Views & Reviews
by Nan Meek

“Naked Liberty,” by Carolyn Resnick, is subtitled “Memoirs of My Childhood: Guided by Passion, Educated by Wild Horses – The Language of Movement, Communication, and Leadership Through the Way of Horses.”

If this title makes it sound like Carolyn covers a lot of ground … well, she does! From her horse-crazy youth, as she says, “in the Coachella Valley of Southern California in the days of no fences” to her years of being with wild horses and learning a lifetime’s lessons from them, Carolyn tells the story of her unique discoveries in a unique way.

Part memoir, part metaphysical parable, and completely engrossing, “Naked Liberty” takes the reader on Carolyn’s lifetime journey of learning from wild horses, interacting with them, and ultimately, communicating a lifetime’s lessons to another generation of horse lovers.
Throughout “Naked Liberty,” Carolyn learns from, celebrates, and honours nature as well as she learns from, celebrates, and honours horses. Reading her manuscript, I was transported to another time, another place, and another experience that, thanks to the beauty of books, vicariously became my time, my place, and my experience.

One of the beauties of Carolyn’s book is that it is presented in a series of stories. Although best read sequentially, I found that I could take ten minutes out of a busy day, sit down with one or two stories, and emerge refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the day. Amazingly, more often than not, the story would resonate with something happening in my life, be it horse-related or human.

As Carolyn says in the book’s prologue, “Seeing the similarity of horse and human behaviour demystifies the training and communicating with horses.” It’s possible that it demystifies the training and communicating with humans, as well.

Carolyn also says, “Understanding the social behaviour of horses enables one to better communicate leadership that is fair, just, moral, and effective.” That kind of leadership just might change the world.

Late in her book, Carolyn recounts her experiences at the water hole, where she was ultimately accepted into the herd of wild horses with which she had been interacting. She writes, “Wild horses taught me that everything in life is a partnership. When there is no loss of community in the act of communication, rapport is the result. The circle of communication must be present both in speaking and listening before there can be any understanding with horses.” As with horses, so with humans, at least in this example.

Reflecting on her lifetime, Carolyn says, “When I look back on my experience with the wild horses, what it meant to me then and what it means to me now, I realize I have never lost sight of the importance of horses and the natural environment. Horses have impacted our lives throughout history, and nature promotes their well-being through the harmony of diversity. I appreciate life and wait to be in harmony with my environment before I act. To know horses as deeply as I know them comes from my understanding of harmony. Harmony is not made, it is found. Harmony in nature is the most trusted element in life and is the basis of the success I share with horses.”
 

When not writing for California Riding Magazine, Nan can be found riding her Lipizzan gelding “Andy” or creating new designs for her Domaine Cheval line of stable and home accessories. Nan can be reached at jnmeek@msn.com or visit her web site: www.domainecheval.net.