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JOIN the FREE
Heart in Your Hand
YAHOO CHAT GROUP to learn & communicate
with natural folks.
Please e-mail the moderator at freeman@diodecom.net
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Hey Sherry! We just had our 4h horseshow yesterday. With your help I got 5 trophies. They were trail, poles, barrels, pleasure, and raining. Thanks for helping me slow Sue down, that helped me a ton. I am looking forward to going to another one of your workshops with Duke. Anyways, I guess I will talk to you soon.
-Jeremiah-
We had a great time visiting you during the rodeo. Thank you for allowing us to come and visit you and your horses. What a wonderful spot you have. Ally is still talking about the whole thing. Especially riding with you What a blessing you are for her. She just wants to absorb everything you do and say. You have such a good way with her.
You impressed me at Chance Ridge with your skill with the horses. But you blew me away when I watched how you worked with Ally. I don't know if you remember but Sunday afternoon of the two day clinic she was trying sooooo hard to impress me and she was also getting very tired. Her frustration was growing and you kept encouraging her to try again. Then she froze and started crying. You instantly responded calmly and reassured her. Then you physically moved away giving her some space. When that didn't settle her down you had everyone just walk around with their horses. You handled her perfectly. She was calm and ready to try again after that and was successful at the skill.
There are people who know a lot about horses that are not good at working with people. You my dear are both, a wonderful horsewomen and a wonderful teacher.
Vicki
I really enjoyed the article you wrote on confidence and it reminded me of something that I have been doing that fits into tip # 4, optimism and emotional fitness.
Lately when it comes to doing things like worming or things of that nature that I might expect Simeon to bulk at, I simply, take a deep breath count to 10 and say to myself..."think like a cowboy".
Thoughts of my uncle who trained cutting horses for a living or my other uncle who has the most foundationally sound horses that I know, come to mind... I think, uncle Arlen would not approach this horse, hand out...slowly scooting in for what the horse would percieve as the "kill" he would simply walk up to the horse, put the syringe in his mouth and the deal would be done.
It is easy then for me to visualize what needs to be done, how to do it...and before you know it, the horse is wormed...and nobodies heart rate went through the roof!
So I just wanted to give you that little progress report and thank you for your help on my journey through natural horsemanship!
God bless you and hope to see you soon!
Sincerely,
Nita
Thanks so much for your time and encouragement, you really do have a gift, and I KNOW God brought you into my life.
There is SO much wisdom in your newsletters..not just about horses. I can tell you simply have incredible insights about life.
Cindy
I got my horses a year and a half ago to ride because I had always loved riding. It was a relatively selfish desire stemming from a bit of a panic about not ever having any more babies. A bit of a "mid-life crisis".
But what really seems to bring me the most joy is the relationship that I build with them. I haven't really ridden since right before Christmas because of the nasty weather and ice, but the bond that I have developed with both horses this winter has been one of the most rewarding things that I have ever experienced.
The best thing is that I know it will only keep getting better. It is hard to describe, but I know that you will understand because I have seen you with your horses.
I look forward to seeing you again soon. Once again, thank you for all that you have done for me in my journey.
Anne
Sherry,
I would like to thank you for having the clinic at Joni's. I can't explain how great it was for me to attend even if I didn't bring a horse. You don't know how, in one day, you have affected my life with my horses.
I wish I could have come back on Sunday, but life gets in the way sometimes. I hope I get to attend another one soon! Thank you so much.
Kathy
As of last weekend. I could have been known as the "45 year old saddle virgin". As a young man I had what I thought was a bad experience during a trail ride. What I hear now as barn sour, caused the critter to decide she did not want a passenger and wanted to go home.
After that if I sat in a saddle, it had handlebars attached. As fate had it 12 years and 3 days ago I married the luv of my life, a horse lover! We worked hard and fell into an acreage. Now we have a horse and 2 ponies.
I watched and stayed out of the way while my wife put her all into learning the needed knowledge and training so she could be a good and respected horseman. Then she ran into Natural Horse Human philosophy. Seemed really different and somewhat intriguing to even an handlebar man.
Long story short. When she arranged for our 12th anniversary to be some natural training and trail riding my heart pounded, for more than one reason. But as it worked out, the preflight (ground training- I'm in the aviation field) caused time to stand still.
Your skill as a respected horseman and teacher is evident by the results my wife and I produced. I met some new friends in Dolly, Sunshine, and Q-ball. Became very proud of my wife and myself for navigating the trail rides. And I'm starting a new relationship with Major, my Wife's Arabian. Thankyou and your Husband for your hospitality. And your commitment to the horse world and connecting it to our human world relationships. Your one of kind and are bound to succeed at whatever you decide to do.........
Marty
I enjoyed our time together IMMENSELY and your teaching reaches farther than you may think..I am amazed at how when one is all caught up in the "busy-ness" of the modern world, one becomes quite out of touch with themselves. Even removed from their true passions in life.
The time with you and my horse put me back in touch with something valuable I lost years ago. I am now searching for ways to bring nature and quality contact with horses back in my life. The summer is not a big problem, I have two months available there. I am usually hauling Wyki all over the place for her showing. The rest of the year I work from just before sunup to after sundown, leaving me hardly any time for the things that really matter at home. I admire how you have successfully made your passion your work. Thank you for helping me to begin discovering the passions that were lost somewhere in this crazy world.
Julie
Thanks for another fun, thought-provoking clinic (and tiring, I was pretty tired by Sunday evening).
I admire for wanting to initiate positive changes in people.
I really admire you for your patience and fortitude.
Cindy
Sherry,
Matt and I are so grateful for the time that we had with you! You taught me how to communicate in a clear manner that Matt is able to respond to and know what I am asking. He is doing so well and is eager to please. I can tell that he is just as proud when he "get's it" as I am. He is responding
to the lightest of touch and starts doing circles as soon as I position and point!
I am very excited to continue this journey with Matt, as I am
committed to developing an amazing and "natural" partnership with him.
Audra
Thanks for your poems as they were a big hit. I've so enjoyed following your emails, clinic notes, accomplishments, and womens' retreats! Some day I hope to meet you in person as you are such an inspiration to me!
Jennifer
Sherry,
I really love that we have formed a community of people who share so much - it really helps to not be alone in the journey. Also I feel these people support me and understand what I am going through and will not judge me which puts me so much more at ease. Who could ask for more? I certainly can't!!
In an atmosphere such as the one you have created for all of us, nothing but success and growth will occur! I can't thank you enough for this!
I really truly feel this is a lifetime journey so you are stuck with me until the end. I am excited about learning as much as I can about horses - they fascinate me and I feel that if I can learn as much as I can about them, maybe, just maybe, they will accept me, a human, into their life and give me the privilege of union with them.
When I look back I realize how far I have come, when I look forward I am excited to know how far I have yet to go and what amazing things I will witness and experience on my journey! I could not ask for a better teacher - I am so glad God has brought you into my and my horse's lives!!
Sharon
Sherry,
Thank you so much! You did a great job! I really appreciate that you addressed everybody’s individual needs.
Major has so much more confidence (and me too). On the way to the clinic Major was wide eyed and shaking, on the way home he was calm eating hay and not shaking. When I unloaded him he calmly stepped out and started eating grass.
I think your clinic has made the biggest impact on our progress than anything I have been to so far. I hope no one asked how it went because I will probably start to cry if I try to explain too much and I hate emotions.
I read the sheets you gave us. The last paragraph cracked me up…..”Congratulations you made it all the way through”
I really need to be working right now, but I can’t get my horse and this weekend out of my head.
Michele
This person was the winner of a free lesson at the 2005 Expo.
Wanted to send you an extra special Thank you for allowing me to ride in your clinic!
One day was a real treat! Both days was more than I could have ever hoped for!
I had a great time and am now enjoying applying what I learned to other horses and also passing on the knowledge to my 6 year old son and helping him “Play” with his pony.
Recently I was able to ride Fancy down the road, away from home, by herself!
This is something neither her nor I felt safe and comfortable doing by ourselves for the better part of our 9 years together!
I have to think we can do it now because of what you taught me! I’m really looking forward to the day when I can ride with you again! See you at the Expo!
Heartfelt thanks,
Lindley
I want to thank you once again for coming
down as I feel it was a success and I think this will certainly help the kids to decide whether they want to continue or not. You have a wonderful blend
of enthusiasm for what you are doing, the right amount of humor to make it fun and a good dose of “no nonsense” to give everyone a reality check.
Thanks again for all your help.
Jo Bek
Curtis Equine Instructor
These were the winners of the 2006 Expo contest.
Thank-you so much for your horse clinic we attended last week-end. We not only enjoyed the clinic, but we found a new way to enjoy our horses.
After attending your clinic, we realized we no longer have to force our horses to obey us. We just need to ask them to do something in a way they understand. We never knew we could ride our horses with only a halter and a lead rope. We always thought we had to have a bit in their mouth to control them.
I'm sure our horses will be glad we have a new found way of treating them. The techniques we learned at your clinic enables us to communicate clearly to all of our horses for a lifetime. Thank-you again for sharing your knowledge of horsemanship with us. Looking forward to meeting up again with you soon.
God's Blessings,
Sandy and Lonnie
Sherry one armed was a wonder, two armed she is a miracle! I saw her help two different difficult horse/owner combinations this week that truly made huge break throughs for them, and the owners were reproducing the results with her guidance by the end of the sessions. You got it girl!
Leigh
The June clinic that Sherry had at A.L. I audited - just to see what
it was all about, and I was impressed. So this last weekend I
actually participated in the clinic with my 2 yr. old Morgan filly -
her birthday was Saturday so the clinic was my birthday present to her.
We had a great group of participants and horses. And yes, Sherry
did ride Keith! My shoulders are slightly sore from using the carrot
stick, so that's how I think you could identify natural trainers -
their large deltoids!
It was really a great experience with a lot of those “Ahah” moments.
Thanks, Sherry! I'm planning on continuing to work with my filly (I hope I can remember everything I learned) and am hoping to make
considerable progress before Sherry comes back for her next clinic.
Anyway, auditing was great, but participating was a whole different
level. It certainly looks "easier" when watching rather than
actually "doing". I certainly would recommend participating in Sherry's
clinics.
Some of the beginning steps I had accomplished on my own,
but there were tasks Sherry helped me with and corrected the way I was
doing things that helped tremendously in how my filly responded to me.
Being an ex-teacher myself, I admire your willingness to continue to
grow as an instructor and always improve on your presentation. You have
so much enthusiasm and exuberance.
Keep up the good work - you are still my favorite clinician.
Cindy R.
I just wanted to let you know, as an observer of Dave and Dobbin after
The clinic, how much your clinic has done for him. He was always
Unsure. My hope for him was to be as excited about getting out to and on the horses as I was. He loved spending time with Dobbin, but I could
tell he never really felt comfortable on Dobbin.
I'm always the one who comes home and wants to rush through dinner and
Chores, so that I can get out to the horses. Dave always just kind of
followed along. Since the clinic, Dave is the one who can't wait to
get things done so he can get out there and work with Dobbin!! He used
to plan time with Dobbin around his chores. Now he plans his chores around his time with Dobbin!!
Thanks!!
Connie
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MORE STUDENT TESTIMONIALS!
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On Friday I attended Sherry’s clinic. I think not being a beginner was better because it gave me the chance to think about the philosophy and how the ideas actually worked.
I have read and used other natural horsemanship ideas in the past. I had even read other stuff and was not really impressed. But one think I have learned is it is not the technique or idea, it is how the instructor imparts the knowledge. Sherry did an excellent job. She did amazing things working with the inexperienced people, riders that had less than good experiences in the past, and older, right brain riders.
One thing I realized was I had gotten rather short tempered with Duke. After spending the last year with difficult horses, I was not giving him a chance to learn and be good. When I asked nicely, he started responding. One funny thing was the idea of using “air” first. Actually it should be called attitude. Sunday when I was getting him ready for our last ride, he was in my way. I put my hands up like, but never touched him. My body language had already said “MOVE IT BUDDY”. He got over quick.
Mary
UGH. I am still wishing I were at the clinic and not at work.
The clinic was great. Reba has tons of potential and I think I now have the skills to enhance it. Ways to bring her down from the constant wanting to run and go and jig and trot.
I LOVED the way Sherry taught. NEVER negative. Everything she said about people and their horses was positive. If you were having trouble she or her husband Keith would quietly help you making you feel better and showing you the way to do it. It was a great experience. Keith and Sherry are really awesome people and I look forward to seeing them again.
Tami
Sherry’s clinic at American Legacy was a real success! She did a great job of instructing and giving each horse/rider the individual attention they required.
Scooby did well – I was very pleased with our progress and I was able to ride him in a halter (although I did have the bridle on underneath) and he was doing a good job of listening.
I’m looking forward to another opportunity to get together with my horse friends.
Amy
It was a wonderful clinic! Sherry is a very good teacher and has boundless energy. This is a much more productive clinic for me than another one from someone else last year. She didn’t have the gift of explaining clearly that Sherry has.
I am so ecstatic about how the clinic went with Jake; it just drove me crazy all day at work to have no one to tell about it.
On the first night I could just puke, thinking of riding Jake in this clinic. That was the worst day of nerves. I couldn’t eat anything after about 11:00 that morning, and didn’t eat anything until I was headed home, about 9:30 pm. So you can see how “out of my comfort zone” I was just taking him.
Jake was darn near perfect on Sunday. Calm, agreeable, relaxed. I rode him in a halter, but had the bridle on “just in case” (my favorite motto). He was much better and more responsive than on Saturday. We did trotting exercises around cones and barrels and he did fine, a nice slow trot, and I actually SAT the trot, which I have always done poorly, whereby the reason I learned to post almost automatically. I didn’t want to mention it before we started, but that was the exercise with which Jake bucked the very first time, with my friend, trotting around cones.
I feel like I have slain the dragon, and the dragon’s name was not Jake. The dragon was the FEAR. I knew that I had an unreasonable fear of the bucking behaviors I had seen, but I just had not been able to shake it. When you are alone at home with your horse, with that kind of anxiety, it is paralyzing, and it takes someone or a group of someone’s to give you enough courage to get on and move ahead.
I realize that I had never bothered to get to know him, or to bond with him. I mean I have ridden him maybe half a dozen times in 3 years. I knew I had never given him much of a chance. And he is pretty awesome, overall.
Shelia
I want to tell you what my friend told me about your clinic. She said after she got back home after your clinic, the next day she was reflecting on the weekend & said that it was the most awesome feeling. She said it was such a good thing for her and Zuni. She was having a hard time describing how she felt, but I could tell it was special for her. Thanks for giving that to her!
Tammy
Thank you for the training this weekend, it was a lot of fun to learn new things and meet new people. You are so passionate and enthusiastic, and that is inspirational to me!!
Thanks for everything,
Beth.
This weekend was amazing. Sherry is such an awesome teacher; I can’t even express it in words. I have paid several hundred dollars for a full two-day clinic and not received 1/10 of the info and real life horse skills. And Keith is so observant and patient; helping those that need it without a lot of hullabaloo.
Yes, I’m still on an adrenaline high! Nothing better than this weekend.
Robyn
A couple of awards I think you forgot:
“TEACHER OF THE YEAR” for Sherry Jarvis for her “persistence from the proper position”. (Thanks!)
“GREATEST TEACHER’S AIDE” for Keith Jarvis (the bareback lesson was proof!)
Jan
Thanks to Sherry and Keith! What an eye & heart opening experience for Apache and I! I plan on working on the games and hopefully the Apache (and Tammy) with the new brain(s) will show up at the next clinic I go to.
Tammy
Having not been to a natural horsemanship clinic before, I didn’t know what to expect this weekend. But you guys far exceeded any expectations I had!
Keith and Sherry you are wonderful instructors, giving time to everyone and explaining and illustrating everything so well. I learned so much this weekend, and can’t wait to learn more!
Shari
Dusty and I would like to participate in all the events you mentioned in your email attachment. Let me know ASAP the dates you have in mind, as I teach yoga classes and need to arrange for a substitute. I am glad you insist upon reviewing the basics even in levels 2 & 3. I believe when someone thinks they know it all, they stop learning. The basics are the foundation of everything else and technique can always be improved upon. I almost wrote "a horse can never be too well trained” but, actually, the truth is a horseperson can never be too well trained! Your teaching really enables us to become better communicators with our animals.
You embody all the attributes of a great teacher--You are passionate about what you do, generous in sharing your knowledge and time, patient, open-minded to critique and change, and willing to continue your own education. I was delighted to receive your help and found it invaluable. I may have learned more from watching you handle Dusty than from anything else we did. Feel free to step in and work with Dusty anytime you wish and use her as a group demo horse as well. Thank you for a wonderful clinic this past weekend. I look forward to the October clinic in Omaha. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Happy trails!
GA Walker
Sherry,
You are so lucky to have been able to go and your poem was wonderful! You
inspire with your ability to be just who you are with such goodness and
spirit and desire to teach!
Good luck in your surgery--heal quickly and I hope to see you in Omaha in
August!
Cindy, Array and Foster
Sherry, thank you so much for the e-mails, you have a huge heart - I love the poem and the story really makes you think. I feel so blessed to have met and had a chance to 'play' with horses with all of you wonderful people
Pam
Dear Sherry,
Many thanks for your wonderful note—you are not just an exceptional teacher—you are an exceptional person and it was a privilege to have time with you.
I didn’t get down on paper all the valuable things I learned—balance point, breathing to a stop, etc. I know everything will be very valuable and I can’t wait to go to work on them!
Thanks again for everything.
Susan
More from Susan
Thanks so much for your note and the poems—I will savor and treasure every one of them. As I mentioned to you Sunday, I am printing them out and putting them into a binder so I can remind myself how important the spirit and soulful ness of these animals are in my life.
I just love working on its elements and even though I’m just a beginner—what it does for me is help me understand my horse. My skills are not at the level where I am always successful—but if I am not successful—natural horsemanship allows me to understand why and that gives me ways to work and ways to improve. For me, the learning is the joy.
I loved seeing the photo of you in the paper on Monday—I’ll send you a copy. Thank you again for thinking of me—I look forward to many horse adventures and you are an inspiration to all of us here in Lincoln. More soon and Happy Trails to you too!
Susan
Hi Sherry,
Thanks so much for the great weekend. Gus and I learned so much....we also learned that we have a long way to go to get our right brain to work (that means me too!). Count me in on the Oct. 1st clinic.
Jolene came out with me Sunday after the clinic to make sure Gus would load. He did great! Can't believe how easy that was - thank you thank you thank you!!! Now to work on my Fox Trotter. Am also looking into that saddle from National, thanks for the heads up on that.
Again, thank-you for an eye-opening clinic. I feel so much better with my horse. We still have a long way to go, but it's so calming to know and feel these great moments with my horse will only get better.
Sandy Reiber & Gus
Hi, Sherry,
I sure did enjoy the two days I spent out there, being absolutely in awe of what you taught, & what those riders, esp. Susan, were able to do with their horses. Blows my mind what that method can get the horses to do. Hopefully some day, I'll be able to do those things with a horse of my own again.
Thanks for letting me audit, & for Natalie to be able to see, at her young age, what is possible.
Barb Mape
Brenda was so gracious - the group was an awesome bunch of people, and Sherry, you are great! Not to mention a bit funny!! You have a great teaching technique and you really do explain things so
well.
I want to go through an entire weekend clinic with you - I would have loved to have been one of those girls mounted as it really was neat to see how the techniques really work. I have to say that
having you there though is much easier to learn than to learn it from buying the DVD’s which I did. I am a person who learns from hands-on and experiencing it.
I truly enjoyed you and I love clinics like that. Not only is it great for me, but is great for my horse regardless which one I bring. It's awesome exposure for them. Thanks for our help by the way that day....Please keep me posted on your future clinics cuz I will be sure to be there. Thanks for everything!
Ann Sampson
Brenda, thanks for the amazing hospitality. We could not have asked for a better facility to spend the weekend playing with horses.
I'll be back for more of Sherry's clinics. I'm still processing through ALL THE STUFF, only some of which had to do with the horse! I've considered myself a horsewoman for years, but am pretty embarrassed that even though I identified some "holes" in the foundation of my horse a couple of months ago -because he rides and drives in a "pretty good frame", I didn't take the time to go back and teach him the lateral work that he needs. That stuff shows up
pretty quickly when you don't have a bit in their mouth and you ride with only a halter. That being said, I saw very clearly where the work needs to be done, and I'm really happy that I have some
additional tools to use.
Vic
You will love doing Sherry's clinic! We had a fantastic time this weekend! I am very brain-dead right now! So much info on working "with" your horse. The horses here did great! Sherry brings out the best in both the horses and the riders! I am already planning my next clinics in March and April. Thanks to all who came. My goal is to work with my horses so that I can do some of the games during lesson times. The kids will love this.
The clinic was great! And I am beat, but in a good way. WOW, so much more to learn about having fun with your horse. No matter how much you know, there is
always something to learn from someone else. I felt like I had 2 left arms sometimes (I guess that would be ok if you were left handed, but I'm not). Definitely a new way to do things. It's hard to break old habits.
Brenda
I did stop by Brenda’s today and watched a bit
of Sherry’s clinic. I had to work and wasn't able to join. I am still in awe that they where riding around the arena without bridles and bits!!! WOW...I am going to join next time.
Deb Welch
She was very nervous at first and thought the go button meant "go backward": I had him continue giving her the cues until she stepped forward and then had him stop. She really had her eye on me outside the pen the entire time so I gave her a send and that helped a lot. He rode her for a good 30 minutes and the transformation in Kelly and Rosie was AMAZING. Kelly had a hard time trying not to 'steer" her around but they eventually got it. Rosie's stress level went way down and she stopped paying attention to me. At the end of the session Kelly was able to rub Rosie everywhere including her back legs, nose, lips and even inside her mouth on her gums! They really bonded!
Kelly was totally shocked that the natural horsemanship really made a difference in the horse in such a short amount of time. He would be interested in taking a class with Rosie the next time you
are up our way. This is my husband who just wants to get on and ride away without any work! Thank you! Just thought you might enjoy my success story! It is a start anyway. I just thought it was a HUGE step for Rosie who has thrown everyone off who has gotten on her.
IT also makes me one step closer to talking him into my indoor arena!
Amy Shattuck
Hi Sherry,
Just wanted to let you know that things have changed in Whiskey and my relationship since your clinic. He's actually glad to see me these days and comes over to see what I want. I spent some time tonight just rubbing the slope of his shoulders until his lips wiggled (he loves me rubbing there) and he let me hang all over him. He's always been a "quick scratch and wander off" type of horse, never one to hang around for more. Everyone was in a rubbing mood tonight so it was a good evening. Whiskey is coming to Expo for various demos so you may see him around.
Sandy
Wow! Sherry, wanted to drop a personal note to you about this weekend....
FIRST OF ALL, your poem is unbelieveably beautiful. I am guessing that you wrote that with either one or many horses that have been part of your life....SO NEAT!
SECOND - I learned so much! this weekend!!!! I just want to say that you do such a wonderful job and you are not only a natural horseperson but also a natural teacher too - what a calling you have!! I just thank God that you are doing what you're doing!!
Wanted to tell you a couple of more things.....
First, I reviewed many professional clinicians videos, and I have to tell you that between their and your 'way' of teaching, YOU ARE BETTER!! Not to cut anybody else down, but you truly explain and demonstrate things, at least for me, that make total sense!!! So many of the video's I was they are hurrying through the steps with the assumption that people will figure it out .... In person is still the best way for me!!
Take care!
Ann
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