After finishing Carolyn Resnick's book Naked Liberty, which I naively bashed and then apologized for, I wanted to write more in depth about what is wonderful about her methods. I've read so many books, watched countless DVD's and tv programs and attended clinics that the rhetoric gets old. There are many trainers, especially western trainers, that sell themselves and make people think they have some special new method.  My first disillusionment was discovering that many of them used the same groundwork exercises that have been used for years and weren't new or unique to that trainer.

It all gets overwhelming, discouraging and confusing.  I want to do what is right by the horse and myself.  Is there a way to work with horses to create a symbiotic relationship that we BOTH enjoy?  How does one create this relationship with the necessary boundaries that protect both the horse and the person and build respect and trust?  I believe there is and Resnick has found it.

This very long introduction is necessary to fully understand why this book is so very helpful.  You see, it fit in perfectly with everything I felt to be true up to now.  It includes ways to empower the horse without giving up boundaries or being too aggressive. My other favorite training book Empowered Horses by Imke Spilker gives great arguments for having an empowered horse but doesn't give you a way to start.  I did write to her and ask if there were suggestions to get started, but she said this was also empowerment for me.  All well and good, but I was lost more than empowered.  I guess one can have too much empowerment...

Resnick, on the other hand, has a way to start the conversation with the horse, and that's what Spilker missed. The basis for Resnick's method is "magnetism" which is the connection between the person and horse where the horse wants to be with you.  In other words, you don't go out and capture your horse and halter it, it comes to you and puts it's head in the halter because it wants to (Read the book for further instructions).

How many times have you heard how some or other trainer "speaks the language of the horse"?  What is that, exactly? I used to think it was "round-penning" the horse which I thought created that magical connection, but it doesn't. It never did what I thought it would do, which is create a strong bond with the horse where it would want to be with me, work with me, etc. In fact, the round penning technique only seems to temporarily connect the horse to you.  I was always disappointed in how I would round pen the horse and get it to "latch on", and then that would be the end of it; clearly it didn't create a long-lasting connection.  Other trainers begin and end with this lesson on "horse language".  They never mention any other aspect of how horses interact or communicate.  

Resnick goes beyond the usual propaganda about the "language of the horse" to reveal a much wider, richer world of horse communication. She describes the language of horses in terms of pecking order.  We all know about it, we all see it, but we never talk about it. It makes so much sense to me that the horse's "language" is related to this and that it all leads to a stronger herd.  The goal of horses is to become a cohesive group, a herd, that can ward off predators because of the cumulative strength of the individuals.  

How many times have you watched a video or gone to a clinic and heard about how horses are "prey animals" and we are "predators" and therefore are afraid of us? It makes sense to a point, but then again, why do they come to trust us at all?  It seems obvious to me that the predator angle loses its value at some point.  Once the horse figures out we aren't there to kill it, then something else entirely is happening.  We are either friend or foe, and they know we aren't exactly the foe, but we don't always act as a trusted friend either. 

Resnick goes further and deeper into the workings of a horse herd to explain how horses communicate and form bonds - not in a nebulous, spiritual vague way, but a scientific way.  Knowing how they form bonds allows us in on the process.  It allows us a way into the horse's world that no other trainer seems to have discovered.  Spilker and perhaps Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling have insight but they don't explain it very well - perhaps they don't understand it this way. Knowing this mechanism allows us the opportunity to form the same kind of bond.  

While the book gives a few concrete steps she doesn't outline her entire process, which actually is good.  When the plan is too rigid then people feel that they must do things this way.  I agree with Spilker that we need to feel empowered too, and Resnick says this at the start of her book. Most of all, I found her methods and suggestions realistic and doable for most horse owners.  If you have any interest in horses, training or horsemanship, I highly suggest reading Naked Liberty. 

The last post I published was to state my disillusionment in the book Naked Liberty by Carolyn Resnick.  I had not yet read it, and based on things posted by others on the web I didn't think I wanted to.  I was, however, WRONG. I hereby apologize to Carolyn Resnick for my short-sightedness.  It is, however, the result of today's horse training market being flooded with all kinds of information both good and bad. It has made me increasingly skeptical! (I have removed the post I am referring to here - no point in leaving it up if it's not true!)

It's clear to me now that the review I read (that made me not want to read the book) was written by someone who either didn't understand or who didn't read the entire book.  As I said in my post, I really shouldn't have passed judgment until I'd read the whole thing. I have now read it and was pleasantly surprised.  I mentioned in the last post about how I constantly look for the book, the method... this book was very close!

Naked Liberty is about Resnick's early experiences with her own horses and culminates in her study of wild horses.  The premise to me, from reading the jacket, was bordering on hokey.  After all, Monty Roberts claims to have studied wild horses too... in an oddly familiar sounding account in many ways to Resnick's.  (I suspect he borrowed aspects of her account for his own.) However, I found Resnick's writing easy to read, interesting and humble.  She gave herself a pat on the back when deserved and also admitted to fault when she made a mistake. The book is largely anecdotal and experiential, including three summers observing and finally being accepted by a band of wild horses.

With everyone and their brother claiming to "speak the language of horses" and to use "natural horsemanship", whatever THAT means, I avoid trainers who make these claims anymore. I have also tried to read Linda Kohanov and others of that ilk, which were too complicated and so very self-important. So please forgive my initial skepticism. Many horse folk are egotistical and trying to sell their own brand of training methods, which are really nothing new when you come right down to it. 

Again, I will say it, I was WRONG about this book! Resnick has a very grounded spiritual quality that blends well with a scientist's curiosity and attention to detail that encourages experimentation. The result is a way of understanding horses that includes friendship and connection as well as setting boundaries and shaping behavior.  She was neither too tough or too soft with her training methods. None of us want to be accused of being too "touchy-feely", nor do we want to be seen as demanding and rough. There are few trainers/authors who walk the line so well as Carolyn Resnick.  

More to follow on the finer points of her method - until then, check out her blog which is very enlightening:

Carolyn Resnick Blog

I'm not sure where to start, really.  Some interesting things happened recently that were oddly inspiring but for the wrong reasons.  A dressage trainer contacted me recently to say that they liked my blog and gave me lots of compliments.  They said that they had been "bashed" online by a person who seemed to attack them for no reason.  After doing a bit of research into the situation I did think that the trainer was being unreasonably harangued. I told them so in an email and also "liked" some of the photos of them riding. There were some decent photos of moments on horseback that I felt ok about commenting on. 

However, because of the bashing the trainer had formed a private Facebook page for their students that one had to be invited to in order to view posts. I joined and perused the photos and videos I was now privy to.  One short clip showed the trainer riding and they didn't ride well.  They couldn't sit the trot and there were some other positional problems.  They said they supported Baucher and yet in most photos they were still heavy-handed as in the German system (which opposes Baucherism).

I dug some more.  The trainer admitted to being "self-taught".  This was surprising to me because most of us serious riders crave lessons and want to find the "One" who can enlighten us yet this trainer only read books.  Still, they were doing amazingly well all things considered.  I reflected on the amount of time I've spent riding and working alone, trying out different theories and methods and know that this was also me - the book-learned trainer.  Still, I'd much rather have someone in person to look at me and correct me on the spot. 

Back to the trainer.  I felt badly for them and I was tempted to do as they asked - write a post dedicated to them.  Something didn't sit right though, so I waited.  I noticed that this person never commented or interacted with me other than to ask if I'd written about them.  I looked up what the trainer basher had to say, and some of it was just plain mean and unfounded.  Some of it was true, though, as in what she said about their riding ability.  I wrote to the trainer again, saying that my support was questionable since I write an unknown blog to a small number of followers (who are all valuable to ME, of course) but I have no pull in the dressage world. Why would I write a blog entry about someone who lives quite far away that I've never met and never seen in person? Would my readers care? I haven't even written that much about those that really matter to me like Oliveira or Baucher!

I think I was kind, but suggested that they take lessons to help themselves and to give them an ally in the dressage world.  I suggested that they be really careful in posting angry retorts to comments made on their Facebook page, and I suggested they be professional in everything they do because they are trying to BE a professional trainer.  I have yet to hear back after several days.  

I believe I dodged a bullet in a sense.  If I had written a blog about that person (in the positive) I would have regretted it because I believe they are unprofessional at the very least.  I also see that the person was only interested in getting something from me that would help THEM, not honest give and take.  They also don't care enough about themselves professionally to improve in every way possible. Some of us are restricted by money, it's true, however one MUST be able to look closely at themselves if they are going to put the shingle out.  You also need some kind of credentials.  This person doesn't show (neither do I, and I don't necessarily think this is the best form of credential), doesn't take lessons and doesn't seem to critique their own riding at the very least. They do not have any teaching certificates from any known associations or schools.  None of the horse they've trained have won anything, that I could tell. 

In fact, the more posts I saw, the more I disagreed with this trainer. The methods they said they support and use were a mish-mash of things that had no business being mentioned in the same sentence.  To me, the fact that they mentioned using two very different training techniques in conjunction with each other shows that they understood neither.  To protect them I of course have not mentioned their name or gender or where they live. I guess I felt disappointed  because it's always great to meet someone who is really interested in dressage and likes to discuss it.  I had hoped to find someone willing to exchange theories and experiences at the very least.  I feel that they tried to dupe me into supporting them instead. 

And the inspiration that I mentioned 27 paragraphs ago? In an odd way, this trainer inspired my too-long dormant love of dressage and teaching.  Perhaps now that we are on the Front Range again I may give some lessons.  We'll see. First I need to get my horses over here!

Some links on my favorite dressage learning sources:

On Baucher

On Nuno Oliveira

Manolo Mendez

Imke Spilker

Taking Stock

I started this blog three years ago in January 2011. I was looking back over my blog posts to see what I'd written about and what folks had read.  I try to make each post interesting but the ultimate goal is an outlet for writing about my beliefs and thoughts about horse training.  I've sometimes stagnated and run out of things to write about, and many posts are few and far between.  One of my goals is more consistency, but the horses are still living in Rifle, which is 350 miles away. Without them, my progress and inspiration has faded.  I do go to see them, but it's never for long enough. 

That said, here are some statistics:

Total pageviews - 4780

Most viewed posts, in order of highest to lowest:

1. Why Do Horses Eat Tree Bark?  
2. On "Lightness" and the Master...Nuno Oliveira
3. Goodbye, BJ
4. Flood Irrigation
5. Michael Richardson on RFD
6. A Cowboy's Love for His Horse
7. What Does Cesar Milan Have to do With Horse Training?

I found this information interesting because the one post that people read was about a common problem with horses. Also, many folks read about flood irrigation, a subject which I found little information on anywhere.  Michael Richardson, a disabled horse trainer I discovered on RFD was high on the list, but interestingly I haven't seen any more of his shows on there.  He also never responded to an email I sent, so I wonder what became of him. 

Much to my delight, the post on Nuno Oliveira comes up third when you search his name and "lightness".   I guess not many people have written about him, which surprises me. 

After three years of blogging I'm thankful that anyone reads it at all.  I'm also thankful to have such an outlet for my opinions.  Those that have responded have been very positive, which makes me feel good.  There is so much negativity out there that one of my fears was that people would put down my blog, but so far they haven't.  

So, if you are reading this - thank you!  If you have something to add, or have a different thought, feel free to speak up.  I like civilized discussion and dissent.  

And of course a special thank you to my friend and most faithful supporter, Leigh Ann Wilder.


Happy Trails!