Passed my Level 3!!!!

21. January 2010 by Edie.

Bouncing off the walls!  Just got word from the Parelli Audition staff that I passed my Level 3 in ALL FOUR SAVVYS at Level 3+ with Level 4 and 4+ marks in relationship, rapport, friendly, and draw.  Hallelujah!  I was honored that PP Kathy Baar was my assessor - since she was one of my key instructors last summer at the Parelli Center and I love her! 

Posted in NaturalHorsemanship | 2 Comments »

Videos up!

5. December 2009 by Edie.

For those of you who are interested, here are the links to my Level 3/4 Liberty and Freestyle auditions for Parelli. 

Liberty: http://www.hopehillfarm.com/Videos/Parelli_Audition_Liberty.html

Freestyle: http://www.hopehillfarm.com/Videos/Parelli_Auditions_Freestyle.html

It will be a few weeks before I get results - keep your fingers crossed for me!

Edie

Posted in NaturalHorsemanship | No Comments »

Addendum: “So, you’re going back to Normalsville!”

1. October 2009 by Edie.

I felt the need to make one more entry on this blog as food for thought (for myself and for everyone who reads it).  Upon our graduation day 9/18, we were given this letter (with the above title) from Pat and Linda along with our certificates.  I will type it word for word, so you can all benefit from it:

“We want to thank you for the time you have spent with us.  You’ve taken a big chunk out of your life to be with us and for this time you have been part of our lives; we’ve shared a few steps of our horsemanship journey together.

We want to give you some ideas about what to expect when you get home from here, and some guidance on how to cope with some of the situations and emotions you may encounter.

“I thought I was prepared . . .”

Here are some quotes taken from a letter we got from one student who had spent a lot of time with us, and wrote to share her experiences and perceptions after she got home:

” . . . I thought I was prepared, but I hadn’t anticipated the culture shock I would endure when I got home.  I figured I would notice more lack of savvy in the people around me and pick out the unhappy horses.  But I didn’t realize the impact it would have on me.  Everything is so negative!  People are cut throats with what they think they know about horses.  The biggest opinions come from the people that don’t even ride!  It’s really sad.  I promised myself that I would not say a word unless I saw a horse about to explode or somebody about to get hurt.  In the past it really didn’t work out when I would offer suggestions without thinking about it first.  I realize now that my suggestions didn’t matter, because the people hadn’t asked for my opinion, or really weren’t interested in making a change.”

“Negativity is like quicksand . . .”

“I really miss the camaraderie of Parelli.  Being with like-minded people who have the same thing in common is hard to beat.  Everything is pretty negative around here; it takes a toll on me.  It makes me tired, actually.  I can feel my own attitude shift and thankfully, I can recognize it and get myself out of it before I get sucked in.  Negativity is like quicksand - the deeper you sink, the harder it is to get out.  If you can’t manage to pull yourself out, you’ll get swallowed up and choke.  I suppose it’s everywhere, but if it weren’t for my husband . . . I would feel like turning around and running right back to the Parelli Center!”

“The best example I can be . . .”

“The biggest gifts I walk away with are knowing tht I have the CONFIDENCE to know where I am going, the KNOWLEDGE to get there, and the SUPPORT that’s available through the Savvy Club.  I still have quite a long way to go, but I am ok with it.  I want to do it the right way.  Not some quick fix short cut that bites you later.  The best I can do is to be the best example I can be of a Parelli Student and hope they ask me a question, so I can send them your way!”

Responsible - “response-able”

This student made some very astute observations about how negativity can affect us.  Most of us don’t realize while we are at the Parelli Center, how much of a break we get from the “real world” out there.

Our Western culture is strongly driven by media and advertising.  Everybody wants to sell us something - a quick fix or a solution that doesn’t involve effort on our part.  This teaches us to be externally driven.  When we have a problem, we look around outside ourselves for someone to blame and someone to give us a solution.  This breeds two things: pessimism and victimism (the feeling that life is happening TO us and there is nothing we can do inside ourselves to take control). 

This is why, when Pat and Linda built the Parelli Centers, they set out to create an environment where people could get a break from the constant programming of the media, and learn instead to create their own programming, design their own life, and choose their own emotions and responses to things.

Break down the work “responsible” and you can see that it’s not too much of a stretch to get to “response-able.” Meaning, “able to choose your own response.”  Many folks have never had a chance to develop the emotional fitness to choose their own response to things - they just run with the response that peer pressure and the culture choose for them.

So, if you’ve been here at the Parelli Center with us for a while and now you are going home, you may get a shock to discover that you have changed, and the rest of the world has not!  Don’t be surprised, and don’t let it rattle you - just hang in there with what you know to be true, and try not to judge those around you who (with the best of intentions) might try to drag you back into the negative, reactive world they live in.

They only live in that negative world, because they don’t know there is an alternative - and one of the best ways for them to have a chance to see that there is an alternative is simply for you to go about doing your own thing and quietly set the best example you can.  At the end of the day, action speaks louder than words. 

We’re all doing the best we can with whatever knowledge we have available to us . . .

Please, try to remember that the people around you are doing the best they can with whatever information they have right now.  Above all, don’t make people wrong for what they don’t know.  Remember the material from the Leadership Lectures in Courses 1 and 2 and use that to help you focus on you and your horse.  Focusing on what you learned here, rather than on what is wrong with the world out there, will sustain you during the difficult times.

Besides what might have happened to your attitude while you were with us (!) you have also been exposed to horsemanship information that even world-class equestrians and trainers do not know, which is why some of them are turning to Pat and Linda for help.  You are not who you were when you left home, so don’t be too surprised if you find you have some adjusting to do. 

We hope that this helps in your journey and we look forward to welcoming you back whenever you can return for another respite from the real world!

Until then, keep it natural,

Linda and Pat

John, Kathy, Kristi, Avery, Julia, on-site Parelli Professionals & and whole Parelli Team!!!

Posted in 2009 ISC | 3 Comments »

Day #20 - Graduation Day!

26. September 2009 by Edie.

Well, here I am on Saturday, 9/26 - finally getting around to making my final 2009 ISC entries.  I haven’t even been able to really “lick and chew” much yet, as I was plunged into life the minute I returned and haven’t stopped yet - I even have one suitcase left that still isn’t unpacked!

So, I’ll go back to my Friday notes and try to finish:  We started in the lodge with John talking about today’s theme of “highlights and lowlights.”  A bunch of students commented on their experiences over the past week(s) and then John talked a bit about Julia and Avery - who are now official instructors and off to their own parts of the world to teach - Julia to the Idaho area and Avery to Rhode Island.  A couple of quotes from them:  Avery - “You don’t realize how much teaching you improves OUR horsemanship.” and re-quoting Pat - “Take care of your horsemanship, and it WILL take care of you!”  Julia (through tears) - “It’s that stick-to-it-tiveness that makes you keep on keepin’ on - that new level of conscious incompetence.” and “Sometimes being here, you forget what a special place this is - being out in the world will be humbling - looking for that new level of conscious competence.  The leadership development is simply a by-product of the horsemanship.”  Then Kathy commented on “how deeply your relationships develop with those you are here with” 

After this, we all went up to the Big Top, where “Dancing Pete” taught us the 7 Games Line Dance and some other simple dances that were all related to the 7 Games - amazing!  We started with savvy strings, then went to liberty.  Then we came back to the lodge and went out back, where John made us literally “walk the plank.”  We had to stand on two railroad-tie-type planks about 10 feet long (7 at a time) with attached strings and move the planks as a team wherever John told us to - not so easy!  I wish I had taken some photos of this - it was hard!  I ended up being “nominated” as the team leader to call out commands (some things never change, I guess).  Our team was first and then we went again last and walked all the way up the hill! 

Then, we went inside and watched another inspiring video of Pat and Magic on one of the Tour Stops a year or two ago.  After that, it was “certificate time.”  We all clapped like crazy for each other, cried about leaving, etc.   Neil Pye stopped down and talked to us about  how “it’s great being in the dome,” but that we need to “savvy on” at home and not fall into the “performance traps” of people asking “So, come on - show me what you learned.”  Impossible!  He also said that we need to not be slaves to one of our biggest fears - making mistakes, because horses are forgiving - we just need to keep moving forward.  He talked about Pat’s vision and how “Pat put this in the hands of others - it was the bravest thing he could have done - it could have easily crashed and burned.” 

John finished up class with a (memorized - impressive!) recitation of the poem “The Man In The Glass.”  Very appropriate. 

After this, I went up and got HotShot out and took him riding around the ranch.  I met up with Jeanne and Rachel and we decided to go for a trail ride back to Sneaky Snake (a trail that runs behind the ranch).  Rachel and her horse - both RBI’s, ended up having some “issues,” then Rachel got stung (twice!) by a hornet when she got off to deal with her horse, so we didn’t end up riding too far before I had to break out the first aid kit in my trailer.  Lucky we came back, because the thunder REALLY started up and the rain was coming!  So, we got everything cleaned up and ready and hauled up to the trailers, so we could get an early start on Saturday.  I went back to the condo and ate leftover Chinese and packed all of MY stuff as well - whew!  Ashleigh decided to go her own way and go to L.A. with some of the other Austrailians who were flying out of there, which left me to drive home across the U.S. alone with two horses - not quite what I expected, but it was a challenge. 

Alicia and I were up early (5am) and I saw her off to Durango in her rental car - she had an early flight home and Jade had been picked up by the professional hauler on Friday.  I got to the ranch around 6:30 a.m., cleaned my pen and organized the rest of my stuff.  I had HotShot and Libby loaded and we were on the road by around 7:30am. 

The weather was perfect almost all the way home - the horses were perfect “traveling buddies” and with the exception of an unintended run-in with sand-burrs and fire ants, all went well the first day and we got to North Platte to Knoll’s Country Inn before dark.  I had a great visit with Arlene Knoll (was the only one staying that night) and she made me a delicious breakfast on Sunday morning - then we hit the road again.  All was well until we hit the Wisconsin State line - it hadn’t rained here for 21 days, but it couldn’t wait 3 more hours for me to get home!  I had to drive through rain and construction (and dark) and didn’t get home until after 9pm, but everything was O.K., if a bit stressful.  John was home to help me unload and unhook the truck and trailer.  The horses were ecstatic to see each other and were still running around happy at midnight! 

So - a successful ending to an incredible experience and by the way - I AM officially the “horse whisperer” now - the only one who pee’d in my trailer over almost 3000 miles to Pagosa Springs and back was - ME! 

It’s good to be home - but I already miss the mountains and the “dome.”  I think I will be back someday . . .

Edie

Posted in 2009 ISC | 1 Comment »

Day #19 - “Puzzle-solving Thursday,” September 17

17. September 2009 by Edie.

 

Lead change ladder:  Mind/Flexion/Weight/Feet 

Today we started in the lodge with John talking again about how we need to take what we have learned here home and LEAD BY EXAMPLE.  He said that no matter what people say, our relationship with our horse(s) - that special bond that only natural horsemen have - will be noticed by everyone.  He reminded us not to worry if we don’t have everything perfect here, but used the analogy of a tree - even before the leaves and fruit come, the roots are growing under the ground.

Then, Kathy took us up into the small coverall to play with exercise balls again.  This was fun - we once again reviewed “floppy,” “tense,” and “stacked” on the balls, while our partners stood behind and bounced us. Then, we practiced engaging our core and standing up on the bounce - good if you are centered and strong in your core.  We practiced purposely falling forward and backward when we stood and found it to be very difficult with an engaged core.  Then, we did a cool simulation where we started with a partner - each of us across from each other on a ball bouncing.  Our goal was to telepathically “get together” and stand up on the same bounce.  Once we got it with one partner, we were to play “musical balls” and move to different people.  It was very interesting - especially from a leadership perspective - who made the decision to stand?  How interesting!  It was pointed out that the most difficult partners were those of opposite personality types.

After this, we went back into the lodge and discussed flying lead changes, in preparation for our afternoon riding.  I took a lot of notes here and will simply copy what I have down:

1) transitions

- on HQ - (suspension rein) - walk/canter/walk is best

- counting the strides - 3 to 7 is optimal, as it gets the front end lighter - walk as long as it takes for the horse to get relaxed, then decide on number of canter strides, then back to walk

- suspension rein talks to HQ - shifts weight back

2) swinging the shoulders (freedom and mobility) - swing to rail, then back to center, then back to rail - SIT hind-end down - lightness in shoulders

- close upper inside leg to push shoulders back to rail (not lower leg!)

- weight on HQ, light FQ

- horse is arced to inside

- suspension rein (inside), then send back to rail with inside leg (maintain SAME suspension rein, or they will think about changing leads)

3) create a PATTERN (surprise!) - we talked about the serpentine pattern we would practice this afternoon - canter to center line, drop to walk, switch reins/legs/leads - canter depart around next arc to center line, drop to walk, switch reins/legs/leads - etc. etc.

- if you’re not “feeling it,” go back to fundamentals - get shoulder-swing and haunches-swing better!

4) flying lead change

- “slip-change” is common, where horse kind of “falls” onto correct lead and may not switch behind - if you are here - you are close!  go back to pattern and try to get more elevation first!

- most “natural” is freestyle (what horses do in pasture) - this was basis for Level 2 - type lead-changes

- what we are doing is L-3/4 - more “precision” and engagement from behind - more elevated

- if you are in “slip-change” phase - your weight is probably not back - you are probably still “throwing” yourself forward to try to “throw” your horse onto the other lead

Then, we watched another video of Linda teaching some students flying lead changes (with Remmer - another LBI like HotShot - I took copious notes!)

Linda started getting some impulsion with Remmer by doing “point to point” (walk, trot, and canter) with LONG breaks, then shortened the breaks as Remmer started developing some forward momentum.  She waited for stretch/lengthening strides at the trot and did a lot of swinging the shoulders in preparation - work on ingredients!

- quit on lightness!

- then serpentine - as you get good, make the arcs smaller and smaller - pretty soon you can do it on a straight line

- once your horse “gets it,” he will start offering changes - take them!

- use inside upper leg (not lower leg) to move shoulders over to rail, then lift your hip (same leg) and open to allow back to center

- practice steps in YOUR body - sitting, driving, wherever - get it right before you expect your horse to get it right!

After this, Kathy asked for volunteers to attempt this in the Big Top with their horses.  I volunteered, along with 7 or 8 others, so we tacked up and went up to the Big Top. I found that I need WAY more canter work than I’ve been able to do - which I already knew, being “facility impaired” it is hard for me to do this kind of work at home.  “Edie, engage  your core, lift your suspension rein, slow, slow, sit him down! now, switch reins and hips, lift, lift! wrap your thighs, bellybutton to your spine, truss your ribs, armpits down, triceps engaged, oh, and by the way, pick up your savvy string (this was around his neck) with your reins” - whew!  Talk about having to think of forty-leven things at once!  Still, HotShot put forth great effort and we learned a lot.  I know now that we have to work harder on our DOWNWARD transitions - who would have thought?!

After lunch, we had a choice to work on the “ingredients” (swinging shoulders/haunches, etc.) in Arena Grande, or the serpentine that we worked on this morning in the Big Top.  HotShot and I went back up to the Big Top, just to cement the pattern in MY mind so I wouldn’t forget.  It was much better this afternoon without so many people watching! I didn’t make him work long - walk/canter/walk is tiring for both of us - so I took him up the hill to graze for awhile with Kristen and Nikki and their horses.  Then, we went to the (mucky) pens, cleaned, fed, watered, etc. and off to dinner - another very busy day.

Tomorrow is my last day here - I can’t believe it!  At least they are letting us keep the horses here overnight on Friday, since they don’t have any new students arriving.  Next week is the last week of any classes for this season in Pagosa - the winter courses will be held at the Florida ISC.  I probably won’t get another chance to post now until next week after I get home late Sunday evening.  I’ll sure have a lot of licking and chewing to do for a LOOOOONNNNGGG time to come!

Edie

Posted in 2009 ISC | 2 Comments »

Day #18 - “Leadership Wednesday,” September 16

17. September 2009 by Edie.

“The better you can go backwards and sideways, the better you can do everything else.”  ~ Pat Parelli 

Today we started in the lodge, once again talking briefly about horsenality/personality.  We then broke into our personality remudas.  I decided to join the LBE’s today, mainly because I feel that, although I might be more innately RBE, I am currently fairly equal LBE/RBE, mainly due to all my years of policing and leadership.  So - the LBE’s met up in the Big Top and talked a bit about what they had already talked about the previous two times in remuda.  John Baar led this group from the beginning and I must say, I felt that I was more “at home” with this group than I was with the RBE group.  Some of the things that were talked about as being specific to LBE’s are:

- we need a “talking stone” or something so that only one person talks at a time - when people talked out of turn, they had to quack!

- LBE’s are famous for talking without thinking and blurting out whatever comes to mind - this can be VERY threatening to introverts.

- related to above: we need to develop a better “inner editor” before we open our mouths, act, or run roughshod over others

- progress (get ‘r done) is easy for us, but we have to be careful that we don’t sacrifice relationship for progress (our tendency)

- our “natural energy” is attractive to other extroverted people (and horses), but can be very threatening to introverts

- extroverted people tend to “wear out” while introverted people tend to “rust out.”

After this discussion, we went up to the pasture where John and Kathy had their horses.  He wanted to give us a demonstration using his RBI gelding, Leo.  Poor, trusting Leo was waiting by the gate (big mistake!) and John asked us to form a “human round pen” around him.  Leo followed John into the group while it was still a horseshoe (there were about 15 or so of us), but became very obviously worried when the horseshoe began to close behind him.  He immediately began to look for “the marshmallow” (or weakest link) as an escape route - hard to find with our group!  As an excellent natural demonstration of individual horsenalities, Kathy’s horses Chloe (LBI) and Macchiato (LBE) were busy trying to get INTO the circle!  Belinda made Chloe happy by giving her a good scratch (photo), although she really wanted a treat from me - she knew I had them in my fanny-pack!

John talked about how a horse’s SURVIVAL depends upon body language.  He talked about the difference in his energy to give Leo confidence in him as a leader (”don’t worry about these people - I won’t let them hurt you - you’ll be alright” as opposed to “Damn it - leave my horse alone!”).  He talked about how important it is to have a positive “emotional bank account” with our horses.  Each time John gets gentle and/or waits on Leo, he makes a deposit.  Each time he pushes him or blows him through a threshold, he makes a withdrawal.  Deposits need to be way MORE than withdrawals to improve the relationship.  This is similar to what I have learned in some marriage seminars - so true!  John said that with horses, however - because they are so much MORE perceptive than people, even extroverted THOUGHTS can make withdrawals in the relationship - whew! Because of this - we need to get ourselves in our right mind BEFORE we have any contact with our horse - especially if they have any introverted tendencies.  This was good food for thought with regard to horse AND human relationships.

After the remudas, we went back into the lodge and Kathy talked some more about POWER in our riding and what can give us power.  The pre-requisites are relaxation, mental/emotional/physical collection, and longitudinal flexion.  She talked specifically about:

1) transitions: (”1 MILLION transitions!”).  As Walter said - everything we are doing is preparing for the next thing.  We were asked to think of all the possible transitions WITHIN the trot, and we came up with the following: shorter, longer, extended, medium, collected, working, piaffe, passage, half-pass, shoulder in/out, haunches in/out, leg yield, suspension, backwards, flexion, diagonals.  And that’s just within the trot!

Then, we watched a video of Linda’s first lesson with Walter, which was an excellent example of continual transitions.  With a more LB horse (Remmer, HotShot), you need to think:

- often

- long sides

- forward/power

- softer

Walter - “The less we do with our hands/reins, the more the horse knows the door is open to him and can go forward.”

Then we watched a lesson of Pat’s with Walter (riding Magic).  Walter had Pat do a lot more lateral movements with Magic.  As she is a more RB horse, you need to think:

- more flexion-type transitions

- “very careful, easy, gentle” - Walter must have said this 50 times.

This took Kathy into more of a discussion on:

2) lateral manuevers

- sideways

- HQ and FQ (direct/indirect rein)

- half-pass (flexion TOWARDS direction of travel)

- leg yield (flexion AWAY from direction of travel)

- shoulders in/out

- haunches in/out

- lateral movements help us to build suspension (floating - feet in the air more than on the ground)

We then watched a couple of videos on preparation for bullfighting and real bullfighting.  Can your horse BECOME your legs?  These horses were exuberant, flexible, engaged, HOVERCRAFTS!  I can’t imagine riding a horse that is that sensitive and engaged both physically and mentally with their rider - something to strive for, no doubt!

Before we went to lunch, we took about  1/2 hour and went into Arena Grande to practice shoulders in/out and haunches in/out - with just ourselves and conga-horse partners (three).  The middle person was the “rider,” the front person was the shoulders and the rear person was the haunches.  The rider had to effectively “tell” the “horse” what to do - very interesting!  Then, we went and got our horses and worked on both shoulders in and haunches in with them.  HotShot and I can definitely use some work in these areas - I’ve gotten rather lazy, but now I am re-inspired to perfection!

After lunch, we did more of this and also did some “check stations” in the Big Top - working on shoulders in/haunches in on the long side and shoulders in/haunches in on circles.  All in all, a very busy day!

Then HotShot and I meandered down the field towards Pat’s barn to “spy” a bit and take a few photos.  He was so funny - going from alfalfa patch to alfalfa patch - such a foodie!  This is his favorite part of the day.  Then, I fed grain/Equishine/probiotics, filled water, cleaned the pen, and let him have a good roll in one of the round pens.

A good, long day - I’m pooped!

Edie

Posted in 2009 ISC | No Comments »

Day #17 - “Horsenality Tuesday,” September 15

15. September 2009 by Edie.

“Long reins are harsh reins.”  ~ Walter Zettl 

Today we began in the lodge with a review of yesterday.  We went outside early and did some simulations of weaving patterns and other riding patterns in Arena Grande.  Then we got our horse out this morning and worked on these patterns until about noon.  HotShot was, of course, excellent at all of this.  We ended up helping a couple of riders with their horses who didn’t like having other horses nearby - HotShot is SUCH a trooper - he just goes along when the horse next to him is crabby - so used to training “rookies,” I guess.  Belinda (the other cop in the class, from Oregon) said “he is just so darned confident - he doesn’t worry about anything or anyone.”  That’s my Hotty!

So, after this, Kathy took us outside and had us prepare for an exercise ball simulation.  It started to rain, so we all bounced our balls up to the Big Top -wish I would have gotten a photo of that!  Pete was helping us with this simulation as well (photo).  So, we sat on the balls with a partner behind us - they had their hands on our shoulders.  We found our balance point and alternated between our “stacked” seat (which is balanced and strong, a la Linda’s core exercises), a “Raggedy Ann/Andy” floppy seat, and a tensed/stiff seat.  Our partners bounced us on the balls and were to give us feedback about our seat.  Cynthia was my partner and it seems that my “stacked” seat is pretty solid and straight, so that was good.  It was interesting when you got into a good rhythm and a helpful simulation for riding with feel and balance.

After lunch, we were supposed to go back to Arena Grande for more formation/pattern riding.  As HotShot and I approached the arena, I swear I heard him say as clear as day “Oh, PLEASE, Mom - not the dreaded ARENA again - I can’t take it any more!”  So - in an effort to honor my LB horse, we went into the grassy meadow and I let him graze for awhile at liberty, which made him VERY happy.  Actually, I was happier too - been there, done that formation stuff ad nauseum!  The weather looked good, so I thought we would go up to the playground and do some more practice videos for our on-line audition.  We worked on this for about an hour and just towards the end, Hotty was getting pretty distracted - he obviously knew that it was “hay time.”  Always the piglet at heart!  So, I was getting our stuff together near the buck fence to go back down to the pens.  I let him graze with the 22′ rope still attached and suddenly, he started walking along the fence away from me.  I couldn’t BELIEVE he was going to leave me, so I kissed to him, but I already knew . . .  Sure enough, he gave me a VERY left-brained look and TOOK OFF down the hill, through the gate, and all the way up to the pens (about 1/2 mile walk from where I was).  His tail was straight up in the air and he was thoroughly enjoying his freedom!

So, off I walked down towards the pens.  Alicia came around the small coverall with Hotty in tow and said “Did you lose someone?”  So, instead of dinner, he got to return to “the scene of the crime” with me, wait for me to put the green ball back in the Big Top, the cam-corder back in the truck, etc. etc., then I mounted up and he carried me and all the ropes, etc. back to the pens, where he got to stand tied while I cleaned his pen!  After that, I did let him in the 75′ round pen to roll and eat his grain, then got him a big drink of molasses water - then he got put to bed in his pen - naughties!  This was the first time in almost a month here that he has left me like that - just goes to show - we’re not perfect yet!

Edie

Posted in 2009 ISC | No Comments »

Day #16 - “Natural Performance” Prey/Predator Monday, September 14

15. September 2009 by Edie.

“The process doesn’t always look like the product.”  ~ Pat Parelli 

Wow - I can’t believe it’s already Day #1 of Week #4 - where has the time gone?!

To start with - I MUST tell of our Sunday adventure/nightmare!  Alicia and I and Debbie and Jane (two endurance riders in our course) decided to go into the high country trail-riding today.  So - we got directions and headed off the ranch with our horses in tow around 9:30am.  Well, Debbie’s van broke down, so they had to go back, which left Alicia and I to go on alone.  We were fine until we took a left instead of a right and some local apparently decided to have fun with us.  I asked him if we were going the right way and he said “Oh yea, but it’s a narrow road and you’ll have to be careful.”  He said the road ended in a turnaround “big enough to turn a semi around in.”  Well, off  we went up the mountain and let me tell you, it was treacherous!  We ended up in switchback after switchback, one-lane dirt roads, etc. for about 12 miles - about an hour up the mountain before we realized that we had been “had” by a less-than-decent jerk (we had few other choice words for him that will not be written here).  Anyway, we decided that we HAD to find a way to turn around - talk about the scariest thing I’VE ever done with a horse trailer!  I had to trust Alicia that I could go over far enough to turn around without going straight off the mountain!  On top of that, Alicia is afraid of heights and was NOT doing well. 

Once (by the grace of God!) we got turned around, we headed back down the mountain and found where we had been meant to go to begin with. - Poison Park trail-head.  It was a beautiful day and even though we were about two hours behind schedule, we ALL needed a nice ride, so we rode for about two hours.  The trails were pretty slick, steep, and rocky - kind of like Wildcat mountain in Wisconsin, and Alicia’s “Jade” had only ever been on one other trail ride, but she did stellar!  We had a few easy water-crossings (see photo of Jade and Alicia on her first crossing) and rode down to a beautiful meadow with some incredible peaks right there - it was awesome.  We met some hikers who said they were going to hike to the continental divide and would get there by tomorrow - they were heading the same direction we had already gone with our horse trailer - so we figured we had crossed the continental divide earlier in the day!  Anyway, the day ended well and everyone was happy (OK, and a bit relieved) by the time we got back to the ranch.  Of course, chores don’t go away on the weekends, so we had our usual pen-cleaning, feeding, and watering to do - we were pooped!

Today we start our Natural Performance riding week - basically more finesse or “precision” riding with contact, as opposed to freestyle riding.  We started in the lodge with John welcoming some new students who are here for the next week or two.  John talked about fluidity for the horse (rhythm and relaxation) and for the rider.  He introduced Avery, Julia, Melissa, and Ben as assistant instructors for this module.

John reminded us and told the new students what Pat’s philosophy of teaching is - he says “I can’t teach you anything, but I can set it up so you can learn something.”  Again, emphasizing our empowerment as learners here.

He reminded us why humans and dogs get along so well - we are both VERY verbal, while horses are primarily non-verbal, which makes it more difficult for us to communicate with them.  He talked again about love, language, and leadership and said that primarily at this level, most of what we are now learning involves leadership, which is the most challenging because it involves: responsibility, accountability, balance, vision (where are we going?), having a plan, and dedication.  He talked ab out the “easy” parts of being a leader: praise, recognition, $$, promotion - and the hard parts: making tough decisions, being held accountable, having to fire someone, etc.  Been there, done that - all of the above!

He then talked about how this place will change you if you allow it to - and that we should “turn loose to it.”  He also warned us not to get sucked into the “downward spiral of despair” if things aren’t going well, and to use pattern interrupt if we find ourselves complaining about anything (weather, horses, etc.).  He reminded us to “soar with eagles, not to fly with turkeys.”

So, to begin our week of precision and harmony, we went out to Arena Grande and walked patterns - just to get them into our heads.  Then we came back into the lodge and spent some time with Kathy, who talked to us about finesse.  We watched a couple of very inspiring videos and brainstormed what finesse riding means to us - all of the following words came out: precision, refinement, grace, details, unity, focus, feel, beauty, lightness, impulsion, self-carriage, engagement, awareness, balance, power, leadership, posture/core, timing.  Then, we watched a short video of two horses playing and came up with even MORE: exuberance, athleticism, majestic, skills of communicator, enhancing ability, extension, collection, suspension, mirroring, PLAY!, on-call, elegance w/power, hovercraft!

THESE are the things that INSPIRE us in horses - how can we get these things with our horses - how can we GET OUT OF THE WAY?

- independent seat

- even both sides (ambidextrous)

- mental/emotional/physical fitness

- end goal in mind

- ingredients

We talked about how all four savvies need to be equal to get these things.  We talked about “longitudinal flexion” as opposed to lateral flexion (the horse stretching down and through his back - using his hindquarters effectively).  We watched a video of a dressage rider (Rafelle - Jarez) and saw a VERY exuberant, happy horse. We decided that what we want with our horses is exuberance with obedience.

Kathy talked a little more about Walter Zettl and how he says that NOTHING is the horse’s fault, but if it’s your fault when it goes wrong, it’s BECAUSE of you when it goes right!

We ended with a funny Disney cartoon video of Goofy and how “the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.”  I remembered seeing this in 2006 - would love to have a copy - hysterical!

After this, we went outside and did a demonstration of “sticky hands.” This is when you partner with someone and go palm to palm with them, changing roles as leader and follower when they (or you) move your hands around - very interesting.  We then did a seat-builder exercise with this same simulation.  I tried to close my eyes while doing it - not as easy as it looks to keep your seat and balance while one person on either side of you is moving your hands and arms around, let me tell you!

After lunch, we met in Arena Grande and practiced pattern and precision riding. Hotshot is, of course the KING of this, with all of his formation riding training, so we did fine.  We did a “Barbie hands” exercise, where we were not allowed to pull on the reins, but only hold them between our thumbs and forefingers with our fingers forward.  Belinda and I were laughing - we never played with Barbies!  If the horse pulled the reins out of our hands, we were to let them slide, then go back to our pattern.  Lesson learned: it’s very hard not to micro-manage your horse!  It started raining around 4pm and everyone got caught in a HUGE thunderstorm.  I had my slicker and was OK down to just below my knees, but the bottom of my legs got soaked.  HotShot and I ran for the tree in his pen, which wasn’t too bad, but when it looked like it was going to last awhile, I got my saddle off and made a run for the lodge.  Still, it was a good day and we got a lot accomplished!

Edie

Posted in 2009 ISC | No Comments »

Saturday, September 12 - First Gold Savvy Club Summit!

14. September 2009 by Edie.

Today I arrived at the ranch around 8:30 am, to get HotShot out and about before checking in for the Summit.  We rode around a bit, but didn’t participate in any Parelli Games - I was a little jealous of those who could, but there’s just too much to do here!

After check-in, we were all seated in the Big Top in chairs they had set out for us - probably well over 200 people.  Pat started with a talk about his original vision and how he had measured out the location for the Big Top years ago to coincide perfectly with the peak of the mountain in the distance - very cool.  He then talked about the future of PNH and did a few of his usual silly stories.  Then he had Magic brought in and told us that it was the last time many of us would see her - she is 20 and retiring this year. He did some amazing liberty things with Magic, then mounted and did some more amazing things under saddle.  What a relationship they have!

He talked about squeezing the “I love you” rein and about softness - could we get lateral flexion by simply touching the rein?  Then he did it, of course!  Very impressive.  Six of his students/instructors came in then and demonstrated “precision riding” with chalk marked lines in the dirt - very cool.  Pat talked about his relationship with Walter Zettl and their desire to marry dressage and natural horsemanship.  All in all, the morning session was VERY inspirational.

After lunch, Linda took over and did three separate sessions with three people/horses and specific issues:  the first was Sarah and Smart 7, an LBI who didn’t have a lot of “go,” but had a mind of his own!  Linda talked about how Smart 7 came from a long line of reining and cutting horses, but apparently doesn’t want to do either!  Very unexpected.  Still, they have discovered that he DOES like roping - funny.  This showed me that they DO truly put the horse first and don’t try to force them into any role they don’t want to play.  Where else does THAT happen, but in natural horsemanship?  I can think of a LOT of horses I know who aren’t happy doing what they are doing - very sad.  Anyway, she worked with Sarah on strategies to teach Smart 7 to maintain his gait. Some of the things I jotted down during this session were:

- don’t prevent them from stopping, but if they do, make them wish they didn’t - not “wacking” them, but think “annoying,” like a fly.

- don’t use your legs - use your butt muscles (tighten to go), then use your reins/string to back it up - your legs need to mean many other things down the line.

- our human instinct is to think: now that I’ve got him going, let’s continue and DO something - STOP!  Don’t do it!

- Don’t ask again too soon - build suspense.

- LBI lick their lips when they are MENTALLY challenged/processing - otherwise they don’t do it easily.

- do short bursts - stop BEFORE it goes bad. As soon as you get what you want - STOP!

- Finally they will start thinking “Why do they keep stopping me?  I want to GO! (reverse psychology).

- If they don’t stop when you ask them to, get them stopped, then SOFTLY back them up to the exact spot where you originally asked them to stop (good use for cones).

- use a VERY light phase 1 - then go CRAZY!

- think “light as a fly.  You need to know how to make it more miserable (like a fly) for them to NOT cooperate - make it a game!

- LBI’s are always planning dominant games

- wack “the spot,” NOT the horse.

- your attitude should be “I can’t WAIT for you to make a mistake!” (learning opportunity)

Linda also described the difference between a right-brain “blow up” and a left brain “tantrum” (I took notes for you, Debbie L!)

After Smart 7 was done, Jamie came in with “Topsy” and Ben came in with “Morgan,” two horses that rush at the canter.  This was a VERY interesting session, as Topsy was pegged as an LBE and Morgan was pegged as an RBI.  Linda described Topsy’s tension as mental (deliberate) and Morgan’s as emotional (I’m going to die!).  This was very easy to see - the difference between the two of them.

Linda used a “partial dis-engagement” technique to help both horses - the exercise works for any horsenality, for different reasons. LB - causes more fluid movement.  RB - get them calmer.  She said we should use this any time we feel our horse get bracey, and hold it until they relax - we are aiming for movement with relaxation, so they need to STAY there a while before we release.  Our job is to help them to find the relaxation, so they learn to want to find it themselves.  It becomes a “relief button,” per se, if we do it whenever they get rushy.

She emphasized “a million transitions” and approach and retreat.  We could see a lot of progress with Morgan, but it was obvious that Topsy would need more time, because of his LBE mental brace.

Linda talked about the importance of an independent seat, and how the life in our body needs to be separate from our legs.  She said that we can’t (shouldn’t) do anything with tension - that anyone can MAKE a horse do something, but can we get them to offer it?  She advised Ben to back way off with Morgan and Jamie to “change it up” with Topsy - great lesson!

Last, but not least, Susie and Pete, two mastery students, came in for a lesson in fluidity riding.  This was another lesson in what Linda had talked to us about on Friday - core strength and deliberate effort on our part, if we want our horses backs to round up; and we want them to use their hindquarters well.  Basically, do the following in order: pull in your thigh muscles (forward and up), pull your belly-button to your tail-bone (engage your core), wrap (truss) your ribs forward and around (didn’t even know we had muscles here, but I’ve been feeling them this week, that’s for sure!), drop your armpits towards your hips, and last - engage your TRICEP muscles (behind your arms) instead of your BICEPS.  I will show anyone who is interested how to do this when I get home - how interesting!  And how amazingly effective this makes your seat on your horse!  She also reminded them not to brace in the stirrups and not to “sit on both seatbones at the same time.”  Also, to open your hip angles so your horses hips can “roll through” and not hit - makes a lot of sense, this stuff!

After Linda’s session, they put on a lovely dinner for us in the small coverall, complete with champagne and prime rib!  Once again, Kiki played with the Killens for entertainment.  I ate dinner, then went and got HotShot out for awhile.  He seemed to think it was just another tail-gate party, and was ready to walk right in amongst the tables, between the two fire pits - such a silly guy!  I rode until it was pitch dark, then put him up.  We took the table-lanterns and the centerpieces as souvenirs of the very first Gold Savvy Summit!

Edie

Posted in 2009 ISC | No Comments »

Day #15 - “Putting It All Together Friday,” September 11

14. September 2009 by Edie.

A little late posting the last four days - it’s Monday, but I haven’t had a chance to post since Thursday afternoon!  So, to start with:  Thursday night we went to Nello’s, a cute little joint in Pagosa, to see the Killens and Kiki Ebson joining them.  I wasn’t aware that Kiki is a recording artist in her own rite, as I mentioned in yesterday’s post, but here’s another fun fact:  she is, indeed, Buddy Ebson’s daughter! (that’s Jed Clampett, for those of you old enough to remember the Beverly Hillbillies).  Pat and Linda were there with Carlos Osario, the owner of the Horse First Farm in Oregon, Wisconsin.  Almost everyone else from our class was there as well.  We had a blast singing and dancing - Sam even graced the Australians with a couple of their own tunes - very fun!

So, Friday came early, but we were all there with bells on!  John started with us in the lodge telling us again that we need to go out into the world to change it for horses - it’s up to US, as Pat can’t do it by himself.  He joked with us about what we often here from “normals” in the horse world when they see us in action: “Why are you wiggling that rope?”  Aren’t you going to RIDE?” “What are you DOING?!”  (I heard at least one of these comments at a barn I teach at the week before I left - funny!)  He reminded us to be true to ourselves and what we know - our principles and foundation.  John then led a demo. up by the wash rack, talking about flying lead changes and how we can prepare for them in our own bodies.  He asked us to consider how ambidextrous we are in OUR bodies and if we can’t be even and balanced, how can the horses we are riding be?  He told us about how he walked crooked when he came to the ISC and always pushed off with his right (dominant) foot when he walked, and how it took Kathy to point it out to him.  He now has made great efforts to even himself out and his riding has improved dramatically - how interesting!  I KNOW I am still crooked and that I weight my right stirrup more when I ride in a saddle - but at least I’m working on it!  John left us with a couple of assignments:  pick up all four feet from both sides and rate it 1-10 as to how well our horse can do it - and do some one and two-line driving to prepare for our leads, etc.  Those of you scratching your heads, trust me - it’s ALL related!

Then Avery joined us and talked a little bit about finesse and the active and supporting reins.  Just then, Linda showed up and spent some time with us - great!  She told us that “We’re just about to re-launch Parelli to the world and that’s all I can tell you - if I told you more, I’d have to kill you!”  One of the cool things I love about PNH is the continuous growth and change - I can’t wait to see what’s around the corner!

We talked a bit about PNH being brought into the vet schools and I was envied by all when I said that my vet is a Parelli student (thanks, Molly - I sure appreciate you and realize how lucky I am!).

Then Linda talked a bit about the differences between freestyle and finesse riding.  She said that finesse riding is more “engaged” and you can’t really do that with freestyle.  She mentioned a woman named Janice Dulak, who has a book “Pilates for the Dressage Rider” and that she has been studying with her for some time.  Linda shared with us some of the exercises that Janice does to improve her fluidity riding - amazing stuff that is next to impossible to blog about, but I will be glad to show those of you who are interested upon my return.  Suffice it to say - you want to mirror in YOUR body what you want your horse’s body to look like - a very different picture than a “traditional” dressage seat/posture.

We then discussed phototonic therapy and I learned a lot about it - I would like to order a light for MYSELF, but they are rather expensive, so until my hands are completely arthritic, guess I’ll have to wait.  Linda and others gave amazing story examples they had witnessed of horses near death from colic who recovered upon being treated this way - amazing!

Then, we had our finale and certificates were handed out for Riding With Purpose.  We then went outside and walked around the courtyard, where a variety of word posters and pictures were placed around.  We were asked to ponder the words and what they meant to us after this week:

- thresholds

- principle and purpose

- It’s NOT about the . . .

- Reading your horse’s body/behavior

- leadership

- prey/predator relationship

- experimenting

- confidence

Friday night, Pat and Linda hosted a very nice reception at the new Springs Hotel downtown Pagosa for Gold Savvy Club members.  It was open bar, hors d’oeuvres, etc. - a class affair.  I was finally able to meet Ray Conkright and his daughter, Kime - so fun to be able to meet you, Ray, and put a face with your name! Ray - let me know if you decide on that Glock or not, OK?  Who needs a safety, anyway?!  (apologies to those of you who don’t do “gun-speak”).

So, that about wrapped up Friday - on to Saturday and the first-ever Gold Savvy Summit!

Edie

Posted in 2009 ISC | No Comments »