Greetings and Grooming from Germany

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Photo by Gudrun Braun

Just coming from a four-day clinic with Sharon Wilsie in Germany – and still enchanted and full of gratitude. Sharon told us so many amazing stories about horses and their world, their way of experiencing the world. And although I pretended to know a lot about horses’ behavior, with Sharon I recognized very quickly the limits of my knowledge. She opened for us new doors, magic spaces, inspired by her observations and wisdom. With her on their side, the unfamiliar horses of the ranch became our patient teachers. Sharon is such a vivid and warm-hearted person, full of humor and passion for horses and humans. To look at her horsepeaking, imitating horses with her body and facial expressions, was great pleasure and fun at the same time.

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My Rescue Horse Loves Your Book

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Dear Sharon,

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Currently reading Horses in Translation and already it is helping me connect with my horse. Adamo (“Dom”) was part of the Wicomico, MD seizure of over 100 horses in March 2018. I adopted him three months ago. He is a 17 yr old Appy who was only gelded last year.

Although Dom is laid back and easy to handle, he has been extremely disengaged. Sort of a “meh, I don’t hate you, I am not afraid of you but could really care less about engaging with you” energy. I have just been spending time sitting in the pasture with him or grooming him. I always go up and greet horses with the knuckles out gesture and Dom rarely lifts his head up from grazing to return the greeting.

Then I started reading your book . . .

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New Friends

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Hi,

I just had to share this because I knew you would appreciate the horse language going on here.  Friendly button to friendly button, breathing together.  What else?

Stride Ahead just adopted a retired horse from the Atlanta Mounted Patrol.  Jake’s first day at Little Creek was on Thursday.  I was with a small group who walked him out into the pasture to begin the initiation process of meeting his new herd members.

I captured this moment between Jake, on the left, and a gelding named Ink.  It is so awesome.

The more Horse Speak I know, the more and more I appreciate the intricate and lovely life of horses.  THANK YOU!

Nancy S

Greeting and Personal Space

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It was an eye opener for me several weeks ago when a friend brought up one of her friends to meet my mini donkeys as she was thinking about getting a donkey.

Knowing they were horse people I was a bit less vigilant as they went into the pasture – I figured they were able to read body language and keep themselves safe. As I watched them make a beeline for the donkeys – it was so obvious to me, and to my horses and donkeys, although not intentional at all, this interaction was so disrespectful and rude. No greeting and no recognition of personal space. Yes – this was a mirror of how I acted just a few short months ago.

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The Power of the Pointy Finger

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I had the experience of watching Sharon in person at a clinic near Bend, Oregon. She was working with two horses in a large arena who were owned by a participant in the clinic.

One horse was calm and very receptive and responsive while the other was highly nervous, anxious, and had her attention divided between all the distractions of the audience and looking for reassurance from the other horse.

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