Letters of the Month

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

January 2007

Dear Sylvia,

I would like to thank you for offering such support to all of us out here who are wanting to learn about horses and how to cope with any problems we may be having with them.

Nearly ALL of the trainers on the internet just give a taste of advice as a hook to get people to buy DVDs and videos that may well be beyond them, and then are not interested in helping via email - they just expect one to buy yet another DVD. All ego, no personal touch.

Your site is extremely informative and in depth on all problems we may or may not have - for free! And amazingly enough, in this age of most trainers only caring about the dollar, you give total ONGOING support and caring by email to whomever contacts you!

You worry about complete strangers and their horses, and turn yourself inside out helping them, a very rare thing in today's world!

I bought your Round Pen Leadership DVD as soon as it came out, and it has helped me immeasurably with my horses. Sometimes, pictures are needed to get a point across rather than words.

I also bought your Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System DVD set as soon as it was ready and that was amazing as well!  It is articulate, addictive to watch and fascinating to see how the experts like yourself handle things. It was just like you were here with me, advising me whenever I wasn't sure I was handling certain things the correct way! I have watched it over and over again, and get something more out of it every time! My horses are all the better for your training and I get a lot of comments from other people on how well behaved they are. I have even more people wanting me to work with their problem horses now, as well as train their young ones.

It's certainly an inexpensive way to have a world famous trainer at your beck and call!

I salute you!

Regards,

S. F. - Queensland, Australia

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

January 2007

Hi Syl, my horse is doing very well. I have not completed everything yet from your Whispering Way 12 Step Total Training System DVD set I bought, but we are getting there. I rode him again yesterday at the saddle club and he is really doing well for a previously very hyper horse. But through your techniques, I calm him down now, and he is doing great.

I know you are big on the "one-rein stop" in your teaching and I believe that too as you teach how important it really is.

Let me give you a real story that happened to me and my wife about 6 or 7 years ago in a car and I compare this to a runaway horse.

We were to meet my wife's sister and her husband for dinner at the Outback Steak House in Cookville, Tennessee. As we got about 5 miles before our exit, I had my car on cruise control and I noticed for no reason the car started to get faster and faster. I hit the brake to cut off the cruise control, but it never shut off. I did this and that but nothing worked. The gas pedal seemed to be stuck and we were getting faster and now approaching 80 miles per hour. I kept thinking the control was messed up, but I couldn't get it to disengage and I told my wife we have a problem, the car won't stop and she hit the panic button, if you know what I mean.

I did not know what to do, however I have some experience in hot rods when things get stuck, to shut off the engine.

I told my wife be sure and buckle up because we are going to crash. I had to do something because we were getting close to the exit where we needed to turn off. I hit my brakes and there was a tug-of -war between the motor and the brakes. One was pulling against the other. It sounded like the whole thing was going to fall apart.

When I made the exit turn, I shut the engine off and let the car come to a stop. We were in our Lincoln Town Car and a two dollar part is what caused the problem. The car would not stop until the engine was shut down.

The same scenario is true with a horse. The one-rein stop is what shuts off his engine when there is a runaway situation. My wife would have never thought of shutting off the engine if she had been driving there. There are thousands of horsemen that do not know how to shut off a horse just in case there is a runaway. I have known about the one-rein stop for a good while, but guilty about not putting it into their training foundation in the past. You have reminded me through your teachings how important it really is.

Now I am going to preach it to every horseman that will listen. The above story is true about the car. We would have wrecked if I did not shut the engine down. And you can wreck with an out of control horse if you do not know how to shut their "engine" down with the one-rein stop.

S. L. - McMinnville, Tennessee

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

January 2007

Thank you very much for all of your help. My horse now respects me a lot more and I am able to do things with him more confidently, knowing that with one simple shhhh sound now, he will automatically back off. If I have any more trouble I will email you.

Thanks,

T. E. - Internet

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

January 2007

Sylvia,

The more I look at your website, the more thankful I am for you and what you are doing for the horse community. I have been using NH techniques for three years now and thought I had seen all the NH websites and clinicians, but none compare to yours. It is obvious you want to share your knowledge with others and help all of us become better horsemen (and women!) no matter what our disciplines. The fact that you so openly share your knowledge, contacts, and other NH trainers on your own website speaks volumes about your character and desire for all of us to keep learning! One of the many aspects I love about horses is "you never stop learning." Thank you for sharing, for being a beacon of light, and for helping us see things from the most important viewpoint, that of our horses'.

Thank you and God bless.

S. N. - Oak Ridge, North Carolina

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

January 2007

Dear Sylvia,

I am returning to horses after 20 years and just purchased my first horse, a 5-year-old quarter horse gelding. He is well-trained in reining, although I am not yet, but is not bomb-proof. I have been reading your web-based question/answer section and it has been a great help. His biggest weakness so far is his inability to stand still while I mount. To address this, I have followed your directions regarding things to check first, such as vetting (super health), farrier (super hoofs), saddle fit (new circle Y flex that appears to be made for his back), pad (excellent quality), bit (snaffle D ring). etc. I now believe it is simply a leadership issue and he is testing me. So, I started with the basics: to teach him to back up, come forward and we played your red light green light game today - he is a quick learner! We will do your round pen exercises tomorrow, and then move on to your mounting suggestions, which I think will solve the mounting problem. Thanks for the super advice. You have given me the confidence to believe I can be a great owner to this wonderful horse.

P. R. - Amherst, Massachusetts

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

January 2007

I'm looking forward to receiving the Whispering Way 12 Step Total Training System DVDs. Sylvia is a master of horse psychology with a depth of insight that I've rarely seen in trainers. I recently read her bio and that background in developmental psychology, plus her unusually acute powers of observation, really shines through. (I'm an anthropologist and behavioral science writer by trade so I have an especially deep appreciation of her understanding of both the equine and human brain.)

Happy New Year to all of you. How great that you've got son Trevor back safe and sound from Iraq!

S. W. - Hesperus, Colorado

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

January 2007

Wow, that's all I can say!

I got your e-mail and drove out to see my horse. I brought him in and before I called the vet I checked to see if there was any evident pain I could see myself. I first started to run my knuckles softly over his rib cage because that will usually show if he feels sore. Well, right away he started moving away from me when I got to a point that would be about 2 inches behind the cinch. I checked the other side to see if it was just a newly found sensitive spot for him, but it was just his left side (probably why it was worse for him with the saddle pad seeing as I was approaching him from his left side). At first I felt guilty because I kept trying different ways to get the pad on him completely oblivious to the fact he was hurting, but in all honesty, an injury never crossed my mind! He never showed any sign of pain or being lame. I called the vet, and he said that if he was fine with gentle rubbing and grooming, then what he was doing was probably just remembering that it hurt there, which is why he wasn't showing any sign of serious bruising, and then I should simply rub him softly in that spot so he realizes it doesn't hurt. It seems he was right because after I touched the spot a few times he stopped caring, and you know what? He let me put the saddle pad on without a fuss! I'm not sure how it'll go tomorrow, but for now I don't care, this progress was amazing. I am so glad I found your e-mail because I would never have thought of an injury, and within a few hours of receiving your e-mail, my horse was happily accepting the saddle pad! (He seemed confused once I didn't take him out riding, but I think he enjoyed the strictly-grooming and playing visit more!). I was really running out of answers and within 24 hours I asked for a solution and I got one from you.

I can't thank you enough. (And I'm sure my horse thanks you too, because saddle pads aren't scary anymore!)

J. A. - 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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