Thursday L&HB Day Nine

This morning I was greeted at the doorstep by three young deer, and I am unsure who was more surprised, them or me! This gave me a really good feeling for today and then I remembered it was Linda Parelli's demo day and it certainly felt as if Christmas and my birthday had arrived at the same time! This was a rumour still at this stage however!

The day started in the usual fashion with Remuda with Tina and Megan. They confirmed the Linda rumour and then we simulated how pressure can encourage an increase or decrease in motion and we practiced change of direction on a circle in conga-horses.

Day Nine of Liberty and Horse Behaviour

The demonstrations today were Sideways Game and the Squeeze Game (the last two games). Carmen did the demonstration and then Jesse took a student's horse to show problem solving techniques. I gleaned the following important points:

Sideways Game: Level 1 is from zones 1 and 3, using a fence to stop forwards motion and the windscreen wiper technique in zones 1 and 4. Level 2 would be without the fence, the 22ft line and over/beside obstacles. Level 3 is moving up to the 45ft line, at liberty, with your feet still and both towards and away from you. It seems that the most powerful tool for the Sideways Game is to create a positive pattern, for example, sideways to a barrel then stop, then sideways to another barrel and stop - repeat. The biggest problem seems to be drifting forwards - simply stop, ask for back up to original position, then re-ask. If the problem is drifting backwards - simply continue until one sideways step is made, then release.

Squeeze Game: Level 1 is between me and a fence, over a log or through a gate. Level 2 could be through water, under a tarp or trailer loading. Level 3 could be jumping or trailer loading from a distance and at speed. The ultimate squeeze game is riding - a predator in zone 3 on top and on both sides! Perhaps the squeexe game should be really good at zone 3 before mounting?!?! The squeeze game differs from the circling game in that it is 'invite, turn and wait' not 'send, allow and bring back'. It is best to be progressive with the squeeze game to encourage confidence and by using markers for your turn and wait phases, your horse will understand the pattern better.

In the afternoon we had the Linda Parelli demonstration which was fabulous. There are loads of photos for you to view if you are interested. She was very playful and the whole session had an enormous sense of fun. Remmer and her were definitely playing and not working. It was a masterful display of how to engage the mind of a left brained introvert and get energy and effort willingly offered. Linda then did a Q&A session where we could ask anything. There were lots of questions about her horses, her journey, her recent lessons with Walter Zettl and whether Pat Parelli had ever ridden her horses. Her answers were entertaining and the insight was very interesting. We may have this treat repeated in the other courses coming up, which I am really looking forward to.

Play with Roget went very well. I am learning how to meet his play needs without allowing him to go too far! It seems to require great control over the amount of energy I project, especially in the circling game, when he is very sensitive. We do have the most amazing bring back however, he turns and comes running with a look of 'didn't I do good?' on his face - which can only make you grin back!

Wednesday L&HB Day Eight

Today was the circling game day. Carmen took the demonstration and did a fantastic job with her mare, Miss Lukie, showing how to make the circling game interesting for both horse and human. Level 1 circling could be on a 12ft line, slow speed using the 'lead it, lift it, swing it, touch it' method. Level 2 could be on a longer line, at a faster speed with the requirement of the horse to maintain gait. The change of direction and long phase 1....... quick 2,3 and 4 could also be used. Level 3 is the refinement of all the above and then spins at liberty also.

There were a number of interesting points to consider when playing circling and the most important is a thing called 'positional truth'. This is where your body does the same things every time it makes the same request and the movement is different for different requests. For example, for the disengage tilt the head and shoulders to the side; for the turn draw stand tall and lean/walk backwards. This will stop confusion in the horse as to whether the request is 'game over' (disengage) or 'please make the turn' (draw). Another useful tool is dividing the circle into quadrants and measuring progress by quadrants.

Jesse then covered some common problems with some student's horses:

My horse won't go - play the 'Get out of my Quadrant' Game by hitting the same spot hard and rhythmically.
My horse stops - say thank you and then change direction.
My horse changes gait - resend or change direction.
My horse goes too fast - go slowly and reinforce the slowness and use change of direction.
My horse won't turn - take your time, set it up and wait.

Playing the circling game with Roget had some 'how interesting' moments today! He has been a closet extrovert all along! He lulled me into believing he was left brain introvert requiring incentive, i.e. carrots, when really he is the extrovert type needing lots of play! The circling game seems to be the game for him where his playfulness really comes out and as such his sensitivity increases enormously. I think that of all the games, the circling game he finds the least interesting and therefore makes up his own games! He is such fun! I was challenged however, I need to locate the playful extrovert in me without turning the energy up - easier said than done - practice required here!

In the evening I went to dinner with Beth (my house mate) and Lynn (see photo), as Lynn is only staying for course 1 and will be leaving on Friday :-( We have got on really well with Lynn and had a wonderful night out at Pagosa Springs' best restaurant. I drove, but Beth and Lynn got a little tipsy and we all had a really good evening. Hopefully we will stay in touch in the future.

Tuesday L&HB Day Seven

After a beautiful start to the morning where from my doorstep I could see Lake Pagosa was covered in mist (see photo), Remuda with Carmen and Megan covered 2 rein driving in the 'conga-horse'. A conga-horse is a line of people holding onto each other's belt loops pretending to be different parts of the horse. This sounds really silly and did challenge my confort zone somewhat, but proved to be highly powerful. You really can feel people's intent and how heavy the feel on the rope can be.

It highlights how important the friendly game is and the need for thinking time.

The background card for today was the 3 Systems of the Horse and how they relate to the Parelli levels:

Level 1 Partnership - respect - the mental system
Level 2 Harmony - impulsion - the emotional system
Level 3 Refinement - flexion - the physical system

Day Seven of Liberty & Horse Behaviour

Today's game is the Yo-Yo Game. Yo-yo is exactly as it sounds - foward and back, to and fro, north and south or even, approach and retreat. It is the game of equilibrium - equal motion in opposing directions.

The yo-yo game should always have a purpose to help the horse understand, i.e. back up and put a hind foot on a cone, rather than just back up! It is also important to uise the appropriate amount of pressue for the response required - make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult.

If straightness is an issue, then be creative and instead of micro-managing and constantly correcting, use a fence! To encourage confidence and a 'yes - I can do that' attitude in your horse, break tasks down. For example, playing with a line in the sand, then your rope, next a pole will enable you one day to yo-yo a log. Use an obstacle to help identify when you are going to change your yo from yo-- to --yo. By being consistent and making the change at the same obstacle your horse will be looking for the change and may even begin to offer!

Level 3 yo-yos could be up/down a hill or around a slalom, while level 4 are piaffe, passage, the slide stop and cow cutting! Yo-yo can be as interesting (or dull) as you make it - so be creative!

Monday L&HB Day Six

This morning's remuda started by reviewing the previous week and discussing the trailer loading demonstration we had seen on Friday. We covered Pat's four savvys for trailer loading, which really rang a bell with me! Here they are:

1. Don't wait until you're late for the show!
2. Don't take him to the trailer to see if he won't load!
3. Don't ask a trying horse to try!
4. Don't hurry and shut the gate!

The background card for today, The 4 Savvys (Online, Liberty, Freestyle and Finesse), had a interesting definition of what Savvy means...... Knowing when to be, where to be, how to be and what to do when you get there!

Day Six of Liberty & Horse Behaviour

So day six is all about the Principle Games, Friendly, Porcupine and Driving, and how to take them to another level from the standard.

The Friendly Game is also known as the Confidence Game. This game is all about Rhythm, Relaxation and Retreat. It could be simply walking past something, hanging out, desensitising the ears and mouth or flicking with the carrot stick or rope. More advanced games could be in motion or doing the Jack Daniels (staggering) and Happy Cowboy (skipping) tests. Find out whether there are any 'Yeh - but.....' spots that need attention and use approach and retreat, feel and timing. This game should sandwich everything you do, i.e. friendly - squeeze - friendly.

The Porcupine Game involves steady pressure, including follow a feel and yield to a feel. When phase four fails to have the desired result, it is effective to use angles instead of more force/pressure. Remember: nose, neck, maybe feet. Always sandwich with the friendly game: friendly - porcupine - friendly to a stop (this will help stop your horse).

The Driving Game should be a balance of the drive and draw using the power of focus. More advanced simulations could involve two rein driving, however, to avoid micro-managing your horse, you need to be a master of one rein driving first. Increasing distances, changing zones and varying speeds will all make the driving game more interesting for the horse.

Before the end of class, John did a fabulous inspirational demonstration of high level driving. He entered on a golf buggy and played with obstacles from zone 5, even following over the bridge. He then left the buggy and did some flashy half passes at the canter - it was really impressive.

After class, Beth, Lynn and I decided to go to Goodman's to do some shopping. So we drove into Pagosa and tried on a multitude of hats and boots (cowboy). I finally decided on a pair of Ariat cowboy boots and a 100% wool crushable stetson, so you're all forewarned!

We then returned to the ranch where the heavens opened and a lightning storm blew in off the rockies, putting a stop to intentions of playing with our horses. This did provide the perfect test for my new purchases however, both of which passed with flying colours!

Weekend One

Saturday was declared human day and as such the bare minimum was done with the horses; mucking out , feeding and watering. I spent the day visiting a local western tack shop and cathcing up on emails, my blog entries and photographs.

The western tack shop was so not my style and even made me feel vaguely uncomfortable with so many 'predator' items and dead animals hanging around the walls. I don't think I'll be visiting any more in a hurry!


Sunday was declared human and horse day, so I spent the whole morning with Roget practicing stuff we covered last week and bonding. This morning was really successful and I think we made alot of progress with our communication. My signals need only be subtle and soft to gain a response (I think the carrot incentives are proving very powerful!).

After lunch, I went back to bed to read and rest. I was more exhausted than I had realised and needed to reenergise ready for the next week.

Photographs.......

I have uploaded some photographs onto flickr and will continue to do so, as and when I get the time.

I have also updated some of the blog entries with a photograph for those of you who prefer picture books! To date, the head shot of Roget is my favourite, but hopefully there are better ones to come.......

Now I'm off to the centre to take more photos so hopefully by the end of this weekend you will have a really good visual impression of where I am and what it's like!

Friday L&HB Day Five

Remuda with Avery concentrated on the 45' line and I came to the stark realisation that I am very dangerous with this tool! Thank God I have never been near a horse with one yet! I was hitting myself in the face, my throw could go anywhere - left, right, up or down and at one point I managed to lasso someone's leg (maybe a future career at the rodeo?). This is a tool I need to practice with before I start using it!

I also found out that Roget is the son of Casper (Pat's top top horse) and one of his mares, MayDay! This explains some of the behaviour I witnessed yesterday - how interesting!

Day Five of Liberty & Horse Behaviour

Leadership in the Human was today's topic and how to empower yourself to be a good leader. Remember that 'You don't know what you don't know, until you know it!' so don't beat yourself up for lack of knowledge, just continue pushing yourself as a learner. We covered an interesting cycle:

Unconscious Incompetence -> Conscious Incompetence -> Conscious Competence -> Unconscious Competence -> Unconscious Incompetence -> Conscious Incom.......

An interesting exercise was to complete the horsenality chart on myself. It turns out that I am quadrapolar! I think many of you already knew that though!

The practical demonstration for the leadership day was none other than the ultimate leadership test of trailer loading. And thankfully the demo horse was a left brain introvert, so I used it as a great example of how to communicate with Roget in a positive manner and get results.

So Roget and I had a fantastic time this afternoon: playing, cuddling (see photo) and generally enjoying each other's company and achieving tasks. Why did today go so much better than yesterday? Incentive in the shape of carrot chunks, rest and rubs! If there was a carrot chunk in it for Roget, he gave me effort, attention, affection and a wonderful look on his face (you know the one when the dog knows you have a biscuit for him). We achieved everything I asked for (no more 'telling' notice) and he did it willingly - if only this was always the way between horse and human.