10.19.06
The woman who emails to horses
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. This 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 and 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 1980’s to a more
‘Co-Dependent’ 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:
Re-imprinting the Inner Foal, Obsessive/Compulsive Dressage,
Gymkhanta?, Andalusions 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, CA 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 PoOniFynGer, the charismatic shaman of
the Diamond-Phillips tribe and author of the book, Horse, Buck Hard.
“The whole monosymbolism of Horse Buck Hard overwhelmed me with its
Zen. I knew instantly I had to study with him.” GoWaan introduced Pamela to his
tribe’s ancient practices of Equine-Aromotheraphy, 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 and emotional issues onto their horses,
but the outrageous amount of money they are willing to pay to be told it
isn’t their fault.” Pamela went on to be come GoWaan’s assistant when
he toured to promote his calendar and videos, 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 multinational
corporations. “Bruce is an incredible visionary. He was the first person to
theorize that a rearing horse is 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 sharing 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
whereby 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 website, 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 communication 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.”
Reprinted from–
Natural Horse Trim, barehoof community group
Talk about pets, equestrian group
__________________
Connie Moses, petArtist– website since 2001:
PortraitsWithPets.com (homepage) aka PortraitsWithHorses.com (art galleries)
I Gallop On said,
October 20, 2006 at 10:44 am
That’s a hoot!
Kimberly