Media
PUBLICATIONS:
PUBLICATIONS:
About
Excerpt of Interview with Marla White, LA Examiner, 06-24-09
(MW: Marla White, KE: Katja Elk)
MW: Can people have you come work with their problem horse? Can they send the horse to you for a 'tune up' if putting them in training with you is impractical because of distance.
KE: Yes, definitely. Horses can be brought in for an evaluation (or I can come to them), and then I will recommend a program for the individual horse’s needs. I like to involve the owner/rider/handler in the training process so that any achieved progress can be kept alive. That way both horse and rider can be on the same page and will have a good foundation for further successful and work together.
MW: I saw all the topics you cover (nature of the horse, horse physiology, etc.) but am not quite clear - are those lectures you give? Clinics? Or part of ongoing training with you?
KE: Those topics are all part of my ongoing work as a trainer, rider, and instructor. They are essential to building a good relationship with horses on the ground and under saddle. The more we know about the amazing features and qualities of horses the better we can communicate, build trust and work together.
MW: How did the CPR class come about? Have you done this in the past or is this the first? Since I'll be doing the story so late in the game, are there plans to do another one in the future?
KE: This is the first “CPR & Safety First for Horse People” class that we are doing. It seems even seasoned horse people can sometimes use a reminder about how the horses’ response system with their hard-wired flight/fight reactions differs from those of humans whose instinctual actions are much more in line with those of a predator. The difference in these two types of ‘brain-wirings’ can easily lead to disharmonious responses to certain types of stimuli. Dangerous, potentially harmful situations can occur due to the different types of instinctive responses in horses and humans. This is what I will be talking about while doing a demonstration with a horse in the first part of the clinic.
The second part of the class, the CPR & First Aid part, will be held by two medical professionals who are also very accomplished horse women. Suz Roehl RN, CFRN (certified flight nurse) and CCRN (certified Critical care nurse), and Janet Nelson, EMT-P (paramedic) who has worked as a fire fighter in San Diego for over 20 years, became a paramedic during this time and was a fire fighter paramedic.
Due to the nature of the horse and his capacity to act at a much faster speed than is possible for a human to react to at all times, this class is an essential tool to be prepared in case things do turn into situations where the correct assessment and initial treatment of injuries can be potentially life-saving. In my eyes, this is a MUST for all people who are around horses -- riders, handlers, instructors, trainers, parents, and everyone who is concerned about the well-being of their horse-crazy loved-ones.
I would definitely like to do more of this type of events and other clinics. Perhaps other facilities might like to host them as well.
MW: I read the Santa Ynez article about you - wow, that's amazing that you went from being wheelchair bound to being a horse trainer! Can you tell me more about that?
KE: That’s a long story. There are 2 Santa Ynez Valley Journal articles on my website which can tell you a bit more about this.
MW: I don't know anything about fibromyalgia. Were you walking and riding before and then struck with it?
KE: Yes, I was leading a very active life, walking and riding before I was diagnosed with this condition. Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain illness that causes a lot of people to lead painful, inactive and subdued lives. I am fortunate to have a passion for riding and a mission to help connect horses and people connect more harmoniously with each other that gives me the drive, the spirit and the extra-strength to get up every day and do the best I can. I guess a bit of stubbornness is helpful as well. I feel very blessed.
MW: Were horses a part of your recovery process?
KE: Yes, after spending months in various hospitals in 2000, I had the good fortune to have my family and a group of wonderful friends and horses in Germany help me get back on my feet. It was in the middle of winter, it was snowing outside, and I had my friends lift me up on the back of Talismann (German for ‘good luck charm’), a beautiful Trakehner dressage horse, for my first 5-minute-ride before I could even really stand or walk much. It was a very emotional moment, especially considering the very bleak prognosis I was given. My brother, who is a wonderful physician in Germany, was the only medical professional who believed I could fulfill my dream of coming back to the type of live with horses I envisioned. He said to my “You are fortunate that you have this dream. It will take you there.” It did, and it still does every day.
MW: Do you think that having gone through that gave you a better connection/emotional insight or appreciation of horses?
KE: Definitely. But there is another factor that helps me connect with horses on a deeper level. In my younger years I experienced some very traumatic times during the course of an extremely abusive relationship with a psychopathic male. You can read about that and how it relates to my work with horses in the NY Times article on my website.
MW: Why did you move from Germany to Santa Ynez?
KE: I have lived in California for a total of 20 years and went back in 2000 for a year of medical treatments and rehab before relocating to the SY valley to work with Monty Roberts and eventually becoming an instructor for his non-violent training principles.
(MW: Marla White, KE: Katja Elk)
MW: Can people have you come work with their problem horse? Can they send the horse to you for a 'tune up' if putting them in training with you is impractical because of distance.
KE: Yes, definitely. Horses can be brought in for an evaluation (or I can come to them), and then I will recommend a program for the individual horse’s needs. I like to involve the owner/rider/handler in the training process so that any achieved progress can be kept alive. That way both horse and rider can be on the same page and will have a good foundation for further successful and work together.
MW: I saw all the topics you cover (nature of the horse, horse physiology, etc.) but am not quite clear - are those lectures you give? Clinics? Or part of ongoing training with you?
KE: Those topics are all part of my ongoing work as a trainer, rider, and instructor. They are essential to building a good relationship with horses on the ground and under saddle. The more we know about the amazing features and qualities of horses the better we can communicate, build trust and work together.
MW: How did the CPR class come about? Have you done this in the past or is this the first? Since I'll be doing the story so late in the game, are there plans to do another one in the future?
KE: This is the first “CPR & Safety First for Horse People” class that we are doing. It seems even seasoned horse people can sometimes use a reminder about how the horses’ response system with their hard-wired flight/fight reactions differs from those of humans whose instinctual actions are much more in line with those of a predator. The difference in these two types of ‘brain-wirings’ can easily lead to disharmonious responses to certain types of stimuli. Dangerous, potentially harmful situations can occur due to the different types of instinctive responses in horses and humans. This is what I will be talking about while doing a demonstration with a horse in the first part of the clinic.
The second part of the class, the CPR & First Aid part, will be held by two medical professionals who are also very accomplished horse women. Suz Roehl RN, CFRN (certified flight nurse) and CCRN (certified Critical care nurse), and Janet Nelson, EMT-P (paramedic) who has worked as a fire fighter in San Diego for over 20 years, became a paramedic during this time and was a fire fighter paramedic.
Due to the nature of the horse and his capacity to act at a much faster speed than is possible for a human to react to at all times, this class is an essential tool to be prepared in case things do turn into situations where the correct assessment and initial treatment of injuries can be potentially life-saving. In my eyes, this is a MUST for all people who are around horses -- riders, handlers, instructors, trainers, parents, and everyone who is concerned about the well-being of their horse-crazy loved-ones.
I would definitely like to do more of this type of events and other clinics. Perhaps other facilities might like to host them as well.
MW: I read the Santa Ynez article about you - wow, that's amazing that you went from being wheelchair bound to being a horse trainer! Can you tell me more about that?
KE: That’s a long story. There are 2 Santa Ynez Valley Journal articles on my website which can tell you a bit more about this.
MW: I don't know anything about fibromyalgia. Were you walking and riding before and then struck with it?
KE: Yes, I was leading a very active life, walking and riding before I was diagnosed with this condition. Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain illness that causes a lot of people to lead painful, inactive and subdued lives. I am fortunate to have a passion for riding and a mission to help connect horses and people connect more harmoniously with each other that gives me the drive, the spirit and the extra-strength to get up every day and do the best I can. I guess a bit of stubbornness is helpful as well. I feel very blessed.
MW: Were horses a part of your recovery process?
KE: Yes, after spending months in various hospitals in 2000, I had the good fortune to have my family and a group of wonderful friends and horses in Germany help me get back on my feet. It was in the middle of winter, it was snowing outside, and I had my friends lift me up on the back of Talismann (German for ‘good luck charm’), a beautiful Trakehner dressage horse, for my first 5-minute-ride before I could even really stand or walk much. It was a very emotional moment, especially considering the very bleak prognosis I was given. My brother, who is a wonderful physician in Germany, was the only medical professional who believed I could fulfill my dream of coming back to the type of live with horses I envisioned. He said to my “You are fortunate that you have this dream. It will take you there.” It did, and it still does every day.
MW: Do you think that having gone through that gave you a better connection/emotional insight or appreciation of horses?
KE: Definitely. But there is another factor that helps me connect with horses on a deeper level. In my younger years I experienced some very traumatic times during the course of an extremely abusive relationship with a psychopathic male. You can read about that and how it relates to my work with horses in the NY Times article on my website.
MW: Why did you move from Germany to Santa Ynez?
KE: I have lived in California for a total of 20 years and went back in 2000 for a year of medical treatments and rehab before relocating to the SY valley to work with Monty Roberts and eventually becoming an instructor for his non-violent training principles.
MW: What's your career goal?
KE: I am offering gentle training solutions for horses of all ages, breeds and training levels. I would like to help horses and people to bring out the best in each other. My goal is to evoke the rider's and the horse's "Funktionslust," the joy of doing what one does best at any given moment. In the horse's case, the joy of experiencing his/her mental and physical capacity to his/her fullest degree will mean an increase in wanting to work with the rider. Each step toward a new level of performance is fun, enjoyable and constantly leading toward an increased sense of lightness. At the same time I would like to continue to improve my own ability and capacity and to share that knowledge with as many horse people as possible. I would like to be part of the ongoing evolution of riding and horsemanship.
MW: How old were you when you started riding?
I was 5 years old when I was first put on a big, beautiful chestnut warmblood mare named Heide, a trotter with a huge trot. The beginning of my connection with and love of horses is a whole interesting story relating back to refugees from Eastern Germany bringing with them their best Trakehner breeding stock. Maybe a story for some other time...
KE: I am offering gentle training solutions for horses of all ages, breeds and training levels. I would like to help horses and people to bring out the best in each other. My goal is to evoke the rider's and the horse's "Funktionslust," the joy of doing what one does best at any given moment. In the horse's case, the joy of experiencing his/her mental and physical capacity to his/her fullest degree will mean an increase in wanting to work with the rider. Each step toward a new level of performance is fun, enjoyable and constantly leading toward an increased sense of lightness. At the same time I would like to continue to improve my own ability and capacity and to share that knowledge with as many horse people as possible. I would like to be part of the ongoing evolution of riding and horsemanship.
MW: How old were you when you started riding?
I was 5 years old when I was first put on a big, beautiful chestnut warmblood mare named Heide, a trotter with a huge trot. The beginning of my connection with and love of horses is a whole interesting story relating back to refugees from Eastern Germany bringing with them their best Trakehner breeding stock. Maybe a story for some other time...
