Letters of the Month

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

July 2008

Dear Sylvia, I was so looking forward to this Saturday morning set aside to watch your Round Pen Leadership video. OMG! What a revelation!

My take on it is probably different from a lot of other people who watch it. You see, my horse knows all those techniques; he did when he came to me. But to him (and me), they were just techniques. They did not automatically make me the lead mare because I didn’t have a clue about the attitude and subtleties of communication and timing that you teach. Also, there were holes in what techniques we practiced too — like inside turns. I had read John Lyons on inside turns, but I couldn’t figure out what he meant. You can’t get eye contact, subtle body cues, and timing from a book!

I also like what you say about the bottom of the “Volume of Pressure” being the mind. I find that horses, especially Arabians I’ve ridden, read minds a lot...I find I have to be super-disciplined myself with my thinking and planning. If I get confused or wishy-washy, the horse will respond to a thought that I didn’t really want to put into action. Often I have asked for one thing with my mind and another thing, a second later, with my aids. The horse responds to my mind...

I also love your interplay of assertiveness/affection. Sometimes I think, not entirely subconsciously, that I can have either love or respect from my horse, but not both. I think a lot of people think like that, especially like me, middle aged women new to horses — I bet that’s 80% of your clients!

I also like that you weren’t looking at the camera directly. It seems you were teaching a class or group. By seeing you in profile, I felt like I was really sitting right there outside your round pen...

Also, I was gratified to see that you were working with even an older Quarter Horse. I think I’ve been too hard on my little 10-year old Arab, blaming him for being an Arab and expecting too much too soon. I remind myself of some patients I used to have — career women (especially, say, managers) who had their first kid at, like, age 40. They expected their kid to be a perfect little adult right out of the womb. I love your text at the end about patience and compassion and understanding.

I now plan to do this round pen work with my new lead mare attitude, then go slowly back thru your Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System video set and restore my confidence after a bad fall [before I bought your videos]. I do think that, again, it’s not just the techniques, but the attitude one has while using them and the ritual of going through the steps that is important. It’s the ritual more than anything else that builds confidence and leadership. This is true in medicine too — it’s the ritual of pills, shots, acupuncture needles, whaddever — more than the physical effects of the intervention that is curative. It’s the ritual between the healer and the healee, same as between horse and trainer. I just happen to like your rituals more than anyone else’s!

This video really plugged a lot of holes in my spotty, rote understanding of horse training and relationship building. Thank you so much.

Be well and thanks again!

B. K., MD - Woodside, California

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

July 2008

Hi Sylvia. I read your questions & answers on your web site all the time. Thanks for making these available, they are fantastic! Keep up the good work, you help many people like me with our horses! Yours is the best web site out there!

V. R. - Ardmore, Oklahoma

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

July 2008

Hi Sylvia. I am emailing you from Derbyshire in England... I am a great fan of yours and am currently working through your Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System DVDs with my two-year-old gelding...The natural horsemanship training with the two-year-old is going well and he is learning to yield to pressure and back up...

Many thanks for a great website!

P. R. - Derbyshire, United Kingdom

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

July 2008

Hi Sylvia. Just thought I'd give you an update [regarding my horse with the nipping behavior problem that you advised me on]. The backing and loud "shhhhh" sound worked wonders. It just took a couple of times before he "got" it. I've become better at reading his behavior, also, so I now know when he's even just thinking about coming in to put his mouth on me and I just start to give him the "shhhh" sound (don't even have to use the lead line) and that's enough to send him backwards and out of range.

He continues to be a "mouthy" horse with objects around him, but I've figured out how to use this behavior for good instead of "evil" (ha, ha). I've taught him to retrieve things for me on command (hats, dog toys, etc.). He'll do it for me not only when we're on the ground, but also when I'm in the saddle, turning around to hand things to me after he's picked them up. It's also worked for desensitizing him to things falling or being tossed from his back, as anything moving above him used to really spook him. It's obvious that he's proud of himself with the retrieving trick. I've attached a picture of my "1000-lb Missouri spotted retriever" for your enjoyment.

Take care and thanks again for the great advice!

P. P. - San Jose, California

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

July 2008

Hi Sylvia. A few weeks ago I contacted you for advice to build a round pen. We just finished today. To get the round pen level, we brought in 125 tons of unsifted top soil - we had to bring the one side up 44 inches. Then we added 22 tons of stone dust. We may need to add a little more stone dust but, for now, it's very nice to ride on. Thanks for all your help! Respectfully,

B. H. N. - York, Pennsylvania

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

July 2008

Hello Sylvia. I wanted to thank you for opening my eyes to a whole new world. Your web site and DVDs have helped me better see things from a horse's perspective. I feel like I have more "feeling" and connection with them.

I found your web site quite by accident. I am a member of an email group, and your web site was given as a resource for horse training. I was amazed at how much I learned from the round penning section there. It was fantastic. I tried the methods and they worked. I had to learn more, and purchased your Round Pen Leadership and Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System DVDs. I am now training my 2-year-old Morgan filly with great progress.

When you say that "You Can Do This," it's really true!

Sincerely,

E. R - New Lebanon, Ohio

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

July 2008

Good morning, Sylvia. I received your Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System DVD set and Training Wand on Monday and have viewed the entire set already!

Sylvia, the pearls of wisdom I was able to catch during the viewing of these lessons where wonderful! While I have studied [other leading NH trainers], I felt for me, some of their techniques are a little too forward (if that is the right word) to be able to obtain the results/relationship I was looking for with my horses. Hence, lead me to continue my search for additional training help, not just for my horses but for ME as well.

You have done my heart good, Sylvia, and have given me the confidence, along with the rational understanding (a human thing) to help my horses be the best they can be, on a level we can both work with. To nurture is an inherent female trait, and with a huge populous of women returning to their love of horses after rearing families, careers, etc. (like me!) your techniques give us the permission to do just that: nurture while training.

Your campaign of "YOU CAN DO THIS!" is as true as it gets!

Thank you again for your focus on teaching a very important component in horse training!

D. M. - Windsor, Connecticut

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

July 2008

I had decided to sell my "perfect" horse who never spooks with others but only with me. He is my first horse after 20 years not riding and I think he just had my number. I was too scared to get back up on him. But I tried your round pen exercises posted on your web site just to see what my non-respectful-of-me horse would do...amazing! He actually paid attention to me. He didn't want to drop his head at all, but he did do it twice. I wasn't frustrated or angry and it worked! I am giving him, and me, another chance, to get confidence in me and my leadership. Thanks for the exercises on the web site. Now I am excited to get your Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System DVDs [I just ordered].

J. W. - Hemet, California

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

July 2008

We are currently using your halter/lead combos on our horses and really like them [and are ordering more]...Thanks so much!

S. T. - Hondo, Texas

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

July 2008

Sylvia, your solution worked like a charm [for my horse who has recently developed a habit of chewing on cross ties while we are tacking up and also tries to grab the reins and chew on them while I am in the process of putting on his bridle]! As soon as I made a loud shhhh sound and firmly pulled the reins out of his mouth, he just stood there and looked at me. It only took a few times. After riding, when I put him back in the cross ties, all I had to do was make the shhhh sound and he dropped it. We'll see how he does today, but I think we are on our way.

I just love your web site, Sylvia, especially the Q&A.  It is so informative and I am learning so much by reading it. You do a great service to horses and their dedicated riders. Thanks again for taking the time to respond to my questions.

Warmly,

J. T. - Internet

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

July 2008

I am really impressed with your program. I recently found my passion for horses, and while not an owner yet, I am in the stages of learning all I can first. Your gentle program and training style is definately the way I will go when I decide to take that exciting plunge.

C. - Newport News, Virginia

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

July 2008

I have to tell you how awesome your technique is when it comes to horses that kick when asked to pick up back legs [Foot Handling Problems].

I have a 1-year-old Warmblood. I got her when she was 6 months. She did not have much handling and was incredibly scared of EVERYTHING. She would shake and sweat at the littlest thing. I used a lot of approach/retreat with her and I am pleased to say she is a peach! BUT she would not let me pick up her hind legs at all. She would kick, violently, sometimes with both back feet at once.

The first farrier appointment was horrible. After an hour and a half we got one hoof done. Second time, both front feet, but no way was the back going to get done. I was at a loss for the 3rd time and the vet was here to sedate her. This in itself was a huge nightmare. My vet, who has trained many, many horses, would not get in the stall with her as she was so crazy.

I was told by both vet and farrier that she is crazy, "ship her." I came in and immediately made some contacts to find her a new home. BUT there is something about this girl that is hard to explain. I couldn't give up!

So I again searched and searched, contacted trainers, etc., etc. To no avail UNTIL I found your web site.

I read about the lead rope around the ankles. I thought this may actually work. So we did it! I highly recommend leather gloves, but after I started the process, I couldn't stop and let her win. She kicked and kicked, was really upset that I had the control, and no matter how hard she kicked, that rope would not let go. After 3 days of this, following your procedure to the T, I was able to go and pick up all 4 feet by asking her to "lift" and she not once has tried to nail me again...There was literally this look in her eye of  resolution. She said to herself, "I believe, she got me and I can't get away with it anymore."

I give credit where credit is due and YOU saved me and my horse. I absolutely love this filly and I know she has tons of potential, I just didn't think I was qualified enough to keep her.

So thank you very much and please keep up the great work!

M. 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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