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Sylvia
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LETTER OF THE MONTH:
April 2008
I highly recommend the Whispering Way™ Foundation Training Series: Complete Guide to Horse Breeding, Foaling and Foal Training, Featuring Bob Claymier DVD set. If, like me, you have never had the experience of breeding your own foal, these DVDs will prove to be a valuable tool. Bob's wealth of knowledge guides even the complete beginner through the whole wonderful experience.
The level of detail provided in the late stage pregnancy observations and preparation for foaling ensured that I was fully prepared for every eventuality. When the birth happened, I was confident and easily able to control the situation, ensuring that mare and foal were both happy and healthy. The content is clear and easy to follow; however, because there is such a lot of relevant information, I would certainly advise anyone to watch it more than once.
The highlight was imprinting the foal in the first hour following birth. This process has resulted in my foal trusting and approaching almost anyone and has created a special bond with me; she already yields willingly to human contact and handling and is very confident when lead to and from the paddock. Following imprinting at birth, she has always happily worn a head collar and currently leads safely with the lead rope behind her quarters.
I will continue to follow Bob's guidance through weaning and then eventually back my youngster. By this stage I hope to have developed a very strong foundation with my horse and together we can both enjoy many pleasurable times under saddle.
Maggie Andrews - Harpenden, Hertfordshire, U. K.
LETTER OF THE MONTH:
April 2008
We recently purchased your videos (Round Pen Leadership and Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System). I looooove them!! I saw a difference in my mare the FIRST time I round penned her using your techniques!! I have watched other horsemanship videos, but I have to say that yours are the easiest to understand. I love how you break things down into "baby steps"! It is amazing what you can do with your horse when you speak their language!!! Thank You Sooooo much!! Keep up the good work!!!!!!!!
J. E. - Jackson, Georgia
LETTER OF THE MONTH:
April 2008
Hi Sylvia. I just wanted to let you know that I was finally able to use the round pen with my boy today and we are making progress following your Round Pen Leadership DVD. I got him to yield his hind quarters with a “kiss” and pointing. I didn’t keep at it too long because I didn’t want to throw too much at him at once.
When we first started out, he was galloping and doing a little kick and buck sort of thing and would turn toward me at a dead gallop trying to intimidate me, but I would toss the rope in his direction and he would veer off. It seems clear that he didn’t want to relinquish the role of pasture boss, but he finally decided the struggle wasn’t worth keeping the title and he became much more compliant. We still haven’t mastered the turning with a look or arm point, but I can tell he was trying to understand what I wanted, so when I got him to yield the hindquarters several times, we stopped there for the day.
I also just ordered your rope halter and 12 foot lead rope. The rope halter that had been used on him by his previous owner was a stiff, course one that scratched and wounded his face, so I was hesitant to use another rope halter. I had it in my mind that it was a tool of torture, but I can see now that YOUR rope halter is only a training aid and not something that will hurt him. Your rope halter looks soft and flexible in the videos, so I wanted to give it try.
I’m watching your videos closely and hopefully I can follow your guidance correctly when training my horse.
Thank you so much,
K. C. - Apopka, Florida
LETTER OF THE MONTH:
April 2008
I love your web site and your explanations of problems people are having. [I just ordered your Complete Package.)
A. S. - Norfork, Arkansas
LETTER OF THE MONTH:
April 2008
We are expecting our Arabian mare to foal within a couple of weeks, and planning on breeding our newly-bought Arabian stallion with our mares in May and June. We have books and video by Dr. Robert Miller and others on foal imprinting and horse breeding, but I was glad to find your video collection {Whispering Way™ Foundation Training Series: Complete Guide to Horse Breeding, Foaling and Foal Training, Featuring Bob Claymier} to help with our live cover breeding. A live picture is worth a thousand words.
Looking forward to having this video collection in our horsy library. Thanks again!
D. M. - Milton-Freewater, Oregon
LETTER OF THE MONTH:
April 2008
I liked your videos so much [Round Pen Leadership & Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System) I'm ordering them in your Training Videos Package for my friend in Las Vegas! :)
S. R.-P. - Nederland, Colorado
LETTER OF THE MONTH:
April 2008
Sylvia, I have a 7-year-old quarter horse mare who suffered an injury to her DDFT in the left hind in December 2007 and is currently in rehab. She is coming along nicely in the healing process, but her exercise is limited to 30 minute hand walks per day. She is stalled with a 12x18 attached paddock. As you can imagine, handling her suddenly became quite a challenge!
She came to me with a number of "holes" in her training which became more evident when she was out of work. I purchased your Whispering Way™ 12-Step Total Training System DVD set and we have already made some real progress. She no longer runs me over when I get her out for her walks. We have mastered the head-down cue, intimacy, and she plays a great "red-light, green-light" game! We have just begun the basic desensitization exercises since she has decided that there is a lot to be afraid of outside her stall.
I have her standing quietly both tied in her stall and in the cross-ties for grooming now. She picks up her feet great and we are beginning re-training for bathing, one quiet step at a time, since she never bathed well. We also pulled her shoes and she is being trimmed by a Natural Hoofcare trimmer. For the first time since we've owned her she doesn't need to be drugged to have her feet done!!! She NEVER liked getting shod!
Thank you so much!
G. A. - Napa, California
LETTER OF THE MONTH:
April 2008
Your web site is amazing! I have an orphaned colt who is now turning three this year. I raised him since he was about five months old after his dam died of African Horse Sickness. He is unbelievably cheeky. But thanks to your site, I can now confidently handle him, knowing he does everything I ask of him willingly! Keep up the good work!
K. - Nelspruit, Mpumalangs, South Africa
LETTER OF THE MONTH:
April 2008
I have a two-year-old female quarter horse. I am a first time horse owner and have a few issues. Your web site is great and so far your Q&A pages have been very helpful.
S. C. - Austin, Kentucky
LETTER OF THE MONTH:
April 2008
Sylvia: I am 55 years old and new into horses. I was given a 14-year-old Egyptian Arabian because no one had the time to do anything with her and they thought at least I could breed her or something. We got her Labor Day weekend of 2007. We once or twice got a lead line on her, but only through trickery. She would let me get fairly near her, even to pet her sometimes and to give her treats. She'd come near me; she'd look at me, point her ears at me, all the signals were that she wanted to bond, but just was too shy and would not let me get the lead line on her.
I read your article on round-penning as well as other articles on your web site explaining natural horsemanship and what to look for. Yesterday morning I decided what the heck and moved her into a smaller round pasture that we have. I have a very soft white rope that I started moving her with. I never touched her with it, but kept her moving most of the time. More often than not I was able to turn her when I wanted to, also. My technique was less than perfect and I'm sure I made a lot of mistakes but, the end result was: I was able to walk up to her and clip the lead line on her FINALLY, calmly, scratch her and take it off, then clip it on again. I took her out of the pasture and let her graze on the really tall sweet new grass. I petted her. She was spooky -- even the buzzing of a bee made her start, but she stayed under control.
When finished, I took her back to the training pen and removed the lead line. Then I put it back on her and we had a short "love session." She let me lean against her neck on her left side and I ran my hand under her chin and up to the right side. She all but laid her head on my shoulder. No weight but barely touching. We stayed like that for a few minutes and then I let her go.
What a day!!! It's all positive and forward from here! She didn't want my finger in her mouth but we will get to that.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your wonderful web site articles and insight. I feel my horse and I have finally bonded; not just touched "fingers" as it were, but actually "held hands."
Thank you for giving this to both of us,
J. C. - Internet
LETTER OF THE MONTH:
April 2008
Hi Sylvia. Just received your newsletter which I always thoroughly enjoy. Just thought I would give you an update on my beloved horse, since learning so much from all your advice that you have kindly given me in the past. I cannot tell you how much my horse is more like another child these days!! From the simple bonding techniques I learned from you that he truly loves and gives himself up to me -- for example he will come to me and stand leaning against me for some real hands-on loving, around his neck and face, or he will turn with his butt in my face with his tail lifted so high for me to scratch underneath, most days I only have to be going about my chores and he will lift his tail to tell me he wants some loving there!!
Those are the nice things, but this week it was time for my horse's dental check up, which I hate, let alone the horse; he had never met this particular girl equine dentist before, plus she had a bright red pickup truck that she drove into the field, which he was staring at with the utmost curiosity, but a little apprehensive. I just took this head collar and lead rope, held him on a long lead, and walked calmly without nervousness. He followed like a lamb to then have his mouth cleaned out, a gag fitted for his teeth to be rasped and he melted!!! How can a horse have a leg resting whilst such a procedure is going on?! The dentist let us put our hands and half way up our arms inside his mouth to feel some slight sharp pieces which she was rasping. He was amazing and we were so very proud, she said she had never known a horse to be so good and calm. After 45 minutes the gag was removed and he just stood there. I told him to go off and play and he frolicked down the field as if something wonderful had just happened. It was a truly amazing experience; most horses afterward would have stayed away in the fear they would be caught again, but my horse just walked back to me for a hug.
I would like to say, Sylvia, if it had not been for your kindness in always getting back to me with advice when I know you are so very busy, I would not be where I am today; you never failed to email back when you must have thousands upon thousands of people to give advice to. Thank you, Thank you, for everything. My horse gives a neigh and a huge hug for you!!!!
My Very Best Wishes And Love,
A. O. - Higham, NR Rochester Kent, United Kingdom
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