection will literally keep getting better and stronger. This work has brought an aspect to my Training that has increased my fun, joy and understanding of horses as well as creative problem solving to common "issues".

If you love your horse but you are not sure your horse feels the same towards you, Carolyn Resnick's Waterhole Rituals will help your horse feel toward you as he does toward his favorite pasture/herd mates (if he has them). If he doesn't have "horse" friends. He will learn to relate to you as a likeable "Lead" Horse.

The applications of The Waterhole Rituals are literally endless and are only limited by your imagination. You can "Technically" Train a horse all you want, but if he doesn't WANT to work for you, he's not going to. These exercises help your horse want to work with you because he chooses to. Not because his choices are do it or else. In the world of competition, I would feel much more trust in a team mate who wanted to give me everything he had then one who was afraid of the consequences of not doing so.
If you would like to know more about this Method and the extraordinary woman who founded it go to Carolyn Resnick's Blog to find out more.

FDT and Buckaroo Leather Q&A

In case you haven't heard yet, I joined forces with Buckaroo leather after I was so pleased with the custom bitless Sidepulls they made me. If you also haven't heard about the free Tele-conference call sunday Feb 21st at 2 pm EST 11 am PST, please join us. We will be discussing bitless options and answering questions.To participate just call this Conference line # 712 432 3900 and then enter this pass code 379697 when prompted, Q&A starts at 11am PT 2pm EST Hope you can make it!

FDT Equipment tip: Bitless Bridles-The Side Pull

Here’s a link to some other styles of Side Pulls from the company that made mine, Buckaroo Tack. They have excellent customer service (which is BIG with me), are friendly to deal with and most important, make a quality product.

Vision for the New Year

Each New Year I look forward to two things. Reviewing the past year and visualizing the year ahead. I look at where I have travelled in the past 12 months and where I wish to go. This includes my life, my work, the people in my life and my animals.
In overview, the World has been and is still in a state of turmoil. In 2009, a lot of people and animals were lost to various causes. It was a turbulent year and yet one of the most amazing in other ways.
To me 2009 was symbolic of out of adversity comes triumph and in tough times it is the Entrepreneurial spirit that forges on undaunted and gets inspired to create new pathways. I love the saying "Create trends don't follow them". I also live by the creed of be true to yourself and your path and you can't go wrong.
2010 is a reaffirmation of this. Continue on this amazing path I'm on and forge bravely into uncharted territories with my Horses, my work, and my friends and family. We are in amazing times and we have access to the sky if we are willing to reach for it.
In the past few years, I have achieved things with my horses that I never even dreamed of as a child. Now I am excited to see what and where we go next. I am continuing working toward the holistic training facility I have been visualizing. I will continue bettering myself as a teacher, student of the horse, and person in general.

Affirmations for 2010

1. Work slowly and carefully
2. Never be in a hurry
3. Enjoy the journey
4. Keep things in balance
5. There are no mistakes
6. Keep Play and Work balanced
7. Keep your eye on the vision

Natural Dressage for Fun!

I think it is important these days to speak out on behalf of Dressage as it is under fire right now. I want to draw positive attention to the fact that there are some very progressive people out there (Yours Truly included) who are successfully integrating Natural Horsemanship with Classical Dressage principals. At it's most progressive this movement is bringing bridless collection to the realm of possibility.
I want people to understand the Dressage can be fun for the horse and rider and still is in my opinion one of the corner stones of all horsemanship. All training starts with a good connection between the horse and the human. The next part is endless patience and a "takes as long as it takes" attitude. 3rd is the moment of possiblity. This is the moment right after you do something with your horse and you allow a moment for processing, spontanaeity. Which in turn often allows you to make the most "right" decision next. Most so called "mistakes" are made out of reactionary haste and general rushing and impatience. This causes people to make possibly too harsh or inappropiate responses to their horses behavior. If we can learn to slow down our whole interaction with our horses, It becomes WAY more fun and relaxing for both of you. Learning is actually accelerated because of the space allowed for it. This applies to whatever your doing or not doing with your horse.
So back to the Dressage. Dressage by definition is designed to optimize the horses athleticism and suppleness. It is designed to help the horse carry us more efficiently and balanced which in turn is better for joints, muscles and soft tissue. It helps a horse be more symetrical in the use of his body (provided you are symetrical as well). It is by my own definition Yoga and Pilates for horses WHEN applied with the philosophies outlined above. The horse should receive a mental and physical benefit from it. Obviously, forcing them into unnatural positions for any length of time is about as beneficial to the horses wellness as it would be for us if it was done to us. I always look at training that way. How would this feel to me if it was being done to me. Food for thought.

FDT

Some things never change...

Elsa napping on her hay pillow then and now some things never change...in a good way. Oh and I added my mop for good measure...

New Video: Highlights from our Liberty Demo

Here is a small glimpse of the demo we did at BackAcresFarm.com a full DVD of the 2 days is available Click here to contact me