The Path of the Horse

Welcome Eclipse and Sarah

2011-08-18T15:14:00.000-07:00

I have been following my bliss and creating a new world for horses. To celebrate the arrival of two new herd members, we've dreamed up a

!!!CONTEST!!!

(more about that at the end)

First, some new terms that we'll be using:

wealthy relationships
Our Horses

I've decided to call the way I am being with horses and humans a wealthy relationship.

A wealthy relationship is one where the human recognizes that her needs are being met and that she wants to use what she has been given in excess to care for and improve the lives of the other humans and animals around her.

OurHorses is a group of friends who have wealthy relationships in their lives and who will support others who would like to learn how to have wealthy relationships.

Our Horses is also a term used to designate horses living under my care and the care of those whom I have met and verified that they also have wealthy relationships.

From this point on, I am going to be having help writing this blog from friends who are exploring equine communication through wealthy relationships. Entries will be written in third person to preserve the continuity of voice regardless of who the author is.

Thanks for listening to the call,

Stormy May

Above is an unedited clip of nine and a half minutes filmed by Stormy May on August 18th, 2011 in North San Juan, CA, USA. Pay attention, this has something to do with the !!!CONTEST!!!

The actors:

Eclipse: 8 year old dark bay Morgan x Tennessee Walking Horse gelding. He had been turned out with the others for 24 hours at the time of filming. He first met Stormy May a few weeks ago. He has lived under her care for 2 days. He has been moved from a situation where he was found neglected and starving under the ownership of someone who had "rescued" him from another bad situation a year earlier. Sarah, a neighbor in Foresthill, CA noticed his condition and began to feed and care for him. Her questionings about horse care led her to get in contact with Stormy 5 weeks ago.

Sofi: 8 year old Welsh Pony x Saddlebred pinto pony mare. She has lived with Stormy in 5 different places since she was 3 years old. Stormy started her under saddle for a client and rode her for a year before realizing that her "disobediences" were a clear communication that she did not approve of the restraints and other violations of her body and space. She has not been ridden since 2006.

Patrik: 12 year old bright bay Hanoverian gelding. He has lived with Stormy in 8 different places since he was 3 years old. He has lived with Sundance since 2003. Stormy started Patrik under saddle for a client when he was 3. By the time he was 8 they were schooling second and third level dressage movements under saddle and jumping novice level cross country and stadium jumps. A constantly chewing mouth when bitted and sore trapezius and longissimus dorsi muscles were signs of the damage that had been done by Stormy during the course of his training. He has not been ridden since 2006.

Sundance: 18 year old chestnut Dutch Warmblood mare. She first met Stormy when she was 6 months old and has lived with Stormy since she was 9 months old in 11 different places. She also lived under the care of Stormy's colleagues and students four times for periods of up to a year. She has lived with Patrik since 2003 and Sofi since 2006. Stormy started Sundance under saddle when she was 3 years old. Stormy tried for 11 years to have an enjoyable riding relationship with Sundance. It took trying the gentlest to the harshest training techniques she could stomach to begin to unlock the secret of what Sundance was trying to communicate. Since she was a year old, Sundance has shown the classic signs of a disease called Equine Poly Saccharidal Myopathy (EPSM) or "Shivers". EPSM is a form of rhabdomyolysis classified as a metabolic disease that results in the accumulation of high muscle glycogen and abnormal polysaccharide in skeletal muscles. The signs you can see are an abnormal gait in the hindquarters, especially when at a slow walk, grazing, and getting up and down. She was examined and declared fit to ride by 3 veterinarians. It is only recently that signs can now be seen at the trot and canter. She has not been ridden since 2006.

Stormy May: 38 year old female Finnish x Portuguese x English American. She has lived in 20 places since she was born not including travel. All of the places have been in California, USA. Travel has taken her around the world filming, sight seeing, doing service work and teaching. She has been responsible for the care of at least one and up to 13 horses since she was 10 years old. She also held the positions of Barn Supervisor and Eventing Equestrian Team member at University of California Davis as well as attained an "HA" rating and titles of Chief Horse Management Judge and National Examiner in the United States Pony Club organization which she is no longer a part of. She was a professional horse trainer and riding instructor from ages 18 to 33 and has produced two videos for commercial sale, Understanding Bits (2003) and The Path of the Horse (2008) as well as various promotional and sales videos. She is also co-author of the books Photographing and "Videoing" Horses Explained: Digital and Film (2007) and Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity (2009) as well as other articles published on the internet and in various print magazines. Stormy stopped riding in 2006 and is now exploring equine communication with Our Horses and other friends in pastures around the world and over the internet.

So, more about this contest!

Show off your love for horses, wealthy relationships and your video editing skills by adding music, words, poetry, effects, transitions, and even other Stormy May Productions clips with the Creative Commons usage designation. Please don't use video footage from other sources for this project. Audio can be from any source that is allowed by YouTube. Don't forget to add your own contact information at the end. Animations and creative editing are encouraged!

Contest winner will win a trip to visit Stormy and Our Horses in California. Runners-up will get a Skype brainstorming session with Stormy about creating your own dreams.

Judging will begin when there are at least 10 entries posted for public viewing. Please include links to contest entries in the comments section of the YouTube video page. Grand prize winner will be the one with the highest number of views on YouTube one month after judging begins. Runners up will be the next 9 highest view ratings for a total of 10 winners. Grand prize winner must be at least 18 years or accompanied by a parent or guardian.

More information about us at OurHorses.org

Stay tuned to this blog and Stormy's Facebook page and YouTube channel for more about Sarah, Eclipse and the rest of the herd.

September 28, 2010

2010-09-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

It's Tuesday and I start the journey away from this home tomorrow. I haven't written about it here yet but after the NHE seminar in Canada I'll be attending the annual conference for the European Association for Horse Assisted Education (EAHAE) in Windsor England October 8-10, 2010. I have been feeling very strongly the message that I will be carrying with me to the lands of Canada and England. It's not only a message from the horses but from everyone who is ready to find peace.

I walked down to the pasture today in what probably will prove to be the last heat wave of the season. It was a little before noon and the temperatures were already over 90 degrees Farenheit (32 Celcius for those of you I'll be visiting soon). I thought the horses might appreciate getting hosed off since they don't have access to a pond or river to help stay cool and chase away the bugs.

As I was hosing the horses I started to take the following videos.

At annual conferences people present their research. I will be attending the conference in England because the Path of the Horse will be showing, not as a speaker, but I was thinking about what I would have to present at the conference.

Well, here's the answer. Watch the videos and you'll see some minutes of what I did today with the horses. Sofi, the pinto pony has been scared about having water sprayed on her. When I used to work with her with a halter, I would just tie her and force her to stand for it, but now that we don't work with a halter or any sort of restraint I saw an opportunity to work with her in the way that I wish I would have worked with her from the very beginning. Read more of her story here.

More of Patrik enjoying the water.

Sundance joining in...

When the horses seemed to have enough of the water, Patrik led the others over to a good rolling spot. I figured I'd leave and get my packing started but I chose to go through the gate at the other end of the field. Here's what happened.

Here is a video I present as a question. My horses yawn frequently, and lick and chew. I've heard peoples' theories about yawning being a sign that a horse is content, stressed, "processing", "releasing". I took this video because I saw Sofi yawning when I was scratching her (a regular occurrence). In the video you'll see when she seems to have had enough and move on, and then Sundance comes up for some scratches. I didn't get the yawning response from Sundance here, partly I think because when I'm trying to video and get into the horse space at the same time, I don't do either particularly well. They are equally likely to start yawning when they don't seem to understand something I'm trying to communicate.

This last video is focused on a new ball I got to use with the horses. They've had it in their pasture about 5 times now. Patrik quickly learned to pick it up and the others still aren't quite sure what to do with it. This video seems like a good representation of how I start playing with and introducing new things to the horses. Of course since I'm videoing I don't get as into it as I would without the camera in hand.

This is the last blog post I'm going to enter here until after I get back from the trip. I will be keeping a regular account of the trip on a new blog for people who have become sponsors. Any donated amount will help me fund this part of the journey and get you a link to the new sponsors blog so you can follow along. Click here to donate and get a link to the sponsor's blog.

We vote with our dollars every day. The foods we purchase, the entertainment we pay for, the learning we spend money on, and the animals we support all reflect our priorities. If you would like to vote with your dollars towards helping spread the Path of the Horse as I am walking it, this is the perfect opportunity.

Thanks for joining me and the horses in the pasture,
Stormy

P.S. HorseTalk TV will be featuring a show with Alexander Nevzorov and myself. Click here to see a teaser.

Horse Talk TV episode 4 airs across Australia this Wed 29th Sept at 7pm Eastern Australia time and features a segment on Stormy May & Alexander Nevzorov. You can watch the show live streamed on broadband on www.tvs.org.au on Wed 7pm, with repeats on Fri. 12.30pm, Sat 10am.

NHE seminar in Canada

2010-09-01T20:44:00.000-07:00

I'll be filming at an upcoming NHE seminar in Quebec, Canada next month. The seminar/workshop is being organized by the Dean of the online School and Canadian Representative, Cloé Lacroix, and featured speaker is Michael Bevilacqua of Equi-Forme and NHE Worldwide Representative. I have a feeling that this footage might turn into my next video release. Anyone want to join us? It's October 2-3, 2010.

Click here for the official webpage

Reading to the horses

2010-08-05T21:08:00.000-07:00

I spent some time reading to the horses today.

Mustang Round Up Aug. 9 2010

2010-08-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

‎2,301 of our horses are going to be rounded up next week and over 1,800 of them will be removed from their homes. Who will be there to watch and take responsibility for their welfare?

June 17-24 2010

2010-06-24T15:33:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of pictures from my phone since the last time I updated the blog. Let's get started...

Here is a video I took while still at Shasta the weekend before last. I've been editing a new clip that will be aired on HorseTalk TV in Australia and the US in September alongside a clip featuring Alexander Nevzorov. The pony (Zippy) and woman (Jamie) who are in this following video will be part of it.

Patrik has plenty of the flowers he likes to eat in the pasture right now.

Last weekend a crew of us moved the pipe panels to a new location. Now the horses are out on the pasture all the time. So far so good.

No respect for the huge truck that could run him over...

Sofi, coming for a scratch...

Ok, here's what you've all been waiting for...

Here was the mystery plant on June 19th...

...June 21st...

...a beautiful sunset...

...and...

...today, June 24th!

A hidden sister in the blackberry bushes.

One last look for today.

And here are the other flowers in the garden, enjoying a watering.

Moments in the pasture

2010-06-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture from the clinic. Ladybug and the ponies joined us for some carrots and apples through the kitchen window.

When I got home, there were more flowers in bloom...

Today I captured some precious moments with the horses in the pasture.

After I switched the video off, Sundance laid down and then I turned the camera back on...

Sundance standing guard as I sunbathed in the grass

On my way back up I checked out the mystery plants. Here's one of the buds that didn't get eaten.

Another mystery plant hidden amongst the berry bushes.

The blackberry bushes are in full bloom...

The entire experience

2010-06-14T21:46:00.001-07:00

I've just arrived home from the NHE clinic and want to post this one picture, taken right before I left. I'm not sure how much I'm going to be able to tell about the clinic in words because the entire experience was a forevision of what is possible when a group of people come together with so much love and sincerity and honesty that nothing more is needed.

Maybe the picture will say more than I can...

The clinic begins

2010-06-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the first official day of the NHE clinic at Mount Shasta. Cathy Scott has been a wonderful hostess with the huge support of her jack-of-all-trades husband Gary. Her daughter Jamie and grandkids Layla and Ian have added so much to the scene here too. Maurizio and I have been here since Wednesday and have settled in and have greeted each of the participants as they made their way here from Colorado, Arizona, and parts of California.

Cathy's place, at the foot of Black Butte, who stands beside Mt. Shasta

The Lovely Mt. Shasta herself, shrouded

Maurizio and I helped Gary put the finishing touches on the ranch.

Maurizio screwing in the gate

This is Paisley, Cathy's newest addition, a BLM mustang filly

This is a video from my phone that I took yesterday of when Maurizio broke through with the Quarter Horse "Ladybug" and the two ponies, "Zippy" and "Patch"...the tiniest one is Allie. This was after a few tries of enticing them into wild games. We all were having a lot of fun.

(I can't tell if this video has uploaded correctly, will someone please comment?)

Yesterday morning I walked into the kitchen as everyone was finishing breakfast. I quickly became immersed in a conversation about how we are perceived as "people who don't ride". It was amazing to be in a room full of horse lovers who have horses and choose not to ride. A first for me. I pulled out my video camera and started filming with the hopes of being able to share this conversation with others who weren't able to be here.

Then we watched the Horse Encyclopedia 1 video by Alexander Nevzorov and paused between the two sections for a discussion about hooves (we have at least 6 barefoot trimmers here).

After a break for lunch we were ready for the horses. Maurizio spent a lot of time with Ladybug who has a history of extreme cowboy abuse and then some well-intentioned "natural horsemanship" that traumatized her more. He showed such love and gentleness towards her and he also had fun kicking around a soft ball and swishing a twig to help her have a different experience of a whip-like object. Next, it was time for the two ponies to have a turn. They roughhoused together and were interested in the ball and completely non-reactive to the twig-whip.

At the end of the day, both people and horses had come closer together. We've been sharing our stories and learning to listen to the horses and each other.

At the end of the day yesterday, the mountain glowed so brightly that my camera couldn't capture it.

I experienced the day flowing along with everybody giving their best presence, attention, questions, sincerity and openness. It has been a model of how life could be if we all brought our best selves up. Of course it is only a beginning.

The campfire burned brightly long into the night.....

This is the next step happening right now. As I write this, the group of us are gathered in the living room watching Alexander's Principles DVD.

Nevzorov Haute Ecole clinic this weekend

2010-06-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

There will be a Nevzorov Haute Ecole clinic happening this weekend (Friday-Sunday, June 11-13, 2010) in the beautiful area of Mt. Shasta, CA.

There are 4 spots still available for anybody who feels the call to attend. It will be led by the NHE representative from Italy, Maurizio Patti and I will likely be there as well.

Visit Catherine Scott's blog to get the details and email her ASAP if you would like to attend.

Of Horses and Humanity blog

Catherine's email: cescott410@msn.com

Wild beauty

2010-05-22T22:39:00.000-07:00

I've met some interesting people who might get behind he ERC - USA idea. I'll keep everyone posted about how that progresses via this blog.

Meanwhile, yesterday some friends and I ventured into the garden and found among other things, the carrots that had been planted last year and not harvested. I went right to work on that bed and unearthed some treats for the horses.

They aren't sweet or symmetrical...

...but the horses are enjoying them just the same. I imagine these are more like what wild carrots were first like before we bred them to be the things we recognize in stores.

Some bad news for the mystery plant...

...and good news for whatever is eating it...

...I'm not sure if it's some sort of bug or larger animal but for the past few days it has been getting eaten. There are others further back in the bushes that haven't been damaged yet, maybe the creature will get enough from the one plant and leave the others alone.

Some more beautiful pictures from the area.

This evening as I was walking down to the horses, amidst scattered raindrops, I looked over and saw these faint outlines. They didn't look like rain in the distance, more like smoke rising.

I zoomed in with the camera and got this. Very ethereal-looking.

When I went into the pasture, the horses were mostly grazing on the scotch broom blooms. I sat on a rock and got quiet. Patrik soon came to check me out...

He gave me some warm nuzzles, perhaps to see if I had brought him some carrots or other treats. After he saw I didn't have any treats he drifted off and Sofi came to visit. She wanted scratches. I spent some time scratching her from sitting on a low rock and then she seemed content to stand nearby and go into a quiet space. After a while, Patrik came back, Sofi moved off, Patrik again nuzzled me and then very gently approached Sofi who nickered at him. I watched, hoping for a miracle...

...and then it happened, they started scratching each other. I know this doesn't seem like much for other horses, but between these two it is big news. It has taken a lot for Sofi to feel safe enough to let Patrik get this close to her, and for Patrik to understand that she needs a gentle touch.

The encounter ended when Patrik got a little too rough on Sofi's spine and the two of them ran off together. I went to leave and as soon as I got to the gate, the three horses came galloping up. I went and got some more of the carrots and soon everyone was happily munching.

Equine Rights Coalition - USA

2010-05-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

I have an interesting thought for today. I've been inspired by a couple of sources. First, I learned about what Natascha Smargiassi is doing in Switzerland. I first met Natascha through NHE and then got to know her better as she very thoroughly helped me research for the Path of the Horse video. Natascha is now working with the Animal Welfare Authorities in Switzerland towards the end of abolishing equine sports in Switzerland within 10 years.

The second source of inspiration was an email I got from a woman asking for more of the hard science behind what I show in the video in Alexander's section. She wants to have something concrete to explain to people why she doesn't ride. I have had many such requests and now I feel like it's time to do something more proactive about this shift that's happening within the horse world.

To this end, I'd like to propose getting together a group of people who are interested in working to promote equine rights within the USA. For now, I want to focus on the USA since that is where I live and the culture I am familiar with. If others want to facilitate similar ventures in their own country I'd be happy to share information.

Here is the vision I have for the Equine Rights Coalition - USA. Please respond and tell me if you have time, interest, or other talents or resources to put towards this venture.

ERC - USA the mission

To facilitate a shift in human perception from horses as riding or sport animals to fellow sentient beings with unalienable rights to healthy, pain-free lives.
To provide scientific documentation to support the case that current accepted treatment of horses is not a healthy, pain-free way of life for them.
To be a source for media or political organizations to go to for more information on the subject of equine rights.
To evaluate the necessity for and work towards legislation changes regarding equine rights.

Other activities that ERC - USA might be part of

Informational booths at various types of events
Publishing books and videos for children and/or adults
Hosting movie screenings and book signings for people who are in alignment with this cause
Hosting a website dedicated to the issues that ERC - USA supports

ERC - USA needs people who...

...can do the paperwork to get ERC - USA established as a 501c3 organization
...can write grants
...have a science background (especially veterinarians) and can conduct experiments and/or present scientific findings in papers or speeches
...are good communicators and believe that most current horse treatment is unethical
...would like to start equestrian centers based on healthy horse-human relationships to provide a model for the future
...want to be a voice for horses

One thing that feels very clear to me is that my job is to offer this opportunity to bring like-minded people together under the flag of equine rights. The shift is already taking place, there is something within people, especially younger generations, that tells them that something is wrong with the current model of working with horses. Our job will be to provide an organization that people who already have heard this calling in their hearts can lend their strengths and talents to.

I have no interest in "convincing" those people entrenched in the horse world that what they are doing is wrong. I will lend my strength to providing accurate scientific information and a new alternative, not fighting the old one. Those who are called will find us. If this calls to you, please email me at stormy@stormymay.com .

Another day of wonder

2010-05-20T22:18:00.000-07:00

Today I woke early to a foggy morning after yesterday's rain. Sunny wasn't even up to go on the adventure so I went by myself, taking time to explore each thing that stood out to me.

The heavy dew and rain made the grasses sparkle.

The mystery plant is continuing to climb and develop. We have three winners now who have correctly guessed what type of plant this is, but I will keep it a mystery here on the blog so we all can see her reveal herself before we name her.

The bottom of the mystery plant.

Here's a fellow I met in the road. If watching this doesn't slow you down I don't know what will. See if you can get into his space while watching this.

Another beauty.

Today was the day of Sofi's liberation. After a few weeks in the diet pen Sofi was very happy to get out. She eagerly grazed right near me...

...until I walked off...then this is what happened.

Down below, Patrik is turning to me.

A few minutes later here is the dynamic.

Whenever I don't know what to do with the horses I go back to exploring other things.

Then either I think of something else to try, or the horses come over and guide me.

Here is a flower I remember Patrik liked to eat last year. I picked it and gave it to him later as a "thank you" treat.

Meanwhile in the barn, Sophie (the black sheep) was keeping watch over Robin. Robin is very old and deaf and doesn't get up and out as quickly as the others. Sophie also keeps an eye on Kelly, the blind sheep.

Here I am graced with one of Sophie's hugs.

More diamond grasses.

I've never noticed clovers with six leaves before, two sets of three on each side of the clover flower.

Whether in the large view or small one, the pasture is alive with color. This is gold country that we live in. Apparently the gold can't stay underground anymore, it is popping out all over!

Later in the day I was doing some work with friends and we found and relocated this creature.

Here are the goats, Molly, the mother in the back with Joseph on the left and Priscilla coming up to me. After some tender scratches, I turned to leave...

...I looked back and saw they had all lined up to follow me.

The blooms of the blackberry bushes are just about ready to open.

Taking a walk

2010-05-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had an amazing experience walking out to "the rocks" from where I live. It is a short walk but one that I don't take often enough. When I went this time, I felt like I was stepping into a painting...

...the blues, yellows, and greens...

...seemed to vibrate right off the trees, bushes, grasses.

I felt transported into a storybook. Around the corner sat a swinging seat, inviting me to be still and rest...

...then I continued on...

...down the trail, laden with clover and butterflies...

...and into the woods...

...the living trees seeming to be dancing to their slow tune...

...and where they parted...well, that is something best left to be experienced in person...

On my way back, I saw the first wild roses blooming...I wish I could send the smell along with this picture.

Is there anywhere that is calling you to walk today?

A king unable to rule his country

2010-05-15T22:09:00.000-07:00

Here is a new acquaintance I made today. Anybody know what these are? Each cluster is about the size of a ping pong ball or smaller.

Here is the mystery plant as she dances her way up to the sun. You can see some of her buds starting to develop.

Today I spent time sitting on the fence between Sofi who is still on her diet and Patrik and Sundance who have been assigned the task of eating the fresh spring grasses so Sofi won't get laminitis when she goes out again.

The flies are starting to get bad but I remember last year Lynne Gerard writing in her blog about how she found that the times that the flies were the worst, the grasses were at their most lush and the flies had the effect of inspiring the horses to move around more. I've always used fly masks before but I'm going to try having the horses go without this year so they will hopefully exercise themselves more and also get closer to each other by learning to swish the flies off each other's faces with their tails. My horses haven't developed this closeness, I think in part because of the fact that I've always taken care of their flies with masks.

I've noticed the unexpected benefit of having Sofi on the other side of a fence is that JD and Tricia can get closer to her and work on scratching her without feeling as threatened...and also, Patrik and Sundance can get closer and she doesn't feel as threatened by them. I hadn't realized his would be the case.

After I scratched him some, Patrik went over to a tree to show me how he really wanted to be scratched.

Then he and Sundance wandered off...

...and I soon saw why, JD had arrived to feed them dinner. I kept quiet and watched the scene as JD figured out how to get everyone in their proper places. First, he let Patrik in with Sofi...

...then he walked back out to give Sundance her grain.

After Sundance finished her grain, he let Patrik out and gave each of them a little bit of hay. I decided that they probably didn't need any hay at all at this point so he fed them about half of what he had brought out and then was left with a bag of hay while we were hanging out and absorbing the horse vibes. I used it as an opportunity to show JD how to work with the energy to keep the horses away from the bag of hay.

Patrik is using his finest Jedi mind tricks to try and sweet talk JD into allowing him into the bag of hay.

We were both vigilant though and Patrik finally resigned himself to the bit of hay that he had already been given. There seems to be a calming effect when the horses know their place in the herd and can trust that their leader is strong and confident.

Today, Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling sent out a nice email which included the following:

In my new book I begin the first chapter with the headline: We are concerned with the horse – but the horse is concerned with the world. And that is the only reason at all why I personally went to the horses. It was told about one of the ancient Kings, that he was unable to rule his country, because he was not even able to handle his horse. At the end of the day a human always stands completely alone in front of a horse, in front of destiny or in front of the tremors of the world. And somehow that is, so our forefathers said, one and the same thing anyway. And the tremors of the world are meanwhile threatening to take on giant dimensions.

He paired this with a new video clip which you can watch here.

As I walked home, I was treated to the following...

Sunset enocunter

2010-05-13T22:24:00.000-07:00

This morning I awoke to some heavenly clouds with rainbows and waves included.

This little guy dropped on me when I opened a door. He didn't want to stick around to find out why I was so interested in taking pictures.

Here is an impression from the day. I was walking across the horse pasture after coming from a meditation. The sun was setting and lighting up the horses on the hill. I felt drawn to want to be with them but as I approached, from about 500 feet away, Patrik turned and walked the other way. I didn't want to chase or demand, he was clearly sending me a message. I sat down on the grass and took in the beauty of the scene, all the while recording the following video from my phone. Watch the video to find out how it turns out.

pulling hearts

2010-05-12T23:38:00.000-07:00

Rays of life feeding plants...

...touching I's...

...pulling hearts

Can you feel it now?

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
Mahatma Gandhi

Beauty dripping up

2010-05-11T15:48:00.000-07:00

Sunny was ready for an adventure today. It took me a long time to get away from the computer but finally I made the break.

Waving grasses and sailing clouds.

The pine at the top of the hill, near our sitting spot.

Another highlight, underfoot.

A wild iris, getting ready to open.

An open iris.

More waving plants and a poem of a dog.

Two more poems, waiting to be read.

Patrik was trying to show me just where he wanted some scratching and other body work but I wasn't getting it quite right. So he decided to walk me over to the tree where he could demonstrate. I made some mental notes and will try again later.

More beauty dripping up from the earth.

I realize more and more how I keep the horses in a thought-box of "not so intelligent" by doing things such as repeating requests over and over rather than realizing that they heard me the first time and if they aren't responding it's not because they're dumb, it's probably because they don't see the point in doing it. For example, when Patrik knows food is involved or something that makes sense to him, he is very quick to respond in an enthusiastic way. My task is to understand what makes sense to the horses and learn to play within that paradigm.

Shaped by your own choices

2010-05-10T02:25:00.000-07:00

The mystery plants continue their climb to the sky. Two winners so far. If you know the name of this plant, email me at stormy@stormymay.com and the next correct guess will get a free Path of the Horse DVD.

On Saturday I worked in the orchard hanging plastic containers for a molasses solution to go into to lure coddling moths away from the fruit. At least I think that's the way it's supposed to work. I got tricked into spending some time with the trees checking out their baby fruits. What good fortune.

Tricia found this beautiful creature on the ground at the dump when we were dropping off the trash from both of our households. We shooed him off to the side so he wouldn't get squished by the next truck to roll by.

Here's Patrik enjoying a romp.

One of the greatest feelings in life is the conviction that you have lived the life you wanted to live -- with the rough and the smooth, the good and the bad -- but yours, shaped by your own choices, and not someone else's.
Michael Ignatieff

progress report

2010-05-08T18:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a storybook

Yesterday Tricia took some video of my work with Patrik. Our relationship is still very much a work in progress. I'm happy with Patrik's enthusiasm for the process.

working on a crunch

progress towards pesade, spanish walk (rough)

miscellaneous work

The ending of the octave

Today a friend read something from Carlos Castaneda. Here's how I remember it. Don Juan was telling Carlos that people in the past had a more accurate view of things because they were closer to nature and therefore, had a better perspective of our place within the rest of creation. Modern people base their perspective on the society that they are part of, which has been created by human-centered thinking.

By coming into relationship with parts of nature that are not human-centered, and certainly not human-created, we come closer to what has been created by an intelligence far beyond our own.

being and appreciating

2010-05-05T21:36:00.000-07:00

These past couple of days have been a beautiful exploration of "being" with the horses. Sofi is in the pen, on a diet for the next couple of weeks and the other two are out eating the spring grasses so that when Sofi goes back out, she'll hopefully maintain her trim figure.

I've been able to have fun with the horses without taking anything too personally. I've also tapped into the joy available when I am in the state of being and appreciating more than doing and achieving.

In other hours of the day I've been working on some more translations for NHE. Alexander's explorations never cease and the truth and wisdom that he has tapped into is a gift to be a part of.

We humans are explorers and perhaps the animals are too. Here is evidence of other animals who have been exploring the path I walk.

And what a beautiful path it is!

Here is evidence of one of the plants I've crossed paths with. This plant definitely knows how to get my respect.

Bird songs under the canopy.

River song.

The gift of this life we have been given is so precious. What more could we ask for? What gets in the way of recognizing our good fortune in any moment?

Shaped by your own choices

2010-05-02T23:33:00.002-07:00

Here's Patrik enjoying a romp.

One of the greatest feelings in life is the conviction that you have lived the life you wanted to live -- with the rough and the smooth, the good and the bad -- but yours, shaped by your own choices, and not someone else's.
Michael Ignatieff

Shaped by your own choices

2010-05-02T23:33:00.001-07:00

Here's Patrik enjoying a romp.

One of the greatest feelings in life is the conviction that you have lived the life you wanted to live -- with the rough and the smooth, the good and the bad -- but yours, shaped by your own choices, and not someone else's.
Michael Ignatieff

2010-05-02T23:33:00.000-07:00

Here's Patrik enjoying a romp.

One of the greatest feelings in life is the conviction that you have lived the life you wanted to live -- with the rough and the smooth, the good and the bad -- but yours, shaped by your own choices, and not someone else's.
Michael Ignatieff

Wish come true

2010-05-02T22:43:00.000-07:00

Well, my last wish in the last post came true today.

I was humbled by the capacities of those I am lucky enough to call friends. But that's a different blog, maybe sometime in the future I will talk about that.

Today after my housemate and I got everything set for a party at our house, I took some time to sit in the sun. I appreciated the trees swaying in the bright sky.

Sunny soon found me and joined in. I got some video of him in his restful/radar state where he seems to be doing nothing yet is tuning into all the things going on around him, some far and some near. Watching him is like watching a TV for me, I can see parts of what is going on for miles around us by watching his movements. See if you can watch him and sink into the place where he is. Which senses can you see him using?

Horses of course do the same thing in their own language. They intimately know what is going on with the people and other creatures that live around them.

Trees...Don't you remember it?

2010-05-01T23:42:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday Lisa, I look forward to hearing about you in your new home watching the apple blossoms this time next year!

Today I spent a few hours picking lice off of the heads of Emerald and her mother. In order to keep Emerald quiet for this procedure (which she is VERY tired of, this being the 4th time they've gotten it in the past year or so) we listened to Peter Pan on tape. There was the obvious adventure quality to the story but there were also some hidden truths in it as well. I enjoyed hearing about Tinkerbell who has quite a nasty side that I had forgotten about.

By the time I made it down to see the horses the light was getting low and shining through the bright green oak leaves. With the moist ground and blooms all around the smells were a treat.

The scotch broom is in full bloom now. It's hard to remember sometimes what a pest this plant is when it can also bring such a blast of stunning color to the area.

The little oak worms have arrived. I don't know much about these guys except that they hang from silken threads from the oak trees this time of year and seem to be hanging out waiting for something. Does anyone else know more about them? Here's one exploring my hand.

I met up with JD today to bring the horses in since Sofi has been reluctant to come in recently. I can't blame her, we've had her on a diet which means that she has to stay in the pen overnight and part of the morning while the other horses are out grazing. She likely thinks it is all very unfair and probably doesn't know anything about the danger of laminitis in overweight ponies. But I do, so I choose to be the firm parent in this situation and do what I think is best.

As expected, Patrik and Sundance came in without a problem.

JD gave them a bit of grass/alfalfa hay to keep them busy in the pen while we went out to find Sofi.

They ate for a little while but then thought it would be much more fun to come see what we were doing. While JD went to try and coax Sofi in, the other horses looked on. I almost wasn't going to post the following little clip I took but when I re-watched it, I noticed so much in there that I figured maybe others could see some of the subtleties too. If any of you want to comment on what you see in any of the following videos it would be interesting to me.

JD went out with a handful of hay in one hand and a whip/stick in the other (again, we don't hit the horses, but use it to keep them at a safe distance since the horses are so much bigger and built differently than us fragile two-leggeds). I think this shows a great representation of a lot of what JD has picked up. You can see him pause several times to get a feel of what's happening and waiting for her signs. This is the beginning of the dance. At the end he looks towards me a couple of times when he's tried everything he can think of and needs some more guidance.

Since we had the video rolling, I handed him the phone camera and wanted to document the difference between him working with her and my attempts. I went in feeling very confident that it would be easy and I would look good but as horses are so good at doing, Sofi humbled me over the next half hour or so. This is why I love working with horses so much, they are always a dose of reality.

So, at the end of my attempts, I walked away and decided I was going to get Sofi's halter and lead her in so that I wouldn't have to keep nagging her and emptying her "love account" rather than filling it with scratching and other bonding activities. As soon as I walked away, all three horses picked right up and ran into the pen. They reminded me once again that letting go is often the best medicine.

The following is in the book Prince Caspian from the Chronicles of Narnia. It's when the four children who had been kings and queens of Narnia returns to Narnia and many years have passed. The talking trees and animals that they once knew Narnia to be full of have gone into hiding while the Telmarines (who seem suspiciously like us humans) took over. Lucy, the youngest of the four goes into the forest and says the following:

"'Oh, Trees, Trees, Trees,' said Lucy (though she had not been intending to speak at all). 'Oh Trees, wake, wake, wake. Don't you remember it? Don't you remember me? Dryads and Hamadryads, come out, come to me.'

Though there was not a breath of wind they all stirred about her. The rustling noise of the leaves was almost like words. The nightengale stopped singing as if to listen to it. Lucy felt that at any moment she would begin to understand what the Trees were trying to say. But the moment did not come. The rustling died away. The nightengale resumed its song. Even in the moonlight the wood looked more ordinary again. Yet Lucy had the feeling (as you sometimes have when you are trying to remember a name or a date and almost get it, but it vanishes before you really do) that she had just missed something: as if she had spoken to the trees a split second too soon or a split second too late, or used all the right words except one; or put in one word that was just wrong."

Those words resonate with something in me that keeps trying to connect with the spirit of horses, and other parts of the natural world. I often get the feeling that I am very close yet not quite able to connect spirit-to-spirit in more than flashes. But those flashes keep me coming back to try again the next day. One day I hope to be able to connect with humans that way as well.

Genius and courage

2010-05-01T01:45:00.000-07:00

Here are some apple blossoms on a tree I met for the first time today.

Today has turned to tomorrow and sleep beckons so I will keep this short. I agree with all of the books that Jenny listed in comment to the last post and I'll also add the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis as an incredible metaphor.

Here is a quote that points in the direction I'm moving:

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.
Einstein

Hiding stories

2010-04-29T22:33:00.000-07:00

A friend said that Sufis passed on their knowledge in parables, which helped Sufism to endure through times when authorities tried to suppress their religion. Ignorant people thought the parables were children's stories and kept telling them while seekers recognized the wisdom in them and followed the path.

Which stories been left for us to find?

At the end of all our exploring...

2010-04-28T22:10:00.000-07:00

The mysterious moon as recorded from 39 degrees latitude,
-121 degrees longitude April 24, 1:29am Pacific time zone

Tonight I watched a documentary called "Ballerina". It describes the training of ballerinas in St. Petersburg, Russia, the most highly regarded training-ground for this art. The limits these women push their bodies to is so extreme that 20 years is the longest they can expect their performing careers to last (that is, if their bodies hold out that long). The girls they interviewed all sounded driven to succeed in this external quest to become the prima ballerina and dance the lead roles. What carrot hangs in front of them that makes them put aside other goals such as having a family, or a more relaxed lifestyle that most of us enjoy? Is their drive very different than our own perhaps more modest drives to have a family, to work with a horse, and have a successful career?

Something drives all humans to the external quest. It is probably similar to the drive that animals feel to procreate, to nest, to feed and play. Through machines we've created as a result of our human intelligence, we have also gone to the moon and explored other stars, and become masters of places our bodies have not adapted for, the oceans and skies.

For probably as long as we've been pursuing the external quest, we humans have also been on an internal quest. With our eyes we can see the monasteries, ashrams, gurus, nunneries, churches, stupas, chelas, priests and ascetics to name but a few, but the actual quest that these people and places represent are not so easily named.

Meditation.

Prayer.

Mindfulness.

Not doing.

These are words that represent aspects of turning inward, but the experience can never be touched if these remain as words. My suspicion is that this internal quest is what is unique to humans. Perhaps animals have never left this internally-focused state, or have no reason to seek it.

We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.
T. S. Eliot - Little Gidding, from Four Quartets

This quote seems to be a wink from T.S. Eliot regarding this internal quest. The following quote might be a finger pointing at where to look to find our way home.

Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?
T. S. Eliot - The Rock

To me, the Path of the Horse has aspects of both external and internal quests. There is a dynamic balance between the two, a dance that can be explored in each moment with the animal.

After rain, sleet and hail, the clouds parted slightly giving me enough time to bring the horses in and get firewood without getting too wet.

Sunny however, got wet from the ground up.

Here are the horses coming in.

Patrik is testing to see if I'm on guard enough to keep him away from Sundance's grain. He tries to coax me into allowing him some by demonstrating how sweet and obedient he is. Sometimes it does get him a handful.

Name that thought

Widening our circle

2010-04-27T23:49:00.000-07:00

Which one of us could create this?

It seems like ol' Albert is becoming our most-quoted expert here. I don't mind that one bit! Helene found this one:

A human being is a part of a whole, called by us 'universe', a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest... a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.
Einstein

These are beautiful words, truly beautiful. If we could even barely touch on the reality that they point to, the world would be transformed. As I see it, the biggest stumbling block is that we think that we are already liberated from the prison of our personal desires and affection for the few people or animals we know best. We might think "others" are still stuck but not you and I. You might even be able to walk up to a person on the street and give her a dollar, and think that makes you a good, caring and compassionate person.

The plan, the web is so much bigger than that. That we think that we can do some action that will prove that we are "good" or "compassionate" is merely a reflection of our human arrogance, and fear. We are very small, fragile beings who are given the gift of this next breath, this next heartbeat. If you have ever been in a state where you weren't able to take these gifts for granted you'll know what I am referring to. Even the most brilliant of us humans has limited intelligence compared to the intelligence that knows how to string together DNA, to create a baby from two cells, to turn a substance from dough to bread, to rotate the planets and birth a star.

How then can we fragile, minuscule human beings take on the task that Einstein suggests? How can we free ourselves from the prison of our personal desires and circumstantial affection for the few persons nearest to us?

The answer to that question is what I am on a quest to find now.

Here were the answers I found today:

A big storm moved in last night and spent the day playing amongst the trees.

As the sun touched the horizon it broke through the clouds, at least from my vantage point.

As Sunny and I walked down to the horses, the last rays were touching the treetops.

Rounding the corner here's what we found.

In the horse pasture I found two Canadian geese singing a sonata. I think the title was "Beware! Don't come near us!"

Then I found these three creatures in there. They were singing a different tune. I might be wrong, but I think they called it, "Where's dinner?"

I've had one correct answer for the mystery plant and another person is hot on the trail. Keep your guesses coming to stormy@stormymay.com

What is the difference?

2010-04-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

Hold on, this is going to be a wild ride!

I can see that this topic might be around a while. Rather than debating details, let's ask some bigger questions first. Lets explore, not explain.

Is there a difference between humans and (other) animals besides physiology?
If there is a difference between humans and (other) animals, what is it?
Do animals have something to teach humans?
Do humans have something to teach animals?
Do humans have a responsibility to care for/protect (other) animals?

Here's the quote in question (thanks Jenny):

"Besides the rebuilding of the horse’s entire musculature, herd living makes a horse very primitive and stupid, and returns the horse to the world of primitive ideas and manners."

I originally helped translate this (and several other of Alexander's articles) into English. I don't speak much Russian but the articles come to me very loosely translated into English and then I work for many hours (usually via Skype) with a native Russian speaker who knows Alexander to come up with a translation that is as close as possible to his original meaning yet understandable in English. As I was working on this particular article I knew that the translated version would be controversial.

From all of the different Russian speakers I've worked with, I am reminded that Alexander has a very sophisticated way of writing and explaining things that I don't think we've ever been able to do justice to in English. I could tell by being with him in person that the translations I was getting were only a shadow of the subtleties and wit that native Russian speakers are able to have access to. Other evidence of this is that he has thousands of students on the Russian side of the NHE forum (those who can read his words directly) and relatively few on the International side who read his words through translation.

All of that is to say that it is more important to get the feeling of that quote rather than get caught up in the exact words which were chosen. In general, I'd stick with what I remembered it as in the last post, that herd living is a degenerate situation compared to other options. Never have I heard that he means that horses shouldn't live that way, or that people shouldn't support horses living that way. My understanding is that his sentiment only applies if the goal is to teach the horse haute ecole and the apparently human values of certain types of intelligence.

Here is a quick sampling of interesting things to ponder from your comments to the last post. Keep these in mind as you answer the 5 questions above.

Jenny:

We can know for sure what horses prefer, when we give them freedom to choose. That I don't know if Nevzorov's horses have had. "Would you like to go out and play with your mates or come and learn some Latin?" If they would choose Latin, then I'd be impressed.

I still have to add, that I don't even feel like I would be able to educate my horse, I think my horse is educating me.

Helene:

What is the goal of this “new” natural horsemanship awareness? Will the goal be limited to delineate between riding the captive horses V/s not riding the captive horse? Is it about establishing the scope of its intelligence or re-evaluating the consequences of perpetuating its captivity?

The ultimate goal would probably be (as for all captive beings) emancipation and freedom. But I guess re-empowering the horse, reinstating its natural rights is probably unrealistic. Human traffic has not even been eradicated!

Eda:

How can really herd-life make horse "very primitive and stupid" if this herd-life is really his nature, his horse-sense and these "primitive ideas and manners" (like who's the leader, where's the danger, hey guy you are in my personal space without invitation etc) make the true horse living in the nature.

I think even if we want to teach the horse some "better" ideas, at least we should respect the ideas he naturally possesses!? Or how you see it?

June:

Where I would potentially take issue with Nevzorov is (not really in fact knowing where he is coming from - Stormy can help out) that he seems to be taking a very Apollonian view of things - that he will stamp his superior knowledge upon nature, without necessarily being very receptive himself to the wisdom emanating from the creatures to him.

Today the apple tree was in full bloom. This view is from the hill above it.

I worked with Patrik using the cordeo. Nobody was around to take any video...maybe tomorrow.

Today I got some video of Patrik eating the scotch broom blooms after the sun had set.

The moonrise was stunning, but unless you caught your own moonrise you'll have to make due with this poor picture of it.

Ok, here's your task...explore these questions:

Is there a difference between humans and (other) animals besides physiology?
If there is a difference between humans and (other) animals, what is it?
Do animals have something to teach humans?
Do humans have something to teach animals?
Do humans have a responsibility to care for/protect (other) animals?

Horse keeping

2010-04-25T21:17:00.000-07:00

I've had some questions about how Alexander Nevzorov keeps his horses and about his controversial views about horses living in herds versus a more human-oriented stable situation. I know this is a topic that people hotly disagree over.

Alexander, in an article he wrote (which I cannot find and exactly quote at the moment), called horses living in a herd a "degenerate" situation. (Oh, I know I'm going to catch it for misquoting here!) Let me explain what I understand him to mean by this. Imagine a pack of undomesticated dogs/wolves living in the wild. Now picture a teacup poodle. These are both "dogs" and they share enough genetics that they could interbreed, but a poodle living a "wild" existence would seem absurd. We have bred dogs for generations to fit our human notions of what we humans have wanted. As a result, these dogs need to be taken care of, and indeed if I may be so bold as to generalize, they enjoy the perks of living with humans.

Horses have not been subject to as extreme selective breeding as dogs but they certainly have been living alongside humans for nearly as long. Most horses can live what seems to be a fairly comfortable existence with minimal human intervention as long as the natural resources are plentiful and predators are kept at bay. Many of us think that we're doing our horses a favor by trying to mimic their wild existence with big pastures, herdmates, and minimal human intervention.

We must all ask the question and answer for ourselves, what is most fulfilling to the horse. A teacup poodle would probably feel very vulnerable and upset trying to fend for himself, just as a child "turned loose" in the wild with other children wouldn't have the same perks as one who is raised by adults who are looking out for his needs. A wild existence for the human child or poodle could be called "degenerate".

Can we know for sure that horses prefer a more wild existence? Alexander has given his horses the equivalent of a Taj Mahal living situation, with large, deeply bedded stalls, plentiful hay, runs, turnout area where they get turned out in groups that get along, and a large, heated manege. These horses don't need to fend for themselves, they are completely cared for and as a result, don't spend energy searching to fill their basic needs. They can devote their time and energy towards learning what Alexander is teaching. In this case, haute ecole and Latin. I, for one, am glad that Alexander has taken on this exploration. It takes a person with extreme patience and genius to explore the limits of equine consciousness and intelligence.

My own horses live more of a wild-type existence. This is what fits in my life. I can do some haute ecole elements with them, but will most likely never achieve the level that Alexander has. Due to my horses' living situation, their focus will always be split between looking out for themselves and paying attention to what I am doing with them.

For me, I try to call it what it is and explore what I am able to explore in the moment.

Today's exploration included a lot of yawning from Patrik.

I wish I had known what I know now when I first had Sundance 16 years ago. And I'm sure in another 16 years I'll be in a completely new place that I can't even imagine now. One moment at a time.

Conquer without any sword

2010-04-24T22:07:00.000-07:00

First of all, I want to draw everyone's attention to this clip. It is from Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling. It is called "Be Yourself". It is wonderful seeing Klaus playing with a horse the way he did with Janosch many years ago. Their connection is evident.

I am lucky to have a housemate with a passion for gardening. This morning as I walked to the front door, I saw these beauties. I have seen California poppies all my life, but I had never seen one emerging like the one below, still wearing its cone of green protection.

When I walked by a couple of hours later, the cone had popped off and the poppy had popped open! You can see the discarded green cone slightly below it to the right. I wished I had been slowed down enough to sit and watch the process happening.

Here are the mystery plants bursting forth. They are about knee-height to me now. If you think you know what they are, email me at stormy@stormymay.com and the first three correct guesses will get a Path of the Horse DVD mailed to you. Don't post your guesses here!

Here are the manzanita, now past their blooms and into their growth period.

Walking down the hill I saw a beautiful skyline of sheep and goats.

And here's a friendly fellow I met this afternoon. We spend a lot of money and brainpower figuring out how to explore alien galaxies, but this little guy looked like an alien right on my arm. And it didn't take anything except slowing down enough to examine him instead of reactively shooing him away. The little mouthpiece probing my skin pores looked like something from Star Wars. I hope everyone here has read "Kinship With All Life" by J. Allen Boone. I consider it required reading for this path.

Here is an apparently rare plant called scarlet fritillary. From what I found online, I see that Native Americans would cook and eat the bulbs of these plants as well as possibly use them as a decongestant and to reduce swelling.

I know this is the Path of the Horse but as I see it, this is all related even if we don't see horses in these pictures. Do others see it this way? I'm curious to know if others can see the relationship.

Here is something of a religious nature to contemplate today. Think of it in terms of this path of relationship with horses.

When God created the horse, he said to the magnificent creature: I have made thee as no other. All the treasures of the earth shall lie between thy eyes. Thou shalt cast thy enemies between thy hooves, but thou shalt carry my friends upon thy back. Thy saddle shall be the seat of prayers to me. And thou fly without any wings, and conquer without any sword.
- the Koran

The sweetness of paradise

2010-04-23T19:06:00.000-07:00

What is this? A drop of blood on the grass?

No, it's an out-of-focus ladybug.

Wild iris are starting to bloom in the pasture...

and the wild rosebushes are putting out new stalks and heavy scent although no buds yet.

And what do horses do when they're completely satisfied?

Nothing!

Today was a gorgeous day. I checked in and gave the horses their daily allotment of scratches and then went to town to update my wardrobe (if you saw the last couple video clips you'll see why this was needed).

The town of Nevada City was founded in the gold rush days here in California. There are still many beautiful rivers that run through the area.

It was a treat to have lunch on a deck above this roaring river. It reminded me of the rivers in Colorado when I was there to film Mark Rashid near Estes Park.

I hope everyone has a peaceful weekend. Remember to take time to be quiet and tune into the rhythms of nature. They are healing for us.

Here are two great quotes to ponder:

One reason why birds and horses are happy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses.
-Dale Carnegie

The horse through all its trials has preserved the sweetness of paradise in its blood.
-Johannes Jensen

Forwarding a message of life

2010-04-22T23:11:00.000-07:00

In response to the "Life as Teacher" post Noora wrote:

Teaching is actually just forwarding a message of life the way we understand it now...

What an elegant way to put it. That takes out the self-importance and acknowledges that we are receivers and transmitters of a larger message.

So, here's my transmission of the way I understand life in this moment.

I have been noticing the enticing smells all around, like when I walk over the bed of chamomile "weeds" and smell their fruity scent...

or the heavenly scent of these guys that I still don't know the name of, or the intoxicating draft of the wild rose bushes.

Can you guess what Sundance is doing here?

She is stripping the first blooms off of the scotch broom plants. (Close-up below).

Scotch broom is a non-native plant that was introduced as an ornamental shrub. It blooms with these gorgeous yellow flowers from now until late May. The only problem is that they've taken over and become serious underbrush problems which become a high fire hazard as well as overgrowing grasses in many untended pastures. The horses don't eat the whole plant but they love stripping the blooms off and eating them this time of year.

When I got to the pasture today, both Sundance and Patrik were busy stripping and eating blooms. I tried to get a video of it but as soon as Patrik saw I was busy with something in my hand he had to come over and check it out.

We played for a bit and then I bid him good day and went off to play with my human friends. On the walk home, I saw that the clouds seemed to be rolling out, preparing us for a delightful weekend.

I received a message from a Path of the Horse follower who wrote:

I wonder if you can tell me the name of any foundation that is reputable that serves equines by rescue, finding homes, providing care, working on pro equine legislation etc.? I am wanting to leave my estate to this cause and need an organization in this country that will be doing this work for many a moon to come, if you know what I mean!

Do any of you readers have special favorites? I know she is interested in foundations which have enough infrastructure set up that they won't be limited to a single person's lifetime. Go ahead and post information about possible leads here in the comment section.

Day in pictures

2010-04-21T22:02:00.000-07:00

I walked down to see the horses as our favorite star was getting close to the horizon.

The parting clouds filtered the light as it tumbled down to the wet ground.
When I got down to the apple tree...

I was amazed to see blossoms! I figured since the leaves were already budding that I must have missed the blossoms, but here they are.

I looked down and saw signs of others who had traveled this path.

Our star was shedding the most exquisite light. The colors captured here are shadows compared to being bathed in the glow.

Every living thing seemed to be screaming to be noticed.

Each blade of grass swayed in the delightful light.

The panorama was a canvas painted by the greatest master.

Newly shorn, Sophie the sheep comes up for some scratching. It's a great way to get lanolin to soften my hands.

The picture below shows the two oak trees with the buckeye tree below them.

And here are the buckeye leaves.

As I took the buckeye picture, Patrik noticed me and galloped up. I took this picture as he abruptly halted. His mouth is open because he's spitting out the grass he had been eating. Or maybe he was talking in sounds I can't hear.

He sweet talked me into some grain and then left to graze more. Sundance thought it was her day for more attention so she quickly came up next.

I stood on a low rock and did some scratching and asking her to lift her front legs onto the rock.

The following video is of me scratching her. At first she's enjoying where I'm scratching on her neck, then she seems to reassess and then repositions herself so I can get her tail.

One of my favorite views.

After finishing Sundance's scratches and doing some ground work with Patrik and Sofi, JD showed up to do the evening feeding. I had him take this video of me and Patrik. Patrik takes me to the place where I open the gate and let him out after Sundance has finished her grain.

I'll get to answering more questions another day. For now, take a deep breath and enjoy this moment.

Sofi's story

2010-04-20T16:37:00.000-07:00

The clouds were stunning today as they rolled through the skies bringing more rain to feed the grasses.

Today it was JD I nabbed to take some video with a camera phone. I'm not sure what's up with the audio but the video quality seems reasonable for a phone that I can keep in my pocket.

This is a video of what I spend lots of time doing with Sofi. The important elements are that she is not restrained in any way (that way I know when she's choosing to be with me and when she's done) and that I watch her signals for where she'd like me to scratch. The main signal (other than where she positions herself in relation to me) are the movements she makes with her head. She will extend her head and neck when I've hit a really good spot, and even wiggle her nose if she's super happy. I've got to mention that I find it funny when I see pictures of Sofi and I together. I'm so used to working with big horses that I consider her tiny, but then I see our relative sizes and can see who the tiny one actually is!

I've mentioned before that it's taken a long time for us to get to this place where we feel so comfortable around each other. I know I've tried to tell her story before but there must be more to it because I want to try again. Stepping back in time to when I was first working with her (around 2005) I noticed that she was more reactive than other horses.

She seemed nice enough at first (as an unstarted 3 year old) but as soon as I began to take away her liberties (introducing her to cross ties, grooming while tied, saddling, mounting, riding first with a bitless bridle and then with a bit) she steadily became more and more dangerous to be around. For example, if my toe touched her leg while I was mounting, she would whip her head around and try to bite me. If I tried to put a bit in her mouth, she would clamp her jaws shut and back as far as she could in the cross ties to try and tell me that she wanted none of it. When I dismounted her, she would again try to bite me on the way down. If I tried to touch her udder area she would first get extremely tense and then kick out.

I had been starting horses for the previous 19 years and as a result, my awareness around horses is acute and my reflexes are fast, so I never actually got injured, but I knew that there was no way a kid would have the capacity to work with her. She had brought me to a standstill. What I had relied on up until then no longer worked and something inside wouldn't allow me to get stronger or rougher which is what any other trainer I knew would have done.

In the Path of the Horse video, Carolyn Resnick says that people abuse horses because it works. And it does if we are focused on achieving an external goal. Most horses will learn a pattern of behavior acceptable to humans when the consequences of not performing that behavior are sufficiently painful. What it can't do is make a horse closer and more open to a human. For that, abuse has no place and agendas have no place. To ask a horse to open to us, we must be on equal ground with her. No force, no restrictions, no pain.

Looking back, it makes perfect sense that Sofi became the way she did. My question now is why more horses don't express themselves as clearly as she does. It took me 19 years of training horses before I ran across her and I was lucky enough to be in a place in my own life where I was willing to "sell the farm" in both a symbolic and literal way in order to clear the way for this shift to happen.

Interestingly enough, when I started NHE, I thought I could just test it out with Patrik and then apply the parts that worked to Sofi and other horses while I continued my regular training business. After a few months of learning more about NHE and especially about the amounts of pain involved in riding, I became clear that I couldn't live in both worlds at the same time.

So, I turned Sofi loose and started our new relationship on the other side of a fence. By this time I had purchased her myself so I wouldn't have the pressure of trying to train her to sell. In the corral or arena, Sofi would come up and look like she wanted attention, but if I got the least bit scared she would kick out full force and/or lunge at me with her teeth bared. At first her reactions were even more violent than when I had her haltered or bridled. Having the fence between us allowed me to stay calm and step away when she displayed her emotions like this rather than reacting back from my own fear which would probably have manifested as hitting her and rationalizing it by calling it self defense.

After we had a certain level of confidence with each other on opposite sides of the fence, I would come in to her area with a long stick or whip...not to hit her (never to hit her) but to wave around when I felt she was getting too close to me. I also worked in a pasture with a lot of trees so it was pretty easy to duck back around a tree if I felt threatened. I remember spending a lot of time minutely watching my own emotions as they rose and fell based on her proximity and the signs she was giving. It was always an interesting tension between knowing that she was a very loving horse who wanted attention and a connection and yet could so quickly turn into a scary dangerous beast.

I also spent a lot of time on the phone with Carolyn Resnick during this period (it was concurrent with the filming and editing of the documentary). She would always ask how my horses were doing and offer advice especially about Sofi. Carolyn's expertise is in building a strong relationship first before other elements such as riding and competing are added. Some of her liberty ground work exercises proved very helpful for Sofi and I to work out a basic level of comfort and trust with each other.

Fast forward two years and here we are now:

pictures are worth more than words, and videos more than pictures

Now JD is at a place where he's starting to scratch her from over a fence. It looks like they're progressing well.

In comment to the last blog Lucy wrote:

I look forward to this new journey, although I'm not so sure how I'm gonna handle the "judgment of others" whether perceived or real. I suppose that will actually be a benefit...an opportunity to grow and evolve.

Where do I go from here and how can I begin to build a new relationship with my horses?

Well Lucy, you came to the right place. I understand your concern about the judgment of others. Fortunately, through this struggle, you have an opportunity to prove to yourself that your own inner guidance system is more important than what others may think or say.

I am urging everyone who is serious about this path to sign up for the NHE forum and eventually the school. It is free and the information and insight available there is priceless. You can send in your application by clicking here and then click on the brown "International School" link. Read about how to get an access there. I feel confident in sending anyone to the forum and school because the horse's well-being is always the highest priority for the people there. As you explore the forum, you will find exercises to try with your horse that can form the foundation of this new consciousness and you will be able to connect with people who are there to help.

Also, I hope you can find some sense of community with this blog. It's nice to know that there are others out there even if you haven't met them in person yet.

With his winter coat still coming off, Patrik has decided that a little scratching is pleasurable. He has been the hardest of my 3 horses to get to show me where he would like to be scratched. I don't know if it's just his personality (the way some people love massages and others don't) or if there are deeper issues. On the other hand, he will do almost anything for a treat, so we've found a way to have fun together.

Today when I went to leave, it seemed like he wanted me to stay, even though I hadn't brought any treats with me. Sometimes it's nice to leave when they're still wanting a little more. Then they seem to be more excited to see me the next time.

Explorations, not destinations

2010-04-19T23:54:00.000-07:00

Well, Jenny, June, and Monica... someone must have been listening to your request for pictures.

I nabbed a friend as she was passing by and got a picture of Patrik and I together today. Not the most stunning pose but his concentration is evident.

I hear what many of you are saying about Imke Spilker and I too love her words, but with the pictures of horses bridled and no discussion about the harmful effects of riding I can't believe that she has found a way which is completely pain-free. I would be very interested to meet her and the horses she has relations with, but until that happens I will withhold any further opinions either way.

I feel that I have a responsibility to bring more attention to those whom I have met in person and know are walking this path, not with their words but with their actions. It is far too easy to write and speak beautiful words and become known for those words. This is not part of what I will call the "return journey". On the return journey, we find our way back to the place and time when we were able to communicate with animals and words played no part in that, especially not written words.

Of course if you are reading closely you will see the irony in this, because most of the readers here only know me through my words or video. In the same way that I withhold opinions until I meet someone in person, I would hope that others will withhold opinions about me too. The world has become small enough that I, sitting here in California can enter your consciousness wherever in the world you may be through the magic of the Internet and the words I write, but please don't mistake that for truly knowing me. I hope to change this soon. I'm thinking up ways that I can get to meet some of you in person, and introduce you to Patrik, Sofi, and Sundance. They are the ones to listen to. Being in their presence can tell you much more than any words on a page.

The poems of the redbud, cedar and oaks are written in their own language. A picture can remind us of an experience we had in their presence, but it cannot be the poem itself. That poem includes the smells, the feel of the wind, the temperature, the texture of the ground, and the delicate changes one perceives while moving and watching the subjects move and grow and die. We are verbs, not nouns. Poems, not statements. Explorations, not destinations.

Peace in all our relations

2010-04-18T22:18:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. "What time?" you ask.

Time to start watching out for frogs setting up house in our shoes! There aren't many things worse than putting on a shoe and feeling a squishy thing at the toe. Poor little guys, just looking for a home.

I had great fun playing with the horses again today. We really seem to have turned a corner in terms of enthusiasm (in Patrik's case), sweetness (in Sofi's case) and trust (in Sundance's case). I'll just have to keep the visuals secret until I have a guest in the pasture with me to take pictures.

plentiful grass, lots of room to run, friends, and pain-free
human interactions add to Sofi's sense of well-being

I was thinking today about how important a sense of well-being is for both horses and humans. In a human's case, if we are lucky enough to feel secure about our food, clothing and shelter, and have loved ones, then as Maslow's Hierarchy of needs shows us, we can have a shot at self-actualization.

A horse's case isn't that different. If we are far enough removed from our own agendas (myself included) and we compare the life of the average sport horse to my horses, my horses have more of the base levels of the triangular model met, building a solid foundation for whatever the top levels of the horse's triangle might be. I think the biggest difference between sport horses and my horses are their feelings of safety. I am saying this coming from a very long and involved background in the traditional horse world, having been a specialist in starting young horses and teaching children with seemingly "gentle" methods.

The amount of pain involved in even the most gentle horse training, especially with a bit, but also with any length of time spent mounted and compounded with a saddle and tightened girth adds up to a horse feeling pain and being "taught" (i.e. forced) to deal with that pain by submitting before greater pain (tugs on the bit, kicking, spurring, whipping) is inflicted.

To the uneducated eye, a traditionally trained horse will often look like she is not in pain. The further I go along this path, the more I see significant differences between my horses and the others, and even between my horses now and my horses as they used to be when they were traditionally trained. A horse that doesn't feel safe from having pain induced by riding is missing a large part of the stability needed in order to feel a full sense of well-being.

There are amazing things that we humans have figured out about horse behavior and ways to work within their own nature in order to train and work with them, but if we don't stop causing them pain every time we are with them, we will never know the levels that they are capable of bringing us and themselves to.

I used to think this was an extremist's path. Now I see it as completely logical. So much so, that I don't feel the need to debate or argue these points with anyone. I have proven it for myself and know in my heart that others will eventually find it too. It may have to wait for a time when more humans have been fortunate enough to have their own basic needs met.

When our only battles are with the dark parts of ourselves, and we are overflowing with enough love and compassion to help other humans, we will have peace in all our relations.

Sun touching down

2010-04-17T19:27:00.000-07:00

As I write this, the sun is nearly touching the western hills, coming in at eye-level through the door to my office. It is lighting up the yellow room and my skin with a warm glow.

When I went out to visit the horses today, I spent the first 5-10 minutes sitting on the hillside watching them graze. They all saw me sitting there, but Sofi was the first to approach, slowly grazing closer and closer. When she got very close I noticed that I felt no fear at letting her walk up to me while I was sitting on the ground. It has taken such a long time to get to this place but I am very glad we're here. I remained on the ground and scratched her legs and chest.

After not too long, Patrik decided he needed to get in on the action and came cantering over. I asked him to stop before he got close enough to make Sofi feel like she needed to move. It is interesting to watch what little gestures the horses need among themselves to know when to move or when it's ok to stay. Patrik kept trying to innocently move his way up to us but each time I would ask him to back off.

I took this picture to show what it looked like. This was as close as he could get with Sofi still trusting that I would keep him away.

After I had given Sofi a good dose of attention I played with Patrik for quite a while. I didn't get pictures of that of course because I am too much "in the picture" to get out and take one. One of these days I'll have someone else to take the pictures. We worked on ramener, walking and trotting together, trot and canter circles around me, crunches, spanish walk, standing square, and trotting up to me.

After some time with Patrik I went back to Sofi and then spent time with Sundance. Sundance is working on ramener while walking, front leg lifts, and we did a little trotting together too.

Sundance was in heat today. She does the foal-mouthing gesture to try and get Patrik's attention but of course Patrik is a gelding and although he's very good at watching out for the girls, he doesn't really seem to understand what Sundance is asking for.

This little purple beauty was in the sheep pasture amidst the clover.

I finish this post and look out to the warm orange glow on the hills. The sun is on its way to warm other parts of the world now, maybe yours.

The heart trumps all

2010-04-16T00:25:00.000-07:00

Great comments all! It is very revealing to be able to read all the different interpretations of what I was trying to say in the last post. I think Jennifer (JEN SKA) has the closest interpretation to what I was trying to convey.

I was at a talk tonight and heard the great line:

the heart trumps all

That is what this comes down to, being able to feel our own hearts and let them lead us. Our heart may lead us to find that master/mentor and then if that master/mentor is for real, they will be there only to help us to uncover our hearts more fully, to set us on our own paths.

I feel some creative juices flowing and am having some exciting ideas of what to create next.

Stay tuned!

Finding a master

2010-04-14T21:59:00.000-07:00

As I approached the horses today, Sundance was laying down and Patrik was in a restful pose. By the time I got close enough to take a picture though, I had entered Patrik's "space" and he was on his way to see me.

I've been thinking about the levels/circles/yin-yang models and what they fail to capture. Monica talked about NHE as an all-or-nothing endeavor and in many ways she's right. What keeps coming to me though is that none of these are really the things that are going to be of much use in helping us become part of the new consciousness we're searching for. They are pleasant enough distractions to sink our minds into, but I can't see how they are leading us closer to the shift. That's probably what all of you have been trying to tell me anyway.

Yesterday I worked with JD over getting Sofi to come in for the night. It was a magical experience as I first watched what JD tried on his own, and then stepped in and guided him to work with her in a different way, which produced very quick and stunning results. Well, the results looked quick and stunning but actually they were the result of my 26 years with horses, traveling the world, meeting masters, and my state of being.

In a very similar way, I am guided by someone who has his own lifetime of experience with people and in a few moments he can completely change the course of someone's life through what looks like a simple process. There are no levels, models, or trying to teach over the internet. It is an ability to see what a person is manifesting in the moment and knowing the next move to take, like I was able to see in the moment what JD needed to do in order to come into a closer harmony with Sofi.

Nature has its way of ensuring that a seed has everything it needs to grow from one form to the next, that a blade of grass will regrow after being eaten, and an acorn will grow into an oak tree.

When we humans follow the guidance system that we have been born with, we too can put ourselves in the best place to assure that this shift can happen. It's like being a flower seed placed in the bed of a master gardener. Our guidance systems can help us recognize someone who has already made that shift and it can help us to realize our need to seek his or her help. When this happens, the process changes from the long struggle of trial and error (a flower seed tossed into a parking lot) into a beautiful opportunity to be the recipient of the fruits of a life's labors. No longer are we caterpillars eating leaves day after day, we are shown how to shed our last skin, to sit within our chrysalis, and then the nature within works its miracle and we can emerge into the new state of being.

So it seems to me that unless someone has already found this master, all efforts should be directed towards developing one's guidance system so that the master is recognized when he appears. For our purposes now, let's define a "master" as someone who has already made a shift into a new level of being within his or her field of expertise and is able to guide others to make this shift. I also want to stress the following point. In my opinion, to qualify as someone you can call a master, the person has to be somebody you have met in real life, and preferably someone who also knows you and that you have worked with and gotten to know over a period of time. If this criteria isn't met, then really all you have to go on are stories and imagination which cannot be read by a human's natural guidance system. When you are in a person's physical presence, the guidance system can work as nature intended.

For example, I recognized Alexander Nevzorov as a master because of how I saw his horses act with him and the ways he was able to achieve this relationship. Also, in having meals with him, interviewing and filming him, and being with some of his in-person students and family, I was able to give my guidance system time to determine if he really was operating from a different level or if he was just a "repackaged version" of old training methods such as I've seen most Natural Horsemanship trainers to be.

For now, let's not address the question of whether horses can be masters or not...that will be a good topic for another time.

I'm curious, how do you recognize a person who is a master in his or her field?

Let's hear from you!

Wonder

2010-04-13T23:42:00.000-07:00

Today I'll try a different way to explain what this path is about.

Seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary is facing the right direction

There are many things we choose to do in life, and there is one thing that will make us feel completely fulfilled. I could say it is a human's one and only purpose in life.

I have found that one thing. The trouble is, now that I've found it, I can't tell you what it is. You wouldn't believe me anyway if I tried and I am a poor candidate to represent this ... this ... possibility.

I have chosen to learn over the past 26 years how to do seemingly extraordinary things with horses and how to teach this to others. The current endeavor I call the "Path of the Horse". This path entails learning from horses and humans and teaching humans how to come into relationship with horses in ways that don't involve pain or force. This is one of the things I choose to do in life. Whether I am successful in this pursuit or not, has no bearing on the one thing that I am here to do.

I've spent far too many hours now at the computer trying to figure out how to put this and my kitty will be demanding that I come to bed. Tomorrow will likely be another work in progress, and I'll do my best again to bring myself in closer alignment with this purpose.

May you all wonder

(Thank you Shellee)

Yin-Yang model

2010-04-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

Here is the email I referred to yesterday:

Hello Stormy,

My name is Doris. A week ago I posted as Mia on your Path of the Horse blog. When I signed up for the NHE forum the username Doris was taken so I decided to go with a short version of my middle name. I also felt shy about posting a comment on your website and writing as "Mia" made it easier.

Anyway, I would like to share some additional information and diagrams with you and that's why I'm contacting you via email.

Your Path of the Horse movie and blog resonate with something deep inside of me. I thrive on meaningful connections with people, animals and nature and I've been wanting to understand why, after millions of years of evolution, we still treat each other the way we do. I have also been searching for ways on how we could possibly change this around for the benefit of all beings.

Last week, reading you blog, something clicked. Several pieces of the puzzle came together and this is my attempt to put it into words. In case you are wondering about strange grammar, misspelling of words, and lack of punctuation, I am originally from Germany and my preferred mode of communication are pictures, photographs, art, etc. Playing around with a compass I was curious if I could expand on the ideas and examples of circle mind and I came up with this:

"Force" versus "No Force" are opposites and therefore placed across from each other. I don't agree or support equine sports, competition and the use of bits and spurs. However, I feel it is important to include this current reality of horse/human relations into the circle. I know people who engage in all the "four different ways of being with horses" and inclusion is important to keep the channels of communication open and to help with the shift in consciousness.

Looking at my drawing of four circles within a circle I thought I'll place another circle in the middle, which will represent the horse, because the horse is what connects us, helps us find common ground. The drawing in front of me looked like a flower with four petals, it could also be a mandala. Though pleased with the visual results, Eva's words (April 6th, as a comment to your blog "Lines to Circles") kept echoing in my mind:

"Charts or Bubbles.....two ancient models....Chinese.....a model that includes states, but not as static island, but as a fusion or product of dynamic forces where the forces that generated the state are the same that transcend it, you can see how one flows into the other and after crossing over into its opposite returns".

Then it hit me...I realized I was looking at the Tao of Equus... the YIN and YANG of horse/human relations.

The diagram is not correct, but I don't have time to revise it. Mainly I wanted to show how one thought led to another. The diagram should be "wobbly" because the use of force and restraints means that the masculine aspect is out of balance, in my opinion due to fear. It is my hope that in the future force and restraints will be replaced with healthy masculine aspects. Humans are fascinated with horses, but they are such large animals. They have the potential to hurt or even kill us and I guess it is easier to dominate them with force than to admit and face our fears. A friend of mine once said, being around horses is all about fear management. Maybe that's why your 80 year old neighbor & his friends asked "did you use a club", because soft, feminine, passive ways of partnership and cooperation are such foreign concepts.

Your horse Sofi seams to be a master teacher. You wrote:

"If I respond in fear or anger, then the attack will almost certainly come (although her "attacks" are pretty mild these days). If I am able to answer her ear flip question with a relaxation, and stepping in to offer her a scratch, she will almost always immediately soften and gratefully receive the scratching. So, between her and I, we pretty much have it worked out now that I can energetically control my approach/response and we have a nice connection.

The trick is how to teach this to someone else who may not be able to catch that moment and hold themselves in a positive place. The moment they doubt, it's all over, and then both that person and Sofi has become ingrained even more deeply the old pattern. In a way I think this is a microcosm for all the "bad behavior" that happens between horses and humans".

Chief Dan George wrote:

"If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them, you will not know them, and what you do not know you will fear. What one fears one destroys."

I believe horses as a species have stepped forward to teach us:

how to face and overcome our individual and collective fears
become aware of our role as co-creators, living in the moment, giving our energies to manifesting a new reality for the benefit of all beings
help us find our equilibrium, the balance between masculine and feminine, and to become whole again.

In his book "The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community" David Korten writes:

Rejecting the Feminine-
"Ultimately, the early Goddess-worshipping agricultural civilizations fell to invasions by the God-worshipping nomadic pastoralist tribes that began in earnest around 4300 BCE and continued in a succession of waves through 2800 BCE. The invaders killed the men, enslaved the women, and replaced their relatively equitable, life-centered, and partnership-oriented religions, cultures, and institutions with wrathful male gods, warrior cultures, institutions of domination, and technologies of destruction. Earth Goddess gave way to sky God. Thus began what Riane Eisler (The Chalice and the Blade) calls 'a bloody five-thousand-year dominator detour'. As the pre-Empire societies honored the power to give life, so later societies honored the power to take life. Kings and emperors bolstered their demands for obedience with claims of personal divinity or divine appointment. Angry male gods representing dominator displaced the female and male gods representing generative power. Priestesses were gradually stripped of power and replaced by priests. Wives became the chattel of their husbands. The poor became the servants of the rich. The regenerative power of the Spirit gave way to the dominator power of the sword. Humans came to mistake dominance for potency, domination displaced partnership as the organizing principle of society, and the era of Empire was born".

As a result nature, horses (and countless other species), women, and earth-honoring indigenous cultures shared a similar fate.

Now I understand why I would watch the trailer to Path of the Horse over and over again before the movie was released. I love the image of Alexander Nevzorov riding without bridle and Linda Kohanov saying:

"They carried us around on their backs for centuries, waiting for us to notice that they aren't here for us to evolve in terms of mastering nature and moving around the planet, they are actually waiting for us to get to the point were we are ready to evolve t0 a higher level of consciousness and awareness".

The choice is ours: contract in fear or expand in love.

I want to include a picture of my dear friend, master teacher and healer Azzie, a horse who in other people's opinion had lost her worth because she was lame and nipped people. We've been together for 2.5 years and our amazing journey has just begun. I feel blessed to have her in my life.

Much love, light and laughter to you, Sofi, Patrik, Sundance and Sunny

Doris

Thank you Doris for daring to speak out and allowing this blog to be a place to start. I love the yin/yang design to explain the shift and especially the part where you talk about looking for ways that force and restraint can be replaced in the diagram by healthy male/yang aspects. I think this is exactly what Alexander has found. His horses are the most disciplined animals I have ever met, yet the discipline has been achieved without pain/restraint-based methods and the result is what I can best describe as highly educated horses.

It seems to me that once a critical-mass number of people see that a dynamic partnership with a horse can be achieved without using pain/restraint-based methods, the "house of cards" which has been the idea that horses can only be trained (educated) using pain/restraint-based methods will fall.

One more interesting thing to think about. Walking a dog on a leash attached to a collar is also a pain/restraint-based method of training. The amount of pain would certainly be less than is potentially inflicted with a bit, but comparable to using a neckrope behind a horse's ears. Of course the big difference is that due to the horse's size, a human's strength would not be enough to control a horse with a neckrope like this unless some level of relationship has already been established and the horse chooses to stay with the human, whereas a dog's size relative to the human's generally ensures that the human's strength will win out over any pull from the dog, thus a stronger level of control is typically not needed with a dog. If dogs were the size of horses though, I'm sure we'd have devised more painful methods to train and restrain them.

I think this is one of several reasons that it seems to be horses who hold the key to this consciousness shift, because the levels of pain and restraint we subject them to are much larger and therefore more obvious than those we use with dogs. Yet before we can get to the level that Gandhi describes, where by striking blows on another being, something is awakened in human nature that makes hatred decrease and respect increase, we must first admit to ourselves that we strike and paralyze horses with pain out of our own fear, not as we have been brainwashed to believe, that we do it out of love or for "the good of the horse".

This bears repeating:

We must first admit to ourselves that we hit horses to cause pain, use bits to cause pain, and use spurs to cause pain, and that we do all of these things as a result of our fear of being out-of-control.

Once we can accept this fact, the change can begin.

Sun to rain

2010-04-11T22:37:00.000-07:00

Here's a first attempt at describing the shift in consciousness in terms of circles rather than levels. Thanks Monica!

Yesterday I got another email with some very differently arranged circles to help understand the shift. I want to wait until I have permission to post it here along with the email and then we'll all get to see what another reader has come up with.

Meanwhile, here are two pictures from two days ago that I thought had gotten lost. First, the progress of the oak leaves.

Next, the status of Patrik's shedding. This spot on the shoulder is always the first spot to fully shed.

And here is the picture of our turning point two days ago, when Patrik and I had our face-off.

And this was today....

Before the rain started, four of the seven sheep got shorn...

and two of the three goats got partial haircuts. Tuesday we'll try to finish them.

The rain today was quite cold and turned to sleet for a little while later in the evening. When I got to the pasture Patrik was hoping I'd come to give them hay under the shelter.

When he saw that I hadn't brought anything he made his way to the shelter anyway and then neighed for the girls to come.

Sundance heard him and nickered back but chose to stay out on the grass...

so rather than be alone under the shelter, Patrik came out and went back to grazing.

Poor Joseph, half naked in the cold. At least they have a warm barn.

And finally it was time to give the horses their hay under the shelter. When the horses get cold and are in close quarters under the shelter they always seem to have shorter tempers than when it's warm out. I arranged to meet JD so I could work with him getting the horses in. They were already in by the time I got there but I watched as he gave Sundance her grain without Patrik getting it. I find it fascinating to come up with different solutions to whatever presents itself in the moment. Here you can see JD holding the whip and watching Sofi as he gets her hay. There is a lot to pay attention to in this moment. Once the person knows how to read the horses it's quite safe. We've been working on JD learning just how much energy is needed to move the horses without overdoing it.

Motivation determines evidence

2010-04-09T18:02:00.000-07:00

I'd like everyone to watch this clip from the Conan O'Brien show. It's called "Everything's amazing and nobody's happy." I'll talk about it in another entry, maybe tomorrow.

Last night I was looking at wildflower identification internet sites. I remember seeing this flower, and then I saw it growing in our yard today. When I went back on the internet I couldn't find it again. Maybe somebody knows what this is called.

Today it had dried out enough that we were able to back the truck up to the barn and get some new hay in. The nice thing about the horses being on pasture is that we don't feed much hay this time of year.

Stacking even 10 bales of West Coast hay is a big task. The bales are each well over 100 pounds (probably about 120 pounds each - about 54 kg). I think I did pretty well at not straining my back thanks to JD's help. I'll see how it feels tomorrow.

The horses were all up for more grooming today. I used my hands mostly. I found a tick on each horse although none of them had firmly attached yet. The girls had them on their udder areas and Patrik had one in the middle of his chest. There is so much surface area for a tick to bite into a horse, it would be difficult to check the whole horse each day but I find that a byproduct of my learning to listen to horses is that they are pretty effective at directing me to exactly where the tick is, and then all I have to do is look and pick it off.

Here's my favorite grooming tool for this time of year. It's very satisfying to pull those big matted hairballs off the rubber nubs.

I took two pictures of Patrik today and somehow neither of them made it on to my computer so my description will have to suffice. It feels like today was one of many turning points I've had in my relationship with Patrik in particular. There was a point where we were both facing each other in the field. We were both still although Patrik's ears were scanning back and forth. I got the feeling that Patrik was trying to gauge if I'm really going to be leadership material or not.

I read something that Lydia Nevzorova wrote which talked about the difficulty of becoming a horse teacher. It got me to thinking about the beauty of that term "horse teacher." Not "horse trainer." As Alexander Nevzorov is now teaching his horses to spell and read in Latin, the term horse teacher takes on a whole new meaning.

Patrik and I did our dance in the pasture, each testing the other, trying to decide who is the best choice as teacher in the moment. As this was going on I remembered another post-it that I have on my computer. It came from here. It says:

Evidence is not the primary factor that determines what conclusions and beliefs will be formed. Motivation is the primary factor. Evidence will be gathered to support the motive.

I questioned myself, "What is the motivation for me to be doing this with Patrik now?" The answer I came up with is that I'd like to achieve something in partnership with my horses, that allows people to see that there is something else humans can do with horses besides ride them, that might be even more deep and meaningful than riding, or otherwise using horses to entertain themselves. This is what the Path of the Horse has meant to me, and in particular watching Alexander with his horses, which was a whole different world that I hadn't known existed between horses and humans.

So, if that is indeed my motivation, then the quote would mean that now, whatever evidence I find while working with the horses will support my motivation to find a way to be with horses which is more meaningful than using a horse for human entertainment. And I suspect that others who are interested in finding this with horses will be attracted to what I am doing.

There is something incredibly unsettling about the quote. If I really feel it, and apply it in my life, it gives me a glimpse of the power that we humans have to create our own realities. I am trying to create a reality where horses are valued for something other than their physical abilities to carry people. I made a movie about it, I am writing a blog about it, I talk to people about it, I know people across the world who are also interested in it.

Across the street lives an 80-something-year-old man who was sitting again on his front lawn today with three of his friends watching what I'm doing. One of his friends was bold enough today to ask two questions. The first, he asked, "Are you going to start charging us to watch?" and second, he asked, "How did you start to get him to do that, with a club?" (for non-English speakers, a club is a big, thick stick). In this guy's reality, apparently the only way he could think of to get a horse to respond like Patrik was responding was by beating him. I didn't answer either question. I didn't know where to begin. What was this man's motivation for watching? What does he want to prove? Whatever his motivation is will determine what evidence he sees by watching me. Talk about a different reality! Yet, can I actually dismiss his? Isn't his as real to him as mine is to me?

This seems like a microcosm something presented in a slideshow I saw tonight. One of our community members recently got back from a trip to the Middle East. He showed pictures of Jerusalem, a city which is precisely divided into different religious and national regions. The Israelis, Arabs, Jews, Muslims, Christians, all with their own cultural realities, trying to co-exist across the street from each other, sometimes even trying to worship the same holy ground for different religious reasons. They have achieved an uneasy co-existence for the moment.

What if we could realize that we each create our own personal realities, as well as subscribing to the cultural, political and religious realities that we choose or were born into? The implications of such a realization could change the world.

And who do we live across the street from? Who do we share a bed with? Who do we raise as our own children? Other humans with their own separate motivations and evidence. When we watch closely enough, we even see these different motivations within ourselves. One part of me wants to remain thin, another part wants to eat a large piece of chocolate cake. Each part has her own motivation and each will present its own evidence and arguments. I will choose within myself to listen to one or the other, sometimes consciously, usually not. The more moments I am conscious of the battleground within myself, the more I can see myself in another's eyes.

It often makes me want to look at plants...

and romp with the dog...

and listen to this song.

Flowers

2010-04-08T22:15:00.000-07:00

I noticed the first "five spot" flowers in the pasture today. The last two years they have taken over a large part of the lower meadow area near the road, we'll see how far they spread this year. I haven't seen any reports of them being toxic, but the horses don't seem to eat them.

I realize now that I didn't take any horse pictures today. I did spend about an hour grooming and playing with them. I took turns between the three horses, trying to remember that I am not teaching them although we did work on NHE elements. When I can really get into the space of being a student, then there is no room for me to feel bad about our "progress" or lack of it. Instead, there is an opportunity to watch how we interact.

One of the NHE mottos is "The horse is always right." It has taken me some time to understand this and now I believe it is fundamental to this path. To me, it means that whatever the horse does, there is an explainable reason for it, and if we humans would like our interactions to be different, it is up to us to learn how to be different ourselves. How do we know when we've changed? When the horse's reaction changes. This reminds me of another great quote from Einstein,

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

This is what most training methods seem to be based on. They might work for physically training the horse's body to mechanically obey commands, but the relationship that develops is one of "I say, you do" rather than leaving room for both horse and human to create a game which is enjoyable to both.

When I looked up from playing with the horses, I saw the neighbors across the road had pulled up three chairs in their front yard and had become an audience. We waved at each other and then I went back to the horse space. I can't even imagine what they must think I'm doing.

After leaving the horses I came across Kate and Dora. They are daughters of other people in the community. They had set up a flower stand and had made beautiful creations from rings, to bouquets, to brooches all from flowers in the yard. They had figured out the prices, special deals, and were pretty well versed in bargaining. How could I resist?

Here are the creations I came home with. The one at the bottom is the "dancing flower lady" that Dora created. It reminds me of a whirling Sufi dervish.

Sunny and I walked back home as the shadows were getting longer. The sheep and goats don't know that shearing time is Sunday. We hand shear them, it's going to be a big job to try and get all 10 done in one day.

And today we get to meet Lisa:

Lisa and Selene

I grew up on an apple orchard in Kelowna B.C. Canada, and throughout my childhood and teens had four wonderful horses: Claude, Maybe, Texas and Big Buck. Claude was my first horse and most gracious teacher. He put up with absolutely everything and seemed to love me in spite of the things I asked of him, such as riding him on the sidewalk of the main highway through town munching on the lunch we picked up after riding through the McDonald’s drive through. We had a great relationship, and our rides through the hills around town were usually my idea, but I often tied the reins around his neck and let him go wherever he wanted as I lay down, or read a book. For several years I only rode him bareback, and looking back it’s amazing I wasn’t killed as I was hardly ever paying attention, but I guess he was the one who knew what he was doing so it’s a good thing he was in charge. I also had great times with the other horses, but never felt as at home on another horses back as I did with Claude. My riding consisted mainly of riding through the orchards, on government lease cattle range, and on my dad’s thousand-acre ranch a ways out of Kelowna where I lived with Maybe and Buck in the summertime while I was in high school.

After moving to Calgary to go to university I left my horses at home with my parents, and they got the occasional ride when I came home for Christmas or the odd long weekend, but they mostly lived out their retirement years on a lush pasture, with the odd leftover apple tree that they could snack off in late summer and fall. After Maybe and Buck passed away I didn’t know if I would ever have horses again. It was something I always hoped would happen, but couldn’t say I thought it was likely. I had never been involved with horses that were kept in stables, and just didn’t see living in a big city and horses as a good mix. And as a schoolteacher working away at student loans and a mortgage, buying an acreage didn’t seem possible.

On a leave from teaching two years ago though, I actually had time to meet my neighbour, and found out that her mom ran a horse rescue about 20 minutes out of Calgary. A few months later we coordinated and I went out to meet her mom and the horses. One smell and I was in heaven. There was something about the smell of the horses and manure that took me back in time and made me feel alive. I knew in that moment that I couldn’t just volunteer, I had to have my own horse again. The next day I emailed and asked if I could buy a horse, and if I could board it there, as they have a farm of 140 acres. The answer was yes and I then had the daunting task of picking a filly. I spent a couple of days with the horses, and chose Bambi, who I re-named Selene. She was five months old, and had the softest eyes, and most innocent expression. With the money from Selene’s purchase the rescue went to the next auction and came back with two more fillies. One of them was Josie, and my husband absolutely fell in love with her. He said I should have waited. But within a month he had purchased her—as I secretly hoped he would. After boarding there for several months we decided to move them to another place, closer to the mountains but it didn’t work out, as the owner there told us he was getting out of horse boarding—only three weeks after we’d arrived. We found out that we had to move as we were driving to meet Comet. Greg had come across an ad for him online, as something about him just called to us. We hadn’t even been contemplating buying another horse. But on the off chance we might buy him—you’ve probably guessed by now that I’m rather impulsive—we phoned the man who was keeping the girls and asked if he would consider boarding a third horse for us. That’s when he told us we would have to leave. We decided to go see Comet anyway, not wanting to turn around. Once there we got to know Comet a bit…he gives the most wonderful soft kisses for a handful of oats…and after talking with the owners about our lack of boarding situation they offered for us to bring the girls there. They were splitting up and had four horses they were selling, but still had this awesome pasture with a small river running through it and as it was November and hay is hard to come by this year we made the split second decision to buy Comet, move the girls, and begin a new adventure. It has been wonderful, challenging and a huge huge huge learning experience. I have read so many books, watched so many training videos, and been left sour by most of them. This past winter I began working with Sandie Hucal at her horse and donkey rescue. I have been introduced to so many new ideas, about horses and life in general. The path that I am on now with the horses seems so beautiful and worthwhile, that I can’t wait to see the changes that it brings about in all of our lives. As much as I love spending time with the horses the 45 minute drive out to see them is sometimes painful—and exhausting, especially after teaching grade one all day. In the fall we are moving to Kelowna, back to where I had my horses growing up, and it will be so wonderful to have them right out the front door, where I can see them easily everyday.

I said a “little bit about myself”…sorry I lied

Lisa

Thanks Lisa...any other introductions? Sandie? Eva? Mia? Send them (with pics!) to my email at stormy@stormymay.com .

Laying down

2010-04-07T22:29:00.000-07:00

Once I made it out to the pasture today, I looked at the soft green grass, drying ground and felt the whispering wind...all I could do for about the first half hour was lay down and soak in the sun and smells and sounds. To my right was this tree...

to my left was this dog...

and above me was this pony...

After my time on the grass, I went out and did some work on the horse's coats, picked ticks off Sundance (to her great relief) and then left the horses to go wash my hands. I heard galloping hooves behind me and found that Patrik was leading everyone over to where I was. We played a little (for treats)...

...and then when we couldn't figure out what to do next, I went up to the spot on the hill, pulled out my book (The Magician's Nephew from the Chronicles of Narnia) and lounge chair and soaked up some more ... well ...

It's amazing how all it takes is a couple of days of sun and wind, and the ground that was a mud soup turns firm again. That's real magic.

The buckeye tree isn't quite in full bloom yet but it's pretty impressive.

And this little guy was the first of the starthistles I've seen this year. For those of you not familiar with this area, starthistles are a non-native plant that are toxic to horses (though they have to eat a lot to show symptoms) and when they mature they get very sharp spines that are uncomfortable to walk through. I've worked at places where these guys have taken over the pastures. I'm lucky that there aren't too many here. Each year I pick as many as I can while they're immature and that seems to be enough to control them.

Today we get to meet June...thanks for sending this June! Please send your own pictures and bio if you'd like to get introduced into the herd.

June and Bridget

I’m originally from Scotland, where I grew up riding off and on. At age 13, I was given my first horse - an 8-year old Highland Pony. I had all kinds of hopes and dreams about what a great time we’d have together, inspired by My Friend Flicka and the like. Turned out he really didn’t like me at all. He’d threateningly turn his back legs toward me when I tried to catch him. He’d bolt. He’d buck me off. I was not at all intrepid, but I hung in there, too clueless to “train” him or “cure” him of his bad habits. Time passed, and at some point - I can’t remember how - he decided he did like me after all, and we became very good friends.

After I left home, I only rode occasionally. My pony was retired on the farm where I had kept him. I moved to the U.S.A. I rode for brief periods in my late twenties and again in my early thirties, but I was busy having children and homeschooling. We have five children, ranging in age from 23 to 13. Three of them like horses; two don’t. But of the two who don’t, I think one might have liked them if we had not had an emphasis on riding but more on hanging out and interacting.

Our family moved to the country when my oldest daughter was seven - hooray! Now we could finally get into horses again! We ended up buying or adopting several horses, of whom only Chloe is still with us.

I’ve never really done any showing or competing, and so this new way of being with horses is perhaps less new for me than it might be for some. I’ve always adopted a kind of laisser faire attitude to our horses, letting them “get away” with stuff that others don’t. I’ve always taken the view that once you have a horse, it’s yours for life, and only a serious change in circumstances could justify letting the horse go. I always believed that you don’t buy a horse to enable you to do the equestrian activity of your choice, but that you wait and see which horse the tide of life floats up onto your beach, and then enjoy that horse in whatever way fits both of you.

These are the horses who are in our family now - Chloe is 19-year old small pony mare, possibly with a lot of Morgan blood, as she is a mini version of the purebred Morgan at our barn. We’ve had her about 7 years. I believe she is a Hempfling “Origin.” She is the one who has really made me take all this seriously - I absolutely cannot force her to do anything against her will. Well - I can, and I have. But she never gives up, she never stops judging, and she never stops trying to get me to understand that it’s wrong. She’s the inspiration for my own blog: http://chloetheponywhowouldnt.blogspot.com

We also recently adopted two other horses. In October, George joined us. He was given to us by a riding instructor friend who had too many horses and no job for George. Before my friend took him on, he’d been unpleasantly aggressive and terrorizing his owner. My friend took him in because a) she felt sure he was going to end up going to auction, and b) (I quote) “When he charged at me with his teeth bared, he only hit my arm with his teeth - he didn’t actually bite me, so I knew he wasn’t such a bad guy.” Note: My friend did not move during the aforementioned attack. She’s pretty cool. He is a green-broke 6-year old Appendix QH. He’s a tough, laid-back, no-nonsense kind of a guy. I have pretty much put him into the charge of my 13-year old daughter, who rides him in a more or less conventional way, although she has me putting in my two cents’ worth at every turn. Because I think he’s part Hempfling “Sergeant,” I think he does well with structure and commands. Which is good, because my daughter has what is called “Leadership Ability.” Anyway, he seems to like her a lot, so I’m letting them be.

Our other recent addition is Bridget, a two-year old former nurse-mare foal, rescued by a friend of mine as a wee baby. I’ve known her since then. She is all innocence and curiosity - so my main job is to not mess it up!

I’m supposed to be riding a QH belonging to the barn owner, but I fear I’m going to have to deconstruct that relationship and possibly quit riding him, at least for a while. I don’t know yet. I haven’t hung out with him in a couple of weeks, and when I do again, I can’t see myself just getting him out and saddling up. We’ll see.

I’ve recently started doing natural hoof trimming - started out in August of ‘08 on our own horses and now do several belonging to the barn owner as well as a few others.

In terms of riding, I liked trail riding and dressage, and the occasional fun jump out in the field. I’ve done a lot of just working at the walk and trying to help the horse improve its “use” (cos I’m trained as an Alexander Teacher, so that’s how I think of it.) I liked Lyons a lot - especially the idea of using only one rein, so the horse can escape out of the other side if it wants. You can over-pressure using Lyons though. I like Lyons himself - I went to a clinic, and his horses were cheerful and extravert. Probably his approach works best with horses who are like that anyway.

I discovered Spilker last summer and immediately started trying to do whatever it was she was doing, which of course I couldn’t figure out, so I would half give up, but then start again, because it was just too compelling. Then I discovered Hempfling. I really like his horse “types.” I enjoy watching him work on Youtube. I’ve glanced at Resnick and at Nevzorov and would like to find out more. Spilker and Hempfling seem to resonate most with me.

That’s about it. The other thing that I feel is important in connection with my attitude about horses and all this is that I believe literally in Genesis - that the world was originally created with no disharmony between species and no meat-eating. After the Fall, some animals were offered as a blood sacrifice (although no horses!), but it was only after the Flood that some animals became carnivores. I don’t believe in (macro)Evolution - so my question isn’t For What Functions Did the Horse Evolve? But rather For What Purpose is the Horse Designed?

We currently live in Canton, Mississippi but will shortly be moving to ...... possibly back to Pennsylvania.

June

Life as teacher

2010-04-06T22:38:00.000-07:00

On a post-it note that has been attached to my old computer for about 4 years now I have written:

I do not teach horses anything. I am learning to communicate and the horses are my teachers.

I remember when I first wrote that, it was to remind me over and over that I am not a teacher anymore. Many times I would find myself looking at it and seeing how I'd forgotten that during the day. The teaching "habit" has been a difficult one for me to let go of.

I feel that now I can say I have been able become more of a student with animals, but with humans I find that I still try in every way possible to retain my position as the teacher/authority in order to feel safe and needed by others. It's my act. The truth is that this has become my prison which keeps me separate from other humans.

Horses know which grasses to eat, cats know how to hunt, and chimpanzee mothers know how to teach their babies to eat and get along with others. Humans also know how to do things like hunt and gather and take care of each other. What we modern humans don't know is when to stop, to relax, to tune into the song of life and recalibrate ourselves to the awesome gift of each moment that we have been born into.

There is a time for each of us to teach but I suspect it is very small in comparison to the time for learning. When teaching becomes a place to hide and stay separate, superior, or important, its results can only serve that master. The hardest part is trying to tell where the urge to teach is coming from when almost all of us have covered over those senses which could honestly tell us the difference the moment we met someone.

This is why some trainers can say all the right words and create a huge empire of followers even if they are coming from a place of separation and superiority. This is also why other trainers might say all the wrong words which alienate and confuse potential students and yet they are the ones who can truly connect with the horses and teach others how to do this.

We all do have a way to tell the difference but it is not through any of our 5 senses. Life seems to be the relentless teacher and horses are some of her best student-teachers for reawakening within us that which knows the diamonds from the sequins. I have much more to say on this subject but again, it is getting late and I have other things to tend to.

This morning Sunny was very excited to go on our first real walk since I've been better.

The sheep and goats on the hillside were quite a temptation for Sunny, but luckily he listened to me and didn't chase them.

The grasses that the horses haven't been able to eat are spreading their broad leaves.

Here is the first of our introductions to readers. It's from Jenny (JEN-SKA) in Finland. Thanks Jenny...

Here is a link to my short intro in my own blog, with some photos:
http://jen-ska.blogspot.com/2010/03/hello.html

So, what to tell about me..

My name is Jenny, I'm 33 years, living in Valkeakoski, Finland. I have been a big admirer of horses (among other animals) my whole life, but never really felt comfortable using methods taught to me on my early years (from 9 to 15 years of age). I didn't feel safe around those horses. Nowadays I understand that they were only shouting because no one would listen to whispering... I still don't trust any animal that is forced to do something.

Fear is what originally caused me to find out more and more. To overcome fear, I must learn why animals act like they do. And since I know they usually don't pretend anything, it is very interesting to always think Why? What caused this action? When I understand, I don't have to be afraid anymore.

Nowadays I find books interesting and helpful in my path. Writers like Imke Spilker, J. Allen Boone, Stephen Harrod Buhner, Eckhart Tolle, Klaus F. Hempfling have been on my reading list lately. Words fail me all the time, labelling different feelings with a word somehow diminishes them. Not to mention with foreign language... I find it hard writing/talking about these things with someone who does not quite understand, when it is even hard with someone who does! I recently understood that for a long time, walking this path, I nodded at a lot of things people said, but I did not take those things literally but more like metaphorically, when actually those things have proven to be "for real"! I cannot spot any examples right now but maybe you know what I mean by that.

I have had Olga for 5 months now, she is my first own horse. She has spend her former 19 years as a breeding mare. I'd dare to say that she was pretending to be withdrawn and uncommunicative horse when I went to see her for the first time. She knew that was what I was looking for, because I felt that I am good in bringing life to those kind of horses. Well.. she actually is exactly what I needed, to develop as horse person (instead of what I thought I wanted), a horse that has learned to take care of herself as people never did, a horse that runs before looking, a horse that has a strong mind and she is just the best teacher I could have asked for!

Currently I am a student of a finnish girl called Noora Ehnqvist, she is a follower of Klaus F. Hempfling. And hopefully I will be able to arrange Imke Spilker to come to Finland to have a clinic!

Hugs,
Jenny

One last thing I want to mention today is, in comment to the last post a question was asked about using a long stick to herd a horse who is showing signs of aggression or moodiness. There may be a time and place for this, but coming from what I know of Lisa and Comet and of that particular technique I urge you not to try this. There is something that I think can help everyone here to start uncovering their own guidance system, and more importantly, if you follow it, it will do no damage to your relationship with your horse, whereas walking after your horse with a stick is very likely to be more harmful than helpful in these circumstances.

I highly recommend the book "Zen connection with horses" as the best program I've read and heard on how to get into that space where there is an open communication between horse and human. The author, Jenny Pearce is an Australian horsewoman who sent the book and CD to me after seeing my documentary. I am very selective about which things I recommend, they have to work and not have the potential of leading us farther away from our horses or into a fairy-land of illusion.

So here it is: http://www.bookswithspirit.com/shop

I'd love to hear comments from people who work with this program. If you already have it, don't leave it behind. When I first got it, not only did I do it myself, but I also taught it to Tricia and JD, and 6 year old Emerald as their first introduction to being with my horses. Now, the things Jenny teaches forms the basis of their understanding of horses, so often they will be the ones to remind me about watching the energy first and proceeding from there. If you have others with you who might not know as much about horses, let them read and listen to it too so you'll have a partner to help keep the feeling alive.

Lines to circles

2010-04-05T21:22:00.000-07:00

Mia wrote:

I believe visual tools like maps are important to understand where we are and where, by choice, we want to go. Instead of using a linear, up and down model with different levels I would like to suggest the use of a circle with different stages in the horse/human relationship.

I looked at the examples she gave links to and I think they're quite interesting. I think some others suggested looking at it more in these terms too. I wonder if we could revise the chart in terms of circles. Anyone want to try?

Today Patrik didn't want to miss out on any potential treats so he made his way right up to me when I came in the pasture. After a brief nosing revealed that I didn't have any, he walked over to the pump house and very carefully backed up to its low eave and pushed his hindquarters against it which made him round through his loins. It looked like he was giving himself a back adjustment. I wish I'd had enough presence of mind to take a picture. When I visit him at night sometimes he backs up to me and has me perform this "adjustment" as well.

After the rain yesterday and scattered showers today, much of the pasture was looking more like a pond than ground. There were 3 Canadian geese who had taken up residence for the day. They honked very loudly as I made my way through.

This ghost-like blooming tree was a beautiful sight.

The following video clip is taken from under the old apple tree that we've already met. There was a robin who seemed to be either scolding me for being there, or warning the rest of the woods that there was an intruder under the apple tree. Maybe both.

Some things are simply eye-catching to me, like this stump with fungi and moss...

this leaf...

the mystery plants...

and another leaf with diamond drops on it...

The clouds were a stunning canvas of white and gray over blue. I went to town today (Grass Valley) after about two weeks stuck at home between being sick and my back being out. It was nice to visit the human forest too. I saw a movie and talked to some people I hadn't met before. I think my life right now has a good balance between the very natural area where I and the horses live with the community we're part of, and the "rest of the world" which is where we all came from.

The more time I spend in this community on the Ridge and in nature, taking walks, being quiet, reading books, playing and singing music with friends and such, the more I appreciate what a unique circumstance I've become a part of. I don't know where it's heading but it feels like there's nowhere else on earth I'd rather be.

As I was heading back to the Ridge I got a call from JD that he needed me to put Sofi in for the night. Apparently she was asserting her independence and JD hasn't gotten the hang of how to sweet talk her in. Sofi has shown her scary side to JD and Tricia (Tricia is a woman who also works with me and the horses sometimes) and so far I haven't been successful in teaching them how to get past that and into her sweetness.

It took me quite a while before I figured out how to do it myself. Intellectually I had known that Sofi's anger/scariness was a reflection of something in me but it wasn't until I "slowed down" enough that I was actually able to see it happening as if in slow motion and I was able to truly see and feel it rather than intellectually think about what must be going on.

I hope to get it on video sometime, to show the difference between being able to shift and walk into Sofi and bring out her sweetness or scariness. I'll try and describe it here. I walk towards her (or she walks towards me) and we both start out relaxed, and then there is a very brief moment when she might flip her ears back and I react energetically by getting scared that this is going to be a repeat of past times when she has come after me. I believe her ear flip is her question of "Are you going to hurt or scare me?" and if I respond in fear or anger, then the attack will almost certainly come (although her "attacks" are pretty mild these days). If I am able to answer her ear flip question with a relaxation, and stepping in to offer her a scratch, she will almost always immediately soften and gratefully receive the scratching. So, between her and I, we pretty much have it worked out now that I can energetically control my approach/response and we have a nice connection.

The trick is how to teach this to someone else who may not be able to catch that moment and hold themselves in a positive place. The moment they doubt, it's all over, and then both that person and Sofi has become ingrained even more deeply the old pattern. In a way I think this is a microcosm for all the "bad behavior" that happens between horses and humans.

When Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling works with horses, he always takes the horse away from his owner and works with the horse himself or has a different person work with the horse for at least the first day or two. This way he is able to immediately break any ingrained habits by being a human who does completely different things than any other human has ever done with the horse. The horse, in response, "wakes up" and starts to be curious about what's happening rather than going further within himself as would happen if the owner were to continue working with him, even if the owner was being directed to do things differently.

It is an extremely subtle dance to watch and I'm grateful to have horses as willing to express themselves as Sofi and Sundance have been. If it weren't for them I would never have found this path in the first place. I remember in the movie Avatar when they're talking about which dragon becomes yours to ride. The answer is, the one who fights with you. I may be misremembering the actual words and perhaps fight isn't the best word anyway. I would say, the one who challenges you the most.

I believe it is that way with people too. The ones who challenge us the most are the ones we can learn the most from. And within ourselves, the things that give us the greatest internal challenges are those things that in the end will be the source of our greatest gifts and harmony if we can find that very small, narrow yet bright path that feels like home.

As I was writing this post I just saw the comment from Valezka in response to yesterday's post come through. Thank you Valezka for writing about your own path. I know it will resonate with many here.

If they could talk

2010-04-04T21:37:00.000-07:00

Here's the mystery plant. Any guesses yet?

Today was a wet, cold day on the ridge. The horses chose to spend most of the day outside and didn't seem the worse for it. No shivering.

I want to leave the debate for today (continue comments if you like, they are quite interesting and I think valuable for exploring this) but what I do want to write about is the feeling that I get when going to see the horses. Horses kept in an environment where their social and physical needs are met, in my experience, will typically not give a person that excited greeting that a dog gives when their "human" comes back. Cats too, have a greeting although it seems to be more of a demand. Unless the horses know you're bringing them a bucket of grain or similar treats, they seem to be content to continue what they were doing, and maybe eventually come up, or welcome the person with a gentle nosing, or request for scratching.

I used to interpret this as that I was doing something wrong, that the horses weren't more excited to see me even after an extended absence. I now think that this is a reflection of their nature which is to "be" in a very different way than other companion animals.

If we could think of the three animals (dogs, cats, horses) as people, it might go as follows:

Dog (running up, arms outstretched in a waiting hug): Hey it's soo good to see you, I've missed you these past 5 minutes, hey want to go out and play frisbee? Come on please? Please!

Cat (walking up slowly): Ahem, Ahem, Where have you been? It's cold in here and I want wet food now...oh and please sit down so I can warm my feet on your lap. Did you remember that I said I want wet food?

Horse (continuing what she's doing): If you're really interested in what's going on, my friend over there has a sore leg and those neighbors across the street are worried about the family they live with.

Have others of you noticed this, or something different?

Keep going

2010-04-03T22:56:00.001-07:00

Good news here on the Ridge! (The Ridge is the local slang term for North San Juan where I live.) The picture will say it all.

Yep, I got some pasture time today. Patrik has gained weight and their coats are about to jump off of them if I don't get down to some serious currying soon. The birds will have plenty of nesting material.

I love this look of Patrik's...Isenbart called it "a gaze from the depths of a dream" I believe. Here, Patrik was looking over towards the two mules across the street. He seemed to be very tuned in to what was going on over there.

The same view from another angle.

June made a good attempt at seeing the value in the horse/human relationship chart but we still have more to go. How about a new horse owner using it to evaluate potential trainers, and as a place to start discussions with them, to get to know them better? How about a non-horse owning philanthropist wants to give money to someone furthering the horse/human consciousness shift and this will give her a place to start in researching who to support?

Did anybody notice that there is nothing in there that talked about loving a horse, or respecting a horse? It is based on the physical actions which are performed or not performed with horses, which is what the horses know us by, not by the fancy words we might use.

Keep going, let's hear a few more potential uses of a chart like this.

In the meantime, a little gift. Here's what Sunny and I did this morning. It's a view from "the rocks."

And some clouds from yesterday (no audio). It's hard to tell but the clouds were moving in opposite directions.

Monica said in comment to the last post:

I found the links you included regrettably typical of the traditional horse world. I cannot help but observe that as we treat our horses, so we treat ourselves. Those people do not treat themselves with compassion ... so how, then could they possibly treat their horses with compassion? How do we help people love themselves so they can love their horses?

Monica, this is exactly the heart of the matter. Thank you for posing the observation and question. Let's launch from here.

A challenge

2010-04-02T15:27:00.000-07:00

I thought this picture would give everyone an accurate assessment of what my day has been like.

My back is still sore although slowly getting better it seems. Things have also turned around for the neighbor horses and it looks like they might have a good forever-home by Monday. I am going crazy with not having seen my own horses for nearly a week now even though they are just a walk away...but a walk farther than I know is good for my back right now. The drifting snowflakes, driving rain, and caring housemates have helped me maintain my distance. It also always makes our eventual reunion that much sweeter. JD has been ever-vigilant and reliable about taking care of them.

Oh this blog is going to be so much fun for us!

Last night I was struck by the potential of this medium. Here we can create a virtual world of coming-together in preparation for real-life comings together, in this case under the disguise of promoting the idea that there is a consciousness shift going on in the way humans and horses are relating to each other, and exploring just what that means in each of our lives in a real, tangible way.

My vision as I see it right now is to use this space for the following purposes:

To be a place to evaluate what works and what doesn't towards the goal of creating more harmonious horse-human relations including being able to see with compassion where other people are at and to never stop questioning our own ways of being with horses and in other parts of our lives.

To help expand peoples' capacity to objectively "see" the current state of horse-human relations worldwide. It will happen here primarily through the use of photographs and video both of our own horses and links to what is shown in the media.

To never forget that this is all about something much bigger than horses and humans, but that relationship is the vehicle that we'll focus on.

I am not going to spend time on any "training techniques" or methods that I have gotten from NHE. I expect anybody who is serious about this path to sign up for the NHE forum and most importantly, start on their diaries there and keep them updated regularly in anticipation of becoming part of the NHE school. If anybody is having trouble with that, email me and I'll help resolve the problem. For those of us who are part of that forum, we can also use this space to explore some of the ideas from there.

A note about comments.

I think your comments are vital to this blog. Some comments, like Lynne's and others need nothing added. Others I will bring to everyone's attention if I think they can lead us somewhere new. The way I determine this direction is not based on what I've learned in NHE for the past 4 years, but from my 4 years of involvement with a teacher of a different kind. The simplest way I can describe him to horsefolk is that he is able to do with humans what Alexander Nevzorov has done with his horses...but in a much larger sense.

I would also like to make this a little more of a community by featuring a different reader as often as possible with photos of you and your horses or other ones dear to you. I think it will be a sweet way to get to know each other. Off the top of my head I'd like to feature Lisa, Jen-Ska, June, and CharlieHorse. Will the 4 of you send me pictures of you and your horses and a little blurb about where you live and what you're up to? Lisa, I already have shown your horses and I have that picture of you that I can use. Lynne we can read about on her blog and others of you probably have your own too, send those links! Any men out there? I just heard from Jean who I met at an NHE gathering in Canada a year and a half ago... Also, be sure to include your NHE name so we can read each others' diaries there. Email these to me: stormy@stormymay.com .

Ok, on to the next order of business! It seemed unanimous that the horse/human relationship chart is counterproductive to the direction we're headed. One little comment, by an anonymous poster caught my attention, s/he wrote:

As soon as I read it, I start to feel pressure about where I would fit in, and how I would get to the next level.

There is something here that we can chew on.

I wonder if others had this feeling as well. Did it challenge you and where you viewed yourself on this journey? If so, I think it has done its job. I wrote about moving from competition to compassion but until we are all levitating swamis there will be a positive purpose for competition, to inspire us to action. An example of useful competition is watching a trainer we look up to and wanting to do better with our own horses, or maybe your friend was able to drive through rush hour traffic with grace and ease and you secretly want to be able to do that too, or maybe we're inspired to learn botany to get ourselves a free Path of the Horse dvd (wink).

Here's a challenge for those who are up to it...hmmm...a little competition maybe?! There are different sides to every issue. Let's put our heads together and come up with 5 ways the horse/human relationship chart might be beneficial to people along the journey.

And...insert artful segue here...I realize that for most of you reading this blog I am "preaching to the choir" and you would probably be fine if you didn't watch the following links. But, there will be others coming across this who might be the people who took these pictures, watched these events happen, rode these horses, or have very different ways of seeing the animal we both call a horse. It is for those people that I want to start opening up different ways of seeing, like I tried to do with the comparison of the rope and leather halters in the previous entry.

Take a look at this page and in particular the cover to the 2010 Omnibus on the left. Here we see a rider staying on the horse by the full weight of her body hanging on the reins at the moment that the horse needs maximum freedom to get himself out of this predicament. I suspect the only reason the horse's mouth is closed is because it is being held shut by a flash noseband and because he appears to be in the midst of an adrenaline rush. Please don't confuse this with a happy horse! I point out this particular picture because we must assume that it is being put forth on the cover as "this is who we are and what we aspire to" by the association.

Here's another one, a current BBC news story that I found last night, click here and watch the slideshow and then come back here.

What can I say when this is news? So many happy smiling people, laughing girls, business as usual. I find it interesting that out of the hundreds of photographs she must have taken at this event, she chose the ones like #9 and 12. I wonder if she knew what she was photographing and slipped those in there as a behind-the-veil commentary.

I want to remind myself that it's not "us against them". They are us in other moments. And we are them as Gandhi lived and Lynne mirrored. Let's make this a place where people can come and find something their heart is searching for no matter what they did in the arena today.

Here are some of the little acorn efforts that are sprouting up all over. What a great visual reminder of the power of regeneration.