TRUE STORIES

These are true events that we hope will inspire you to open your heart and mind to discover the Spirit Within Us All!

How My Journey Began

There I was lying on the ground, my right arm stretched out above my head. My face barely resting on it and my eyes gazing straight across the ground seeing the tiny pieces of grass and rocks. My attention moves to my body where I asked, "What just "BROKE?" The shattering loud noise of a bone breaking was all I heard just seconds before. I lay there paralyzed with fear saying to myself, "Now you did it, you broke your back!".

Then suddenly I became aware that I had just left the barn and no one was there. No one will be coming to my rescue for quite some time.

Quickly I asked myself, "What can you move?". I focused on my left arm that raises me slightly. Realizing then my back must be intact, I look down at my legs and insist, "MOVE DAMMIT MOVE!".

Finally my left leg moves ever so slowly and I think, fine just the right leg broken then. I then looked up to the sky and asked for help. What seemed like a life time was likely just a few minutes of time.

Taking a few deep breaths and realizing again I am alone, my right leg then the rest of my body's feelings start to surface. I struggle to push myself up to stand, feeling stiff, sore and terribly limping but I grabbed my horse and slowly hobbled back to the barn. Wondering all the way if I should shoot the horse or myself!

It was that day that the danger of horses was truly realized for me. All these 20 some years of riding yet no one taught me how to teach a horse or myself how to avoid these situations.

Like many before me, we are shown how to get on, steer and stop but learning that these animals have such an emotional side was never ever discussed.

Then there's the training techniques I was shown. Full of fear, intimidation and force all so that the human could get the job done faster!

This experience was what triggered my journey to seek a better more natural way with horses.

Now the journey to natural horsemanship began...

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Attitude Change

I simply must tell this story about the change in attitude that I saw in a seven year old chestnut thoroughbred mare. It took about half an hour to bring respect into the picture so that Elaine could safely ride this mare bareback in the arena.

Elaine had never met this mare before.

The mare, wearing the natural rope halter, entered the arena on the end of Elaine's 12 foot lead line.

Elaine let the mare drift around for a few seconds to let her get used to the other horses and people in the arena. The mare was feisty, energetic and almost out of control! She did not even look at Elaine. What this chestnut mare didn't know was that her life was about to change. For the better.

First, Elaine played the friendly game. She watched for signs of licking and chewing. Then, the porcupine game. The driving and on to the circle game. Now the mare was beginning to look at Elaine with a new eye. "Who is this human that now tells me where to move???". The first signs of leadership were beginning to show.

Elaine saw that the mare was insecure at the other end of the arena way from the others. So she used this situation to her advantage, knowing that she could help this horse become more brave and find safety and comfort with her. Something seemed to spook her at that end. So that's exactly where she took her. Now this mare had no other horse for comfort. Elaine gradually became her leader….

After going on to the squeeze game, over a jump, some more of the driving game, the mare began to look like a different horse!

Gone was her fiery attitude. She became softer and rounder to look at. She had settled down: at the scary end of the arena, where her only friend was Elaine. She watched Elaine like a hawk now. She moved exactly where Elaine wanted her to move. Her attitude had shifted from right brain to a safe left brain - all in about twenty minutes.

Elaine now was in a place where she felt safe to ride this once feisty mare.

To our amazement, Elaine mounted the mare bareback and safely rode her around the arena. After her ride, Elaine hopped off and the mare followed her around the arena like a happy puppy dog! Demonstrating that this mare truly had gained trust and respect for her leader.

This attitude change was amazing. Using her natural horsemanship skills, Elaine is able to bring this kind of wonderful change in horses. They immediately respond to her. This is a method that is so much easier on both the people and the horse they love.

By Jane Lasko

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Please Change My Name!

I met this horse named Trista in the fall of 2004. Her past was sketchy at best, but what we could easily see was she insisted on giving a little buck when asked to trot or canter.

Was it a lack of trust? Or a lack of understanding human requests. Many had assumed she knew, but did she really? Trying to understand where she had come from left me with a feeling that she certainly was not appreciated up until now. The previous owners were in a divorce, the young daughter wanted nothing to do with this horse therefore Trista was given away to avoid the auction or slaughter house.

I rode her a few times always seeing results and identifying her loving demeanor. She never wanted to actually throw anyone off, but she did not understand what was being asked of her. I could feel her confusion and I always follow the rule that the horse is always right.

This lead me to wanting to help. I took her on a trail ride all by herself and she performed unbelievably. Not once looking elsewhere for leadership, no jigging, no refusals, no nothing!

I nearly bought her right then and there. With all this good stuff in there, what then was causing this buck?

It was time for a different kind of communication. Feeling strongly that negative energies had followed her from her previous home and that her name was somehow connected to this negativity, I asked her if she liked her name. I received a strong , flat out "NO" and "Could you please change it soon!". I then asked, "What name would you like?". I received the name Rocket!.

Not sure myself if this was coming from me, I wondered if I had ever known another horse with this name. I quickly realized I had not ever heard of it before. Yet this would suit her well because of her eagerness to please so quickly.

I felt a kinship with this horse and wanted to find her someone who would look into her heart to see what I could see.

Along came Jane. A new student excited about learning all about natural horsemanship. We were lucky to be able to start some ground lessons with Trista and their relationship blossomed.

It didn't take Jane long to learn about Trista's past and while falling in love with her she now started to consider taking her home. Knowing that Trista's fate was hanging on a thin line.

During our lessons I told Jane what Trista had communicated to me about the name Rocket. Jane wasn't buying into it just yet (she didn't like the name at first) and that was O.K. with me. But what transpired next was something neither of us imagined.

Another friend had started to join our sessions. She had told us that the name "Trista" in another language means "Bad Girl!". Well that was all we needed to hear to realize why the negative energy was there! Jane then was quite willing to seek a new name for her!

At the end of our session all three of us were standing together in front of Trista, when Jane asked, "Have you heard of the song Rocket Girl?". "Maybe that's what we should call her, Rocket Girl!".

Right at that moment Jane looked at Trista to see what she thought. Well Trista gave the biggest lick of her lips in agreement. We all felt an energy shift or release and then looked at each other and laughed, knowing that Trista had whole heartedly agreed.

I felt such relief knowing that we had not only found her a new home but a name she could positively resonate with.

Thanks Trista, I herd what you said!!

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