Letters of the Month

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

August 2005

Hi Sylvia. I ran across your website the other day & was very interested in the advice you gave on how to train two horses to eat together peacefully. I tried it & to my amazement it absolutely works great! After about only a couple "lessons" my two geldings are now eating peacefully side by side out of the same feeder! Tonight I even fed their oats together; normally the more aggressive horse would have had the other horse backed off into a corner while he ate the oats, but he absolutely showed no aggression towards the other horse at all!

Thanks for the great advice!

Alicia A.

Northern Minnesota

Link Alicia is referring to: http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/TrainingTips19.html

 

Alicia and husband and their Arab geldings

August 2005

Dear Sylvia: I am sorry that it has taken me so long to write to you. I want you to know that my lateness, I hope, does not reduce my sincerity. I can't tell you enough how much your kindness, support and hard work meant to me. You made my first clinic so nice. All of the help and wisdom and words of encouragement that you shared mean so much to me.

You are a true professional and a class act! Thank you so much!

P.S. I have truly enjoyed watching your web site and seeing the progress of all of your new construction. I hope to visit some day! With sincere appreciation...

C. C.

Claypool, Indiana

 

August 2005

Sylvia - I was just looking at the amazing photos of your new property. I don't think I have seen anything quiet as beautiful. You must just about be the luckiest person in the world to live where you live. To wake up each morning and look out your windows and the wonderful sights. I would love to ride at your property - it just looks fabulous. Great photos - I looked at every one of them and just daydreamed about one day having a property like yours!!

Now an update on my horse - firstly I would just like to say that without your help I may have given up on him too early - not ever having a young horse before, your help was just what I needed.

He is just a doll - he has settled into his new home and loves it! Now when I get him from his paddock and move him to the area I ride him he is just like a puppy - happy to follow me wherever I go - he couldn't care less about any other horses and when they go by he may canter up to say hi but then goes back to grazing and doesn't want to go with them. He has accepted where his home is and loves his pony friend.

I have fallen deeply in love with him and I'm sure we will be life long partners!

Once again, great to see the photos - If I lived there, I would never want to leave home.

K. H.

Newcastle, Australia

 

August 2005

Dear Sylvia, You are so kind to reply so quickly and with so much detail!

I attempted "join-up" with my horse early in his training in a small arena, blocking off the corners and running to keep him going! I was successful in getting him to "join-up" and follow me around. I did it again today with lots of changes in direction just to reinforce it. He locks his ear on quite early, but takes a long time to lick and even longer to drop his head.

I also did the backing lesson you described with success! I am not waiting as long for a response before I up the pressure, as I really feel he understands what I want, he justs needs to know I'm serious about the request!!!

I am thankful that you were able to identify his behavior as "naughty boy" as opposed to not understanding what I want. Knowing what he's doing will help me with training, especially in the "no grey area" aspects. I have been giving him the benefit of the doubt thinking that perhaps my cues weren't clear or they were confusing, and I think he's interpreted this as him moving up in the hierarchy.

He always becomes the dominant horse in any equine herd he's been in, and I think he tries daily to dominate me by giving me little tests to see if I'll allow him to. I'm becoming more aware of his little quizzes he gives me and am becoming better at being able to say "No, I'm the leader in our little herd."

I think I've been hesitant in the past to go to the final stage of pressure (like jerking on the halter) in my attempt to be a gentle, kind "horsewhisper." Your explanation of his behaviour and how to deal with it has given me a clearer understanding of how to do both effectively.

THANK YOU!!!!!

C.

Internet

If you have a horse problem or question and you

don't see it addressed in TRAINING TIPS or if you

would like to share your success story with our

natural horsemanship training methods...

Contact Sylvia Scott

Email: Sylvia@NaturalHorseTraining.com

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