I was touched that Bernie Harberts, my husband, wanted to write a little piece about how the Trust Technique had helped him develop a deeper and better connection with his mule Brick. Bernie and Brick know each other well. They have spent 7 months on the road traveling and camping out together on their way to Idaho from our farm in North Carolina. Cracker, another of Bernie's mules also went on this voyage but it was Brick that seemed to hold a little funny edge with Bernie after the trip. There was a little glitch in their relationship which was preventing a stronger connection. Click here to link to Bernie's blog post on his Riverearth website.
0 Comments
Today's Horsewoman Podcast Episode Is Out: Rose Cushing Talks With Me About The Trust Technique.4/6/2024 When the barn help arrived, they handled the stock too forcefully. Lucky was a rescue from a bad situation in California. She'd been praised for attacking the neighbor ranch's cattle when they crossed the fence line to where she lived. Her pay was so poor on this ranch that she was forced to snack on the livestock whenever possible. You can read her story here. Diggity was just a furry ball inside Lucky when I agreed to adopt her. Lo and behold, he was photographed curled up inside her, along with his four sisters, when Lucky was having her health check to travel cross-country to our farm. Her Travel plans had to wait several months as she attended to her newborn pups in the Susanville shelter. Then, the day came for Lucky and Diggity to say goodbye to the rest of their family and come to their new farm. The problem was that Lucky thought she knew her ranch work, and she wanted to teach Diggity all she knew. She told him about aggressive posture and how to get the jump on the large animals by being the first to bite. "No," I said. "You will get fired quickly for that and out of a job." She sure did not agree with my "better way," the kinder, gentler, coom by yah way. Diggity liked his mom's way. She was cool, and he wanted to be just like her. He'd practice copying her moves, whether they were how she chased a Frisbee or a mule. Bernie and I began to wonder if we'd ever be able to change Lucky or convince Diggity that harmony would work a lot better for all of us. There was a lot of sturm und drang, but look at this! We have gotten there! We ride with them. We can turn everyone out with them loose. They run all around the gang as we work with them. I did not fully believe at times these days that are now seeming so normal and in harmony could ever come. So, it is worth taking this moment to appreciate where we have come from and where we are now. Many people have made a difference in helping us with this evolution, among them Martha Kemmer, Madilyn Parsons, Rob Kortus and above all, James French, for inventing the Trust Technique. There is always a way when the heart is present. Dogs relaxed as Bernie finishes putting the horses in the field. We were not sure this day would ever come.
I will be on Today's Horsewoman podcast having a chat with Rose Cushing about the Trust Technique and why I chose to become an equine practitioner of it. It was a very enjoyable interview. I will let you know when it comes out and post the link. Leatherwood Mule Days May 7-12 Trust Technique Sessions I will be offering one on one sessions of the Trust Technique during Leatherwood Mule Days in Ferguson, NC. I always love attending this mule days, and getting to spend time teaching people and their mules about the Trust Technique will make it extra fun this year.
|
Archives
November 2024
|