Letters of the Month

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

November 2005

Dear Sylvia, I have only recently discovered your web site, and want to thank you for the very sound, compassionate, kind advice which you unstintingly pass on. It helps not only those who have requested assistance, but those of us who read your responses and learn a great deal from them. Your site is beautifully designed and just such a fountain of knowledge and great good sense. All delivered with profound insight and concern for the emotional, as well as the physical well-being of our horses. This is something that is sadly lacking in so many people in the horse world.

I live in South Africa, which is a wonderful place for horses to live in terms of wide open spaces and tons of excellent grazing.

I can’t begin to describe how much your methods have helped me with my very difficult four year old mare, Bianca. I was starting to despair, and she has swiftly turned around in an amazing way, and is now a much happier, more serene horse.

I wanted my own horses for 20 years, and only achieved the resources and space to keep them four years ago. My herd consists of four, all of whom had bad things happen to them in their lives. I have rehabilitated them over the past four years, and three are doing so well, and have become the most loving, responsive, gentle and generous horses. Bianca, the baby, who was abused when she was tiny (less than 6 months old – people are diabolical), has always been a huge challenge; biting, kicking and attacking. At least I had managed to stop the kicking, but the other two were still an issue, especially once she grew bigger than me.

She has always also hated all creatures smaller than herself: chickens, dogs, children, sheep, guinea fowl – the list is endless. These days she is much more tolerant, and my chickens are no longer in danger of being spatchcocked by a hoof!

So from all of us, both human and equine, and I include friends who have also drawn inspiration and benefited tremendously from your site, a heartfelt thank you for sharing your wisdom and helping us to help our horses.

Kindest regards,

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

November 2005

Thanks very much for your quick response, I will definately take your advice and get hold of your products. I saw a few tips on your web site about how a scratch in the right place can calm a horse down. I tried it today and was amazed with the results! Thanks again

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

November 2005

I am beginning to regret buying her because of these issues... Although she is great when being ridden, her ground manners are very unsafe for a 9-year-old child..... but deep down I swear when I look in her eyes, I can tell she is a very good girl...I'm just not sure how to help her.

I've been reading on your web site about how to keep her from running over you when being led and as soon as I send off this email, I'm going to go try it....

Thanks for all the information!  PLEASE keep it coming!

A. C.

Internet

Follow-up letter from A.C. one hour later...

I went out about an hour ago and worked with the horse in our round pen. The hardest part when separating her from our other horses, is getting her attention. She's staring at them, sometimes hollering. So I free-lunged her briefly to get her attention. When she was ready, I went through your list of Horse Whispering Tricks one by one... with great results. She was nearly wrapped around me when I was finished. Then I went through the back up exercise with the Volume technique. I needed to escalate to a jerk before we were done each time, but she did do it. Then I led her across the pasture away from the other horses with great results.

We'll keep up the work. I'm going to teach my daughter how to do it with me as the horse and transfer eventually to the new horse. I'm feeling so much better. I didn't tie her, just thought we'd end on a good note and let her learn to trust us gradually before working on the next step.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A. C.

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

November 2005

Hi there Sylvia. I happened across your web site and am learning so much - I can't get enough. I really enjoy the way in which you explain yourself - it makes so much sense and even I can do it!!

K. D.

New Zealand

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

November 2005

Sylvia, just a short note to tell you that you have the most comprehensive, down-to-earth, informative web-site on natural horsemanship that I have ever seen! I've only got two horses, but I have six of the most beautiful, well-trained/behaved MULES that a guy could ever hope to have. Actually, I only have 5 that meet the foregoing description. The sixth is a 2.5 y.o. molly that is testing my training ability to the MAX! She's out of a registered mammoth jack and my reg. paint (solid) mare. She is perfect in every way and kind of a rarity in that she is Jet Black...no points or marks anywhere.  We're best friends 'through the rail', but when I go into the pasture or pen for any reason, she tucks her tail, ducks her head, clicks her teeth, smacks and turns her butt to me. She's overly bonded w/a 14 y.o. gelded pony and runs to him for security at the drop of a hat. They even share the same feeder unless I isolate them. She's impossible to catch unless I haze her into a small pen first. In the round pen, she'll move around in both directions and give me her head or at least an eye and even move towards me as I back up. When I step toward her shoulder for praise, she starts the mouth clicking and acts scared to death. She loads, clips, vets, trims, bathes and stands tied with the best of them, but I'm starting to feel that she doesn't have a lot of 'try'. I don't know much about horse colt starting, but a mule has got to have 'try'! A wannabe mule trainer who was visiting my area for a cutting asked me if he could put a start on her at the age of 1 yr. and I agreed. When he entered her pen to put a halter on her, she turned away from him and as he tried to approach her shoulder she feigned a warning kick which inspired (I use that term loosely) him to exit the pen, grab a pitchfork and proceeded to make it very uncomfortable for her to not face him. This was my first mule colt and I submitted to his experience and knowledge of mule training and allowed him to do this, much to my shagrin. He eventually got her haltered, into the round pen and ultimately mounted an unloaded pack saddle on her and tied her around to the near side for about an hour. She didn't resist and seemed resigned to her first "training exercise." This man returned to northern Utah, (I live in southern Utah) and I was left to fend for myself. Never prior to this event was she hard to catch or halter. I imprinted her at birth, and handled her daily with no problems. Since that event, she has cowered any time I approach her, especially if I have a lead rope and halter with me. I thought about sequestering her away from her constant buddy, and relying on me for everything e.g. food, water, treats, exercise, attention etc. I have tempered that decision based on what I learned on your site. I was searching the web to better understand this overly submissive, fear based reaction of a colt when I found your website. I used a search phrase of "colt signs of submission" and was intrigued and enthralled by the info I found on your site. My printer is going full-time as I write this. The info I read regarding mules, their unique tack requirements, etc. was right on the money. There are several nationally renowned mule trainers and clinicians that I'd like to mention. Bill Burden, No Name Ranch, Muscatine, IA, Terry Nichols, OK, Brad Cameron, MT.  Well, so much for a short note, but I wanted you to know how much I appreciated your knowledge and willingness to share information. Any tips on re-establishing trust and breaking the buddy-sour syndrome would be appreciated. Keep up the Good Work!

B. W.

St. George, Utah

LETTER OF THE MONTH:

November 2005

Hi Sylvia! I want to thank you so much for responding to my e-mail last weekend - I feel bad that it's taken me this long to write back to you!! You are one special lady for being so responsive and helpful! After further review and study, I have come to 2 conclusions. Number one is that my horse really needed to get out of the arena and do a little trail riding. It has helped clear her mind and not dread going into the arena. Number two is that my saddle does NOT fit her as well as I thought. I put it on her again without a pad and studied it hard - the pommel height is not enough - her withers are too high for this saddle. I can't get even 2 fingers in between the swell and her withers. I have searched for information re saddle fit and in addition to the information provided on your website I have found diagrams and templates so that I can accurately fit her with a new saddle. As an aside, I have been just walking her around, trail riding, nothing strenuous, walking, for the past 4 days. Yesterday I took her in the arena and she was like she used to be! Since I know the saddle doesn't fit right I didn't press the issue. I know we'll straighten this out and again, I appreciate your help!!!

S. H.

Bronson, Florida

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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