For Djarra I have found a new family in the Netherlands.
In 2019 I emigrated to Northern Ireland to follow my passion and dream to only work with horses. I will describe my encounters here.
I HAVE BEEN WRITING THIS BLOG SINCE 2007, BUT OFCOURSE IN DUTCH. SO MY BLOGS FROM 2019 GOING BACK ALL THE WAY TO 2007 CAN BE FOUND ON THE DUTCH VERSION OF THE PAGE
Working in freedom: I am the one working and the horse is the one who has the freedom.
This is what happens when I meet Molly while she is out in the field with her friend Lady for a summer break. They have been out now for a couple of days and settled down together. Read more »
A lovely testimonial:
“I have had Molly for 18 years (since 2005) and she is now approximately 30 years old. Molly had had a serious (almost fatal) accident two years before I took her on. She has always been a very sensitive and therefore reactive, Thoroughbred mare with high adrenaline levels, Read more »
The most important aspect of working with SURE FOOT pads is that the horse gets to decide he has a choice. They know what works for them better than anyone else. So I just offer a pad, I make a first selection and decision to start with. Read more »
What a beautiful session today with Molly.
We were in her stable to do some soft gentle bodywork. Starting just behind the poll and moving down her mane. Softly massaging and a little bit of rocking. She responded, told me where work was needed and relaxing deeply. Read more »
How to get a happy healthy horse often is team work. So I will share the journey I had with Hudson to give you an example of how teamwork can really make a lasting change. It took us more than three years.
When I met Hudson he was not happy and not healthy and very difficult to ride. Read more »
Working with a herd
Mongolia (1998)
My first experience with horses living in herds was during my stay in Mongolia. I was following herds of Prezwalski horses or Tahki’s ,as they are called over there. We were staying in a base camp in the Hustai Nuruu nature reserve. Read more »
So I have been working with this lady for over a year now. Molly is a 30 year old thoroughbred with Cushing. She was volatile and needed careful handling. Also she was not one to be touched with out her full consent and she hardly ever gave that. Read more »
Using treats as a means of positive reinforcement during training. I am all for it, but I have been struggling with it myself. Even having had good training in how to use treats properly as a positive reinforcement during training and seeing the results did not warm me to the concept. Read more »
This morning I had Molly on the SURE FOOT pads and made a little video about it.
Now Molly is/was a highly reactive horse, with lots of Thoroughbred blood. This means that when anything happened around her, noises or movement, she would react. Often her adrenaline would shoot up and she would need to move then. Read more »
Take a sunny afternoon and lots of time to spent with a horse. Working with a herd has many advantages for me. Horses are keenly aware of anything that is going on, in and around the herd. So introducing Guasha to them in this setting gives a more shy horse the time to watch and feel how a more confident horse responds to me. Read more »
