I really want to focus on strengthening my leadership, so that eventually I can safely ride Brody and take him out on the road.  Here's how I worked to establish my physical space with Brody this week.

First, Brody did not want to be haltered, especially once he caught sight of the rope and stick.  So I swung the halter towards his hindquarters and got him moving off whenever he started stepping away from me.  When Brody wheeled to face me, I turned my back to him and stand…

So good to be back after a very long winter!  I've been freshening up my groundwork skills, reviewing Parelli and catching up on all the Downunder Horsemanship (Clinton Anderson) episodes I recorded from RFD-TV.  Yesterday I decided to get back in the paddock for a first session, and I was amazed at how much Brody remembered, particularly changing direction on a circle.  We seemed to have just about picked up where we left off.  I decided to keep it short and vary the exercises a…

Growing up on Long Island in the 1960s was a lucky break for an aspiring horseman.  The quality of competition, even at the lowest levels, was keen with local riders vying for National honors every year.  With the level of competition so high, the riding instruction had to reflect that quality.  While there were many good people to learn from, and I took advantage of many of those opportunities, one teacher will always stand out.  He was Captain Vladimir Littauer.  Captain Littauer was…

One of the biggest reasons I have my horses is because I want to spend time on the trails, improve communication, and enjoy a positive, trusting relationship with both horses. Getting to this place meant I would have to learn about them, spend lots of time with them, develop our partnership, and learn how…

Last week I gave a lesson to a student of mine, Stephanie, who has a Welsh Cobmare that she has been driving and riding. The horse is very fearful and so shehad started doing the Uberstreichen Exercises and working on getting hercomfortable in her territory.

The problem I noticed with this mare was that although she was doing well withthe Waterhole Rituals™, when she was brought to the barn, she did not want…

Margaret wrote:

I have just read your book and loved it. I’ve been ploughing through various horse training methods and ideas with some positive outcomes but not without feeling like a perfectionist, pushing up the pressure in getting the job done. I was left with a feeling of anxiety every time I went to work with a horse. I read “One with the Herd” which led me next to your book and related toit in…

I have a student I want to tell you about today because she has used my Method in an interesting way and it might help or inspire others to use it this way. To…

It started last Saturday. Although we’d had what seemed to be a quite successful session, with Brody circling much more consistently and in a more relaxed manner, I could see the first signs of annoyance during handgrazing afterwards. On Thursday, Brody had surprised me by responding to every “Aaaand UP!” by lifting his head from grazing and looking to me for the next direction. But now only…

Things are really moving with Brody! In a sometimes baffling, inconsistent way, but I’m enjoying the progress and trying to recognize Brody’s ideas and efforts to help me understand how to improve our communication.…

This week Brody and I got back into a pretty steady routine of nightly play, and Brody seems happy about it. The other night I stayed up ‘til about midnight, and when I went to shut off the outside lights I could see him at the gate, peering through the back door at me! I went out a gave him a carrot. We’re having so much fun, I’m finding it hard to tear myself away from our sessions at the end of the…