Nature, Horses
978-1890764-05-0
paperback, 100 pages, incl. 31 photos

About this book

Leslie Carlson shares her nearly fifty years of enjoyment and fulfillment in learning from horses. Each of the twenty-two chapters reveals a lesson that occurs in the human/horse relationship when we respect what each horse has to teach us.

As a teacher of horsemanship, the author brings a new understanding of how our thoughts and attitudes either create harmony with the horse, or difficulties.

The stories about each horse are fun to read, perceptive, and touching. Many of them are about Welsh Cob horses.



Table of Contents

Publisher’s Foreword ix
Acknowledgment xi
Athena - Learning to Trust 1
Ginger – One Step at a Time 5
Pandora – Cooperation 9
Jeb - Trusting My Judgment 11
Lacey – Listening to My Warning Voice 17
Willow - Knowing When to Call it Quits 21
Pepper - Trusting the Messages 23
Morgan - Your Dog Knows 29
Sadie - Messages in Snapshot Images 33
Cody - Defining Your Herd Standing 37
The Stable - The Power of Projection 41
George - Listening to Body Language 45
Louise - The Self-Trained Horse 51
Pearl - The Natural Herd Order 57
Abby - When to Not Micro-Manage 63
Thor - Messages from Unseen Helpers 67
Colleen - When a Birth Isn’t Meant to Be 71
What Horses See - Trusting the Senses of a Being Closer to Nature 75
Minnie - Who Learns from Whom? 79
Negative Thoughts - The Benefits of Saying “NO” 81
Hans - Death with Grace 85
The Last Run 91



Publisher’s Foreword

This book came into being through hearing about Leslie Carlson’s experiences in communicating with her horses.

Horses and/or ponies were always part of my life from the age of four until past middle age. My father was an adept horseman, and my grandfather was a horse and buggy doctor, so I heard many stories about talented and smart horses on growing up. Grandfather reported how one saved his life by refusing to cross a bridge that was about to wash out, while on his way home at night. Nevertheless, it was still an age when horses were “broken,” subjugated, and taught to obey every wish. As the rider, you were expected to dominate them.

Then one day I accompanied a friend to her riding lessons, which were being given by a former Russian cavalry trainer who had trained many winners at the Madison Square Garden horse jumping competitions. His method stressed the development of a “willing cooperation” between horse and rider. I was very impressed by his approach, and by his explanation of how we unconsciously send messages to our animals that affect their behavior.

The idea of developing a willing cooperation between horse and rider appealed to me instantly as harmonious. Later on, when I began working with the I Ching, the ancient Chinese oracle, I learned from it that willing cooperation is the Cosmic Way of bringing ourselves into harmony with life. It has been for me the source of a joyful appreciation for all of nature. This way of relating is reflected in the author’s relationship with her horses.

I have also chosen to publish Leslie Carlson’s stories and experiences because, as a user of the I Ching, she shows how respecting her animals as unique individuals has resulted for her in a mutually cooperative, harmonious, and fulfilling relationship — what we intuitively seek with all beings. Her experiences show how enriching this perspective can be.

Carol K. Anthony