[LazyDaisy]

Got this in my email this morning and I've got to say I think I could be persuaded to come over to this NH stuff now. Maybe I should get tickets for her clinic this weekend

Riding high on the success of her books "You're My Mare, Not My Mother" and "Denial Ain't What Keeps the Horseshoe On" Pamela Wilsby-Higgins is holding clinics across the country to promote her latest book and infomercial "From a Whisper to a Scream: When Your Horse Can't Hear You"

The plucky blonde is so progressive in her methods of equine communication she is called The woman Who Emails Horses. She is the first woman to receive attention in the growing field of touchy-feely training.

Although successful, Pamela has been criticized for her unorthodox techniques and is the first to admit she's not a traditional trainer. "Training is a worn-out concept" she states "Even the word is archaic, coming from the Old French term: 'Trainher' meaning to drag. And that's just what training is - a Big Drag! What I'm interested in is communicating with problem horses, letting them know they are not alone. Since I have issues with trust and a history of abusive, dysfunctional relationships, I understand what they are going through. I also relate to frustrated riders, as I wrote in "You're My Mare", at one point a guilt-tripping gelding shamed me into believing if I were a prettier,thinner, smarter person I wouldn't have riding problems."


"My goal is to facilitate people away from the 'Self-Centered' riding made popular in the 1980s to a more Co-Dependent Riding where horse and rider work closely to deepen their relationship and become enmeshed in the riding experience."

In defense of reports that her clinics are among the most expensive in the industry, Pamela states:
"You get what you pay for. Horses are individuals and it takes time to discover what form of communication works best for them. Whispering to horses is fine, but some respond better to murmuring or babbling while others prefer mime or slide shows. Working with a herd, semaphores are most effective."

Pamela further points out that not all bad horse behavior is the result of a negative breaking experience. "Horses are very sensitive and can suffer from a variety of problems, both emotional and paranormal. They can suffer from depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders and repressed memories. Most people are unaware of the number of horses who are survivors of alien abduction. I have found that repressed memories of abductions are the primary cause of most trailering difficulties. There are also horses unfairly labeled "spooky" when their behavior is actually an appropriate response to poltergeist activity."

Pamela's symposiums cover a wide range of topics such as:
Re-Imprinting the Inner Foal
Obsessive/Compulsive Dressage
Andalusions of Grandeur
Bi-Polar Bending
ADD in Arabians
and
Fear of Flying Changes

When not on tour, Pamela offers weekend retreats at Passing Wind, her Malibu, CA ranch where she specializes in specific breeds and riding disciplines. She will also customize sessions to meet a client's particular needs and budget.



"We have even Re-Birthed a Tennessee Walker to help her face her "Water Issues" - it was exhilarating and only 3 or 4 people were injured."



Pamela was unable to comment further on this event as the matter is still in litigation.

Pamela has studied in the Australian Outback with acclaimed Snowy River Kanguru Bruce Fosters whose masterwork "The Principles of Bonding From Brumbies to Boardroom" has been an integral part of executive training at many multinational corporations.



"Bruce is a visionary, he was the first person to theorize that a rearing horse is really just asking for a hug."

Since starting her own clinics, Pamela has emphasized the differences between her methods and those of her contemporaries.
"My version is different than what people have come to expect after seeing other clinicians. For example, I find using a pyramidal-shaped pen in place of the traditional roundpen brings more energy to the session. I also use indirect lighting, scented candles and soft music.



I start by having several glasses of wine with the horse, then begin to recount my earliest childhood memories of separation and abandonment while longing the horse at a trot. After several minutes of this, usually at the point where my abusive second husband leaves me for my farrier, the horse will begin to go through a visible change. While still at the trot, it will start shaking its head and trying to cover its ears. This is called "The Throwup".



The Throwup is the point at which the horse cannot stand listening to me any more and will do ANYTHING to get me to stop, including being saddled, bridled and ridden for the first time. People think it's Magic when they see how willing the horse becomes, but here is nothing mysterious about it. I just have a very annoying voice and more issues than TV Guide"

Future goals for Pamela include developing a website and a 900 number. "I envision a network where for only $.99 a minute riders can speak to their own Psychic Tele-trainer that I've personally educated."

She has also explored the financial aspects of communicating with other animal species. "Heck, I'll vocalize with vermin if there's money in it!"

[shakti21]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

Cribbing is not SOLELY a learned behavior. If the genetics aren't there, a horse will not pick up cribbing. It's been pretty well proven there is a genetic component.

this is true but psychology also confirms that behaviors can be learned. What about if they crib for dietary reasons?

[western*girl]

o wow...97 pages!!!!!

[Kitari]

49 pages for me ^_~

[LGGL]

The Throwup is the point at which the horse cannot stand listening to me any more and will do ANYTHING to get me to stop,

I was having trouble keeping my breakfast down though that one.

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by shakti21

this is true but psychology also confirms that behaviors can be learned. What about if they crib for dietary reasons?

Oh absolutely behaviors can be learned from observing!

The genetics of cribbing must be there, according to current research. It's then something environmental that often determines if the horse wil start to crib or not. Diet issues, such as not enough hay, or too much sugar, can cause the horse to start cribbing for sure. Just as not enough turnout can , or being stalled next to a highly alpha horse who tries to indimitate the low man all the time, and many other issues.

[SweetSavannah]

mm i agree about the environmental influences with cribbing and windsucking.

my mare was kept next door to a windsucker and never developed the habit. however when they moved the windsucker into the stall next to this 5yr old gelding he immediately took up windsucking.

the difference between my horse and the gelding was that my horse was getting regularly exercised and stimulated, and i had mineral blocks and salt licks in free access. he was never ridden, never taken on trails, and had a very basic diet of hay and chaff.

*MaggieSue thats the beauty of science is that there is always more to discover. but just because there is more to discover doesnt mean what we have already uncovered is false! that would be like saying "i'm not going to believe the world is round because in a few years someone will discover its really flat!"

[MaggieSue]

*MaggieSue thats the beauty of science is that there is always more to discover. but just because there is more to discover doesnt mean what we have already uncovered is false! that would be like saying "i'm not going to believe the world is round because in a few years someone will discover its really flat!"

The 'more to discover' part is very misleading...you really mean, different answers to the same question. So, inreality, 'scientific fact' isn't fact at all, it is just opinion. And usually the tests are so flawed, the outcome has nothing to do with reality.

[tbtrainer]

Oh my!!!!! Could it be my horse Rockahock is being haunted by a poltergeist?? I'll have to have Ghost Busters out to the farm now... that is going to be expensive!

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by MaggieSue

The 'more to discover' part is very misleading...you really mean, different answers to the same question. So, inreality, 'scientific fact' isn't fact at all, it is just opinion. And usually the tests are so flawed, the outcome has nothing to do with reality.

Huhwhat? You honestly believe all the questions have been thought of? You honestly believe that learning something never leads to new questions? You honestly believe that every scientific fact has the possibility to be proven wrong? USUALLY tests are so flawed? Wow. Just... wow...

Oh wait, I forgot I'm on your ignore list now What a shame, I would LOVE to hear your response to this. Maybe someone will quote me - you can't not see that unless you're ignoring them too