Testimonials: Success Stories

"I have been following your blog, so amazed at these cameos, how spirit and technique have meshed in perfect yin and yang.

I also ordered and received your Lunging with a Purpose video this past week. I have to say I have explored so many avenues of training, but this video gave us so much. I finally understand how I may get that bend in the body. My little filly, Sparrow at 3, has such a weak top line and has no idea how to carry herself. We see this as help for her. Your video was lovely as well, a delight to the eye and our hope for connection. My mares and grey gelding so thank you."

Nan

Katarina, Finland

Denny & Lynne Rayne
Milford, Delaware

Tao of Horsemanship Clinic

I attended Caroline’s clinic in the fall of 2008. I thought 2008 was going to be a good year…in the space of the first three months I lost a beloved horse, a wonderful canine, my job of 28 years and the trust of a best friend. Feeling like I was floating around in the middle of the ocean on a rubber raft with a slow leak, I decided to take a holistic horse clinic with Caroline Rider. I help care for twelve horses at our horse shelter, so I thought it might be a good idea and help me to deal with some of the more “spirited” horses. Little did I realize it would be a life changing experience.

I was teamed up with “Smokey”, one of Caroline’s horses. The connection with this exceptional equine totally changed my life. I have worked with many horses, feeding, grooming, cleaning stalls, turning them in and turning them out. I experienced that same connection briefly, only one other time. I thought it was just a freak thing, but I never forgot it. I didn’t realize this connection could be made with all horses. I know horses have a healing effect on many people but this was much more. Smokey taught me to let go, to trust him first and he would trust me and, very important, to live in the moment. It has given me a deeper more spiritual understanding of horses. It not only helped me in dealing with my horses at the shelter but also helped me in finding my way in life. I have learned to stop fighting the current and fear of letting go. My creative side, which was stuffed in a box and suffocating has now been released and allowed to grow.

This was perhaps the best clinic I have ever attended and I would recommend it to horse people and non-horse people alike. Everyone has something to gain from this experience.

Linda,
Healing Spirit Farm

Traveling down the driveway of Rider Crossing Farm is, in my mind, like parting the mists to reach Avalon, and Caroline is the high priestess. OK, I like my metaphors big – especially when I’m making an important point. After a decade of lessons with dressage divas and scam artists (with one great exception in Queen Creek, AZ) I found someone who could translate the message of The Tao of Equus into practical lessons and exercises that brought me to true partnership and connection with my horse.

In January of 2008, we moved back to the east coast from Arizona and I was determined to find the perfect horse and an instructor who understood some of the truths that Anne Green had begun to teach me about horses. The planets aligned and after a lengthy internet search I found a Chincoteague pony for sale at a horse farm a few miles from my grandchildren’s home. And, although more than an hour drive from my home, decided to board my new companion with Caroline. I renamed my boy “Boo” and in April began lessons and clinics with Caroline. What I have learned could fill volumes – but much of it is available on her DVDs. Her patience and understanding are boundless. She provides an environment for learning and makes it fun and challenging. I’m in my 60’s but when I’m at Riders Crossing Farm – my age is irrelevant – connecting with my horse and riding in harmony is everything.

Carol Toner
December, 2008

Clinic with Caroline Rider April 19 and 20, 2008

A group of dressage riders hosted Caroline for a 2 day ground work clinic in Southern Maryland. We had a diversified group of horses, most of them working well under saddle but with areas that could use improvement, from spooking at strange objects to not loading in the trailer.

Caroline's approach is to get the horse to focus on the handler, using rein backs and engagement of the hind end. Some of the horses had more trouble focusing on the handler than others and it was wonderful to watch Caroline work with the horses and determine what they needed and by the end of 30 to 40 minutes each horse would be standing calmly totally focused on Caroline.

Her basic techniques to improve mental engagement under saddle began with softening the horse to the bit. Each of us was taught to massage the rein, creating a light feel/contact for our horse's nose to follow. It also encouraged stretching the horse's top line, specifically the center of the neck. Center of the neck was the goal since so many horse's are taught to bend at the pole, however they still maintain tension through their top line, thus heavy on the forehand. The softening and stretching exercises not only helped us achieve more mental engagement from our horses, it helped to physically prepare our horses to move more effectively off the hind end. Caroline then asked us to begin backing our horses, all the while maintaining softness through the hands and top line. This encouraged communication through the bit and rein aids as well as helped break away any brace or opposition our horses may have been expressing.

Of course there is much more to it but in a 2 day clinic you start at the very beginning. Most of the handlers were able to accomplish all three by the end of the first day.

On the second day of the clinic, a tarp was laid down in the arena, which of course set all of the horses back. But the same techniques were applied from the day before and by the end of each lesson, the horses all walked calmly across the tarp. It was really lovely to see.

Another clinic is planned in a few months and we are all looking forward to it!!

Mardee Rochelle, clinic host

"I first met Caroline at a Horse expo where she was doing a demo with her horses. I had been working with Natural Horsemanship but never felt I was getting very far. I called Caroline and explained how my 10 yr. old son and I had great fear issues do to some horse related accidents. I had gone out and purchased a pony for him that I thought would be safer than the one we had. The pony we purchased was great but had fear issues of his own and would shut down and go into a blank stare. Caroline took both of my ponies home for a 30 day program and then my son and I went to her camp to learn along with the ponies. The ponies had changed in so many ways. Dots was now more responsive to us. He was comfortable in his own skin now and not so fearful. The more tools Caroline gave to Matthew the more confident I saw my son get. Right there before my eyes I watched a beautiful relationship between My son and his pony. I can't thank Caroline enough. She is not only gifted with horses but with people as well.

My own camp experience was with a 4 yr old Chincoteague Pony named Spirit. I was so unsure of myself and of her. Caroline spent the 30 days with her and then it was my turn. I had no confidence in this pony or myself. My riding ability was not great and I always rode with fear. Caroline watched me struggle within myself. I always try to keep things calm and quiet but this pony would test me the whole way. Caroline pushed me and encouraged me to go out of my comfort zone. She taught me to be there for my horse. I had a break through at camp that week. I now ride with more confidence and my son and I are having fun with our horses. I now go on trail rides with friends and love just riding and playing with my horse.

Thank you Caroline for the encouragement you have given me, the hugs when I needed one and the new relationship I now have with all my horses. I look forward to coming back to camp and building on what I have already learned.

Shannon and Matthew Lindsay
Chincoteague, VA

"For us, Natural Horsemanship has been a philosophy for human spiritual growth and living life beyond the obvious through the development of a deep bond with another species... the horse! Caroline definitely stands out from the crowd in her ability to 'open those doors' for people and their horses to experience a true horse/human bond. She has made it possible for us to over come our 'predator' re-actions and advance toward positive and considerate actions that not only allow our horses to focus and think, but also teach those horses how to find that 'quiet place of the mind' for themselves. And, being able to guide our horses through frightening or stressful situations is likely the most critical step for building genuine safety into a riding program... and goes well beyond the typical 'one-rein stop' instruction that most NH programs teach.

For us, natural horsemanship has been an investment not only of time (months to years with each horse), but of heart as well. We cannot thank Caroline enough for her ability to bring an empathy for each horse's emotional and psychological needs to her teaching that literally transforms these 'fight or flight' prey animals into willing, cooperative, and HAPPY partners -- where both horse and person learn to sense and feel and respect the 'inner being' in the other. Because of Caroline, 'riding with the mind' is no longer simply an ideal, but now a reality attainable as long as we are willing to listen, observe, practice, show patience, and spend the time to learn.

Thanks, Caroline, for making a positive difference in the relationship we have with our horses!"

KC and Jeremy Seaford, DE

"My horses, my seven year old daughter and I have had the privilege of working with Caroline for about 6 months. The progress we all have made is incredible. Caroline is a gifted teacher who knows when to safely push both student and horse. Her greatest asset is her ability to read a horse and its behavior and know where to go next. She has taught me the importance of taking the time it takes and not to rush through anything. I am a much more confident horse handler and the best part of all is how confident my young horses are becoming."

Sue Hahn
Green Gate Farm
Princess Anne, Maryland

"When I acquired my 8 year old quarter horse gelding Poco he was anxious and fearful. He would hide behind other horses in his field and would not allow me to catch him. I could succeed in catching him only through trickery such as shaking a can with some feed in it. In the short time that I had had him, he refused to travel in a straight line, would buck at times while I rode him, refuse to pass through water, refused to be cross-tied, declined to pick up his feet, would try to bite when tightening the girth, just to name a few of his behavioral shortcomings."

Caroline has been working with Poco and me for the past four months. During this time she has shown great patience as I struggled to learn the very untraditional (for me) Natural Horsemanship techniques. At times, Caroline actually had to stand behind me with her hands on mine and move my hands as if I were a marionette to help me understand. Since I am age challenged at 63 with an age-appropriate reaction time, her creative interventions were extremely helpful to me. With her "muscles-have-memory" approach I eventually got it right, slower perhaps, but "passively persisting in the proper position."

It is so exciting for me to look back at all Poco and I have accomplished in these past four months. He comes to me when I enter the field. He passes through gates one step at a time, if I ask, all off lead! All the above-mentioned resistances no longer exist. He was terribly head shy when he first came to my barn and recently he allowed me to clip his ears while he was at liberty. I might add that those clippers were old and noisy!

Now that he has become a safe horse for me, we continue to refine his movements while under saddle. Both Poco and I are more confident. I love it when people come to watch Poco join up with me in the field. Little do they know what he was like just a short time ago. Thank you, Caroline!

Tina Boyd
Davidsonville, MD