Leslie's Latest NEWS
Using Feel & Release, brings results that are softer, quicker, logical and more elegant.
NEWS
Demonstrations of Feel & Release for gentling and training horses are increasingly in demand. Wonder why? Horse owners and trainers from many disciplines are fascinated by the possibility that they, too, can train or re-train a horse without the use of gimmicks or pressure tactics to achieve submission. True horsemanship through feel is that way.
"In the end, it was really became clear to me," said Sam H. from Central California. "Spurring my horse when she didn't do what I wanted, and stinging her with the end of a lead rope wasn't feeling good to me. It really never has. I started out young in an FFA program in Texas and, later, we moved to So. Cal where I started work for a reining trainer. I was determined to learn more about preparing young horses for completion, and I did," he said. "After some disappointments, I started using a little more feel and I found that a gentler approach fits better. Really, though, releasing them just beats all."
Desmond said she felt the same way years ago, and wondered how long it would take before a community of like-minded people in search of a gentler way would "emerge as a community with enough momentum based on compelling results" to make a real difference. Since the death in July, 1999, of her most recent long-term mentor, Bill Dorrance of Salinas Came Desmond said she has kept an eye out for others who are working along similar lines. "I am really encouraged by the number of trainers I met in just this past year who seem to truly understand what their horses want, and need and are telling them. The best part about it is that they care enough to get lined up with their horses in a way that works out better for both of them. It's been a year of big impressions and relief in this regard . . . even beyond what I dared to hope for, actually."
During the Fall-Winter 2011 USA Tour Desmond will coach five 4-day seminars for trainers and intermediate-advanced riders (all breeds and riding styles are welcome). In addition, she will continue coaching volunteers, staff and new horse owners in the art of Feel & Release at HORSE BENEFIT DEMONSTRATIONS around the country. These are hosted by charity groups for Horse Rescue, Rehab and Relocation Centers that have sprung up around the country since equine slaughter was outlawed, and an widespread economic slump has left many horses without a home or adequate care.
We will do it again! THE FOUR DAY COURSE with Leslie in OHIO, NOVEMBER 2011
Thanks to the hard work and hospitality of our hosts, Bill and Cathy Pletz at Blackhawk Stables in Pataskala, Ohio, and clinic sponsor Karen Musson, the four-day clinic format was a great success. Leslie said she will be back again in November 2011. (Exact dates to be announced soon.) Candidates for public and private sessions are welcome to submit their questionnaires.
Leslie worked with three horses -- 4-year-old Zoe, 6-year-old Raven and 15-year-old Penny and their owners from November 12-15, 2010. We were fortunate to have four crisp and sunny days!
This was indeed a fabulous opportunity for those studying Horsemanship Through Feel to get a closer look at the process of learing a way to communicate with horses that they clearly understand.
Photos of this workshop will soon be available here, and on FACEBOOK!
Who is Tony? You gotta listen to this!
The first tele-seminar in Leslie's upcoming 12-month lecture series will be packed with good training advice, creative solutions to problems like crowding and biting. She will describe several important lessons she learned from Tony, a certain little horse, who is her most recent mentor.
Tony's age is not precisely known but 5 years old is a good guess.
URGENT -- ACTION NEEDED TODAY -- Nevada Wild Horses and Burros to be Legally Denied Water Statewide
Updated LEGISLATIVE ALERT: Nevada Wild Horses Need Your Voice to BE HEAR on Their behalf, NOW!
No Dehydration without Representation
May 18, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
URGENT--Nevada Wild Horses and Burros to be Legally Denied Water Statewide
Carson City, Nevada-- On Thursday, May 19, the Nevada Senate Committee on Natural Resources will once again convene to receive public testimony concerning the particulars of AB 329.
The issue that the Senate Natural Resources Committee is expected to vote on tomorrow brings the problems that have perplexed the public, stymied lawmakers and worried officials at high levels of state and federal government for decades, into much sharper focus for everyone affected by it. And this means all of us.
A variety of serious and complex issues surround the urgent economic, environmental and political conditions that lead to this ceation of this disturbing proposal, and also to drafting of SJR5, (Joint Senate Resolution #5). In order that U. S. citizens, voters, Nevada residents, environment and wildlife advocates, cattle and horse owners, and our elected and appointed officials serving in apparently unconnected fields and capacities in relation to this legislation that binds us all, a number of publicly available source documents are identified and linked below. A thorough reading of these will be beneficial to anyone who seeks to know more about our strategic position in the world today. Taken together, they also serve as a primer for anyone who is rusty on the legislative due process, or state and federal environmental rules and regulations.
It is the hope that a more useful understanding of the profoundly important issues that lawmakers and leaders in the energy field contend with on a daily basis will be the result of posting these articles, documents, applications, news paper articles, official letters, briefing papers and testimony. The documents were identified and downloaded for your informationn within the last 5 days, and were all from publicly available sources through a simple websearch.
If this bill is passed by the Nevada Senate tomorrow, it will be legal to deny wild horses and burros access to water in the state of Nevada.
Nevada is home to approximately 16,000 wild horses and burros that roam on over 16 million acres of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This represents approximately half of the total population of wild horses and burros in the United States. Existing law relating to this matter establishes the position of State Engineer, provides for the adjudication of water rights in Nevada and sets forth the manner in which water is required to be appropriated. This bill defines the term "wildlife" for the purposes of those provisions to specifically exclude wild horses and burros.
