Re: FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM...WHEN YOUR HORSE CAN'T HEAR YA!

["Steven Proe" <trails@jps.net>]

Please sign me up I could use this type of Therapy as I sit here attempting
to preserve some two thousand acres in which we all still can use. BLM land
that is. I certainly can appreciate a "LADY" that is willing to assist me
with my behavior habits. steven p/s its hard to write this being the
introvert that I am.
-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Swope-Attardi <NAGZARUS@Prodigy.NET>
To: Ridecamp <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Monday, October 19, 1998 5:45 PM
Subject: FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM...WHEN YOUR HORSE CAN'T HEAR YA!


>I did not write this "press release", but thought it was kinda funny!
>Perhaps I just have a sick sense of humor!  By the way, my spell-checker
>almost blew up on this one!
>
>Susan Swope
>AERC SE Region
>Kentucky
>
>
>
>FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM...
>                            .....WHEN YOUR HORSE CAN'T HEAR YA!
>
>     Riding high on the success of such books as "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
>infomercials
>"From A Whisper To A Scream: When Your Horse Can't Hear You." The plucky
>blonde, so progressive in her methods of equine communication she's called
>"The Woman Who E-Mails to Horses," is the first woman to receive national
>attention in the growing field of touchy-feely horse training. Although
>successful, Pamela has been criticized for her unorthodox techniques and is
>the first to admit she's not a traditional horse trainer. "Training is such
>a
>worn out concept, even the word 'train' is archaic, it comes from the Old
>French trahiner, 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're not alone. Since I too have issues with trust and a history of
>abusive, dysfunctional relationships, I understand what they're going
>through.
>I can also relate to frustrated riders. As I wrote in 'You're My Mare Not
My
>Mother,' at one point a guilt-tripping gelding shamed me into believing if
I
>were a prettier, thinner, smarter person I wouldn't be having riding
>problems.
>"My goal is to facilitate people away from the 'Self-Centered' riding made
>popular in the 1980s to a more 'Co-Dependant' riding where the 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
>this
>new industry, Pamela is unapologetic. "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 still others prefer mime or slide shows. I
have
>found when working with a herd, semaphore is the 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 have a variety of
>problems, both emotional and paranormal. They can suffer from depression,
>low
>self-esteem, eating disorders, even repressed memories. Most people are
>unaware of the large number of horses who are survivors of alien abduction.
>I
>have found that repressed memories of such abductions are the primary cause
>of
>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:
Reimprinting
>the Inner Foal, Obsessive/Compulsive Dressage, Gymkhanta? Andelusions of
>Grandeur, Bi-Polar Bending, A.D.D. in Arabians, Fear of Flying Lead
Changes,
>and Feeling Suicidal?
>
>Consider Eventing.  When not on tour, Pamela offers weekend retreats at
>Passing Wind, her Malibu, California Ranch, that focus on specific breeds
>and
>riding disciplines. She will also customize sessions to meet a client's
>particular needs and budget. "Once we 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 began developing her techniques under the tutelage of GoWaan
>PoOLmiFynGer, the charismatic shaman of the Diamond-Phillips tribe and
>author
>of the ground breaking book, "Horse Buck Hard." "The whole monosyllabism of
>Horse Buck Hard overwhelmed me with its Zen. I knew instantly I had to
study
>with him." GoWaan PoOLmiFynGer introduced Pamela to his tribe's ancient
>practices of Equine-Aromatherapy, Prance-Channeling, Stall Feng Shui,
Public
>Relations and Marketing. "GoWaan taught me so much. Not only did I learn
how
>frequently riders with dysfunctional personal lives project unresolved
>emotional issues onto their horses, but the outrageous amounts of money
they
>are willing to pay to be told it isn't their fault." Pamela went on to
>become
>GoWaan PoOLmiFynGer's assistant when he toured to promote his calendar and
>video, Buckskin, Beads and Beefcake. "It was a great gig," she reflects,
>"but
>I knew it wouldn't last, when I noticed most of the women attending his
>sold-
>out clinics didn't have horses."
>
>    She next traveled to the Australian outback, where she studied with
>acclaimed Snowy River Kanguru Bruce Fosters, whose masterwork, "The
>Principles
>Of Bonding From Brumbies to The Boardroom," has become an integral part of
>the
>executive training programs of many ultinational corporations. "Bruce is an
>incredible 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, but she does admit to
>performing the crowd pleasing, ubiquitous
get-an-unstarted-horse-to-accept-a
>saddle, bit, bridle and rider-without-breaking-its-spirit-in-under-an hour
>demonstration. "Of course, since I'm using the techniques I've developed,
my
>version is different from what people have come to expect after seeing
other
>clinicians. For example, I find using a pyramid-shaped pen, instead of a
>round
>pen, brings more energy to the session. I also use indirect lighting,
>scented
>candles and soft music. I start by having a few glasses of wine with the
>horse, then begin to recount my earliest childhood memories of separation
>and
>abandonment, while lunging the horse at a trot.
>
>  After several minutes of this, usually at the point in my litany of
>victimization where my abusive second husband leaves me for my farrier, the
>horse will begin to go through a visible change. While still at a trot, it
>will start shaking its head and trying to cover its ears. This is the
moment
>I
>call 'The Throw Up.' The Throw Up is the point a horse reaches when it
can't
>stand listening to my problems 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 once I shut up
>and start saddling, but there's nothing mysterious about it. I just have a
>very annoying voice and more issues than T.V. Guide."
>
>    Future goals for Pamela include developing a web site, and a 900
number.
>"I envision a network where for only 99 cents per minute, riders can speak
>to
>their own Psychic Tele-Trainer, that I've personally educated. I also plan
>to
>explore the financial aspects of communicating with other animal species.
>I'm
>willing to discourse with dogs or chat with cats. I'll even vocalize with
>vermin if there's money in it."
>
>
>
>
>
>