Our vision is based on understanding
Our vision is a world where all horses and their human partners interact through mutual trust, respect, and clear communication, leading to fulfilling and balanced relationships.
The success of Silent Voices Rescue has been fundamentally grounded in our deep and intuitive understanding of the equine mind and the resulting rescue and rehabilitation work we have been able to provide.
Many horses arriving at our barn have suffered from a variety of trauma conditions.
Their improvement largely depends on our ability to understand and 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, most of which are not known to us.
Almost all horses live in a nearly constant state of confusion in their attempt to communicate with us.
Silent Voice’s approach is firmly grounded in the horse’s unique understanding and emotional experience of life. Combined with our deep knowledge of equine physical and bio-mechanical components, our way of relating is highly effective in cases where other methods fail…
MINDFUL LEARNING — TRUST OVER CONTROL
Our way of relating is based on the horse’s way of understanding the world. Traditionally, humans use fear and dominance in order to train the horse, therefore ignoring the very nature of how learning takes place within anybody’s mind. Teaching children through punishment is no longer accepted in our society. There is no need for it in the animal’s learning either. A horse’s emotional landscape is not much different than that of a child.
In horse training we chose to create physical devices to exercise control over the horse's body while neglecting to engage the horse’s mind.
We neglect to listen…
Our horse’s domesticated life is very similar to living in a foreign country with no understanding or ways to communicate. They are expected to know correct answers to unclear questions, many times facing severe punishment if they fail. This creates uncertainty, distrust and stress on both sides of the communication.
In addition, horses reside in a different time dimension altogether than we do. It is called BEING PRESENT and the time is NOW..
It is the place many of us read books about or visit retreats to gain access.
Silent Voices bases its training on LEARNING AT LIBERTY. This is not to be confused with “NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP”.
By surrendering our desire to control a horse’s physical body, we invite a new way of engaging emotionally. We validate and the result is a trusting and sensible connection.
This needs to happen at complete liberty and freedom of choice in order to begin a truly honest conversation.
When the fear of punishment is replaced with trust, the horse becomes eager to learn and is interested in working with us.
This is where healing begins to take place…
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 begins to unravel in a way that leaves many of them and their humans frustrated. More and more behavioral challenges developing over time.
When we leave out the essential parts in our horse’s learning, it is no different than skipping grades in our children’s education. We will find ourselves trying to fill in these gaps for years to come. As a result, most horses live their lives in a constant state of confusion with varrying levels of fear about their existence in our world.
Our training is based on LEARNING AT COMPLETE LIBERTY. This provides a nearly unshakable future for any young horse and returns a frightened and confused horse to a state of comfort and emotional safety. A strong partnership can only be build on such a foundation.
This is not to be confused with round-penning used in any natural horsemanship approach.
We invite you to discover a language of intuition, openness and clear communication. Allowing horses to teach us about the reflection of our own emotions we rise to meet them on an entirely new level of awareness. A place free of judgment and unfulfilled expectations. A quiet place of inspiration.
MEET SILENT VOICES FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR DORO LOHMANN
Doro grew up in Westfalia, Germany, where her training in vaulting and formal dressage laid the foundation of her work’s integrity. With a degree in psychology and special education she worked in Germany and the US for many years in that field.
She first began working as a professional trainer in Northern California in 1996. By building and managing a private ranch, she began her focus on starting, training and maintaining 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 the key fundamentals 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 enjoys immense success in repairing broken lines of communication and lost partnerships between horse and human.
She sees herself as a facilitator who creates deep and meaningful relationships between a horse and human with a beautiful potential for 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)