Our Training method is based on understanding
The success of Silent Voices Rescue is fundamentally grounded in our deep understanding of the equine mind and the resulting rescue work we are able to provide.
Many horses arriving at our barn suffer from a variety of trauma conditions. Their improvement largely depends on our ability to care for their emotional and physical needs. This proves to be very challenging with horses who have experienced severe neglect and various levels of abuse.
While we continue to take in equines in need of saving, we primarily focus on providing our rehab training component to everyone in the horse rescue world.
Our Mindful Learning Training Method is firmly grounded in the unique understanding of the horse’s emotional experience of life and the deep knowledge of the horse’s biomechanical and physical components. This approach is highly effective especially in cases where traditional methods fail.
Mindful: attentive, aware, or careful.
Learning: a relatively permanent change in, or acquisition of knowledge, understanding, or behavior.
This way of relating is firmly based on the horse’s way of understanding the world. Traditionally, humans use fear and dominance in order to work with the horse, therefore ignoring the very nature of how learning takes place within the horse’s mind.
It seems, we spend immense amounts of time and money creating physical devices that give us "control" over the horse's body while we neglect to investigate the reasons for leading us down this path.
All of our rehabilitation training is based on work AT LIBERTY. This is not to be confused with “natural horsemanship” or common “round pen training”. When we begin to validate and engage the horse's emotional mind, the result is a sensible connection where we can simply ask for what we want.
This needs to happen at complete freedom of choice in order to truly be engaging.
When the fear of punishment is replaced with trust, the horse is eager to learn and is interested in working with us.
This is where healing begins to take place…
This is what inspired THE PHOENIX PROJECT and THE WILD ONES project where we assist the BLM Wild Horse Adoption Program.
FOUNDATION TRAINING
A foundation is something we stand on, we build on, we rise from...
Our training concept provides a physical, mental and emotional foundation consisting of individualized ground work, extensive physical training and a solid positive bond with humans.
When horses have been started without that foundation, their future starts to unravel in a way that leaves many of them (and their humans) frustrated. More and more behavioral challenges develop over time. When we leave out essential parts in our horse’s learning, we find ourselves trying to fill in gaps for years to come.
Many, if not most, of our rescue horses arrive in a constant state of confusion.
Any horse at any age can be taken back to the starting point to re-write history!
As a matter of fact, most horses are in a constant state of confusion and different levels of fear about their existence in our world and their relationship with us.
It is beautiful to see such a horse regaining trust and confidence. By learning how to relate and connect the way he desires to, he can now engage with interest.
This ability alone provides any horse with a much higher possibility for a positive future.
It seems to be a fact that, any rescue horse lacking the emotional and mental rehabilitation, will most likely keep walking through a revolving door and continuously repeat his life as a rescue horse even after several adoptions.
While some of our adopters have knowledge and access to future training, the majority of them have a huge heart and desire but not the resources to tackle their horse’s lingering behavioral challenges.
When our horses leave into their new lives, we have laid a solid foundation in their training. Furthermore we remain available for our adopters to reach out for support and additional training
MEET SILENT VOICES CREATOR AND HEAD TRAINER DORO LOHMANN
Doro grew up in Westfalia, Germany, where her training in vaulting and formal dressage laid the foundation of her work’s integrity.
She first began working as a professional trainer in Northern California in 1996 with a focus on developing sound horses for long distance endurance racing. Many years of studying extensively with internationally recognized experts in the fields of veterinary medicine, equine massage and physical therapy, master farriery/equine podiatry, as well as a 10 year apprenticeship in holistic equine dentistry allows her to effectively provide a solid foundation for the physical rehabilitation and healing of horses.
Her deep understanding of these factors and the relationship between a horse’s emotions and their physical body allows her to succeed where other trainers fail. Doro has had immense success in repairing broken lines of communication and lost partnerships between owner and animal. She sees herself as a facilitator, with the intent to create the strongest and most positive relationship between a horse and its owner, unlocking the potential in both.
Testimonials
“Doro’s training methods include time, patience, and an understanding of the equine’s mind, body, and most importantly, spirit. She uses a training system based on rewards, free from resistance, equipment, and pain.” (Martine McGuinness, certified AEBQ (Advanced Equine Massage Therapy)
“Horses under Doro’s care develop trust and a relationship with their human companion. Doro has the eye to see the potential in a horse and the knowledge to bring that potential to the forefront.” (Wendy Albrecht and Cindy Krout (North Coast Equine Physical Therapy)
“I have found Doro to be an extremely astute observer of the mental and physical state of each and every horse in her care. Along with a very high standard of integrity, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to any undertaking in the horse world.” (Kerry J. Ridgway, DVM)
“Our rescue horse Mojo was found to be ‘crippled’ at the age of four with no realistic hope for rehabilitating him. Doro worked with him for a month and a half, teaching him to trust his body again. His physique improved immensely and he became more confident. Her groundwork, riding and equine bodywork turned him into a completely different horse. The change in such a short period of time was truly remarkable.” (Idaho State Senator Michelle Stennett)
“Doro understands the mental conditions of a horse. She is able to see the underlying reasons for many of a horse’s fears… whether he acts them out on the ground or under saddle. Through her ground work and riding, she is able to help a horse regain his sense of wellbeing and freedom from fear.” (Wendy Collins, Program Director for SETCH, handicapped riding program)
“Doro has succeeded in taking “horse whispering” to an entirely new level.” (Sharlyn Sawyer, fellow horse trainer)