Bryan Williams

Describing what working with Leslie Desmond is like.  What I’ve learned so far. 

I learned what it really means to have a FEEL of the horse from its toes to its ears; from its nose to its tail, and of its mind, body, and spirit. I can’t wait to learn more and FEEL more and more of it. The results, as I’ve just scratched the surface, are undeniable.

FEEL is not about how much pressure to put on the reins or the lead rope.

  It’s FEELING the horse.  All of it, with everything about yourself. 

With this approach, horses immediately “get it” and mine understand me perfectly now. We all enjoy the relief this clarity has brought to much easier interactions.  

Leslie helps you change what you notice about your horse.

 After some hours together, I now see my horses with “new” eyes.  With an expanded vision came new skills that quickly opened up  fresh and exciting connections to all of them. Starting with awareness of my posture, foot placement and the ways I now project energy with clear intention,I can now gently and accurately influence everything about the way my horses move, stand and feel.

 You’ll start noticing how each hoof lands, variations in each hoof’s growth and what it means to their whole body.

Leslie explained how the horse’s vital organs are connected at birth to the original teeth, energetic points on the vital meridians that baby horses are bornfascinating, essential knowledge and she explained how decisions about the dental balance and maintenance affects the rest of their body, for better or worse.

My vet and bodyworker immediately noticed the dramatic difference in everything about my mares Bella and Fergie.

Bella’s whole topline has smoothed out, her super muscular rump is now bouncy, where before it was hard as a rock. Her back used to always have 2 large hard balls of muscle on each side of her withers and now it’s flat. 

She used to get really nervous as soon as she was away from her herd and now she’s quiet and soft.

Fergie, who we did the least with, just changing my own energy focus with her, staying out of her eye, and communicating with her through true FEEL, has changed behaviors that she’s had since long before I got her.

She used to pin her ears, swish her tail, and act like she was going to bite someone’s head off as soon as a hand or a brush got behind her withers.

That’s suddenly gone and she stands quietly, with a soft relaxed eye.  She’s always been known for sticking her tongue out to the side and swinging it around when she was ridden.  It’s one of the ways people always recognized her at shows since she was young.  That’s gone.

Again, my vet and bodyworker could hardly believe it was the same horse. 

  I feel tremendously honored to call her my friend, family, and a patient mentor. If you’d like to experience for yourself what learning from Leslie is like, she’ll be coming back to R&B Quarter Horses in fall of 2024. I CANNOT wait! 

#allfortheloveofthehorse

I am amazed at how Leslie reads the horse. She determined that my mare was stuck in her hyoid. After Leslie worked on it, my mare moved so much better. 

She really showed me  how the horse’s whole body is connected. 

Leslie’s compassionate way of being with the horse uncovers, not only reasons for behaviors that had been labeled as resistance and poor work ethic, but she comes with solutions to help the horse feel better and empowers the student to learn from and trust their horse. 

I am newly back to the horse world and am so grateful to be included in the Feel of a Horse 40 hour training facilitated by Leslie Desmond.  I could not ask for a more knowledgeable, compassionate and professional mentor.  I have gained so much. knowledge in a very short period of time and I am looking forward to becoming adept at learning horsemanship through feel and this wonderful new perspective.