Keeping her Healthy

Whenever I have those moments of “What the Heck am I doing out here with this horse!?” I remember the horse that presented herself to me in the first few months of Freedom and Mines acquaintance.  

Freedom was the typical “herd bound” (meaning completely focused and dependent on other horses) mare who didn’t trust humans and would become extremely agitated when taken away from her equine companions.  She was a “screamer”, making the most high pitched wailing noises when taken outside of her comfort zone.  When in these states of mind she was barely manageable.  

The distress she was feeling was obvious and the agitation was contagious.  Part of her daily routine was to be left in a paddock by herself, screaming and pacing as she watched the other horses play together in the big pasture.  She wasn’t to be let out until she could stand quietly. Learning that safety and comfort could be found on her own.  

Daily Grooming

There were many different things I did with Freedom in order to clam her mind and “get her attention on me.”  Things began to change quickly.  Yet now I question my insistence on her conforming to the standards of behavior I expected of her.  

Her behavior now is completely different than it was when we first met one another, but I do not know if I attribute this to the efforts I went to in the first months of her training, or because I no longer find her behavior objectionable, but natural and right for her species.  I also no longer see it as my job to “fix” her and confront all of her fears so she will be a better trail horse.  Instead I listen, and respect what she’s trying to tell me. I try to make the environment she lives in as peaceful and comfortable as possible and carry that into our time together.  

Freedom and One of her Equine Friends

I haven’t seen that insecure mare since we moved to our current stable here in Annapolis. This is not to say Freedom is not expressive, sometimes “up”, and wanting to be with her equine friends.  Yet, it seems to me there is less of an urgency about her attitudes, and I now look at theses things as aspects of her personality, which over time will shift and change as she comes into her own and realizes there is nothing to stand in her way, least of all myself.

By Emma Cruse

October 2007

My interest and love for horses reaches back as far as I can remember into my childhood.  Though I had been a “once-a-week” riding student when I was younger, it had been several years since I’d even been on a horse.  In September of 2007, finding myself at the end of two semesters of traveling abroad and faced with the decision of what to do next, I decided the time was right to pursue my life-long fascination with horses.

A few years before, I’d had the opportunity to attend a performance of Cirque du Soleil’s “horse circus” Cavalia.  The riders and horses in Cavalia epitomize the heights to which the human-equine bond can reach, with the horses responding freely and with joy to their human partners.  I was inspired to learn more about the training methods that could achieve such heights and knew when I did return to being with horses, it would have to be through a more “untraditional” or “natural” path, like that which I’d seen on stage during the Cavalia show.

Like most people looking for information on something they know little about, I started with the Internet, eventually finding my way to Franklin Levinson’s web site.  Right away, I could tell that they way things on his web page were phrased made me feel good about it.  I read his articles and interviews and was impressed by the testimonials of his students.  I called him up and was even more impressed by his kindness and forthright personality over the phone.  In a matter of days, I decided to drive out to Snowmass, Colorado, from m home in Maryland and spend a few weeks with this “horse whisperer.”

Emma in Snowmass, CO, 2007

Immediately upon reaching Snowmass, I knew I’d made the right decision.  The beauty of Colorado in the fall is beyond description.  And after spending a few days with Franklin Levinson and experiencing the way he interacted with horses, I knew I’d made a choice that would change my life forever.

The work Franklin does with horses and the way he lives his day-to-day life are both based on a philosophy rooted in compassion, understanding, determination, and patience.  Though Franklin chooses not to identify himself as a “horse whisperer,” his understanding of horse psychology and herd behavior makes his training techniques appear magical.

Emma and Franklin Levinson

Franklin taught me that horses are “genuine.”  He showed me that with horses, what you see is what you get unlike with humans, who can have ulterior motives and are adept at concealing emotions.  Franklin demonstrated to me on a daily basis that successfully working with horses requires skill, perception, and a true heart.  Because Franklin possesses these qualities in abundance, I began to see how much his success in communicating with horses was grounded in the kind of person he is.

I remember being immediately struck by Franklin’s openness and honesty.  Here was someone who wasn’t concealing anything.  Like a horse, Franklin had everything out in the open.  Through being with Franklin, it was immediately apparent that what he taught about working with horses, that they can “make you a better person,” was true.  The kindness, grace, and skill that Franklin possesses when working with horses, he also manifests in his life.

I worked with Franklin almost every day for three weeks.  I feel I went from being someone who knew virtually nothing about horses to someone who now has a passion for working with horses.  My work with Franklin gave me the foundation to understand what an appropriate interaction with a horse looks like–and the heights you can reach when creating a healthy relationship with your horse.  I saw what it meant to be skillful and compassionate with your horse, to read what the horse is telling you and how to be aware of the messages you’re sending to the horse with body language and energy.

Emma, Snowmass, CO, 2007

Franklin gave me the gifts of knowledge and understanding, as well as experience and guidance.  Not only was Franklin a wonderful teach, but also he became a mentor to me in both my journey with horses and my journey through life.

To anyone who seeks a more satisfying experience with horses, who wishes to have the highest kind of human-horse interaction, I would recommend working with Franklin Levinson.  Whether you’re an experienced horse person, or a beginner like me, the lessons are the same.  For me, it was working towards a new kind of harmony with horses and through that work, with myself.

Like since before she was born!

That’s Emma’s mom (Annie – yes, the star of my first documentary “My Friend Joan: A Conversation”) and her dad (Bryant).  My feline soul mate, Scooter, is in the infant pouch.  Emma is still in Annie’s tummy!!

Here are a few pictures of Emma snoozing on my shoulder when she was maybe a month old.

At the time, we were joking about all the kitties wanting to be close to her.  It turns out in addition to being a horse lover, Emma has always been quite a kitty fan and owns several today. 

Emma will probably faint when she sees the photos of her in our wash tub!!

When she was about six months old, we took her with us on a week-long houseboat trip on Lake Powell in Utah.  She was quite the little trooper!!

I remember going to visit at her home when Emma was young, and she would be absorbed with her extensive Breyer Horse collection.

Guess we arent’ too surprised at her current passion!!

Emma and I know it’s not an accident that we are together right now as we both explore new worlds – her, non-traditional horsemanship when her peers are experiencing campus college life, and me, film making when all my peers are looking toward retirement.

We are both engaged in not only new experiences, but ones that very few people we know have pursued.  We are blessed with family and friends who are supportive, but they don’t have the expertise to guide us technically.  We would love to have ready access to people who have been down these paths before and could help us know what to do, answer our daily questions, mentor us up close.

We are fortunate enough to have people at a distance whom we can call upon when we need encouragement.  My Johns Hopkins film instructor has been available whenever I’ve needed him, and Emma relies upon her Nevzorov seminar leaders in Canada for support.

So, Emma and I embrace our new paths day-by-day and provide encouragement to each other, knowing that the Universe will provide what we need to grow into the people we are meant to be!