 |
| DID YOU KNOW THAT...?
·
Horses are
social animals and love to interact with humans
·
Horses need
nurturing and leadership early on to become well adjusted individuals
·
Horses have
their own language and respond eagerly once you know how to speak it.
·
Horses learn
quickly and love to try new things.
·
Horses have
personalities like humans, some extrovert, some introvert.
·
Because
horses are nonverbal, they are experts at reading your body language
·
You can have
fun without fear, gain confidence, nurture your soul and find a greater
connection to your natural self when you learn….
"HOW TO TALK HORSE"
For
More Information
Call Cathy at (360) 430-0430
*no experience with horses necessary
|
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Harmony and Healing with Horses Demonstration
Coming this April I am offering a demonstration with Dr Suzan Seelye, wholistic veterinarian and Centered Riding Instructor in Longview at Franzen's Farm. You will discover the deep connection you can achieve through the "Seven Waterhole Rituals" of Carolyn Resnick and the fun of playing with your horse at liberty.
Here's just a sample of what we'll be sharing with you:
Here's just a sample of what we'll be sharing with you:
- Learn to Communicate with your horse using her own language
- Improve your leadership skills and your relationship with your horse.
- Create a foundation of trust with a true heart to heart connection...no tack
- Learn the Chinese art of Tui-na to bring your horse into balance and harmony.
- Learn self carriage, balance and confidence on and off your horse
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| Above: Cathy Mahon and liberty training. Below: Dr Suzan Seelye |
I have continued my study of Liberty Training and will offer you an insight into the mind of the horse through better understanding of their personalities and their nonverbal communication as you become a member of their herd. With the creation of a stronger bond, your horse will choose to join you and follow your lead with curiosity and fascination. Your relationship will strengthen and the connection will lead you to a greater depth of understanding of yourself and the world around you!
In addition you'll have an opportunity to learn from a truly unique and dedicated practitioner, Dr Suzan Seelye. Dr Seelye's revolutionary approach to healing and wholeness incorporates numerous healing modalities to facilitate the animal's transformation to radiant health. This is achieved through total structural alignment, utilizing spinal and deep muscular treatment, traditional Chinese medicine and energy healing to evolve a completely healed body from the inside out.
Spending over 20 years in a traditional veterinary practice, Dr Seelye became frustrated with the temporary band aiding of medical conditions with toxic drugs and the inability to cure chronic and degenerative conditions. Her search for true healing for her own pets, patients and herself led her on a journey spanning over 5 years of intensive apprenticeships and post graduate studies.
When: April 19, 2015 from 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Franzen Farm
6928 Willow Grove Rd
Longview, WA 98632
Cost: $25 donation to Rainier Therapeutic Riding
This demonstration will be followed up by a TWO DAY CLINIC on May 16-17, 2015 at the same location. We will be offering more information and you will be able to bring your own horse.
When: May 16-17, 2015 from 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Franzen Farm
6928 Willow Grove Rd
Longview, WA 98632
Cost: $350 with your horse
Auditors: $75/day or $125 for two days
CONTACT CATHY MAHON AT (360)430-0430 or EMAIL at cathy@wishuponahorse.com
CONTACT CATHY MAHON AT (360)430-0430 or EMAIL at cathy@wishuponahorse.com
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Our Posture Tells the Story
Did you know that more than 80% of our communication and language is NON VERBAL? If you spend a few moments watching people in a public place who are unaware of your gazing, you can see that the human expresses their emotions, attitudes and current mood through body language. Body posture can be deep rooted in the past or a reflection of the present. Either way, our bodies speak volumes. Mabel Todd, who's book the "Thinking Body" now considered to be a classic study of physiology and the psychology of movement, once said "For every thought supported by feeling, there is a muscle change,primary muscle patterns being the biological heritage of man; man's whole body records his emotional thinking."
Humans whose emotional thinking reflects a tense, worried and/or defensive emotions will have narrowing of shoulders with slight lift, hands clenched or arms closed to the body. The low back and pelvis appear stiff and immobile with short hurried steps and quick movements from the joints that appear straining and stressful. The lips close tightly around their mouth and the eyebrows narrow together in a furrow. Breathing is short and shallow.
Tillie is TIGHT and TENSE and holds her muscles in tension in everything she does. Instead of staying grounded and working from the strong core muscles of her center, she overuses her external muscles to walk, lift, sweep, bend or ride. On a horse she tightens and tenses her muscles around the horse's belly and clutches the reins with a tight grip, jaw clenched and neck rigid. Her 3 springs can't move because they can't fight the tight grip that the muscles have made around the joints of the hip, knee and ankle. She takes short shallow breaths that originate high in her chest, the muscles of her abdomen held in tension. The horse senses a gripping and feels trapped underneath the hold of his rider.
Lucy is LOOSE AND LIMP and allows her body to collapse and move without conscious control. Her breathing is affected by the collapase in her rib cage. Her balance is constantly challenged as her body moves in all directions, making it difficult to complete small tasks. Her muscles are constantly being overworked as they try to overcome gravity as it pulls her body in the different directions. Lucy does not know how to access her core muscles and so is unable to create a stable foundation from which to move all of her body parts, fluidly and effortlessly. Her horse senses dead weight and cannot move easily in his own body.
Fran is FIRM AND FLEXIBLE and has identified and strengthened her core muscles (they are deep in the body, not found at the surface in the abdomen). The stability she derives allows her to easily direct the movement of all other body parts with minimal energy and effort. She is able to use her external muscles at the joints to move her 3 springs as well as maintain an erect posture that allows for expansion of her rib cage. She has mobility and fluidity in all body parts and breathes from the diaphragm. Her horse feels the movement and joins her in shared energy.
So which one of these riders would your horse like you to be for him? What would it feel like to have posture that says you are calm, confident, clear and interesting? Next time you sit, stand, perform small chores or big activities, check in with your posture and see if you are a Tillie, Lucy or Fran. Observe others in their normal activities and see if you can identify through nonverbal communication just what they are saying about themselves. Remember, our posture tells the story.
Facial features and expressions alone tell us so much about another person. We have etched lines and creases in the skin that reflect years of happiness and sorrow, triumph and tragedy, love and rejection. We can see into the history of a human through their body and in their face.
"The features of our face are hardly more than gestures which force of habit has made permanent. Nature....has arrested us in an accustomed movement"-
Marcel Proust
* * * * *
Humans whose emotional thinking reflects a defeated attitude will have a slight slouch and drop in their upper body, a collapse in their rib cage and a chin that juts forward and down. Their eyes may hold a downward gaze with a facial expression that appears sad. Their weight shifts uncomfortably from side to side and their movements are hesitant and lack energy.Humans whose emotional thinking reflects a tense, worried and/or defensive emotions will have narrowing of shoulders with slight lift, hands clenched or arms closed to the body. The low back and pelvis appear stiff and immobile with short hurried steps and quick movements from the joints that appear straining and stressful. The lips close tightly around their mouth and the eyebrows narrow together in a furrow. Breathing is short and shallow.
Humans whose emotinal thinking reflects confidence, clarity and a connection with their body stand erect, looking forward with chest forward, shoulders back with an obvious fluidity of their motion and lightness in their body. Movement appears effortless.Breathing originates from the diaphragm and is deep and full because the rib cage is open and expanded. Their expression is open and positive with attention to their surroundings and an energy that comes from their emotional core. We are attracted and interested to know a human whose body language projects these characteristics and so is YOUR HORSE!!!!
The study of posture and body language gives us an insight into how we communicate with others including our horses. We influence our horse with our body in every movement, from the moment the horse sees us. I've come up with three specific postures that are common in humans and show up often in riding. I've given them names, Tillie, Lucy and Fran.
Tillie is TIGHT and TENSE and holds her muscles in tension in everything she does. Instead of staying grounded and working from the strong core muscles of her center, she overuses her external muscles to walk, lift, sweep, bend or ride. On a horse she tightens and tenses her muscles around the horse's belly and clutches the reins with a tight grip, jaw clenched and neck rigid. Her 3 springs can't move because they can't fight the tight grip that the muscles have made around the joints of the hip, knee and ankle. She takes short shallow breaths that originate high in her chest, the muscles of her abdomen held in tension. The horse senses a gripping and feels trapped underneath the hold of his rider.
Lucy is LOOSE AND LIMP and allows her body to collapse and move without conscious control. Her breathing is affected by the collapase in her rib cage. Her balance is constantly challenged as her body moves in all directions, making it difficult to complete small tasks. Her muscles are constantly being overworked as they try to overcome gravity as it pulls her body in the different directions. Lucy does not know how to access her core muscles and so is unable to create a stable foundation from which to move all of her body parts, fluidly and effortlessly. Her horse senses dead weight and cannot move easily in his own body.
Fran is FIRM AND FLEXIBLE and has identified and strengthened her core muscles (they are deep in the body, not found at the surface in the abdomen). The stability she derives allows her to easily direct the movement of all other body parts with minimal energy and effort. She is able to use her external muscles at the joints to move her 3 springs as well as maintain an erect posture that allows for expansion of her rib cage. She has mobility and fluidity in all body parts and breathes from the diaphragm. Her horse feels the movement and joins her in shared energy.
So which one of these riders would your horse like you to be for him? What would it feel like to have posture that says you are calm, confident, clear and interesting? Next time you sit, stand, perform small chores or big activities, check in with your posture and see if you are a Tillie, Lucy or Fran. Observe others in their normal activities and see if you can identify through nonverbal communication just what they are saying about themselves. Remember, our posture tells the story.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Winter is Still Here....OR is it?
He and I are spending more time together and I have begun to create a structured time in our moments together that is preceded by liberty, fun and treats. I have been using the time on the ground to make noise, bounce balls, rattle plastic, throw tarps and today, I opened an umbrella and walked around. Every time he stopped running and looked at me, I dropped the umbrella and walked with him while we pushed the ball through "goal posts", two large orange cones with striped poles sticking out of them. By the third try, all I had to do was stand near the ball facing the poles and he'd come up to meet me so we could SCORE together. His reward was a small treat placed in a pan on the barrel standing outside the goal line. He was wonderful and he tolerated the umbrella more and more. I have really had to challenge myself to keep things more interesting, so that he is more interested in me. He is a very smart animal and does not tolerate the same old thing.
Then, when I ride we can work on the more physical demanding aspects of his training: strength, flexibilty and balance. Every time is better but I know I can't push it too far or I lose the attention, the enthusiasm and his interest. Learning has been a two way street for both of us, but I still have so much fun!!!!
I've been pinching myself lately at how lucky I am to have a full time job of being and playing with horses. I am able to teach others, share my knowledge and experience and see the smile on their face when they find a connection with their horse. My dream is to allow ANYONE to spend time with horses and create a connection that will help them to discover their natural self. "Horses teach us to cherish every single moment for its novelty and wonder and remain true to the best traditions of the past."
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
One Year Anniversary with Wave
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015
This is the real goal of all relationships with horses: for them to WANT to be with us and for us to want to be with them. But our role has to encompass four things: nurturing, companionship, leadership and dominance. Unfortunately, in too many horse-human relationships there is way too much of one and not enough of another. After 6 months working with Wave I realized that he was acting like a child who was allowed to get his way and treated me like a companion, not a leader. When I put on my leadership cap, he was better, but I found myself putting a lot of pressure on him to do it MY WAY.
As a 6 year old who has spent most of his life in stalls and not being socialized by the more mature members of a herd, he tends to "whine and vent" at me inappropriately when I ask him to do something, even to follow me (off a line, loose in an arena). He takes my requests as something annoying and taxing, he is not used to tolerating discomfort in the form of fear or physical strain. And he is a master at quietly side stepping any efforts to bend to my wishes. He has missed the dominance portion in his life with mostly women giving him the nurturing and companionship. Then when he was given to a male trainer, they used NOTHING BUT dominance and he reacted with extreme resistance. Their dominance was ego driven, "I'm right and you're a stupid animal" which made matters worse.
It is my job to dominate him in a way that he can experience fear and discomfort but only enough so that he learns to accept it as a part of life. I too am learning to accept feeling uncomfortable and vulnerable in life. Being able to tolerate a little discomfort teaches us to accept it and not take messages of fear and blow them out of proportion. I am giving Wave the opportunity to expand his comfort zone, to slowly take him into places he's never been knowing that he can survive.
In the new year, I am planning on stepping out of my comfort zone more and more as I set off on new adventures. I am going to take Wave with me as much as I can and together our desire to take risks will lead to a more enriched life. I look forward to meeting more people and sharing my knowledge and experience with anyone willing to listen. I hope you'll join us...
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Operation Waverley-Update on Me and The Negotiator
One of my favorite movies of all time is "White Christmas". It's the story of two entertainers who meet during World War II and become a successful duo after the fighting stops. On a trip through New England around Christmas time, they stop at a Vermont ski lodge and discover that the general who led them in the army is now the owner of the lodge. His business is failing due to lack of snow and skiers to fill his lodge and he feels sorry for himself, wishing he could return to a military career with all the respect and recognition that comes with the title of general. His last name is Waverly and the plot of the story continues with the two entertainers recreating their New York production on the stage of the lodge, drawing customers from far and wide, filling the lodge and the pockets of General Waverly. As part of the plan, one of the entertainers goes on TV and calls on all of his army pals to come to the Christmas show and let Waverly know he's not been forgotten. He calls the whole enterprise, "Operation Waverly".
I figured that was as good a name as any for my latest equine project with 6 year old Arab gelding Waverley. His birthday was the 4th of July and now that he's another year older, he's showing signs of reaching his full maturity. I'm certain that he will become a confident, athletic and playful addition to my life with horses. Having just retired after 30 years in medicine, I am looking forward to making horses my full time occupation. While it will never pay as much as practicing medicine, it has already given me more rewards than I thought were possible and has changed my life for the better.
I've already changed my routine with Waverley. We are now together at least an hour a day 5 days a week. Each day we work on his emotional, mental and physical development. I usually start by playing with him at liberty which includes the ball he loves, jumping over small obstacles and companion walking, always finishing with a reward of either treats or a good rub down. So far, he likes the treats the best...go figure.
It's hard to start over again, no matter what it is you've chosen-a new job, a new relationship...a new horse. Once the novelty wears off, it becomes apparent that in order for the new experience to work, you have to put in the time. I have to remind myself that my beautiful, well trained lesson horse Chanty did not "come out of the box" ready for anything. Waverley has the benefit of all my years of trial and error with other horses as well as many hours of practicing my techniques in order to be able to communicate with horses.
I've been taking him to the park near the Columbia River-we're both on the ground walking and he's wearing a saddle, but the intention is not to ride. It is simply to gain his confidence and develop a bond so that he will trust me no matter where I take him. There is so much to see at the park and on our last trip we got as far as the beach and as close to the water as he's ever been. His eyes got bigger and bigger and he seemed to say"Whoa, this is AWESOME!" but his equine nature said, "Whoa, that's far enough!" I know that the more we travel to the park and elsewhere, the more he will learn to respond to new things with the thinking side of his brain instead of the reactive side.
The other day I witnessed first hand just exactly how well he knows how to think his way through a situation. I now have a nickname for him, "the negotiator" that describes exactly how he convinced his pasture mate to let him drink from the water trough soon after I had let him loose to join the herd. His buddy was lying on his side in the sun just before we arrived at the gate. Wave was obviously thirsty from his recent workout in the arena on an unseasonably warm day. He only had to walk 10 feet from the gate to the water trough to quench his thirst. That was just long enough for his herd mate to get up on his feet and meet Wave at the water source. They greeted with noses touching and it seemed that Wave would be allowed to continue with his long drink. He lowered his head and sipped for a few seconds but it was apparent that the interaction between the two horses was not over. Again and again, Wave would raise his head and gently touch the neck or shoulder of the first horse and without truly engaging him in any other physical behavior, was able to take a short drink of water. As if to say, "buddy, I'm not here to fight, I just want a drink", he stood his ground without being aggressive. If the other horse did move Wave's feet it was only for a short distance after which Wave would turn back to the trough and dive his head in again. He persisted with his passive behavior and finally convinced his mate that it was just too hot and there was no need to exert themselves unnecessarily when it would be easier to just allow Wave to get his drink and move on. He had done this same persistent "negotiating" with me in the past, to get what he wanted-usually a treat-but watching it unfold in a pasture between two similar beings was much more compelling and gave me greater insight into the mind of a horse. It wasn't the first time I had said to myself "horses can really teach humans a few things about relationships and communication."
And so, I continue with "Operation Waverley". We're working on trailer loading as well; something that he has done numerous times in the past, but NOT with me. I've gone back to some of my wonderful videos about trailer loading and I was reminded that first and foremost, it has to be about the relationship, the confidence and trust that the horse has in you as you load them onto a metal box on wheels. With time and patience we will be able to take trips to lessons, clinics and trail rides. Me and the negotiator! I have added a video to the blog with a recent liberty session with Wave. More to come.....
I figured that was as good a name as any for my latest equine project with 6 year old Arab gelding Waverley. His birthday was the 4th of July and now that he's another year older, he's showing signs of reaching his full maturity. I'm certain that he will become a confident, athletic and playful addition to my life with horses. Having just retired after 30 years in medicine, I am looking forward to making horses my full time occupation. While it will never pay as much as practicing medicine, it has already given me more rewards than I thought were possible and has changed my life for the better.
I've already changed my routine with Waverley. We are now together at least an hour a day 5 days a week. Each day we work on his emotional, mental and physical development. I usually start by playing with him at liberty which includes the ball he loves, jumping over small obstacles and companion walking, always finishing with a reward of either treats or a good rub down. So far, he likes the treats the best...go figure.
It's hard to start over again, no matter what it is you've chosen-a new job, a new relationship...a new horse. Once the novelty wears off, it becomes apparent that in order for the new experience to work, you have to put in the time. I have to remind myself that my beautiful, well trained lesson horse Chanty did not "come out of the box" ready for anything. Waverley has the benefit of all my years of trial and error with other horses as well as many hours of practicing my techniques in order to be able to communicate with horses.
I've been taking him to the park near the Columbia River-we're both on the ground walking and he's wearing a saddle, but the intention is not to ride. It is simply to gain his confidence and develop a bond so that he will trust me no matter where I take him. There is so much to see at the park and on our last trip we got as far as the beach and as close to the water as he's ever been. His eyes got bigger and bigger and he seemed to say"Whoa, this is AWESOME!" but his equine nature said, "Whoa, that's far enough!" I know that the more we travel to the park and elsewhere, the more he will learn to respond to new things with the thinking side of his brain instead of the reactive side.
The other day I witnessed first hand just exactly how well he knows how to think his way through a situation. I now have a nickname for him, "the negotiator" that describes exactly how he convinced his pasture mate to let him drink from the water trough soon after I had let him loose to join the herd. His buddy was lying on his side in the sun just before we arrived at the gate. Wave was obviously thirsty from his recent workout in the arena on an unseasonably warm day. He only had to walk 10 feet from the gate to the water trough to quench his thirst. That was just long enough for his herd mate to get up on his feet and meet Wave at the water source. They greeted with noses touching and it seemed that Wave would be allowed to continue with his long drink. He lowered his head and sipped for a few seconds but it was apparent that the interaction between the two horses was not over. Again and again, Wave would raise his head and gently touch the neck or shoulder of the first horse and without truly engaging him in any other physical behavior, was able to take a short drink of water. As if to say, "buddy, I'm not here to fight, I just want a drink", he stood his ground without being aggressive. If the other horse did move Wave's feet it was only for a short distance after which Wave would turn back to the trough and dive his head in again. He persisted with his passive behavior and finally convinced his mate that it was just too hot and there was no need to exert themselves unnecessarily when it would be easier to just allow Wave to get his drink and move on. He had done this same persistent "negotiating" with me in the past, to get what he wanted-usually a treat-but watching it unfold in a pasture between two similar beings was much more compelling and gave me greater insight into the mind of a horse. It wasn't the first time I had said to myself "horses can really teach humans a few things about relationships and communication."
And so, I continue with "Operation Waverley". We're working on trailer loading as well; something that he has done numerous times in the past, but NOT with me. I've gone back to some of my wonderful videos about trailer loading and I was reminded that first and foremost, it has to be about the relationship, the confidence and trust that the horse has in you as you load them onto a metal box on wheels. With time and patience we will be able to take trips to lessons, clinics and trail rides. Me and the negotiator! I have added a video to the blog with a recent liberty session with Wave. More to come.....
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