Testimonials

Four months ago, a beautiful eight-year-old old Peruvian Paso mare came into my life. I choose not to call her by her registered name here, for she came from a Peruvian Paso ranch, and I surely don’t want to point negative fingers at anyone. So, we shall call the mare Espiritu (Spirit).

Espiritu was rescued by a wonderful breeder out of New York who had witnessed Espiritu in a very poor situation; the mare had a beautiful foal by her side, which the breeder purchased and took them home together until weaning. Espiritu’s new guardian contacted me to personally appeal taking Espiritu under my wing, and in her own words she explained, “Espiritu is very nervous and scared, basically gentle-natured and kind, but she does not trust people at all.” It was the following comment, however, that was the topper and grabbed my heart: “Espiritu’s previous trainer despised her and her owners didn’t want to feed her anymore.” It was then, I knew, Espiritu needed to come here to heal.

With all my years of experience in rescuing starved and abused horses, I have never seen a horse so fearful of humans as Espiritu was. It took me three months just to earn the trust to touch her briefly! But when I did, she would quiver and shake and then bolt; this truly was a heartbreaking experience. How could any horse get into such a fearful state? Finally, I hit a brick wall; I couldn’t go any further with Espiritu on my own. She would only allow me that tiny, momentary space in her life, only to touch her for just a second and then she would flee, terrified and shaking. I knew I needed some outside help.

It was then that I heard about Natural Horsemanship trainer, Sylvia Scott, who was located about an hour and a half from me. I emailed Sylvia and asked if she would work with Espiritu (at my expense) and also asked if Sylvia would consider donating some of her time working with some of the shelter horses and teaching us Natural Horsemanship. She didn’t hesitate. We immediately made the connection and she was here! Thank you Sylvia and NH!!!!

Sylvia spent about two hours working with Espiritu her first visit here and Espiritu made dramatic progress in just that short time. Under Sylvia’s guidance, Espiritu would actually allow Sylvia to touch her, rub all over her without shaking, quivering, or fleeing, and her head down softly, relaxed for the first time I’d ever seen her around a human. Without a halter, she followed Sylvia around, joined up. She allowed herself to be haltered willingly and she yielded her neck nicely as Sylvia used pressure and release to teach her how to yield and to relax. Sylvia even taught Espiritu during that first session to back up nicely on the lead rope! Sylvia ended that first session with Espiritu relaxed and happy and completely unafraid.

It was a moment I will never forget. To see Espiritu’s fear disappear for that short time she was with Sylvia was amazing, and from there, after Sylvia left, Espiritu’s trust slowly grew to allow humans once again in her life. I worked with Espiritu after that, and I could actually go out, halter and lead her, with her remaining calm, which was something I was not able to do before.

The second visit a couple of weeks later, Sylvia easily was able to halter Espiritu, lead her to the round pen and begin to work on her training foundation without any signs of fear in the horse. After bonding, and emotionally reconnecting with Espiritu, Sylvia set to work first on desensitizing Espiritu so that her fear threshold could be raised to handle anything put before her. Espiritu went so fast and compliantly there, in all the steps and challenges that Sylvia put before her nurturingly, that Sylvia finally turned and called for the bridle and saddle. What an unbelievable experience to watch Sylvia bridle and saddle this calm, happy, transformed horse. Espiritu remained accepting of everything Sylvia asked of her, and Espiritu even accepted softly and trustingly the weight of the human on her back, and she did not erupt in fear at all, but the opposite: she accepted everything beautifully. Sylvia ended that session on a high positive with the horse clearly wanting more, which Sylvia emphasized is crucial to do in all training sessions: know when to walk away on the positive, she stressed. This way, the horse is more eager to come back into the next session, often even farther along than where you left them.

Natural Horsemanship is truly the most effective way of training horses I have ever witnessed or experienced. I know the next visit from Sylvia I will be able to ride Espiritu with Sylvia supporting Espiritu! I encourage every horse owner to familiarize themselves with NH and to use it!!!! It works. I highly recommend Sylvia Scott for all your training needs.

Thank you Ms. Sylvia for opening up a new world for us as horse and rider!