Hi Franklin        

Hope you are well. Ros told me that your journey home took a little longer than anticipated! 

I would like to say thank you so much for coming back to the UK and letting us have the benefit of your knowledge and experience. I have been on a lot of courses in my time but I have to say without hesitation that the seminars in Warwickshire and at Stow have given me more tools for my toolkit than all the others put together. It was a great privilege to meet you and am very much looking forward to seeing you again next year.

I remember some years ago my sister telling me that she suddenly realised why some professional horsemen and women were loath to impart their knowledge to others and it went along the lines that they had had to work really hard and take all the falls and why should they give someone that hadnt been through this process the benefit of what they had learnt. I thought this was rather sad and felt at the time that it smacked of someone's ego taking over! Undoubtedly, it is important to realise that there is no quick fix or substitute for experience, time and patience - but there is a real need for teachers who can impart as you do a sound wisdom and practice for interacting with horses and I again thank you so much for what you have taught all of us.

In fact what I have learnt has already been put into action rather more instinctively than I could have imagined. On one occasion it involved loading a very reluctant horse into a horsebox which I must admit did have a very steep ramp! The owner and her friends had been trying to load it for some time without success. I wasnt really taking much notice as I was preoccupied doing other things but eventually wandered around to see what was happening. I suggested that perhaps I had a go ( I thought a change of face might do the trick!). I asked the owner and her friends to leave me to it as I sensed that the horse was playing to the audience and wasn't frightened about going into the box (he had done it many times before apparently). I then got him to focus on me (remembering what you said about leading the dance). I managed this by shaking the lead when his attention wandered and when I had his attention used the method I saw you use at Bromyard to encourage the horse to move forward towards the ramp and then onto the ramp and finally into the box. All the time I was very conscious that I needed to visualise and feel the horse actually going into the box. I think it took about five minutes in all to load him. My very strong sense was of all that I had learnt was falling into place. I have to say it was a truly inspiring moment. 

My other experience was with Sky my grey pony. I was riding him out on our local common. It was a rather windy day and Sky was very exuberant! We were jumping a few ditches which he was doing rather well. I spotted a very nice ditch and felt it would be ideal to finish our session on. I had forgotten however that after the ditch the ground fell away not steeply but enough to encourage Sky to gallop off. This isnt usually a problem but this time he caught me unawares and just took off. I tried to get him back but he wasn't responding. He even managed to get his head into the air and at this point I felt that I had really lost control. Suddenly and without thinking about it I shouted "ho" twice and almost instantaneously I regained my control of the pony, much to my relief and we continued on our way home without further mishap!!  

I am sure there are going to be many more challenges where the skills I have learnt will be invaluable

Well that is all my news for now. Please have a peaceful and enjoyable end to the year (Ros tells me you have already been on some mountain rides - sounds wonderful).

Love Naomi