Friday Fluidity II Finesse Day Five

This morning started with a Remuda for all the class, where we got to play with fluid rein simulations. We experimented with soft, hard and effective feels to the 'drag' which proved very interesting since effective was firmer than any of us imagined! Next, three fellow students, Filiz, Molly and Stephanie, were brave enough to ride for us demonstrating the fluid rein on horses at different stages of the steps. It was great to see the horses' reactions.

"Knowing I need to listen, and knowing how to listen is not enough. Unless I want to listen, unless I have the desire, it won't be a habit in my life." Stephen R. Covey.

Well, Covey's quote could not be more appropriate to today's topic taken by Kristi, Bit of Savvy, where the emphasis is on whether a tool is a communication device or a mechanical way to hide one's inadequacies (otherwise known as torture devices)! It is worth noting that tool progression is for the horse and should be at the horse's pace - imagine trying to complete you Degree Finals with a crayon and blank piece of paper - the tools we were given to learn to write with as 2-3 year olds! It is the same for the horse as it is for the child learning to write - we need to move from the crayon to the pencil, then the pen with the paper becoming smaller and the lines closer together.

The horseman will use a bit for communication only. As the horse is a large emotional animal, it is unsurprising that man used a mechanical approach (bigger and harsher bits) to deal with horses, but as Pat Parelli says, "We don't want a bigger bit, we want a bigger brain (in the horse)".

Another of Pat's sayings is that "If you can't walk, trot, canter, stop and backup without using the reins, maybe you shouldn't be outside an arena". Harsh perhaps, but true none the less! So the progression for Parelli is:

• Halter + 12ft rein
• Hackamore
• Single jointed snaffle
• Double jointed snaffle (fluid rein)
• Cradle bridle - elastic nose band, big rings
• Cradle bridle - non-elastic nose band, small rings
• Western performance - bosalito and spade bit
• English performance - double bridle

The cradle bridle should be used with the appropriate bit for the horse's horsenality:

• C1 for right brain extrovert where 'hand-holding' is required
• C2 for right brain introvert where a little 'hand-holding' is required, but no zone 1 block also
• C3 for left brainers where the extrovert is looking for a reason to brace and introverts to stop

Later in the afternoon we had a demonstration with Linda Parelli riding her extreme left brain extrovert Allure. It was very interesting to watch how she prepared to ride such an extreme horsenality and how much variety and playfulness she exerted. The riding did get hair-raising for a moment, when all 4 of Allure's feet seemed to leave the ground and make a height of at least 4 feet! Linda stayed on of course and by matching and mirroring his ideas first of all managed to get Allure to match and mirror her! Very cool! Linda was also kind enough to do the groupie thing and signed my course notes - so now I have the matching pair!

Again, with my back still tender I spent more undemanding time with Roget. He doesn't seem to be getting bored and as grazing is his favourite pastime I think I am accumulating lots of emotional credits for later on! Not counting those chickens though!