Q&A from Linda Parelli

This was in this weeks Parelli E-News....

Question:
Eeek - I have created a monster!

I have watched all the L2 dvds now, plus all the L&HB dvds and started using incentives in the arena when riding because my Left Brained Introvert (LBI) gets oh so very bored in the arena.

I set up a barrel at each end of the 60m long arena and had treats at the ready. We were playing point to point for the first time.

He thought this was the BEST game ever when he got a treat at each barrel. And, after placing a trot pole half way down the arena he offered canter after the trot pole for the rest of the way (and stopped at the barrel when asked even though it was placed at the arena exit- which is always open - (unfenced arena). Offering canter was something he has never done pre-Parelli! I was so pleased. That was two weeks ago....

Today I was going to work on some circles and straight lines and getting rid of any opposition reflex on turns (when he wants to go the OTHER way)...

I mounted, walked into the arena and he immediately takes off to the barrel at the other end - in a fast trot. Yes - my LBI - the can't be bothered working hard horse!

We play that for a bit and then try to do some circles..... he put his ears back, stopping dead, swishing his tail, snotty snotty snotty.... - he just was not having it. We did a little sideways practice..... then tried again - nope! Head down like he was going to buck etc. I tried shaking my reins to try and make him not be snotty (thinking of the snotty face example in the L&HB dvd) but he just stopped and did it again when we carried on trotting.

Keep in mind I have only been riding for three years....and confidence has been a big issue for me - cantering in a halter alone (for the first time two weeks ago) was a big deal. So I am not quite ready to go ride in big paddocks just yet hence my reliance on arenas for now.

OK - so now he just expects treats all the time and if he doesn't get them he heads for the barrel at full speed!

Three weeks ago I used trot poles as obstacles in the circle game on the ground, stopping him at the trot pole, and gave him a treat. We had a fantastic session and did some liberty afterwards - a fantastic day. Now everytime he sees a trot pole he stops (even in circle game) and paws it or bites it!

Help!

Answer:
So give him treats! The idea here is not to find out what motivates your horse and then try to do it without. It's more about how to use it effectively. When you get too repetitive then you set up an expectation, but if you can use the same thing for different reasons, you're ahead. Here's an example. Right now, you've had great success going from point to point. Now, ask him to circle once around the barrel before giving him the treat. Next day, ask him to circle a couple of times and then just rest at the barrel and have the treat in your pocket so now he associates what he does with getting approval and reward from you. You could also place a treat only on one barrel so he has to go around it and then back to the one that does have a treat. So you construct different games and puzzles for him to get mentally engaged in. You could plant treats around the arena and go to them in different ways: backwards, sideways, slowly, making transitions, etc. etc. Learn to think in your mind: Hmmm... I know there's a treat over there in the corner, so how will I get him there? How creative can I be? Pretty soon he'll get into the habit of doing as you ask because it is interesting, and because there's something in it for him... sometimes a treat, sometimes a rest, sometimes a scratch. Pretty soon you'll be able to have all these be just as meaningful for him.

I think what you've done is used the treats only for the point to point, but then asked him to do something different and he can't see the reason for it. So he has a tantrum. Rather than try to make him do it, sit there and pet him. Ask for things very slowly, just a step or two and then pet him. This kind of horse is looking for ways to dominate and frustrate you, but if you ask less than he expects, and you pet him when he gets obstinate he will run out of ways to do that. I know it probably doesn't make much sense to you, but really try to crawl inside his skin, understand his Horsenality and then you'll start to see how the smallest things can bug him when he doesn't see the reason for it.

This kind of horse (LB Introvert) is very frustrating for most trainers. Pretty soon the spurs and whips stop working. The tantrums get too big or he just plain flops on the ground and won't move. Force doesn't work, kindness and knowing what is important to him does. He keeps saying "No! Why should I?!" And you will learn to demonstrate to him, "Because I'll love you and give you what you like too".

I understand that you are worried about going outside the arena, but you've actually chosen the best Horsenality to do exactly that with. LB Introverts are super trail horses because they feel like they're going somewhere and life gets interesting. And they don't really want to use much energy so slow and steady works just fine out there. Getting them to perform in an arena is the hardest, so here's what I suggest: Start doing less in the arena and start venturing outside, little by little. First take him out on line, do walking trail rides with you on the ground on a 12' line. Observe his behavior, see how he reacts to things, get him to do interesting things like back through gates, up or down little hills, go around trees, over logs and ditches, etc. That will gradually build you the confidence to do it on his back. And the first time you are on his back in this situation, practice getting off every few minutes, even if you don't feel the need to. This helps build it in as an automatic response if at anytime you don't feel confident. Get off more than you think you should and it will actually build your confidence!

Linda

PS By the way, you did not create a monster. That monster was always there, potentially! What you've done is awakened the side of him that was dulled out to people, so look after it well and don't let anyone talk you into using punishment or higher phases instead or you really will find a monster in there.

Blue again

Garbo had a day off today after our really big ride in the boiling hot sun yesterday. We did loads of canter practice (I was practicing getting my thumb under my bottom - and omg it works so well - could feel my legs relaxing immediately). And it makes you lean back too. I felt so much more relaxed cantering and trotting around the place.... it was great fun. Muscles - particularly tummy ones and tops of legs are sore today!

OK - so Blue today - I squeezed him through the small gap between the wash bay and the stalls and in and out of the stall (he is a pro at that now) and up and down off the wash bay. He was so good. Then we did a bit of circle game and changes of direction (he was a little unconfident for those on the resend) and then friendly with the rope and lateral flexion, some sideways and a wash down! OH and we always start by squeezing through between mine and another float to the dandelions.

Blues progress

Think we are up to Blues 6th Parelli session (or 7th).... and I was amazed this last session how far he has come.

I have realised that the slack in the 22ft line dragging on the ground makes him speed up so I spent 30 minutes leading him around the paddock with the rope dragging along behind me (and beside him) until he relaxed and realised it wasn't actually a snake.

Russell Higgins said that circle game problems stem from a problem with driving game or friendly game - so in Blues case definitely the Friendly Game. So anyhow I decided just to do some sending through small spaces, squeeze game, and sent him into the stall, stop half way through the opening - that was hard, but got easier. Then up and down to and from the wash bay (ledge of about 1foot), through a gap where two open gates meet in the race - until he did it calmly. It all went really well.

So time to try the circle game again I think. After lots of friendly of course.

ps I can't go near him with the carrot stick yet - I actually don't need it yet..... he changes direction on the circle with the slightest signal....and I can easily drive him with air or my hands...

Water hole

It was a lovely sunny hot day today so we headed off to Royal Oak. Much to my surprise Garbo headed confidently for the water jump and went straight in when I asked him....

He had a great time!!

Then we went for a walk around the bridle path inhand to deal with some thresholds (alone) - this first picture says everything - we were under the willow trees and the sheep hide under there, and birds fly out of the river next to it.... - still never too nervous to take a bite of grass - nervous nibble....

The next day was alot better.... then we rode it too with someone walking next to us..... next step on our own....

Posing for the camera

Check out the rhythm beads!

Sunday at Royal Oak

Well today turned out to be a very good day - we sold our house! So as at Feb 21 we are the proud new owners of 3.5 acres of land so we can build a barn and live in it until we build our house - and - have Garbo and Blue at home on a track system - yay!

So - digressing!....

Did some ground work and riding today.... Garbo remembers the point to point game so well that he just takes off towards the barrel at the end of the arena (so unlike the pre-parelli him!)... it's so funny.....

I tried some circles today too but he wanted to play point to point. Rode a bit with the carrot stick - this is up doing a downwards transition from trot to stop.

Saturdays adventures

I had a really good day today too. Made a bit of a breakthrough with Blue. He would not let me be behind zone 1 while I was holding the rope on the farside (near side not so bad) - let alone the Carrot Stick! You know he is so sensitive (or scared) that I can do circle game on a 22ft line, changes of directions, and yo yo without even holding the Carrot Stick. He will never be a 'make me' horse....he will never be one I need to tag!

Complete opposites Garbo and him. Blue is Right Brain Introvert and Garbo Left Brain Introvert/Extrovert!! Garbo is mainly introverted but getting more extroverted as he gets more confident.

Anyway so I put my hand (standing on the far side zone 3) on his back while holding the balance of the 22ft line in my other hand with quite a lot of slack in the rope, and he just kept backing up and turning trying to face me - no way was he going forward if I was not in front of him. After about 10 minutes (and some on the other side reasonably successfully) he would take one step but turn towards me at the same time - so I had to drive his nose away from me (lifting my other hand towards his nose) - of course he still didn't go forward until finally he took a step and I rubbed and stopped. This went on for another 10 minutes. Then I led him for a bit till he started licking again, then we did some yo yo - he thinks if he is on the end of a line he must circle NOW, so unfortunately I had to do a few phase 4 shaking of the rope to stop him doing that half way through yo yo. Then he got the idea.....

Then I went back to zone 3 on the far side and managed to get him walking round nearly 1/4 of the paddock (not too far from the gate!) - so I used driving his nose again to get him to go away from the gate for a period of time and stopped when he had made some good steps away.

Then I rubbed him all over with the rope (slowly) - he was very jumpy - esp on the far side past zone 3.....but I persisted and stopped when he was still.... trouble is I had to be careful he wasn't actually scared and going introverted. Phew he licked finally......

Then we did some circles - just half a circle and come in - then the other way...he is always asking to come in like that Paint on Level Two dvd with Linda (Garbo doesn't do that - he just comes in regardless!)..... and then the other way - of course makes sense now why going to the right is harder for him....

I also noticed he would go faster when the slack in the 22ft line would drag on the ground - so I decided to walk him round the paddock with me leading him and the rest of the 22ft rope dragging along beside him until he was better - from both sides!

So after about another 20 minutes - he was licking and YAWNING - first yawn. So I ended there and untied him - put the rope and halter on the ground and gave him a rub all over.....he sniffed the lead rope and halter and then off he went and did a few blows and chased Alle! Funny. Alle is his paddock mate she is a 16.3 black warmblood mare - and he bosses her around. Go figure.

Oh - and after playing with Blue which one of the grazers told me must have been over an hour, I rode Garbo - he is a bit itchy and grumpy from grass allergies so I need to get some more herbs for him, but I watched all of the DVDs now from Liberty and HB and there was one where they had to wipe the snotty look off the dominant horse's face - so I did that with Garbo today.

He was trotting beside me in the arena (stick to me) and his face was like "what the f**k are we doing this for so I shook the lead rope Phase 4 and he stopped like Whoa Nelly!!..... then I asked for trot again and he had the same look so I did it again..... then he was ears forward sweet as pie.

When he is in his paddock and I take his feed in he has his ears back as he is walking beside me to the place I put the bucket....has always done it although like the Parelli Q&A this week - I can pat him while he is eating, and he is fine, no ears back at all.....only when I am carrying the food in his paddock (he is fine if I am leading him back in while holding the bucket)... so today I drove him away (waving arms at him) each time he did it - hoping like hell no one else saw what I was doing - they were already giving me those looks while I was riding in my hackamore..... and it worked - took about 4 goes but then he was like ears forward, ok Mum..... YAY!!

OK - my ride - I rode down the race (even past a new young filly that Garbo soooooo would have been keen on saying hi to - and risked her running along with us - but she didn't.... always nervous he will buck when others get excited.... but since doing Parelli none of the other horses have got excited when we ride down there!! Hmmmm how interesting!

Then we went into an empty paddock and I tried doing figures of eight on a casual rein but that was a disaster, then I tried sideways along a pole - got one step.....then he took a bite of the pole!

.... then just did a couple of point to points, tried doing tit for tat but still have this niggling fear that he will go to a corner and spook and do a 180 and run back to gate..... he has done that ONCE before when a pine cone fell out of a tree (a really high tree).... so we just walked back to the barn, past the horses, and the filly and he was so good. So apart from the things I was trying to do which didn't work today - well I tried.... hey!

Always tomorrow!

Canter

After spending some time improving our changes of direction and sideways online today I saddled Garbo up and put his beads on and we went riding. I stood on the side of the arena to get on and realised I had forgotten something so left Garbo there and went back to the stable. I headed back to him and he was just standing there looking at me - so sweet.

I had some trot poles still laid out and we trotted a bit over those. We just headed off towards the other end of the arena and he offered trot (this was so not normal 5 months ago) - and then he offered canter, and kept offering canter. The only hard part for me was the circle (turning) I keep leaning in - I have to remember to keep my focus above my shoulders (weight to the outside).

It was so much fun.

Then I got off and put the rope over his neck and ran around the arena and he followed me and stopped when I stopped and trotted when I ran. We did this all the way back to the stable.

No bucks now since August and no lameness either.

Didn't get to work with Blue today - time just flies! Tomorrow!

Rhythm Beads

Today we tried out our new beads - they are wooden and they match Garbo quite well. He wasn't too sure at first when I tried putting them over his head but he was fine with me hanging them over his ears - so off we went for a ride. I think the part that annoyed him was the mane clip...I shall have to get inventive.

My rhythm beads you ask? Well I like the sound and the look of them (secretly always wanted to be a red Indian) - here are some google reasons!

• Modern rhythm beads emulating the beads, bells, shells and feathers worn according to the American Indian customs – intended to both attract good spirits to the horse and rider and protect them from evil spirits. The eagles feather, for example, was said to aid the sharpness of the eye and make the horse fleet of foot. The make up of the necklets also identified tribe, warrior status and chiefs.
• Beneficial qualities of wearing certain colours to influence both the body and spirit – turquoise said to be a very powerful protective and healing colour.
• The powers of crystal vibration affecting the body at cellular / subconscious level to both heal and influence the body both emotionally and physically.
• The sounds of the bells aiding the horse and rider at a conscious and subconscious level to aid concentration.

Water jump

Yesterday was a fabulous day weather wise and Parelli wise - or savvy wise.

The day before (Sunday) I had taken Garbo down to the large water jump at Royal Oak - on previous occasions he had just avoided looking at it - but on Sunday three other horses went in for a play Both Sunday and Monday were really hot days) - but still on Sunday he just looked and watched and took it all in. I walked around the edge but didn't ask him in, then we went home.

Had a great ride before that - we were doing point to point - Garbo offered canter and his canter is so much nicer now - this was all in our new hakamore. He enjoyed the game and so did I!

So Monday - I was going to ride but it was so hot that Michelle said she was going to take Taz to play in the water jump so we went along too. After Taz going in a couple of times and making big splashes I could see Garbo really wanted to go in but wasn't sure how. He was a little unconfident.

I asked him in (once) and then waited while he thought about it. I just waited calmly not too focussed on him, until he turned away or stopped trying - then I would back him up a couple of steps quietly and ask him again..... he would look at the water, sniff it - pretend to nibble the grass on the edge while looking at Taz playing in it.... then we would go round the side and say hi to Taz.... so then I would ask him again.... at one point he got his nose in.... (wet) - it was so funny watching him think.... he was blinking and chewing and licking...... and gradually his confidence came back.

He never once panicked which was great.

After about 5 or 6 minutes of this I asked him again and I stood on the very edge of the ledge on a piece of grassy mud - and he went straight in.

I took his halter and rope off and sat on the grass in the sun and watched him and Taz play in there for 20 minutes. Taz thought she could make a big splash until Garbo started pawing in the water - first with one foot - then the other... it was so funny.....

After a while they both got out and we played with them at liberty for a while and then washed them off and I took Garbo home - he loaded straight away - he was so cool.

I didn't ride but it was a huge achievement today - first time in the water jump.! All without losing his confidence or trust or dignity.

Obstacles

Today at Royal Oak we played with three obstacles. The swiss ball, cones, and a tarp.

Garbo was so chilled out - he was investigating the tarp while I was getting poles to weight it down, and we played stop at the cone, over the tarp (even at canter). There were two poles holding down the tarp too so it was doubly tricky......

After a short ride he followed me back to the float with no rope.... and he just chilled out.

Liberty and Horse Behaviour

I am up to DVD 4 of this study programme and it has helped me immensely with reading Garbo and when he is being dominant vs confident vs playful vs unconfident.

Todays 'task' from the DVD was to play the 7 games with 3 obstacles using our new strategies and knowledge of reading horse behaviour and then applying the relevant strategies.

So - what did I do different?

Well after watching the demo with Mickey (horse) and Linda - he was alot like Garbo and did the head down thing too - so I realised the head down (head in the sand) was definitely a lack of confidence (he couldn't look at me) which I had suspected but wasn't 100% sure until today. Although he is confident he can be an unconfident learner. So today I was less 'firm' which Jackie had suggested for the dominance and I was more quiet but asking, and he responded really well and I didn't lose his confidence at all.

When asking him to change direction on the circle at trot from right rein to left rein he avoids it/evades it, so today I just brought him back to walk and did it all in extra slow motion. And it worked. I think getting all dominant back at him was just making him less confident and a little fearful.

I am also very aware of not ruining my rapport and not ruining by draw....

So we also did some driving from Zone 3 nearly at the end of the 22ft line which I had not done before. I got him to stop at the cone on the circle so he didn't get bored - he picked that up pretty quick - and his trot was even better - more relaxed.

I was actually in the sloping paddock with Blue as the arena crowd wouldn't have liked my obstacles (a swiss ball, trot poles and a cone). And Blue just watched! Garbo was great, cantering past Blue without getting all wound up....

Then I took the rope off - large paddock, Blue loose in same paddock - not really setting it up for success but I had my treats for incentives! So we did walk/trot/walk/halt with me beside him and for the first time he learnt to back up and or stop with just the carrot stick to the front and side of him (not in front of him).

Then we went and investigated the swiss ball again (at liberty), then we did some small circle game at walk and trot and ended it on a good note.

I walked away and he kept following me. I went to fix some electric tape and he went to have a drink (and smell some poos - as you do) and I was about 50ft away. He looked up, ears forward and came trotting over to me - so cute!

I was really happy with todays session.... lots of good stuff.

Oh - the other things I did differently? I didn't stay on one task too long - did it once good and moved on, I didn't focus on the obstacle, at one point I tried to play 'don't touch the swiss ball' and it worked - he stuck his nose on it.

I released my energy alot and had lots of friendly breaks. I backed him up alot (good for dominance issues) and that fixed most things pretty quickly.

He offered sideways along a pole too!

Level 2 Clinic

Well I have decided after attending my 5th clinic that I am not a clinic kind of person!

I really don't get much out of them and like to ask my own questions without it being a 'group' question. Maybe I am introverted I dunno - but I don't imagine I will attend another.

Don't get me wrong the Parelli clinic was great, Jackie Chant was a good instructor but I feel it's down time learning stuff that I had already done myself at home. Also it was 50/50 ground/riding and I didn't feel I was ready to do that much/that level of riding since I had not really started the Level 2 riding as yet.

Anyway - Garbo was a little on edge when the whole 8 horses went into a big paddock (really windy weekend) with their humans to 'play'. For a horse that at home I have trouble getting much energy out of on the circle he was circling me on the end of the 22ft line at canter every time another horse looked like he was coming near us.

Jackie used Garbo in a couple of demos and everyone was impressed with his draw and his bring back - I have always had more trouble getting him to go away from me.

So - Jackie worked on some dominance issues with him, and we worked on them too - ie not crowding me on the bring back.

Jackie had him going sideways along a fence at trot which I was quite impressed with - didn't know Garbo had it in him to be honest!

My one criticism of Jackie would be that she 'does' alot herself, with your horse, and is not that good at telling you what to do 'while' you are doing it. She's more of a 'watch me and I'll show you' person - which I find is not the best way of learning for me personally. I have to be able to 'do' it for myself - more than once, for it to stick.

But - I picked up some good tips and met some other people doing Parelli which was a nice change. Everyone was pretty friendly.

This piccy is of Garbo in his yard at the clinic checking things out at lunch time.

Sleep over

I left Garbo at the clinic - in this really steep paddock. He had a friend which was great.

This is him having dinner while the other horse waits patiently for left overs.

Heading home

This is a quick video from yesterdays threshold work.

Moving away from pressure

Since starting Parelli Garbo has stood on his rope loads of times. Initially he would over-react as if I had done it to him - now he figures out the pressure and what to do... check it out...

Thresholds

We dealt with thresholds for Garbo today - recognising when he becomes unconfident and then retreating a little and going back again - a bit further. It was only the drive way but he doesn't have a lot of confidence down there so we just took it slow and had lots of grass stops along the way - a few circles. We stopped and chatted to the other horses along the way and played with some obstacles along the way too.

It was lots of fun.

Today also for the first time the 22ft line felt too short! Didn't think I would ever say that....

He is still a little lame on the right circle initially if lacking impulsion..... and reluctant on the left circle (quicly changes directions as soon as I look away)... really looking forward to the clinic next weekend.

Passed Level 1

Great news - just found out I passed Level 1 - yay!!!

Sent my DVD in to Jackie about a week ago and she emailed me last night - yay! She said a good effort and a pass, some things need a little tweaking but I am going to her clinic at Labour Weekend - double yay.
2nd good news....
Played with Garbo today in the paddock not the arena - Rachel said he was a bit tight in his back end left muscles and to canter him lots. Well she was talking about riding and I am not up to that yet so I decided to get a paddock with a slope and start some hill therapy. She was saying I needed to take him to the track but that's a bit scary for me at the moment - little steps!

I had my 22ft line and we started with yo yo - then circle - and got him up to canter - it was actually easy - he did it on the downhill because it was easier so I just asked him to stay in canter. Did both sides quite well and started travelling so he could canter more straight lines too.

Then - I took the rope off - this paddock is big - probably 5 arenas big. I did yo yo first and then asked for a circle and he trotted round me - as he was heading down hill (towards the open paddock area rather than towards the fence/gate) I thought - this is where he'll just keep going and not circle if he decides to.... BUT he didn't he circled me and then came in! We did it again and he did it again - both ways.... I was so proud my pony! Gave him lots of hugs.

So then I started driving from zone three and doing the stay with me....at trot (to each patch of grass) turning both left and right.... (no rope still).... and he followed me and mirrored my gait (not canter though - have not tried that yet)......

He wandered off once and I zig zagged towards him - really just to re-attach the rope thing to myself - test it at liberty, fix it online, when he turned towards me ears forward so I made the noise Linda tells you to make for going in the saddle in L1 and came trotting over to me!!

I trotted him over to a scary part of the paddock and he wandered away from it after checking it out, so I thought - oh well good time to go and get the rope and take him in..... so started walking back towards the line over the other side of the paddock.... and when he saw I had got like 50ft away he came trotting up to me and walked beside me the rest of the way.

WOW.... so cool

Still worried about this lump on his head though... vet coming Tuesday.

Waiting for the rain to stop

Just squeezed in a ride before the rain - well in between showers actually on Sunday.

Garbo waiting patiently

Today it's been hail, thunder, lightening!

October already

We are officially into month 4 of Parelli.

We have been having our challenges and also making progress.... (with Level 2).

Garbo appears to lack confidence out on the circle at trot and canter (but not so at walk). Also I can get him to do sideways - with and without a fence, from close but get further away and he takes no notice what so ever.

I have been working on strengthening my Sends for the circle, Jackie suggested just practising sends and come backs, and let the circle sort itself out in time.

Done quite a bit more driving from Zone 3 to build his confidence. Even did some at walk trot and canter at liberty in the square pen which was pretty cool.

Riding wise - have not done alot more since the filming but getting more confident. Happy to go in and out of the arena with the rope halter and one rope - went down the race a couple of times as well - it was most relaxing - the kids were away and no one else was at the farm and the sun was shining!! Couldn't ask for much more really.

I have signed up for the Labour Weekend Level 2 clinic plus have a private lesson on the Tuesday. Cool!