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

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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

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