Training horses at liberty is all about building trust and clear communication between the horse and the trainer. It requires patience, understanding  and respect for their natural instincts. One of the most powerful training aids that can be used in this process is the PAUSE. The pause is a moment of stillness in which the trainer stops all movement and communication with the horse, allowing the horse to process and respond to what has been asked of him/her. In this blog post, we will explore why the pause is such an effective tool and how it can be used in training horses at liberty.

The pause is effective in training horses at liberty for several reasons. First of all, it gives the horse time to process and respond to the trainer's request. Horses are intelligent animals, but they need time to think and understand what is being asked of them. By pausing and giving the horse this time, the trainer is showing respect for the horse's intelligence and learning style.

Secondly, the...

If you're like most horse owners, you want to develop a strong, trusting relationship with your horse. After all, this magical connection is what makes working with horses so much fun! But how can you be sure that your horse trusts you? And more importantly, what should you do if he doesn't trust you? In this blog post, we will discuss the signs of trust in horses and how to re-establish trust if it has been violated.

Many things go into building a trusting relationship with your horse. It is important to be able to read his/her body language and understand if he/she is comfortable with what you are doing. Horses are prey animals, so they can be very sensitive to the slightest change in their environment or the behavior of those around them. If you are not sure whether your horse trusts you, watch for these signs: Does he come to you when you call him? Does he walk around with you without being led with tack? Does he willingly join you in the activities you have planned for him...

Today I was on Pinterest searching for a new recipe, and a post caught my eye. It said, "how could something this easy be so good"? Immediately my mind flashed over to my work, helping horses overcome a fear of humans and helping humans understand the language of horses. Why do many of us conclude that something so easy could NOT be so good?? I wanted to speak about this subject as it is often overlooked.

Recently,  in our Resnick Method Liberty Training FB group, people were commenting on one post that a woman made about the unbelievable shift in the relationship with her horse since she began practicing The Waterhole Rituals. She said it was like magic; it seemed too easy. Many people commented on the magical shift in their horse's behavior since learning to practice Carolyn Resnick's Liberty Training method. When I read that post, it hit me! Of course, I know this information and believe in it, obviously, but I don't think that people understand that it is indeed...

(Sunset meditation on our arena fence at Dances With Horses Ranch in Costa Rica)

Why is this practice so good for you and for your horse?

We’re all guilty of reaching for our phones first thing in the morning to try and wake ourselves up, but is this really the best way to start the day? Whether we’re reading negative news stories or checking social media, our phones have the potential to ruin our mornings before they’ve even begun.

Starting the day with a morning meditation, with or without your horse, gives you time to get in touch with your body and mind before you start making decisions, and it can give you an immediate mood boost for the day. It has the power to increase your productivity at work and during your daily activities. This will help you to focus on the important things in life before you get the day started: unity, compassion and gratitude.

When possible we encourage you to take this time for meditation to your horse. Not only does meditation...

Horsemanship is an art and, like any art, it requires practice and patience to perfect. One of the most important aspects of horsemanship is learning to share a soft feel with your horse. This is best accomplished through Liberty Training®, which allows the horse and rider to develop a deep connection and communication without the use of harsh aids. When both horse and rider share a soft feel, they are able to move together as one. In a soft feel the horse's muscles are unlocked and elastic allowing him to perform beyond his natural ability.

After training horses for twenty years, I opened the door to dressage and began an earnest study of dressage techniques for training horses.  I was attracted to dressage because I thought it was the highest level of horsemanship that uses light aids with a soft feel. What I wanted more than anything to share with a horse was unity and harmony; that centaur connection where the horse and rider are one. 

Years ago, as I was reaching...

This is a big topic today, from the ground to the saddle.  People are in a search to find “FEEL”

No matter what clinics you attend, horse trainer’s advice you get, or method of training you choose, the thing that always comes up is finding Feel. However, Feel is not usually taught because the main focus is on training the horse rather than the person. 

I was a natural with it came to Feel. My Dad said that it can not be taught. “Carolyn, you either have it, or you don't.” At the time, I felt he was wrong, and then I knew what I would do for a living. I decided I was going to teach others how to connect with a horse to acquire Feel. That is where the magic happens!   

You can be born with Feel, and I believe it can also be taught, but people still spend years not finding their way to Feel. What stands in their way is lack of connection with their horse. They are more focused training their horse for performance and removing...

The Language of Horses

Stepping Into Their World, Not On Their World 

A few months ago I was teaching a Resnick Method Liberty Training® clinic (The Waterhole Rituals™) and at the end of the clinic the students were sharing their “aha” moments and one student shared with the group that the reason that she resonated with our training method, and how we communicate with horses, was because we step INTO their world, not ON their world. This is a very important concept and why I am so passionate about sharing this way of “being” with horses.

One of the most important skills for sharing the horses’ world is listening to their language. I believe that most horse owners want to build a connection and trust with their horse, but often they do not know how to communicate with a horse in a language he understands. 

If you want to begin to build a deeper bond and develop a more trusting relationship with a horse you need to understand the...

A Trilogy: Morning Star, Chip, and Palomino Pevine 

What causes horses to be aggressive? It can be complicated. The answer to aggressive behavior is best handled by understanding the individual horse and the cause that brought out the aggression. Ordinarily, if you don't push a horse, a horse is naturally passive and will stay to himself or choose to bond. 

In a natural herd, you will see aggression from a lack of space, food, and the initial adjustment period of horses coming into an established band. 

Once harmony is established, aggression does not exist among horses and humans. The stories I will share are meant to help you better understand how to help a horse let go of aggression. What is interesting is that it doesn't take much to fix aggressive behavior because the nature of horses is to be harmonious.  

Morning Star                                     ...

The term ‘horse whisperer’ is well known. My definition of a horse whisper is a person that knows how to connect with a horse effortlessly and easily. A  horse will naturally follow their lead with no explanation of why they would. It comes from shared vibrations of trust that can not be seen. The training of the horse is accomplished in moments of harmony and wellbeing.  

To gain the trust of a horse, one must focus on the changes of attitude a horse has toward your influence or your lack of influence. The changing attitudes give information about how to read the vibes of a horse to better know how to communicate leadership. 

Some people think that horse whispering is not natural for most people, I think it is natural. By staying a student of the horse you become a horse magnet. Over the years, I have seen that anyone who remains a student of the horse and wants to connect in this deeper way is successful.   

Horse whispering (at least...

Horses need your authentic self as it is, whatever it is.  What they need is your full attention. When you are nourished simply from their company, they see you care and in those moments a horse begins to trust you, which gives you an opportunity to grow the bond.

In this caring you are more aware of the leadership choices you make. A horse recognizes your care, and develops a habit to naturally follow your lead. In the initial phase, whether it be starting with a new relationship or in each leadership request you make, it is important to approach the horse in this caring way.

When a horse does not feel trapped or pushed, communicating at liberty (without tack), it is easier to read both a horse's reaction to your influence and the vibrations that you bring out in the horse. If the vibrations are not right and you are not aligned with your horse, the exercises in the Waterhole Rituals® will bring back the willingness of the horse to follow your lead. 

You may take a...