Sylvia, thanks so much for your program. I adopted a 5-year-old Quarab gelding who had little to no human contact. He is my first horse and I wasn't sure I made the right decision in getting him, but we had a connection from the minute I saw him. With your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System program we have in a matter of weeks gotten him to actually want to be with people. The first time the rescue facility went to get him, it took 3 hours to catch him and another 2 to get him into a trailer. It's been amazing to watch the change in him following your 12-Step Program. Now I don't have to catch him; he either just waits for me in the pasture or even sometimes comes straight to me! Sylvia, I can't thank you enough for your fantastic program!!! I've taken this completely untrained 5-year-old Quarab gelding and in just 2 months I am now able to put a saddle on him and ride!! The most amazing part though is the bond we've formed with your techniques. I read every book and watched every horse show I could before I bought your program. What stood out about you was your emphasis on our bond with our horses and your conviction that we can indeed do this ourselves. My horse and I are forever in your debt!!! Thanks again for a great program, web site and all your help! You are amazing!!!
R. M. - Lowell, Indiana
Thanks for being here! Your Round Pen Leadership and Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System DVD's are amazing teaching tools and you are a clear and concise trainer that I have found very easy to learn from.
If you have a mailing list of upcoming clinics that you allow auditors, please include me. Any chance I get, I try to go to clinics to absorb the good, and remind myself to not "do" the not so good.
T. G. - Marshall, Virginia
Hey Sylvia, I watched your Round Pen Leadership and Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System videos last night. Your videos are very practical and really take the ego mentality out of horse training. You truly present the Natural Horsemanship concepts in a way that anyone young or old can understand. As you say in the video "you can do this!" I really walked away with the understanding that anyone can do this!
Chris Mitchell
Christopher Mitchell Horsemanship
Salem, Alabama
I am so excited with the Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System program I purchased recently from you. My horse is a 4-year-old Saddlebred and is my first horse. I volunteered at a horse rescue for a year to learn all I could before getting a horse and I learned a lot. My horse had been gentled and had good ground manners, but had not been ridden. I worked with her and her previous owner and started riding her before she was ready and I learned a very costly lesson: I took a fall when she spooked and I broke L1 vertebrae, cocyxx fracture, and severe neck sprain. I am healed now and much wiser. I then ordered your Complete Package (which contained your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System DVD's, your Round Pen Leadership DVD, your Natural Horsemanship Halter/Lead Combo, Training Wand, and Training String) and started her training all over...and now my horse is calmer and I am more confident. Thank you so much for this program; it really works and I would recommend it to anyone with a horse!
C. W. - Chase City, Virginia
Dearest Sylvia, I recently purchased your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System for my 12-year old daughter. She is a Level 2 [another NH trainer program] student. I bought her the [other trainer's] program when we bought her horse. It has been wonderful for them, but there was that special something that was missing. And then we found you! (We purchased her first horse six months ago. He is now 6 years old and has one brown eye and one blue eye.)...
We have absolutely fallen in love with you and your methods. This horse was in Hurricane Katrina at the young age of 3 years old. The breeder lost everything. The story goes they found this horse on a tiny mound of land surrounded by water. As fate would have it, he made his way to central Florida. Apparently the place he arrived was extremely cruel to him. He has scars on the back of his ears from their clipping techniques. He seemed to trailer load great. The first time we tried we understood why. He had been forced to load, he was absolutely terrified of the trailer. Because of the two of these incidents this horse was also absolutely terrified of blue tarps and clippers.
We had tried so many approach and retreats and a lot of sessions with other Natural Horseman Trainers with no success. This horse always seemed to be a nervous wreck after each session. However, we have been using your techniques for the past three weeks since purchasing your program and the difference is absolutely amazing! This week he paraded around with the blue tarp draped completely over him, and this morning, he walked across the tarp eight times, head lowered at ease. What a miracle! After struggling for six months. You are such a blessing!
We are still working on the "at ease with the clippers." We are using all of your bonding techniques and approach and retreats. This is a horse that was so ear shy when we purchased him that no one could touch his ears. After the purchase we found out that they had to drug him to clip him. The first time we turned on the clippers he got very wide eyed and began snorting. When I saw the scars on the back of his ears I understood why. We absolutely refuse to twitch or drug him to clip...I now have printed out some of your clipping advice from your website.
Thank you for everything that you do. As my daughter has said during the last three weeks every time that she and her horse pass through a threshold, "I love Sylvia!"
Keeping it natural,
K. & R. R.
Winter Haven, Florida
Hi Sylvia! I watched your Round Pen Leadership and your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System DVDs (you are absolutely incredible!), set up the round pen, and am ready to get started on the training. I can hardly wait! Your instructions were very clear and easy to understand.
J. K. - Fairview, Tennessee
Dear Sylvia, Thank you for your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System program. It has made my daughter and me feel like professional horse trainers and has turned our horses into great obedient friends!
S. S. - Luthersville, Georgia
Hi Sylvia. I have a 5-year-old Percheron cross PMU mare I adopted this spring. When I got her at the beginning of April, she was frightened, mistrustful, and willing to get hostile if she felt cornered. She wouldn't let anyone within 50 feet of her and had major issues with ropes. She also foaled 3 weeks after I got her, and since I didn't want to have the baby pick up on mommy's issues, I didn't try to do any "training" in particular with this mare while she was nursing. Instead, through lots and lots of undemanding time, I gained her trust to the point she could be caught, groomed, tied, led, etc., safely. Anyway, now her baby is weaned, so I've finally started working her and your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System DVD set has been great at helping me keep this "wild" horse relaxed while starting her.
T. G. - Thaxton, Virginia
Thank you so much for all of your excellent advice! I rode my horse this morning after viewing your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System DVDs once more. As I saddled him up, he didn't flinch a bit. I got on and yielded his front quarters and hind quarters, just as you said, and he did great with that! I walked him around in the arena. I did one-rein stops and "sit, blow, whoa" two-rein stops along the way. Then I picked him up to a trot. I trotted him around and did a one-rein stop again. I reversed and did the same on the other side. After that, we trotted in and out of the cones. He rode like a dream! He was so controlled, even I was shocked! His headset was great! He loves the John Lyons headstall, bit, and reins that you recommended! And so do I! We rode for about an hour. As for the clipping, he is getting better. We wormed him this morning and he didn't throw his head, back, or balk at the tube. We have been using your desensitizing methods. It took about 10 minutes, and it was all done (lots of head-lowering, licking, and chewing)! My horse has changed so much since I have been studying your program. He just keeps getting better and better. And so am I! It just amazes me how great you are with horses and how much you have helped us. May you be blessed ten-fold for all that you do for others. Much Love,
R. R. - Winter Haven, Florida
Hi Sylvia. I have bought your Round Pen Leadership and your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System DVDs and have really found them very helpful. My horse (13-year-old thoroughbred) and I are making great progress. He had been classified as mad and not fit to be around humans, but with your techniques he is slowly coming around!
J. v.Z. - Cape Town, South Africa
Hi Sylvia. I have both your Round Pen Leadership DVD and your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System DVDs and have watched them over and over again. I really enjoy them and I've learned a lot!...Also, thank you for your helpful coachings and lengthy email explanations along the way! I really appreciate it and will try them all. I will let you know how it goes and keep you posted of our progress. I must say that the fact that you were willing to offer email support is quite unusual and is what convinced me to try your videos. I really like your "down to earth" approach - it does help me feel that this is something I can do. Best wishes and thank you again!
C. H. - Earth, Texas
Hi Sylvia. I can't thank you enough for your wonderful products. [We bought your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System DVD set, your Round Pen Leadership DVD and your Natural Horsemanship Halter/Lead] I have returned to horses after many years - rode as a teen but not much after that. I'm now 53 and have been taking lessons again. We decided to buy two wonderful haflinger geldings 6 months ago. They are great - but being aged 3 and 4, we wanted to start with a program like yours to establish us as the leaders. And it is working so well! You and your work are just great for novices like us! Thanks so much!
P.S. Your monthly e-newsletters are also terrific!
J. T. - Millmont, Pennsylvania
I bought your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System about 1 month ago and have been using it with my “problem” horse. I like it a lot! After using “other” NH programs, your approach seems to work well with this horse. I basically started from the beginning with your program like this horse didn’t know what a saddle was. Everything is going really well (your DVD set helped me a lot to keep him calm or calm him down really quickly). Thank you so much.
M. C. - Crozet, Virginia
Hello. For my birthday, my husband gave me your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System, as well as your Round Pen Leadership DVDs. I absolutely LOVE them...Thanks so very much!
P.S. I love the online newsletter - keep up the good work!
W. G. - Starkville, Mississippi
Hi Sylvia. I just wanted to tell you how great things were going after only 2 DAYS of applying your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System DVD program!! (I've only watched the 1st DVD of 3 so far--can't wait till I get to the rest!). He's like a different horse already! I'd been using [another trainer program] with the horse I had been leasing and when I got my new horse, I started him with it. We got to Game 4 in that other program and then I got stuck. He just wasn't responding in so many ways:
1. He was nervous on the cross-ties (dangerously) pawing when he got upset;
2. Didn't like being groomed;
3. Stopped standing at the mounting block for me;
4. Head was always high when I was leading him and when we would ride outside the arena.
Then I started doing your steps in your program. I did your bonding technique where I put my finger in his mouth and lower his head and then I'd put my arm over his neck. I used your leading technique to keep him 6 feet back with some slack in the rope. I yielded his head on the ground and in the saddle.
And here are the results already!:
1. He's much calmer on the cross-ties now and when he does get nervous, I lower his head, etc., and he calms down immediately;
2. He's still a little shy at being touched on the right side, but definitely getting better [that will be covered in the remaining DVDs I have yet to watch];
3. I lowered his head/finger in mouth before I mounted him and he just stood there quietly;
4. He stays 6 feet back with slack in the reins, head down, when I lead him. If he does come too close, I just send him back like you teach--he learns really quickly;
5. When we rode and his head came up, I stopped and yielded his head. When we started again, his head was down and he was relaxed!!
The most important thing is, I feel connected to him again! I felt like we were so caught up in tasks earlier that I lost our relationship and he is a really sweet horse. I know [the other trainer] says it's all about the relationship, but I found it really hard to keep our relationship through their tasks... Your stuff was really what we both needed! I am really excited and confident that I can have the relationship I want with my horse!! Your program is really great!! Thanks again,
P. S. - Groveland, Massachusetts
Sylvia, All I can say is thanks again for all your help and always being there when I need you! What a blessing it is to experience your honesty and concern in the horse world. I purchased your Round Pen Leadership and Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System DVDs and have to say both have made a great difference in our horses. I’m so glad I discovered your web site over a year ago; it’s been a true blessing! Thanks again.
S. S. - Luthersville, Georgia
Hi Sylvia, I have adopted a six year old "green broke" paint mare from a local horse sanctuary and we've just started your training program [I bought your Complete Package]. In just a short time, I have seen many positive results in areas that needed improvement!
K. C. - Shingletown, California
Hi Sylvia. I bought your Round Pen Leadership and Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System Program (in your Complete Package) and am using it on my 7-month-old colt. He’s doing wonderfully! Thanks!
D. M. - San Diego, California
I just put in my order for your Complete Package. I have a 16-month-old appaloosa filly. Thanks for a tremendous web site - with all the information that is on there - free of charge - how could I not buy what I need from you!!!!
J. W. - Argyll, United Kingdom
Hi Sylvia. I bought your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System and Round Pen Leadership DVDs earlier this year and have been working with my 3 ½-year-old quarter horse gelding using your techniques. He has been doing great! I think very highly of your training techniques and have really enjoyed and learned from your videos. Thanks,
A. T. - Knoxville, Tennessee
Dear Sylvia, I have just finished watching your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System DVD set for about the 4th time. I love how you not only demonstrate baby stepping the horse through the training process, but it conveys the tutorial to the human in the same way. The way the volumes are broken down into lessons makes it clear how each lesson is building the foundation for the next step. The more often I watch the DVDs the more I pick up on the nuances in body language - human and equine. Since that is how horses communicate - through body language - it is so important in the natural horsemanship training process.
I have used your system on my horse (who was trained by you) to reinforce what he has already learned, because he is a young horse who will constantly test me. Every day we do a couple of the lessons to reinforce my status as his lead mare in our herd of two. If we have trouble with something, I go right back to that DVD, review and repeat the process then the next day with success.
I have also used your system on other horses, and their owners end the sessions with such big grins on their faces, because they saw their horse transform right before their eyes!
Thank you so much for giving me these clear communication tools. Anyone can successfully adjust their horse's attitude and have him/her accept the leadership following your methods on this DVD.
Judi Ludwic - Blacksburg, Virginia
Hi Sylvia. I love your training program (Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System and Round Pen Leadership), and I have followed much of it in training a dominant 10-year-old Arab. He was gelded at 7 years old; I have had him 10 months. I had hoped to have him mounted and rideable by now, but have had to work at my job extra hours, leaving no time to work with him. But he has come a long way from when I walked him home from his previous owner's. He never thought anything was wrong with plowing me over then, but he now respects my space, backs up over ground poles with as many hooves as I request, and will jump small jumps when I point to them. Thank You,
M. C. - Temperance, Michigan
I just finished watching your DVDs for the 2nd time (Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System and Round Pen Leadership). That was fabulous for me to see! I learned so much. My new gelding arrives next week. Wish me luck! Your DVDs were very clear to me, and I look forward to beginning communication with and playing with my new horse.
T. S. - Austin, Texas
Hi Sylvia! Your courses are absolutely wonderful (Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System and Round Pen Leadership) - very easy to understand and apply! My horse and I completed your course in three days and we both feel wonderful. I feel a little like Dr. Doolittle now! I can actually have a conversation with my horse! He is relaxing more and more each day and we are having a great time building our vocabulary. As you show, I also found that explaining the cues to him from the ground prior to using them from the saddle eliminated hours of confusion and frustration for both of us. What a wonderfully simple yet effective concept!
M. H.-S. - Bradenton, Florida
Hi. I absolutely love the content of your videos (Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System and Round Pen Leadership). It has really helped me and my mustang. I recently helped save a young mare and her colt from the killer and mom is halter broke and that's about the extent of her training. I need to keep reviewing your wonderful videos 'cause I forget easily (child of the 60's). Thanks,
M. R. - Fort Collins, Colorado
I received your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System DVD's last Monday (thanks for the super-fast shipping) and got to work on them right away. I used them on my 6-year-old appendix mare and my yearling filly, with some pretty great results. I love your concise approach. I have a photographic memory, and it was so easy for me to get a picture in my mind to go with every step once I got out to the arena because you did not muddy it up with long explanations and endless jabbering. (I have owned, studied, and tried to implement the NH methods from [two other leading NH trainers], but always got bogged down or had trouble remembering what to do because they take too long on each topic for my liking, and seem to do a lot of talking as well.) So, I am happy to report that over the past week, I have gotten my 6-year-old mare through the 12 steps completely (1 time - working on each step until it was pretty good, then moving on), and my yearling through to the point where you would begin saddling [later when she's older]. Both have done very well, and my mare pleasantly surprised me when, only about 10 minutes after the desensitizing with the plastic bag was complete (on ground and in saddle at walk, jog, and lope), the neighbor's pack of dogs came through the woods and up beside the arena and barn area, making lots of leaf-rustling noises and causing my dogs to bark and chase them. I was on my mare at the time, walking through serpentines in the ring. Normally, she would have tensed, perked her ears hard, lifted her head, tuned me out, and possibly reacted in a mild spook. She did NONE OF THIS! She kept walking the serpentines willingly and focused on me. She looked in the direction of the ruckus a few times, enough for me to know she acknowledged it was going on, but remained calm and focused on me instead of becoming distracted and reactive. Wow! That is one of the reasons I initially bought your DVD's, and after only 1 session, there was major improvement. I am a believer! Since then, she even wears a tarp over her head fine. I did the same things with my filly 2 days later, in the pasture they share. The filly did well, after working through some fear, and the 6-year old mare watched without being bothered. She was curious about the filly with the tarp over her head, but was not freaked out by it. I was thrilled. Thanks for your help!
A. B. - Rocky Mount, Virginia
Hi Sylvia. I recently purchased your Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System DVD set and have started at the beginning with my new 7-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare. She has been ridden in the past, has had one foal last spring and I know very little about the first years of her life. She is a very big (17.3 hands) spirited girl and I'm quite sure I am "overhorsed" at this point. When I initially got her two months ago I rode her almost every day, just around our small acreage, gradually increasing her distance away from the barn and her one 17-year-old pasture companion. After a few weeks she became increasingly difficult to control, refusing to go ahead away from the barn, trying to rear up and continually balking. At that point I knew I needed to get back to basics with her, ground work etc...Thanks for your help and the great and clear videos!
J. W. - Springfield, Oregon
Hello, I purchased your your Round Pen Leadership and Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System DVD set and am happy to say they are a big help!
M. L. - Lebanon, Tennessee
Hi Sylvia. I want to let you know that your Round Pen Leadership and Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System DVDs helped me take my extremely unconfident, untrusting young Missouri fox trotter with a severe "eye changing" problem (first time I'd heard of this was on your DVDs) to his current state of confidence, trust and relaxation under most circumstances. Before learning your natural horsemanship techniques, I never believed I'd be able to ride him outside an arena (and without a big knot in my stomach). We've just now started riding out on trail, and he is relaxed enough to gait without a bit which I was told by the "experts" probably would never happen (he couldn't even gait with one a few months ago). It is not that issues still don't pop up, but now I can "read" my horse's behavior better and can deal with the issues that arise. Right now that often involves getting out of the saddle and working through something safely on the ground when needed.
P. P. - San Jose, California
Hi Sylvia, I live in the U.K. and have purchased a number of your training aids and your DVD program from your web site, all of which have been invaluable.
I wanted to tell you about my success story with a 4-year- old Arabian mare that I have trained using your methods. She came to me from a friend 5 months ago who owns a stud farm. The friend was hoping I would have the time available to help her mare. The mare had experienced a lightning strike which had killed one of her companions and caused her to jump from the field in fright. Unfortunately, she jumped into woodland that contained sheep wire to stop smaller animals from entering the paddock. Because the strike happened at night, she was caught up in the wire until she was found in the morning. Her injuries were extensive and particularly severe to her hind legs. Veterinary treatment and dressing the wounds continued for a whole year. Luckily, she remained sound, but came to me with the physical and mental scars from this experience.
When she arrived, I couldn't approach or touch her legs. There had been so much treatment history and she was obviously afraid of her legs being handled. She would kick out with the hinds and run over you if you lifted the fronts.
I was planning to back her, but needed to fix all these problems first. I searched the Web looking for foot handling solutions and found your web site. Not only did your methods help me with this issue, but it led to my developing a keen interest in your whispering way techniques.
Your halter and training string have been used extensively and I can now lift and pick out all four feet.
The farrier has been able to trim all her feet, but I must admit we do struggle a little with the hinds because she is still afraid to allow him to hold these for longer periods. However, each time it becomes a little easier.
I have worked with her on the ground exploring all of your techniques starting in the round pen at liberty and then moving through your twelve foundation stages. I finally backed her last week, which was quite an emotional experience, especially because of the journey we had taken together to finally reach this stage. I really couldn't have made it this far without your videos, training tools and web site Q&A. Thank you very much! Kind Regards,
M. A. - Harpenden, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Sylvia, I bought your Complete Training Package back in December to help me train a 4-year-old colt...I really have enjoyed your DVDs and I also think the training tools are top rate. Thank You,
A. H. - Rock Springs, Wyoming
Hi Sylvia. Recently I purchased your Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System. I have been working with my 6-year-old green broke mare with great results! She is really responding to the Whispering Way!
K. F. - Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Thank you for your wonderful website. I so much appreciate your generosity with answers and information (and your DVDs are great too!). You've been such a help to me, you have no idea :) Thank you!
B. T. - Ellensburg, Washington
Just thought I'd share this with you. We have a 7-year-old formerly spooky Arab. We have completed your Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System program and he is doing very well. Today, while turning him out in the geldings' field, a plastic bag came rolling and leaping across the entry paddock. Our boy stopped, looked at it, watched it roll on by, and he kept walking calmly. Meanwhile, there were 7 other geldings on the other side of the gate. The biggest and badest of the bunch saw the same bag, totally freaked, jumped up in the air, spun around, and caused all the others to get upset. Our boy calmly went about his business. I was watching this from the van as my 14-year-old daughter lead him to turn out. I was holding my breath when I saw the bag coming. Our horse knew what it was because we had desensitized him (via your program) a few months earlier.
Thanks for the great program you have developed, and the Q & A section of you web site!
Best Regards,
D. & M. C. - Virginia Beach, Virginia
Hi Sylvia, I own your Round Pen Leadership and Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System DVD's and they have been a tremendous help starting my young horse!
T. M. - Oneida, New York
We recently purchased your videos (Round Pen Leadership and Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System). I looooove them!! I saw a difference in my mare the FIRST time I round penned her using your techniques!! I have watched other horsemanship videos, but I have to say that yours are the easiest to understand. I love how you break things down into "baby steps"! It is amazing what you can do with your horse when you speak their language!!! Thank You Sooooo much!! Keep up the good work!!!!!!!!
J. E. - Jackson, Georgia
I liked your videos so much [Round Pen Leadership & Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System) I'm ordering them in your Training Videos Package for my friend in Las Vegas! :)
S. R.-P. - Nederland, Colorado
Sylvia, I have a 7-year-old quarter horse mare who suffered an injury to her DDFT in the left hind in December 2007 and is currently in rehab. She is coming along nicely in the healing process, but her exercise is limited to 30 minute handwalks per day. She is stalled with a 12x18 attached paddock. As you can imagine, handling her suddenly became quite a challenge!
She came to me with a number of "holes" in her training which became more evident when she was out of work. I purchased your Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System DVD set and we have already made some real progress. She no longer runs me over when I get her out for her walks. We have mastered the head-down cue, intimacy, and she plays a great "red-light, green-light" game! We have just begun the basic desensitation exercises since she has decided that there is a lot to be afraid of outside her stall.
I have her standing quietly both tied in her stall and in the cross-ties for grooming now. She picks up her feet great and we are beginning re-training for bathing, one quiet step at a time, since she never bathed well. We also pulled her shoes and she is being trimmed by a Natural Hoofcare trimmer. For the first time since we've owned her she doesn't need to be drugged to have her feet done!!! She NEVER liked getting shod!
Thank you so much!
G. A. - Napa, California
Hi Sylvia. I bought your Training Videos Package (Round Pen Leadership & Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System DVDs) last year and have come to you with questions many times and you have always given me good advice. Both my gelding and my filly are doing great on your program and I can really see a difference in our relationship. We are all making great progress!
A. T. - Corryton, Tennessee
Hi Sylvia! I am using your Round Pen Leadership and Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System DVD set program to train myself and my kiger mustang, as well as the Q&A section on your web site, and I am really enjoying your clear, specific instructions. I am a teacher in my fifties, living my dream because of people like you who believe that we can all communicate with horses - it just takes lots of patience and horse time. Thank-you!
L. P. - Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada