Equine Liberty Learning
My journey with horses started at 9 years of age in England when I read an ad in the local newspaper for a holiday pony camp and begged my father to allow me to go. Like most kids this lead to pony club, showing, jumping, cross- country and leasing ponies. As a young adult I leased horses but could never afford to own one.
Life interrupted and I met my husband and came to live in South Africa.
It wasn’t long before the kids came along and nostalgia for my horsey childhood, meant I was talked into buying a welsh pony for my son. I truly believed I had a sound knowledge of horses and training, but found out that it was seriously lacking! This little pony was a great teacher. Having been used as a stallion and only gelded at 5, this tiny gelding had ideas of his own. Cute and adorable with the attitude of a very angry Rottweiler!!! My pony club/traditional school lessons and previous experience were not enough, and I started to seek a way to work with him from the ground. Enter Parelli clinics and instructors and 18 months later I sold him on as a bombproof child’s pony that went on to win all the red ribbons!
By now I was seriously hooked, the kids had lost interest (well they are boys!!!) and mum wanted a horse to herself. Next came a Boerperd mare that was sold to me as a quite hack needing further schooling. I know they saw me coming!!! Two weeks later I burst into tears and admitted to my husband that I had spent an awful lot of money on a horse that only seemed to know how to rear, I was scared out of my wits and had bitten off more than I can chew! So back to Parelli and a whole lot of background searching to find out what had happened to this mare to make her behave this way. Her story is too long to print here, but suffice to say, that a 3-year journey of fixing issues began. During this time I naively believed that someone else (with more knowledge) would be able to school her and she would be safe to ride. So lessons were paid for, DVD’s and books ordered and clinics/daytrips/workshops attended including Frank Bell, Kelley Marks, and Silversand . Always searching for answers from others and a “method” that would fix all.
Three years ago I had a huge leap in my understanding. Every horse I came across had issues and ALL of those issues, had been created by humans. The horse wasn’t mean or nasty, or looking to annoy the human, he was just confused and damaged, either physically or mentally by what had been done to him. He had learnt to do what worked for him.
The way I was going to find the truth was to find a horse that had had as little interaction with humans as possible, and as close to a natural wild herd life, whilst in captivity. I found Morgan. He was a skinny looking pony with a very large head but had a kind eye and sought out my physical contact without fear and with great curiosity. He didn’t have the greatest conformation but at 3 and a half he was still a baby.
I started to learn anatomy and joined the virtual school of Nevzorov Haute Ecole.
I read books by the old masters and studied the sites/papers/research of Strasser, Ramey, Jackson, Dr Deb, Dr Cook, Gerd Heuschmann and many others who have delved just that bit deeper to uncover exactly what happens inside the organism of the horse and how it affects his movement, behaviour and mental welfare.
Throughout this journey I have met the most amazing people all over the world that are working with their horses with this in mind. They are stretching the boundaries of what we know about the horse. They are pioneering research.
Today I am an active member on several world forums and study and read everything I can get my hands on. It’s become easier to filter out fact from opinion and Morgan continues to teach me valuable lessons. I have also been privileged to have access to Morgan's herd buddies and have been able to observe first hand the rules of horse language between it's members.
My hope for teaching you as a student is to make you think about what and why you are doing what you are with your horse, and to actively listen to what your horse is trying to teach you. Once you unlock this key and open your mind to the possibility of allowing your horse to work with you and give you feedback, you will have graduated and begun your own journey.
Life interrupted and I met my husband and came to live in South Africa.
It wasn’t long before the kids came along and nostalgia for my horsey childhood, meant I was talked into buying a welsh pony for my son. I truly believed I had a sound knowledge of horses and training, but found out that it was seriously lacking! This little pony was a great teacher. Having been used as a stallion and only gelded at 5, this tiny gelding had ideas of his own. Cute and adorable with the attitude of a very angry Rottweiler!!! My pony club/traditional school lessons and previous experience were not enough, and I started to seek a way to work with him from the ground. Enter Parelli clinics and instructors and 18 months later I sold him on as a bombproof child’s pony that went on to win all the red ribbons!
By now I was seriously hooked, the kids had lost interest (well they are boys!!!) and mum wanted a horse to herself. Next came a Boerperd mare that was sold to me as a quite hack needing further schooling. I know they saw me coming!!! Two weeks later I burst into tears and admitted to my husband that I had spent an awful lot of money on a horse that only seemed to know how to rear, I was scared out of my wits and had bitten off more than I can chew! So back to Parelli and a whole lot of background searching to find out what had happened to this mare to make her behave this way. Her story is too long to print here, but suffice to say, that a 3-year journey of fixing issues began. During this time I naively believed that someone else (with more knowledge) would be able to school her and she would be safe to ride. So lessons were paid for, DVD’s and books ordered and clinics/daytrips/workshops attended including Frank Bell, Kelley Marks, and Silversand . Always searching for answers from others and a “method” that would fix all.
Three years ago I had a huge leap in my understanding. Every horse I came across had issues and ALL of those issues, had been created by humans. The horse wasn’t mean or nasty, or looking to annoy the human, he was just confused and damaged, either physically or mentally by what had been done to him. He had learnt to do what worked for him.
The way I was going to find the truth was to find a horse that had had as little interaction with humans as possible, and as close to a natural wild herd life, whilst in captivity. I found Morgan. He was a skinny looking pony with a very large head but had a kind eye and sought out my physical contact without fear and with great curiosity. He didn’t have the greatest conformation but at 3 and a half he was still a baby.
I started to learn anatomy and joined the virtual school of Nevzorov Haute Ecole.
I read books by the old masters and studied the sites/papers/research of Strasser, Ramey, Jackson, Dr Deb, Dr Cook, Gerd Heuschmann and many others who have delved just that bit deeper to uncover exactly what happens inside the organism of the horse and how it affects his movement, behaviour and mental welfare.
Throughout this journey I have met the most amazing people all over the world that are working with their horses with this in mind. They are stretching the boundaries of what we know about the horse. They are pioneering research.
Today I am an active member on several world forums and study and read everything I can get my hands on. It’s become easier to filter out fact from opinion and Morgan continues to teach me valuable lessons. I have also been privileged to have access to Morgan's herd buddies and have been able to observe first hand the rules of horse language between it's members.
My hope for teaching you as a student is to make you think about what and why you are doing what you are with your horse, and to actively listen to what your horse is trying to teach you. Once you unlock this key and open your mind to the possibility of allowing your horse to work with you and give you feedback, you will have graduated and begun your own journey.
