The Witt's End Ranch

Last week, Dutch had developed enough confidence in me, that we could begin developing his own self confidence 😉

Because I dont have a
“move his feet” mentality, I had to really be cognizant of Dutch’s state being.
Is he processing this?
Is he avoiding it?
When is enough?

I want him to build his confidence & security knowing that we are a team.

I’m not interested in having a “Desensitized” horse. I want a horse with the ability to CONFIDENTLY sit in, or move thru something uncomfortable.

We have to start where he is at & Saturday was the 1st day that he was able to hold a sec when he got uncomfortable. It was just a second or 2, but he didnt explode - shoot - duck - dive - bolt - or freeze!

He maintained.

This tiny accomplishment has affected all kinds of things.

I can now trim his back feet - something that has been nearly IMPOSSIBLE to do, now we can w/ relaxation & a soft eye.

He is now relaxed during saddling - no breath holding.

He now enjoys having his poll & face brushed. This new found confidence is helping him move forward with everything. He is even more playful out in the pasture.

I cabt wait to soebd more time with him. I just have to grow a new toe nail!!!

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Understanding your horse’s posture is one of the biggest tools in the tool box.

When a horse is stuck in the fight/flight nervous system, breath holding is their “normal”, creating tension & disconnection with their own body.

You cannot train a horse, that is not “in their body”.

This is my now 4 yr old gelding that had a traumatic experience in a horse trailer on his way to me as a yearling.

It took some extra time, lots of questions to determin the true state he was experiencing, and what I could do to supportort him in his healing back to wholeness

Was this a physical condition ?

Yes, but the true origin of the problem was from the emotional/spiritual part of him - the NERVOUS SYSTEM, which is directly regulated by how they view their world

If you don’t support ALL of the horse, you will never achieve balance & you cannot build anything that is out of balance.

Cari Kunath Witt
The Witt's End Ranch