Myth Busting Horse Whispering...

Mythbusting the Horse Whisperer

IN THE COMPANY OF HORSES INC.·THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 201636 Reads

Horses are a mystery; horse whispering, it’s magic; horses are sentient beings and should not be ridden! Or the other side, Horse whispering is hogwash, new age stuff for girls that will get you killed, horses are easy kick them to go, pull back to stop and show them who is the boss.

In all things there are extremes, you won’t be surprised to learn that the world of horses is no exception. There are those who believe horses are only for friendship, never to be told what to do, expected to do anything, certainly never ridden; and if riding is not off limits, it should be done only bareback and bridle-less and only if the horse want to. These are the people who are always feeding treats and don’t go anywhere with their horses because their horse doesn’t want to get into the trailer. These people know their horses need friends but only if it’s completely safe.

Then there are those who believe horses are dangerous must be ridden everyday from the time they turn 2, shown who is boss, riding without a bit and tie downs and saddle, helmet and vest is dangerous. You know, chain always over the nose, not trusting the horse to go or stop, cross ties in the isle way...

This is not a piece about judgement, just observation. Look around and you will see the strong stance people take to defend or spurn “The Past,” meaning however they learned as either being absolutely right or absolutely wrong.

WHAT IF THERE IS SOME TRUTH IN ALL THINGS?

What might be possible if we really observed instead of assigning meaning right away? That is what people who are labelled by others as horse whispers are so good at. They are people who have done enough emotional fitness work to be calm and present; allow and expect horses to partner up! I’m not talking about the one on the street corner claiming to be a horse whisper and nothing about them is quiet. I’m not saying they don’t have skill as horseman, that is just another

This photo is from a wikipedia page called Natural Horsemanship. These are wild horses being approached by a person employing these techniques

This is a photo from a wikipedia page called bits and this photo is demonstrating some of the effects of using these techniques.

These are both extreme opposite examples of 1.) completely relying on trust and 2.) completely relying on control. And if I could show you a progression of photos in this format, I would show you about 100 pictures of varying degrees of these extremes and somewhere in the middle the two would meet! Which just might be the place where the horse and the human can be safe and have fun together. What if we based our horsemanship on observation of our horses actions with us and others instead of what we believe or others tell us to believe?

Now, I know OBSERVATION is hard. Hard from our DNA level because our properly working brains are designed to solve problems and look for answers, they fill in for what is not there. Have you seen this video? https://youtu.be/UfA3ivLK_tE Go ahead and follow the link and watch it, it’s only about 1 minute long. This one expands on that short video https://youtu.be/IGQmdoK_ZfY.

I wrote a whole book about cultivating this level of sensitivity in our horsemanship called “UNRIDLED” The Heart and Practice of Graceful Horsemanship. There are practical exercises in the book to help you observe what is actually happening and thereby building your confidence in what you know so you don’t have to believe in all that stuff in the first paragraph! “Horses are a mystery; horse whispering, it’s magic; horses are sentient beings and should not be ridden! Or the other side, Horse whispering is hogwash, new age stuff for girls that will get you killed, horses are easy kick them to go, pull back to stop and show them who is the boss. “

Here is one exercise from the book: * Grab a friend who has read this article * Go out to a herd of horses free in a pasture, you can go inside with them or stay out, it does not matter. * Share Clean Observations about the horses. At least 10 observations each. An observation is what everyone can see with no interpretation. *After each observation is shared, ask one another, “Observation or Interpretation?” If there is any hesitation or disagreement, likely it’s an interpretation. Here is an example of an observation versus interpretation “The horses are eating” vs. “The horses are hungry” Now they might be hungry or they might not (interpretation) but they are for sure eating (observation.)

Now this friend will be valuable when you want to say, send your horse forward on the longe and your horse goes backward. Have your friend share observations about you and your horse. Observations only, not possible solutions or interpretations, just observations.

This is horse whispering. Observe what is happening and stop doing the thing that is causing it. It ALL begins with clean observation. It’s not a mystery, it’s not spiritual, it’s not hogwash. It’s actual observation.

I think real horse whispering is just like the picture above. What information are the horses sharing about us in the pasture! :) Isn’t this suppose to be fun?

Mary Ann Brewer is the Author of “UNBRIDLED” The Heart and Practice of Graceful Horsemanship. Through her company “In the Company of Horses Inc” in NJ she studies horse behavior, teaches horsemanship workshops, helps people solve horse problems, consults with clients from all over the world and has co-facilitated more than 11,000 people in Equine assisted learning sessions for personal growth. www.inthecompanyofhorses.com

To fill up their senses...

To move in grace and harmony with your horse, so you can move with others takes filling up all of your senses with movement.

We had our "Moving in Harmony" Workshop this weekend.  In these workshops I look for ways to illustrate concepts so the participants can locate a similar situation in their lives and apply it here.

Our eyes are one of our primary senses that we (as humans) tend to use the most, so to add to the sense of seeing, we add touch, both, in movement. Remember the goal is to get into harmony with our horses, like a dance within a couple, and then add purpose.

In this photo this couple has mirrored "hind" legs, the goal,  even including, weight shifts, the human hand on the right hind quarter of the horse to feel what happens to the hip when the legs move; and finally the eyes watching. Let us not overlook the senses of energy and emotion which create the safety and comfort of both the horse and human who only met a few hours earlier. moving with a slowly grazing horse makes it all much easier than a quickly walking horse, so don't worry about the grazing! 

To really move in harmony with our horses, it is the hind legs that should be carrying us. The hind legs are where we need to begin.  So far every student I have taught who has taken riding lessons, learns rhythm at the rising trot and that happens by looking down at the front legs, which is an ok place to begin, if the human progresses to feeling, however, so many are forever looking and not able to feel. Resulting in,  getting more connected with the front legs only and riding from front to back instead of getting connected with the engine behind. 

FILL UP YOUR SENSES! 

Riding, while relying only on looking perpetuates unbalanced horses who are already heavy in front, either on the mouth or the front legs, which is why so many riding horses have physical as well as emotional issues in front. It is time well spent to connect with our horse's hind legs through feel, using all of our senses. 

Begin on the ground and then take it to the top.  Have a helper on the ground who can help you 'call cadence.'  The helper will begin by saying 'now' when your horse's identified hind leg is un-weighted and leaving the ground.  The valuable place to identify is before the leg gets to the top of the rotation.  This is when the leg is gracefully influenced, if you are too late or too early, you can easily unbalance your horse and create a disconnect.  Some horses are very forgiving about this lack of harmony. When you begin to call the cadence correctly, close your eyes and fill your other senses with this rhythm. 

When you are connected to your horses hind legs through feel, you will always be able to place the hind leg where you want it for optimal movement, like, working cows in a group.  The cows in the center of the remuda ( in this case, moving fence made by horses) needed to be trained.  This is a peaceful moment in this workshop!  There were many times when a good, connected 'couple' had to dart off to 'catch' an escaped cow! Being able to have a ready horse who is relaxed because she is balanced creates confidence in horse and rider.  

Take the time it takes because it works if you work it and harmony with your horse is worth it! 

Yours Truly, In the Company of Horses, 

Mary Ann

www.inthecompanyofhorses.com

Fun and Games Workshop!

Fun and Games workshop! 

It was a fun time we were after and we found it! 

The goal was just to spend some time with our horses before the holidays and winter took over our attention! 

There were horses and people of all ages and skill level, just out to have a good time in a relaxed environment but with some focus. 

No saddles, no bridles, no shoes, no problem!

The first thing we did is just get in the space with our horses and meet and greet everyone and every thing! Here at ICOH (In the Company of Horses Inc.) we have peafowl, guinea fowl, a duck (Howard) cats and horses including a miniature pony,. 

Not to mention jumps, tires for going between or to stand on, a car wash blowing in the breeze bamboo poles for jousting and hula hoops hanging from the trees all to help our horses not worry about us or our stuff! 

In the afternoon everyone had the opportunity to play at liberty, either in the round pen or in the big field! That was fun!  Everyone was able to get connected by spacial awareness and by energy.  

On day two we rode.  After visiting about the day before we prepared our horses for riding by dragging things, cones, barrels, balls, poles and our bamboo, all to prepare for this days riding games which included "Moving Day" where everyone mounted up and hooked up something to a rope and began moving things from one place to another. This "purpose" game helped the people and the horses feel the need to cooperate and not to worry so much.  For the horses who were not ready to drag their own things, they followed other horses brave enough to move stuff.  Before lunch everyone was able to move everything together! This game prepared everyone, horses and humans mentally physically and emotionally for things that could show up on a trail or in a show arena.  The horses were all calmer, braver and more partnered by lunch time.  

After lunch we had a go at our own version of Doma Vaquera and precision with our long poles by skewering a brass ring!  There was a prize for the one who could be moving on their horse and skewer a small ring with their long bamboo pole and the youngest rider with the smallest horse took home the prize! 

The last game of our workshop was the double barrell pattern; set up like a barrel race only mirrored so your first turn is to the left on one pattern and then to the right on the next pattern in an effort to have our horses even and less one sided.

A great time was had by all! 

For more information about future dates for this workshop, check in on our website! 

www.inthecompanyofhorses.com

Fun and Games Horsemanship Workshops

 

Leadership/Dominance and the Herd.

This is Valentine, named because her birthday is actually on Valentines Day and I must say, it wasn't love at first sight, but it was love when Valentine wanted it! 
She was a donation to In the Company of Horses, but when we got her, she really didn't want anything to do with humans or horses.  We turned her out in Jeanne's 29 acres with her herd and only fed and cared for her for one year.  She eventually found her place in the herd, but she never seemed comfortable or "at home". 
Then one day I was on my way back home from  my horsemanship mentor Aimee Brimhall and I stopped in at Jeanne's.  While I was at Aimee's we had spent several days learning to see and think in mental pictures and then be able to share those mental pictures with others, humans then horses.  So when I got to Jeanne's Valentine was running the fenceline and yelling at me.  Now I have been to Jeanne's countless times over her year with us, with and without horses.  She knew my herd, but my experience with Valentine was limited to the first day I met her and trailer loaded her and brought her to Jeanne's.  So of course I went over to see what she wanted.  I went ahead and offered to put my rope on her and invited her out. I was committed to using no body language, only mental pictures.  That is hard because communication is mostly body language and I have practiced using body language with horses for many years.  So I cleared my head and had a thought and picture that Valentine and I go somewhere together, and before I knew it, she had lept into the air and all I saw was sky around her, I was amazed!   All I did was have a thought! I realized I needed to be clear in my thoughts with her, like lets go over there, not just lets go somewhere.   I said to Jeanne, right there, I have to take this horse home with me!  So, I put her in the trailer, and she was mine! 

Now, when we got home it was interesting, my herd accepted her right away, no hooves flying, no biting, just pure acceptance of this mare right away.  And it was there that I really began to learn about leadership from Valentine.  I had been learning from Aimee about what herd leaders do. How they act, and now I had my own example right in my yard to show me, every day. 
 Aimee is truly a student of the horse.  She was a young home schooled girl in Montana who went to the Parelli University at 15 years of age.  When she got home her parents, wanted to see results from what she learned, so she began starting colts to earn $$ for her next semester the Parelli University.  When I began to study with her, she had 78 colt starts under her belt.  So, like Pat Parelli says, I can't experience, experience for you, but second hand gold is as good as new.  So for me, Aimee's vast experience with horses and her ability to communicate about that, has been a gift for me.  It was just what I had always been looking for since my handsome Sorrel gelding came into my life and managed things so well 15 years earlier!  And, now I had this lovely new horse, beautiful, smart, willing, and athletic who totally picked me! 

Valentine was six when she came to us and according to her papers, she was born in Canada, and lived in six different homes in her six different years, she had been through three professional trainers and given away to her last two homes.  So I think she was always looking for her home and she seemed to know immediately when she got here that this was it, and everyone here knew it.  She changed my whole herd.  She is strong and athletic and clearly is a benevolent leader, my herd loves her. 

Whispering Jessie

The first horse who really welcomed Valentine was Jessie.  She is the same age as Valentine.  Jessie is a dominant mare by nature, very handy with her hind legs and very willing to use them.  She firecely defends her herd and keeps incredible order, but would never lift a hoof to the man Sorrel, and immediately helped Valentine to learn the lay of our paddock paradise (I'll tell you about our paddock paradise some other time).  I have watched Jessie countless times cause, passively in the proper position, the herd or mostly her herd leader follow along.  She is not a leader, but she is the enforcer.  The lead mare Valentine, decides to go and everyone follows.  Valentine does not need to cause, she has a thought and everyone gets it and off they go.  But there is no doubt that Valentine needs the herd and she wants them.  Leaders need someone to lead and the herd needs a leader to care for and follow. 

I have watched Valentine be concerned after I moved the water trough after cleaning just a few inches, such that she could not get close enough to drink out of it, then without a word or a lead rope, she went to get Jessie who boldly walked right up and drank out of the trough, only a sip, backed away, invited Valentine to drink, then they drank together and walked away together. Although I didn't notice her, Jessie was keeping watch, waiting to be of help to Valentine.   Herd leaders know they need their herd. I have watched Jessie want to go to the front lawn and for over 1/2 hour, she watched and waited and caused her herd leader to want to go too.  Then when it came time to go down into the creek and up the bank to the front lawn, Jessie waited for Valentine to go, then the whole herd followed.

When Valentine communicates with the herd, it is clear, animated even, never mean, just, quick and light, she doesn't leave a mark, then it's over, no one is holding onto it.  It's like the communication is recieved with gratitude for it's clarity.  Just like when Sorrel use to boss Patches around when she was a baby, the more he told her what to do, the more she loved him.  Pat Parelli says "every horse is a natural born follower looking for a natural born leader".  Since learning more and more about leadership, I have found this to be true, every lead horse is looking for a leader, every dominant horse and every passive horse, they are all looking for a natural born leader.  But with that leadership there comes responsibility to be mentally and emotionally fit.  "Bitchy" horses are not leaders.  "Dominant" horses are not leaders.  "Passive" horses are not leaders. Leaders are not necessarily the most brave, but they do have courage and they know without a doubt that they are leaders.  Emotionally unfit humans need to gain emotional fitness to become leadership material for our horses.  Not dominant, not passive, but clear, fair, just, athletic, fun, friendly, flexible, willing to follow, willing to change, one who pays attention to everything and lets go of the past quickly!