Natural Horse Lover: Getting Back on the Horse

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Getting Back on the Horse

Image From: http://www.gwathneydesign.com/gallery/photos/Icons/SparkPeople.png

Today, I started using SparkPeople (a site that offers nutrition information, support, groups, and the like - free. I dabbled with better eating throughout the week (which was great) but today is more of an official start day for me (I know, I am crazy). I am starting with the cleanse using the The Refresh Button method (a version of the Master Cleanse). I am truly feeling good and ready. I don't know if I'll last the entire cycle but I will do what I can. The harsh reality of my situation has been blogged on my SparkPeople blog with an entry titled, Getting Back on the Horse. If I can do this, anyone can. So, here's to goal in 2012...I am going to make it this time. (*fingers crossed*)

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You Know You're Doing Parelli When...

* You constantly seek never ending self-improvement.
* You study in all four savvys (online, liberty, freestyle, finnesse).
* You put the relationship with your horse before anything else (principles before goals).
* You understand that Parelli is way more than riding.
* Your horse actually thinks you're brilliant and fun to be around.
*You understand that science is nature explained and you are working through the laws of nature.
* You communicate to your horse through understanding and psychology rather than force, fear, and intimidation.
* You considers the horse's point of view.
* You don't use artificial aids of restraint.
* You are natural with horses.
* You think like a horse before you think like a human.
* At the end of the day you can ask your horse “Was it as good for you as it was for me?”

The 8 Responsibilities for Horses and Humans

There are four responsibilites for the horse and four responsibilities for the human.

FOR THE HORSE

Don't act like a prey animal
(Learn to be calmer, smarter and braver.)

Maintain gait
(Don't shift gears unless I ask.)

Maintain direction
(Stay on course even if I'm not steering.)

Watch where you are going
(Be responsible for your self-carriage.)

FOR THE HUMAN

Don't act like a predator
(I won't use force or lose my temper no matter what.)

Have an independent seat
(I never grip with my hands or below my knees for balance.)

Think like a horse-man
(I consider the horse's perspective.)

Use the natural power of Focus
(I concentrate on what I want, not on what the horse may be doing.)

Parelli Zoneology

The Delicate Zone: Around the eye area, the zone from the nose band up over the ears to the head piece of the halter. It's a delicate area and needs to be treated with care.
Zone 1: From the nose band of the halter stretching out for a mile and a half in front of the horse. It physically involves his muzzle and his personal space in front of him.
Zone 2: From right behind the ears to the break of the withers, the little dip right in front of them. Essentially it's the neck and chest and the end of the zone makes a diagonal line to the point of the shoulder.
Zone 3: From the break of the withers to the point of the hip.
Zone 4: From the point of the hip to the top of the tail.
Zone 5: From the tail head stretching out a mile and a half behind him

The Seven Games

Article: Understanding the Language of Horses by Pat Parelli

Game #1 The Friendly Game

"This game proves to your horse you will not act like a predator, that you are friendly and can be trusted."

Game #2 The Porcupine Game

"This game is called "porcupine" as a reminder that the horse should not lean against a point of pressure but learn to move away from it."

Game #3 The Driving Game

This game teaches the horse to respond to implied pressure, where you suggest to the horse to move and he moves without you touching him."

Game #4 The Yo-Yo Game

"The object is to get backward and forward movements equal and light."

Game #5 The Circling Game

"Do not confuse this with mindless lunging! The Circling Game develops a horse mentally, emotionally and physically. It teaches him to stay connected to you and get the tension out of the line between you while maintaining his gait and direction."

Game #6 The Sideways Game

"This is teaching the horse to go sideways equally as well to the right and left, with ease."

Game #7 The Squeeze Game

"Horses, by nature, are claustrophobic. They are afraid of any small or tight space. The Squeeze Game teaches your horse to become braver and calmer, to squeeze through narrow spots without concern."

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Games 1-3 are principle games (a foundation of your language) whereas games 4-7 are purpose games (the language expanded for higher levels of communication).

Pat Parelli's 41 P's

Book: Natural Horsemanship by Pat Parelli

"Pat Parelli proudly presents his programs and the proclamation that prior and proper perparation prevents P-poor performance particularily if polite and passive persistence is practiced in the proper position. This perspective takes patience, from process to product, from principle to purpose. The promise that Pat plans to prove is that practice does not make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect, and it is peculiar how prey animals perceive people as predators and not partners."

Horsenalities

Is your horse a left-brained extrovert, right-brained extrovert, left-brained introvert, right-brained introvert, or a combination?

The four main influences that make up a horse's horsenality:

• Innate Characteristics
• Learned Behaviour
• Environment
• Spirit

"The Goal of the Parelli Program is to help horse owners understand their horse's individual Horsenality, and to be able to teach them more effectively to become a Confident and Balanced partner (centered)."

Click here for more information on horsenalities at Pat and Linda's website. It will change your relationship!