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Connecting with Herd Bound Horses To Help Them Get Over Their Separation Anxiety

Herd-bound horses can be difficult to manage if you force them to separate from other horses they don’t want to leave. For this reason alone, it’s important to help a horse overcome the overwhelming need to stay with the herd.

When working with horses at liberty, it’s crucial to remove herd-bound behavior to help your horse focus on you and allow the connection between you to grow. When I first began Liberty Training in The Carolyn Resnick Method, my horses were extremely herd-bound, and it was challenging to work with them individually. Carolyn shared some exercises with me to help them overcome the fear of being separated, and now I’m going to share them with you. These exercises are a fun way to train your horse to release herd-bound behavior. It’s certainly more enjoyable for horses to play these games rather than being forced to accept separation. In the Resnick Method, we always seek ways to connect with our horses, aiming for a resounding...

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Communicating with Horses: Eyes, Facial Expressions, and Body Language

As a horse trainer and breeder most of my life, in my late thirties (oh, to be that young again!), I discovered something that I was not ready to accept. It was something I read in Robert Vavra’s book, Such is the Real Nature of Horses. He wrote that horses communicate through eye expressions. As a student of horses, studying the social behavior and culture of horses, I couldn’t believe that this could be so. I thought horses read facial expressions and energy but I hadn’t thought about how the eyes alone could play a part in communication.

I had a mind for details, I found how wild horses in nature create harmonious herds through a code of conduct that had yet to be discovered. It took a comprehensive effort to pay attention to the slightest nuances for anything a horse might be doing as a way to communicate. I was also aware that horses and I were communicating better than most people do with each other. I didn’t see the value of the eyes playing an active...

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Conscious Connection With Horses

 
(Nan Zintsmaster and Pericles share their first dance after just 8 weeks of practicing The Resnick Method of Horsemanship)

Conscious Connection With Horses

I love the term 'conscious connection’ with horses and I feel that it is spot on with what we at The Resnick Method of Horsemanship teach our students. Over the years, as people have become more evolved in their understanding of how to gentle horses safely and humanely, horses are slowly getting a better deal. Whenever I ask someone what drew them to The Resnick Method they usually say they were looking for a kinder and gentler approach to horsemanship. Although these same people know that they want something different, they don’t always know what that looks like, or how to achieve it. 

So, what is a conscious connection with horses?

Creating a sacred space, only interacting with horses when our entire being is focused on the horse, having the awareness to read the horse’s responses to your requests, and a...

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Here Are 5 Tips To Create An Amazing Relationship With Your Horse And ROCK 2021!

 

 

Had a rough year? Really, who hasn’t?

For those of you with horses, hopefully, you have been able to spend time with them and got some reprieve from the isolation of this crazy time in 2020. 

Many of you may not have been able to spend as much time as you wanted to with your horse and feel that it is time to make a change.  

2021 is almost here and it's a good time to plan to have the best year ever with your horse. Try these 5 tips and step into the New Year with success!

  1. Create one or more rituals.

Rituals give structure to our time, especially when we often only have limited time with our horses each week. You may already be practicing a ritual of meditation, or exercise, or spending quality time with your family. Double up on tasks and include your horse. Use the time you go to your horse to meditate, or read a good book, or listen to podcasts that you want to catch up on. Creating a regular time to spend with your horse during the week is...

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Having Trouble Leading Your Horse to new places?

 

In last week's blog, Carolyn shared how to stay out of trouble with our horses and gain a strong leadership position. I want to expand on this subject based on an observation I have had of students when I am teaching clinics. 

It is so important that we are consistent in our leadership with horses. It is much like raising a child. The horse needs to know that he can depend on us no matter what the circumstances.  Often, I see students at my clinics do amazing things with their horses at liberty once they have an understanding of how to interact with their horse in The Resnick Method, but I see them enter and leave the arena leading their horses with zero leadership or awareness of the horse because they have a rope in their hands. The horse's mind shifts into fear and uncertainty because of the shift in the student's energy. I have noticed that people take their horses for granted because they feel that they already have a great relationship with the horse. They do not pay...

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Stay out of Trouble with Horses and Gain a Strong Leadership Position

To be a student of the horse, ask yourself, ‘does your horse feel safe with your leadership?’ and do you have the full attention of your horse when you make a request?’ These questions will help you improve your leadership and gain the trust and cooperation of your horse.

If you are a horse lover and have a strong bond with your horse but are only interested in providing your horse a nurturing environment, leadership may seem unnecessary. This can put you and your horse in jeopardy in many situations such as emergency conditions, natural disasters, and vet and Ferrier care. By being a leader, your horse will seek out your leadership, feel safe in your charge, and connect with you more deeply. When this happens, your horse will give you a high grade on your report card!

Avoid focusing on trying to 'fix' behavioral problems. Focus on getting the horse's full attention in the moment so that you can redirect unwanted behavior. This is a significant point that is...

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To Move or Not to Move a Horses Feet- That is the Question!

To Move or Not to Move a Horses Feet- That is the Question!

What knowledgeable equestrians, trainers, and happy horse owners have in common is that they know how to move around a horse to build trust and when to ask a horse to move around them to develop and keep a leadership position. Horses inherently look to follow a leader. We need to know how to get a horse to choose our leadership. 

We see many people who are letting horses move their feet, causing the horses to lose respect. This blog addresses this matter.  

Word of warning: letting a horse move your feet or habitually moving around your horse rather than putting your horse where you need the horse to be can cause a horse to become dominant and unwilling to be directed. It is essential to know when to surrender by giving room to a horse and when to create respect by moving a horse's feet. This will bring a horse to a willing connection with you.  

The benefit of knowing when to ask your horse to...

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The Controversy Over the Lessons We Give Our Horses

 "The blog this week is on a subject that I think will interest everyone. 

Nan Zintsmaster is my business partner and a master trainer in The Resnick Method. Recently we discussed the value of shaping a horse's behavior to work in harmony with us. We discovered that this would create an optimistic horse excited for his lesson, much like the excitement a dog feels when learning to play fetch. A lot of people are concerned that any form of shaping behavior is not good for a horse. In the following article, Nan describes the detail of her experience with her horses in the Waterhole Rituals and the value this brings to the horse's well-being. I hope you enjoy it!" Carolyn

 THE CONTROVERSY OVER LESSONS WE GIVE OUR HORSES

Lately, I have noticed that there has been a lot of controversy in social media feeds about whether it is right or wrong, good or bad, to influence or shape a horse's behavior in any way. I avoid getting involved in political type viewpoints on social...

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The Difference Between Natural Horsemanship and the Resnick Method of Liberty TrainingĀ®

The other day I was asked, “What is the difference between The Resnick Method and Natural Horsemanship?” Natural Horsemanship uses pressure and release in the performance training of a horse. This training approach is based on making the thing you want your horse to do easy and the thing you do not want him to do more difficult. You persist in asking for what you want the horse to do until it is accomplished. Natural Horsemanship is focused on performance training as well as problem-solving through practical leadership principles.  

The Resnick Method is about relationship building. It develops a partnership and bond at Liberty. It is not focused on performance training your horse. It starts with Liberty training in a free open space rather than a round pen. The surprising result is that by focusing on relationship rather than performance, you wind up with a horse that behaves like a well-trained horse. 

 

 

Another difference between Natural...

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How to Make the Transition from the Ground at Libertyā„¢ to the Saddle, for a Seasoned Rider

This blog is a continuation of last week's blog. I discussed the Waterhole Rituals™ warm-up program's value to enhance the riding and training of your horse under saddle.

The Waterhole Rituals has always been my go-to warm-up program for all forms of riding, whether you are into pleasure, showing, or dressage. It bridges the gap from the ground to the saddle by preparing the horse to be completely focused on wanting to perform. 

The Waterhole Ritual program is my secret to having a horse ready to follow my lead from the saddle. When I first get on, I can feel the horse and I are united. I can feel an energy exchange in my seat, reins, and legs. At that moment, my horse is waiting and anticipating my direction. I then know the connection I had on the ground has transferred to the saddle.

I far prefer the Waterhole Rituals over lunging a horse as a warm-up. Lunging doesn't build the relationship you need to share with a horse under saddle. The Waterhole Rituals focus on...

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