LOM June 2009

I have a 14-year-old paint mare who is very pleasant, but with a streak of the devil in her. I read your round pen exercise on your web site and thought I'd try it out on her. I got her to do a fast walk/slow trot in the pen, and after once around, she was my shadow. I had tried to turn her, but instead, she stopped, then stood to face me, and walked right up to me, head down. She followed me in zig-zags, around barrels in the arena, everywhere I went, she was right behind me. I held my right hand out as if I had a lead rope, and she instantly stopped when I did, followed when I moved. Any time she became distracted by something out in the field, I'd make her do a lap in the pen or arena. Her single circle got closer and closer to me and then she was my shadow again. Amazing!

I've been trying to teach her "over," that is, to move her butt over. I followed your instruction to lift my arm at her hindquarters, move parallel along her side and focus my eyes at her butt. She'd instantly move over. Again, amazing!

I do have some trouble loading her into the trailer. She'll get her front legs in, then back out (she's even fallen on her butt, trying to quickly back out!). Today, she balked at the trailer door. I tried flapping a towel behind her, tossing the rope at her back legs, letting the rope touch her. Nope. Wouldn't budge. I got into the other side of the trailer and told her to "load up." Nope. Then I took off my sunglasses, looked her straight in her eyes, my shoulders as square to her as I could get within the confines of the trailer, told her again to "load up," and her mouth starting working. In about 5-10 seconds, she walked right into the trailer! Of course, as soon as she walked in, I took my eyes off her and released pressure.

When I got her home, I fully expected her to bolt and run to her pasture mate (she's very herd bound). Instead, she still wanted to follow me around. She wouldn't leave me until I closed the gate and started walking away. Then she quietly walked up the hill to join her pasture mate.

I've tried other exercises with her, but have never had the rapid positive response I saw today [from your exercise]. I think we were out in the arena/round pen about 1/2 hr, and that included some time for her to look around the place first. Actual exercise time was only about 15 minutes.

I really enjoy the way Sylvia lays things out so methodically [in her Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System DVDs]. My favorite part of the training has been teaching my horse to put her head down.

Hi Sylvia, You probably don't remember me but your workshop in North Carolina several years ago started me on the path of natural horsemanship. You worked with my young mustang pony and inspired us both. I have always loved your web site because you so generously share resources and training tips....Thank you for inspiring me and my pony. I will never forget the time you shared with us. Blessings,

If you think all the information you provide free online [on your web site] keeps people from purchasing your products, I need to let you know what I have read and used on my visits on your site is WHY I am making this purchase now [of your Complete Package]. You obviously know what you are doing, and you communicate with both the novice and experienced horseperson, and truly enjoy getting horse owners connected with their horses. I am excited to get my Complete Package in the mail shortly and start learning some new things. I also enjoy your real person approach through explanations, instead of the cowboy know-it-all approach. Thanks for sharing!

All in all, my horse is doing amazingly well [following your DVD program], and what a difference from just a few weeks ago...I am glad I got your DVD series, and others at my yard are watching me now and wanting to do some of this too. I'll keep going and look forward to more successes!

If you would like to share your success story
with our Whispering Way™ natural horsemanship
training products and methods...

Contact Sylvia Scott

Sylvia Scott's Horse Training Tips

Sylvia Scott's
Horse Training Tips