Retrieving My Runaway Horse — The Carolyn Resnick Method

I am amazed at how simple the daily interactions with my horses have become. Although, I have many special moments with my horses, each milestone in partnering with horses at Liberty seems as exciting as the first one.

Today my horses were in the lower pasture, which I can’t view from my home, so I went down to Share Territory with them. When I arrived, Apache was no where to be seen. My heart sank, as he is quite herd bound and I rarely see him wander from the herd. I looked everywhere and began becoming very concerned! I walked every inch of the pastureland, which is mountainous and steep. The other horses nickered and followed me, as if to help me in the search, but we could not find him anywhere. I crossed over the fence line dividing my pasture from our neighbors and far below at the base of the hill I saw Apache peacefully eating lush, green grass, not concerned about how far he had wandered away from his herd. It is amazing how much he has changed and how brave he has become from the relationship that we have shared together! I was extremely relieved, as I was thinking the worst, since this has never happened before. Now, the dilemma was how to get down the steep mountainside to retrieve him and walk all of the way back up. Seeing how happy he was eating this delicious grass made me think I would have to go down drag him away, much like a kid in a candy shop. I did not have a halter or lead rope, so I decided to try and call him up before going down and having to walk all of the way back up the steep mountainside. “Apache, come up!”, I called. To my amazement and without hesitation he looked up and quickly did a little walk/trot straight to me! He greeted me with a soft nuzzle then we Companion Walked out of the lot and up the road and back to his herd, who were anxiously awaiting his arrival. I could tell he was grateful to me for rescuing him once again. It was as if he was waiting for someone to show him the way home.

I felt so excited when Apache came up right away and left the sweet, green grass for me! I have to admit, I was also a bit surprised, but I had to ask myself why I was surprised. When we are fully present, we offer our whole selves to whatever it is that we are doing. My intention was to find him and bring him home and since our connection has no distance, of course he would come to me! This was one of those moments that I have waited for. A moment like you see in the movies and dream you will have with your horse someday. It may seem like a small thing to some, but this horse had terrible past and was extremely distrusting of humans before I rescued him. I have been working with him on gaining trust and building a bond for several years and I can now see his love and trust in me.

The experience I had today with Apache was a perfect example of the connection I now have with my horses from practicing The Carolyn Resnick Method of Horsemanship, The Waterhole Rituals. These special moments with my horses bring me back to my childhood and the experiences I had in nature with horses when I felt complete connection with my body and soul and each moment was magical.

We all have a natural ability to communicate with horses and when we are in the space of feel, not thought, the horse will help us to reveal our true nature. Connecting with nature and developing a deep bond with a horse will forever transform the relationship between horse and human and bring a deep sense of wellbeing to our hearts and souls.

Nancy Zintsmaster