Naked Liberty

If you love horses, you should read this book.
If you love adventure stories, you should read this book.
If you love knowledge, you should read this book.
This is an amazing piece of work. It's a great, entertaining adventure story. It's a completely different type of adventure than any writer has ever taken on, ever. This is THE textbook on the connection between horse and human.
Besides all that it is a wonderful read.
Johnny Johnson, Redmond WA, 3/31/05

A Desire to Win

I believe that my passion for Thoroughbred racing began when I was just a kid. Before my older brother would leave for work, he would convince me to watch race replays for him. Most of the time I would have to tell him that none of the horses he played won. There aren’t too many twelve year olds that know the difference between a daily double and a trifecta box, but I guess I was the exception to the rule. I probably saw at least 2,000races by the time I was sixteen years old. Now, five years later, I could not even guess at how many horse races I’ve seen.

I have seen seven different racetracks and thousands of characters. I could give you small biographies on hundreds of different horses, from Chamar to Cigar, if they’ve run in California, chances are I’ve seen them. I consider myself to be a loyal fan of Horse Racing. Even though I have been known to place a small wager on one or two of my favourite colts, I feel like a winner every time I watch a race. I have known for a long time that whatever career path I decided to take will resolve around horse racing, in one way or another.

The day I saw Carolyn Resnick’s ad in the newspaper, was the day my life took an immediate step onto that yellow brick road. Carolyn has a unique ability to separate herself from the vanguard of other trainers. For the past three months, Carolyn had worked with me on the basics of training horses. It is like getting a lesson on how to hit a baseball from Mark McGuire.

She knows where my strengths and weaknesses are, and she knows the same things about actual horses. It is exciting to watch her and the horse become one, it’s like an arm connected to the body. She can develop an understanding with the horse so that both of their needs and goals can be achieved.

Besides the solid foundation that Carolyn has given me, she has also given me some fascinating tips and tricks to use around the barn. I am confident that she can help me develop the skills to become a leading trainer at the racetrack. She is a warrior and a true professional. I am sure that whatever it was that led me to her ad in the newspaper, will lead me to the winners circle at Santa Anita Park.
Thank you for all you have done
Andy Mathis

Something New at Full House Farm!

I was in Offuts Tack Store in Penngrove asking about what they might recommend in the way of a video on “natural horseman” type training. The women helping me did not hesitate, suggesting a video by Carolyn Resnick of Dances With Horses. I took the video home and slid it into the VCR. By the end of the tape, I knew I just had to call Carolyn. The real miracle was that she lived in Sonoma, only and hour away from Full House Farm, in Sebastopol.

I did not reach Carolyn that day and, in fact, it was to be four months later when I needed some help with a horse, we finally connected. I fell in love with her from the start and knew that I had found a very special person, someone who I could call a friend and from whom I would obtain invaluable information about relationships with horses.

Whether working directly with Carolyn on my horses, perfecting my dressage skills, or talking on the phone, Carolyn has inspired me to change my direction to teaching. I have taught people about horses and riding for 28 years and the way Carolyn sees horses and horsemanship, fits with mine uncannily well. It was like finding a critical piece of a puzzle.

Now nearly two years after my first introduction to Carolyn, I have begun a new venture, offering retreat weekend workshops at my Full House Farm in Sebastopol. The retreat focuses on getting to know yourself through your relationship with horses. It’s about relationship! Carolyn has been a great help collaborating on conceptual development and planning.

The retreat workshops are being given from my 23 acre farm in Sebastopol. The guest house overlooks 23 acres of private ecosystems of meadows, oak groves, and forest with creeks and waterfalls at Full House Farm. We think we have covered all the bases with a full curriculum, plenty of comfort, horses, and discovery. What could be better!

The retreat weekend begins on Friday night with settling in, orientation, and storytelling, Carolyn’s video and a possible visit from Carolyn.

The local area is packed with things to do. The coast is fifteen minutes away, the Russian River just thirty minutes. Wineries, art, and antique galleries, also fine restaurants all minutes away from Full House Farm in Sebastopol. Weekend includes housing, meals, and a full curriculum relating with horses.
Christine Cole, June 1998

Smoky Hill Veterinary Services

I want to thank you for your time on the phone last Saturday, I really enjoyed the conversation and gained some more horse knowledge.

I feel that every horse should go through your training sequence. I think it helps with all kinds of problems they may have from riding to being around them on the ground. Since our conversation I have been working with a 7 year old gelding that had only been haltered one time when he was gelded. I feel that the food pan made the process even faster than it was before.

As I said I break all of our horses to lead, starting them as you do in their own environment. I have them leading willingly by the neck and legs before I even put a halter on them. First I have them following me, then I put a doubled rope around their neck and get them to turn with me, if they get uncomfortable and want to leave, I can release one end of the string and they can go and we will start all over again. It seldom takes more than an hour. Then I put the doubled rope around their leg and apply gentle pressure, releasing as soon as they show the slightest give. Soon they will lead with a little pressure on the rope. We have had three of our horses that went through this training get caught in wire and they have all just stood until some one came and helped them out. No fighting and tearing up their legs.

Again I want to thank you for the information I received from your tape many years ago, even though I grew up around horses all my life I still learned a tremendous amount.

I am enclosing $80.00 for two tapes and ask that you send me one at my address above and the second to my daughter at her address.
Sincerely,
Duane N, Tinkler D.V.M

Hello Marie, Barbara, Ariana, and all

 have recently been fortunate enough to meet and experience a woman trainer named Carolyn Resnick. Her home is in Escondido, California. She is perhaps the most skilled individual at understanding wild (or domesticated) horse behaviour and how to join, bond with them and be their natural leader I have ever encountered (I am nearly 60 years old and been an equine professional since the age of 17).

She does not focus on problems. Her focus is the appropriateness of the total relationship. She has great expertise in the areas of high level competitive dressage, reining, training grand prix level horses, and more. Understanding that when the relationship is really on track, problems are few and easily resolved makes Carolyn extremely effective as a trainer.

She has devised a method of training wild horses (or any horse) that incorporates these natural rituals of the horse. The skilful use of these rituals in communicating with all horses produces immediate compliance and bonding between horse and human. Questions of pecking order, who is leader, appropriate boundaries and more are all answered within a short period of time through application of these rituals allowing for an appropriate and successful relationship between horse and human quickly and without confusion or question.

She has a new book out entitled Naked Liberty. I highly suggest anyone interested in any sort of equine related career read this book.

For therapeutic or life enrichment application of the horse/human relationship whether it be EGE, EFL, EAP, EFP, EFMH, or whatever label is given this process, Carolyn’s methods and applications of training horses gets the human on track to success quickly, safely, and dramatically. For applications with the penal system, correctional facilities, disadvantaged youth, etc.

I see Carolyn’s methods of working with horses to be the most effective, appropriate, and reflective of the natural process of equine communication I have seen to date. All the data, studies, recorded case histories and the like show the potentially positive results of appropriate relationships between horse and human. Observing and learning these natural rituals of the horse, as taught by Carolyn, “up to the bar” and “raise the standard” for horse interaction between equines and humans no matter what the overall purpose of the interaction. Non-horse people can easily grasp, understand, and interact appropriately with the horse, even “green” horses.

The training is all “at liberty” and done in an extremely safe way, without the use of a round pen or restraint of any kind. There is plenty of room for both horse and human to feel they can “get away” from each other should they want to. This is a big key. The feelings of personal safety for all is a big factor in this type of training. This is truly a mutually satisfying way of horse/human interaction, where everything happens only when both parties are willing and ready. There is not the hint of coercion. There is no confinement (capture). It is all free will. Isn’t that the best we should be shooting for?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all interaction with our equine partners was totally and unequivocally free choice every movement? Isn’t that where great, successful relationship lives? These lessons for individuals within the penal system and/or suffering from anti-social behaviour are profound and life altering. I would suggest and recommend Carolyn Resnick’s training methods be required for all individuals seeking any sort of career or life with horses.
Sincerely,
Frank Levinson
International Clinician