Julie’s been in touch – you can seeh how and why she believes in natural horsemanship:
“In June of this year I bought a mustang from a family about 12 miles from us.
The ad headline was, “Make offer” so I did. He is a 5 year old gelded mustang that was caught wild in Nevada at the age of 2 years old. The great thing that made him a gentle guy was the time the Amish spent training him and breaking him in a gentle and patient way.
He is a beautiful animal inside and out. In the first week of August I was in a bicycle accident that made it impossible for me to ride. My wrist and ribs are messed up. The saying everything happens for a reason was realized when I started spending time with him just hanging out and grooming him. I got to know his favorite spots. I also started doing some clicker training for lifting his hooves better.
Natural horsemanship
Another accident happened the other evening.
I wanted a better brush to use on his mane and tail. I found a hair brush that no one was using. It’s a cheap 2 dollar thing from Dollar General. I started out on his mane and than I began to scratch his mane and neck with it. Wow! Instant hit! He loved it. He stretched out his neck and turned his head like Ray Charles. LOl. Know I call him RC. I spent a good 45 minutes scratching his neck, back, flanks, rump, belly, behind his ears………..
Natural horsemanship
Now the only problem is that he totally wants to be scratched every time I go out. The accident came in the form of our connection. He wants to spend time with me now even without a brush in hand. He will come up to me even if I am outside in the dark.
This morning I spent an hour just scratching and brushing my friend. He groaned and stretched and took a few deep breaths and did his Ray Charles thing. He even allowed me to hit a horsefly on his back and he didn’t even flinch. He knew it was for the horsefly and not a bad thing for him. I didn’t use any words, I just kept brushing after the fly was dead.
I’m grateful for both accidents because without them our relationship wouldn’t be where it is now. I can’t wait to see how our rides will go when I heal. I have learned things from your site that I apply and I know they help as well. I believe in Natural Horsemanship. I even bought a riding halter that I will use when I start to ride instead of the hackamore I was using before.
I was lead to believe that you had to show a horse who was boss by family when I was a kid. I have been around horses and on them since the age of 3. I’m sure grateful that that is no longer the case. This is so much better. The connections you build are wonderful and that is where the whisper comes in at.
Thank you and may God Bless
Julie”
A wonderful story from Julie, and it reminded me why I started this blog. I think most readers of it believe in natural horsemanship.
I’ve not done anything on it for a while. Just been too busy. But when I read Julie’s mail, it really made me think I should post it.
Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Please do leave a comment below if you can add to it.
And don’t forget, there are hundreds of posts like this on the blog, but you need to jump on to the newsletter to see them all.
Best
Great Story! Hope that Natural Horsemanship become a way of life for all who interact with our Equine friends…
Julie has by accident learned how to truly connect to her horse.
It isn’t about doing it’s about being. Learning to be still and about physical contact.
Hugging your horse isn’t about sentimentality, it’s about physical contact where you both can be still give and receive healing from the heart.
Horses all over the world are waiting patiently for more of us to discover the true meaning of being at one with their horse.
Where both want to be with each other as equals.
I agree with you, Christine. I really feel the same with my filly, I can’t ride her at the moment. But we are ‘connected’, and no one else understands that!
This is a beautiful story and left me with tears in my eyes. Why do humans have to dominate animals when love and mutual understanding come tops every time! x
Al,
Julie’s story was an awesome one. It is the best one that I have read so far. I hope that more people reading Julie’s story can now make the same connection.
God Bless and keep supplying them Al
That was a sweet story about Julie’s accident and her 2 yr old mustang. I do think human love and attention go a long way with a “right minded” horse.
Thank you.
Respectfully,
Deborah Bean
Julie,s story is an awsome one. More peoplefe should take the possitive side of life Great life lesson.
God Bless
Teresa
PS keep up the good work Julie.
how wonderful to be so “together” with these awesome creatures
love this site! and you have been missed.
Hello Al, missed your informative site. I’ve always felt we should have this “natural relationship” with horses. Even as a child I felt this way. Now that I’m OLD I understand how it’s done. I appreciate the means to go about this from you and your readers.The information is invaluable. Thank you and your contributors.
We are so pleased to see you back! We allow all of our thoroughbreds to groom us like Julie does with her horse. Many times we have heard squeals of delight from visitors when they have discovered our horses will hug you gently and will scratch your back for you if you scratch theirs too. We have saddle trained horses with gentle methods for over 30 years and those methods take some time, but in the long run are more dependable in teaching a horse to ride or drive. We feel that the bonding of ourselves to our broodmares and stallions and foals makes it easier to do worming or veterinary work when needed. Fred and Joan.
LOVE THIS STORY– THATS WHAT I LOVE IS THE CONNECTION- U FEEL AS THOUGH U R 1 WITH UR HORSE. THIS CONNECTION IS AWESOME-2 SOULS INTERTWINED… LOVE YOUR STORY === JULIE THX FOR SHARING.
SONDRA
ATLANTA,GA
I know exactly how she feels when she just spends time with her horse. It is such a relaxing feeling, not only for the horse, but for me as well. I love rubbing, brushing and yes, even hugging my girl. She does seem to enjoy the hugs too. She just stands there and puts her head around to envelope me. I love her soooo much.
😀 luv this story. It’s so true, I got a horse from a barrel racer only raced her never really talked to her she was skiddish she wouldn’t let anyone close to her. So my friend said you want a horse to ride I jumped the chance be couse I really wanted a horse bt couldn’t afford to buy one . Let’s just say I started with grooming and lots of love broke the chains Cricket is the horse I waited my whole life for and I made her a trail horse she keeps me safe we trust each other.
Great story. The horse definitely can feel Julie’s Love. My belief, you are gentle and kind to our horses and the respect is returned.
I do not have a horse, but hope to have one someday. Iam retired and my husband believes I will spend my retirement on my horse. And he raised quarter horses. Can you believe? Hope to win the Lottery. But I do volunteer and take lessons. I simply eat, drink and sleep Horses.
Debbie
Welcome back! Enjoyed your story. I to give my horse lots of hugs and it works for both of us. Soon as she hears my voice she comes a running.
That’s great to hear! 😆
A very nice story! Just another example of why horses are such wonderful animals. Truly loving, affectionate, comical and just plain beautiful animals! Wish I had one. Thanks for the story Al.
Wonderful story. Love and true touching count all the time and no shouting. They are just too clever and sensitive animals..
Great story … I too practice what I read on your posts … it has made a big difference in how my (1st) Arabian acts with me … she has now turned into a one person horse … mine 😀 Thank You for all your help … oh, I now even walk under her tummy every day. She was ready for me to do it before I was :/ sounds funny, but I was the one holding back on doing it – she could have cared less.
Wonderful story. I have always enjoyed getting to know my horses & thier wonderful personalities & inner soul first. They are such intuitive animals & so giving unconditionallove.They love their huggs & TLC is so important.That gives that special bond between horse & owner.
so true and wonderfull to hug and kiss a big animal
like this, and they respond to every little thing you do even when you speak softly, adore horses
: 😀 love this story, such noble, beautiful animals, be so gentle and listen to what they tell you.
julie`s story was very nice…things happen for a reason…..i do the same with my horse…she will follow me around the paddock like a puppy….hope you mend soon julie.keep up the good work.
linda.
That was a great story and I agree, it’s time spent with an animal that makes the difference, not being the boss… 🙂 And thankyou Al for sharing it with us and getting back to posting us stuff….have missed you…it’s great info…God bless from me too.. 🙂
forgot a little bit of info…the mare in the paddock next door…not my paddock, just had a baby in the night…spent over an hour taking photos of it’s first wobbly steps, first poop..and bonding with it’s mum…gave mum some lucerne…mum took it round and round to get it’s motor going…beautiful 🙂
Thankyou for sharing Julie’s story Al 😀
🙁 I don’t get to ride mine anymore because he is at my uncles and we don’t have the money or time to go out there. So have fun and I agree it almost made me cry.
I love JUlie’s story. Everyone has a story and when we connect with one another so we understand through our weaknesses we become stronger. My Tango a palomino 18 year old gelding who history is largely unknown came to me fly bitten, unridden, underweight and he has grown so much as I have. My dream ever since I was a child has materialized now 62 and in love. I had to work through my old motorcycle accident and my fear and got back on him after my legs were jelly but my bond with him is so strong my only mistake is to not trust him more.
Love your site!
What a great storey Al, 😆 I`m so glad i have my beautiful horses, but this very hot weather is nocking us out and we are worried about fires in the Tinonee area, we have just had a big fire in Old Bar about a month ago and that freigted us all dam it we need rain
GREAT STORY 😕
What a heartwarming story! I’ve only had the privledge of having the “horse hobby” for about 10 years. It’s always been my theory to get to know your horse rather than “show him whose boss.” I’ve developed two great relationships with my own horses doing it my way!!!
There is just so much more to horses than riding them! I am glad you have learned that. As I get older I don’t ride much any more, but I can guarantee that the bond I have with our horses will mean that whenever I am near them, they will make me smile and make me feel loved. They give every bit as much as I do, sometimes more. When a flight animal wants to be near you, the feeling is beyond belief. They will protect you, guide you, heal you, respond to your deepest feelings. Most of the time we underestimate the capacity of these magnificent creatures.
I preach this every day to anyone who will listen. I, too, was taught at a very young age that you had to be the boss with your horse. It saddens me sometimes that I had to wait until after an MS diagnosis and 35 years had passed to discover this. It thrills me that more and more people are learning the meaning of having a real partnership with their horse. First thing I ask every person I work with (young or old) is “Do want to be a boss or a partner to your horse?”. They are often shocked how quickly this can happen before you ever get on their backs and it just gets better and better every day. Thanks for sharing this. 😀
Joe camp is right……relationship first !
I had a similar experience with an abused mustang that I adopted from a rescue group. For a few months before I adopted her I was her caretaker for the rescue group and I could not take her out of her stall. She was reclusive and wanted nothing to do with anyone and she trusted no one. I had to clean her stall with her in it but she kept on getting in my way. I started touching her and she liked it and we wound up spending countless hours in her stall with me just getting her used to being touched and with her hugging me to her with her head and neck. I taught her to accept having a halter put on her and to accept being touched and brushed and handled. We literally fell in love with each other and I eventually adopted her and our love relationship continues to this day with is now 2-1/2 years later. I have never experienced the kind of close relationship that I have with this horse with any of my other horses and it was all because we had the time to just “be” together rather than worry about what I might do with her that day. We just “were” and we both loved it.
nice to hear from fellow horseman. Don w