What does YOUR journey to savvy look like? The power of doing simple things with excellence and having support

Earlier this year, I launched a brand new distance group coaching format which has drawn attention from students around the world.  Ever since I started teaching Parelli 10 years ago, I have always wanted to be able to follow students on their journey for more than a couple of days at a time.  Clinics are certainly fun and I love to see the changes in people and horses that can be achieved on only a couple of days;  they also foster new friendships and a sense of community.  However, once everyone goes home,  the instructor might not see or hear from those students again for months if not years, and we can only hope that they have felt inspired enought to continue seeking more knowledge.  I always felt a bit disheartened to see the same people come back year after year and look exactly the same as the year before.  Why were they not progressing?  

Looking in the mirror at my own horsemanship, I reflected on those times where I was not making progress and at the obstacles I had to face to keep advancing my skills and my horses.  Like most students, I don't have my own facility and I have to contend with the constraints of boarding.  In order to be allowed to be different, I have in the last few years resorted to boarding my horses at small, privately owned facilities which are open to a Parelli mindset.  That freedom to do the kind of horsemanship I want to do often comes with lack of training facilities, no indoor arena, small spaces to ride and having to contend with weather conditions - challenges that most of my students also face daily.

Isolation is another factor we all experience unless we can be lucky enough to be surrounded by like minded professionals or friends.  Keeping the motivation alive and managing pitfalls can be challenging without support, even in the best of times.  Compounded with factors involving weather, time, timing, availability and just plain lack of focus or goals, this can be a steep hill to climb even for the most dedicated rider, especially when it means finding time away from work or familly, having to get in the car and commute to the barn!

So with that in mind, I created a group distance coaching format which is designed to address these issues.  

Students have joined from all walks of life, ages and stages.  From beginner to Level 4 students, some as far as the UK and Australia, it has been a diverse yet incredibly fun group of aspiring horsewomen (and now even a gentleman!) sharing and supporting each other while being guided and instructed through various horsemanship concepts and assignments.

The key to J2S Your Journey to SavvyTM is that everyone is on their own journey and while guided, is allowed to progress at their own speed and level.  The primary rule is a good attitude, natural, positive and progressive, and we also try to have fun as we learn.

We celebrate our accomplishments and breakthroughts, and help those who are in the Learning Pit see what is on the other side of the wall.

It has been absolutely wonderful for me as an instructor to see students actually gaining depth and scope into the program, improving their relationships with their horses and getting more and more savvy each month!

Here are a couple fun pics and videos of current J2S members and what they have to say about their journey.

Melody (Brandon, Manitoba) started out in the middle of a harsh Canadian winter in the Prairies. She was still recovering from a major horseback riding accident which left her physically impaired and scared to ride.  But mostly, she had to come to terms with the fact that she did not understand why her horses did not act like partners. This is her third J2S class and to quote:  "I have attended many clinics and ridden in many places -- BC, SK, MB, ND, CA -- but I learned to learn in J2S and it has completely changed my horsemanship."   She has started to ride again, with savvy, and after almost getting out of horses altogether, is now having a great time with her four equines.  Here is fun movie she made of her Haltering with Savvy assignment.

Karen (Nova Scotia) has been a long time Parelli student, but her new partner Java, a young LBE, caused her to seek more regular support.  His playful and dominant nature constrasted sharply with her RBI Humanality.  Through distance coaching and a dedication to studying the program, Karen has made huge strides with her young horse and they are now having a lot of fun together.  Check out her dragging an object project video after I challenged her to teach Java something purposeful and interesting. 

"For me, this J2S class has all been about inspiration. I am able to put all the other key words together when I am inspired by watching each of us learn and grow with our equine partners, share BFO's that hit us in the middle of the night, post triumphs, a few set backs and then more triumphs, and all under the excellent guidance of Geneviève who allows us to take this journey exactly as each of us needs to. That's Inspiration!!"

Sandra and Mariya (Melbourne, Ontario) are a mother and daughter team and Sandra has been a Parelli student for many years. She had however never really taken instruction from a Licensed Parelli Instructor, and was having trouble keeping Mariya interested in riding and playing with her pony Ginger.  I visited their farm a couple of times in 2015 and Mariya's interest started rising.  

In Mariya's words:  "When Geneviève came to Ontario last year, I hardly ever played with my pony.  I was unmotivated and going backwards.  After my first lesson, things changed. I started playing with Ginger at least once a week.   After my second and third lessons, I became motivated and confident about riding again."

Both then joined my distance coaching programs, and are now enjoying a lot of great horse time together.  

Mariya has started riding again and passed her Level 1 with flying colors last fall (L1++).  She is just about ready to submit Level 2 On Line.  This video of Sandra and Mariya made the Parelli social media pages and was their take on an assignement which instructed them to do something fun and imaginative with their horses!

Lisa (Rodney, Ontario) has always dreamed of having a great connection with her mare Derby.  Her little Appaloosa is 21 years old and has been there and done that, and she is a great, safe, steady riding horse.  However, for years, she showed no interest in her human partner and would leave when Lisa showed up.  Through lessons and distance coaching, Lisa learned how to motivate Derby to find her and catch her, and then to connect and want to stay.  For Lisa, this is a dream come through.  Derby will now seek her and catch her from way back in the pasture, leave the herd and the hay to be with her human partner. As a bonus, she is now exhibiting a lot more expressive behavior during their play sessions and offering lots, rather than just being submissive and obedient.

Says Lisa:  "Went out to the pasture this afternoon to bring Derby in for our foot picking project and all the horses were down at the bottom of the pasture . I called Derby and she lifted her head and started walking towards me. Then she started trotting and she trotted the whole way up the pasture to me ... at the front of the whole herd!!!! Trotting !!!! TO ME !!!! Derby !!!! How extremely awesome is that???"

Our next instalment of J2S Your Journey to SavvyTM will be revamped this spring and be centered on the 12 Touchstones of horsemanship.  For me as an instructor, it has been so much fun watching these students grow and learn throughout the year, even during the winter months where we focus on small but important tasks that to keep improving their feel, timing and balance, and their overall relationships with their horses.  By having them study with me consistently for several months, I am able to get to know them, coach and support them through highs and lows, and really see them blossom.  There is nothing more rewarding that that for a coach!

Your Journey to SavvyTM is a group distance coaching program spanning four months and run by Geneviève Benoit, Licensed Parelli 3-Star Instructor.  Students from all over the world gather to share their journey, celebrate their achievements and support each other.  Check out the student video from the first class in 2015!

Find out more information at www.vifargent.com/yourjourneytosavvy or on Facebook www.facebook.com/yourjourneytosavvy

February News and Updates - Nouvelles et mises à jour de février

In the news for this month:
The Parelli Intensive Foundation Clinic now a 3 part series, a Pat Parelli clinic, and more learning opportunities!  Check out our updated event schedule.

Click here to read February's newsletter

Les nouvelles de février:
Le Stage Intensif est maintenant une série de trois formations, un stage avec Pat Parelli et de nouveaux évènements! Voyez notre cendrier des évènements à venir.

Cliquez ici pour lire l'info-lettre de février

For the first time, a weekend with Pat Parelli in Carignan, Quebec

For the first time, Pat Parelli will be coming to Quebec and presenting a 2 day clinic!

A weekend with Pat Parelli May 30th-31st in Carignan, Québec.

It's official! Pat #Parelli will be in Quebec May 30th-31st for the first time EVER! Pat will be presenting the Parelli program and coaching riders on their problems with horses. 

Come as a spectator or apply to take your very own lesson with Pat Parelli. A few lucky riders and their horse will have the opportunity to have a 3 hour private lesson with Pat to expose and solve common behavior problems.

In addition, 10 tickets will be auctionned for a private dinner with Pat hosted Saturday night, with all profits going to the Parelli Education Institute. This is HUGE! 

Tickets on sale now, best price and rider applications before March 13th. 

I have personally dreamed of this for the last 15 years. Click below for info and to get your tickets.

Information, tickets and rider applications here 
http://www.lesencansdechevauxcarignan.com/horse-clinics.html

Announcing a Horseless Workshop Series in Havelock, Quebec!

As promised, I am announcing the first series of horseless workshops to be held in my new home in Southern Quebec.  As I celebrate my return to Quebec, I hope to see many of you there!

Come discover Parelli Natural Horsemanship and the language of the horse, and learn more about the HorsenalityTM model, a revolutionary concept developed by Linda Parelli to help you better understand your partner and build a stronger relationship.  In our 4th workshop, we will present the principles of caring for horses in a natural way as well as alternatives so your horse can have the best care while remaining true to his nature.

You can sign up for one or more workshops, and we offering a great deal for those who book their spot for all four dates in the series.

Come and learn without having to haul a horse!
Now being held in our new high end facility in Havelock, Quebec

Horseless workshops are a fun and practical way to learn without having to worry about hauling a horse. You will attend a conference and take part in discussions and practical simulation exercises in an indoor facility, sheltered from the weather.
Workshops are generally comprised of a presentation, exercices and games and a Q&A session.

We will hold a demo with a horse at the Havelock location.

Please note the date change for workshop 4, there was a typo in the initial post.

• 2 November:  Start a relationship, build a partnership (learn about Parelli)

• 9 November:  Discover your horse's HorsenalityTM (Part 1)

• 23 November:  Advanced HorsenalityTM (Part 2)

• 14 December:  Natural Horse Care and Management

Workshops are open to all. Please note that there may be prerequisites in some cases.PLEASE REGISTER AHEAD OF TIME.
Workshops will be held on Sundays from 1 to 4pm.  Best deal if you book for all four dates.Hurry, space is limited!
For more info and registration forms, visit http://vifargent.com/horseless-workshops/

 I look forward to seeing you there, and please share with your friends who love horses!

The 7 Keys to Success - Key no. 4 Techniques

Right at the beginning of his Natural Horsemanship book, Pat Parelli introduces his Level 1 theory by outlining the six keys to success.  They are:  Attitude, Knowledge, Tools, Techniques, Time and Imagination. Since the original publication of the book years ago, a seventh key has been added:  Support.

In my earlier posts, we focused on the first three keys:  Attitude, Knowledge and Tools.  In this post, I will introduce the fourth key to success, Techniques.

Key 4: Techniques

Demonstrating Freestyle riding technique with my young horse

There are thousands of techniques that work to achieve results with horses.  As one of my Dressage mentors likes to point out, ‘there is more than one way to get to Toronto!’.  However, techniques will readily become mechanical or forceful when they are used without an understanding of the psychology behind them. Learning to think like a horse helps us find the right way to communicate and to be effective without using force or intimidation.  Anyone can MAKE a horse do something, but who do you have to become to cause a horse to WANT to do something? 

Regardless of the technique we choose to use, it must first and foremost be used with the right attitude, with a mindset to help the horse and not do it to the horse; it is our responsibility to ensure our communication is clear and understandable for the horse. We all know that horse training can be forceful and cruel.  But without resorting to crude violence, making a horse do something without his enthusiastic participation and when he is not mentally engaged in the game results in horses that resist, shut down, get confused and scared and are generally unaccepting of human leadership.  We like to teach techniques that promote a mutual communication with horses. Therefore, every technique must have the following ingredients: the right attitude, focus, feel, timing and balance. They are not forceful. They allow the horse to think, seek the answer and choose his response.  

Quality of feel is almost impossible to learn through traditional methods. However, a good program will cause this quality to evolve in you naturally. That is what we strive to teach through the Parelli 7 Games^TM, which are modelled on the games horses naturally play with each other.  Some of the key techniques that we consider at the foundation of the Parelli program are the use of rhythmic motion, approach and retreat, steady and rhythmic pressure, comfort, discomfort, progressive phases, and releasing at the right time to help the horse learn how to respond appropriately to appropriately applied pressure, which in turn creates lightness. 

In short, our students are learning to think, feel, act and play like a horse!

We would love to hear your comments or questions.  If you enjoyed this post, please don’t hesitate to share with your friends.Until next time, keep it natural!

We want the horse to be mentally engaged and enthusiastic about the game!

You enjoyed this article?  Let us know by submitting your comments and feel free to share with your friends!

For more info on Parelli training, visit www.vifargent.com

Self-Assessment: An Essential Horsemanship Tool

One of the things I ask my student at the end of every class or lesson is "What have you learned today?"  It is a broad open question designed to allow the student to restate some of what they have been experiencing and take it in any direction.  The learning often goes outside the boundaries of techniques or even horsemanship, and verbalizing is a great way to keep the new elements in focus. This is one of the ways to reinforce those new neural pathways that have been established in the brain.

I have been fortunate this summer to spend extensive time with two dedicated Parelli students who also happen to also be my hosts here in Ontario while I search for a new place to live and board my horses.  We have been taking advantage of my time here to discuss horsemanship and do short but very focussed lessons to help them advance their savvy.  The results have been quite dramatic in both the horses and the ability of the humans to establish a stronger connection and relationship with their equine partners.

A great part of what we have been discussing is how to read the horse and the differences between reacting, simply avoiding pressure and responding appropriately to pressure while seeking the answer.  There is a huge difference between getting a horse to do something (Make) and causing him to want to do something willingly and with enthusiasm.  This is what Parelli is all about, it is way more than just techniques or performing the 7 Games despite the horse.  Anyone can do that!  But it takes savvy and skill to get the horse to do it with a positive and willing attitude, acting like a partner and not a prisoner.

I would like to share a great example of this type of learning. Here is what Lisa posted on the Parelli Connect member site as a result of our latest sessions:

Derby and Menina have a great connection!
Getting the same level of acceptance of the human has not been so easy

I've been looking at my horse Derby in a whole new way since I've discovered that rather than being a left-brain introvert like I've thought all these years, she's actually a right-brain introvert. A sometimes subtle but very important difference. Being the introvert that she is, her "right brain" moments are not dramatic, so I've been misreading them as her being left-brained "stubborn". Now that I'm looking at her and approaching her and relating to her as right-brained, we have a whole new relationship and she looks at me in a whole new way. I've also been doing a lot of thinking about the concept of submit and accept when it comes to working and playing with Derby. Now, she is willingly coming to me in the pasture (from quite a distance), accepting me as a leader, as opposed to submitting to my leadership - BIG difference. During a recent lesson with Geneviève Benoit, 3 Star Parelli Professional, my friend Deb and I were talking about what we wanted to do in the lesson. We were thinking about riding and Genevieve asked how Derby was at accepting the bridle. I was just about to say "great", but then I had second thoughts, using my new perspective. She "submits" to being bridled, but does she accept it, willingly. The answer was, unfortunately, no. So now, before I bridle her to ride again, I've started a whole new program designed to ask her to "accept" the bridle - not just submit to it. I feel like I'm starting a whole new journey with Derby. I'm so excited about this new part of my horsemanship journey. I can't wait to see where this new perspective will take us.

So ask yourself next time you go out to play with your horse:  What went well? What have I learned?  How could I be different next time?  And if you are struggling or feel stuck, please do yourself and your horse a favor and seek some help.  Sometimes all it takes is one little push in the right direction to discover a whole new level of understanding and knowledge.

You enjoyed this article?  Let us know by submitting your comments and feel free to share with your friends!

For more info on Parelli training, visit www.vifargent.com

The Seven Keys to Success: Key no. 1 Attitude

Geneviève Benoit and Pat Parelli at the Florida Campus in 2007

Check out the first of a series of blog articles I will be doing in the next few months for Prochaps on the topic The Seven Keys to Success!  This week, I am posting about Attitude and what it means to your success with horses (and other life endeavours).

Right at the beginning of his Natural Horsemanship book, Pat Parelli introduces Level 1 theory by outlining the six keys to success.  They are:  Attitude, Knowledge, Tools, Techniques, Time and Imagination. Since the original publication of the book years ago, a seventh key has been added:  Support.

Through this blog series, we will be touching on each one of these keys.  Achieving any horsemanship goal is a journey that requires commitment, perseverance, focus and discipline as well a substantial amount of effort sustained over a long period of time. As in any major endeavour in life, these seven keys, if understood and applied, will help you succeed beyond your expectations. Some may come more easily to you than others; however, to get the formula right, we need to keep our focus on all seven keys.

Key 1: The Horseman’s (Woman’s) Attitude

Can you be natural, positive and progressive all at once, all the time? Most people are either one or the other at any time, sometimes two of these things, but can rarely master all three at once. Some people are natural, and positive, but they get stuck doing the same thing over and over and fail to make progress. Others are very progressive, but may not be taking the time it takes to do it in a natural way; they tend to resort to force and artificial tools to reach their goals. And then there are people that will find wrong with anything and everything, including their own selves; as they strive to achieve their goals, they don’t understand that often they are standing in their own way.

Attitude is a choice that we make every day. How we decide to perceive our life and respond to life’s events is really up to us! We each have the ability to choose our attitude and to view the possibilities in every situation. When things are not working as expected, it can be tempting to blame the horse.  Remember that you picked him and bought him, he did not have a choice!  What are you doing to bring out the best in your horse?  What are you doing to become the best leader for him you can be?  What are you choosing to see?

The Parelli program teaches us to stay calm, cool and collected, which is exactly what we would like to see in our horses! A natural, positive and progressive attitude allows us to focus your energy on our goals, on the good that surrounds us everyday, on the little successes and on the gold nuggets that lie on the path waiting to be found. Trusting the process to get there, even though it may not look like the finished product yet, is another way to define the right attitude of horsemanship.

You enjoyed this article?  Let us know by submitting your comments and feel free to share with your friends!

For more info on Parelli training, visit www.vifargent.com

A day in the life on the farm... Every creature seeks a connection, naturally!

Life on the farm... 

Meet Kevin. Kevin is the lone surviving guinea hen from a group that used to live here. Since I have arrived, he has fallen in love with his reflection in my truck and trailer hub caps and spends hours looking at himself, talking to it and takes naps next to the wheels. 
Kevin has also discovered I feed my horses really great stuff. He used to come into the pen to pick at the manure, but now he actually waits for me at feeding time and literally gets in between the horses' legs to steal bits falling from the buckets. When I change my feeding time, which happens regularly, and he misses it, he gets very angry and stands in front of the pen area screaming, and trust me, he is very loud! My horses don't seem to mind him at all, they don't even push him out of the way, although Menina drives him once in a while, just for fun (without touching him, just on his bubble). With all the great feed Kevin is getting, he has turned into a supercharged guinea! I am secretly he is going to start laying eggs for breakfast....

About Menina... this is where she stands every morning when I get up, right outside my trailer window.  I bet she would be in the trailer if there was any way to let herself in.  When  she hear me open the blinds, she looks at me and greets me with two eyes and ears.   I had to sneak so she would not notice me for this picture.  The other two stand by the gate that I use to bring in the hay.  How interesting...

Info-Lettre Mars 2014: de retour d'un séjour avec Linda Parelli March 2014 News: Back from Linda Land

Geneviève Benoit, Caton Parelli and Aurélie De Mévius at the Parelli ranch L'info-lettre de mars 2014 est publiée!  Ce mois-ci...

Mon stage avec Linda Parelli Les hauts et les bas des trajets longue distance en hiver Le cours Horsenality/Humanality avec le Dr. Patrick Handley Rencontre avec Christoph Hess et Silke Vallentin Qu'en disent les élèves Opportunité: Coordonnateur d'évènement Le truc savvy du mois Les évènements à venir À Vendre

Click here to read more....

The March 2014 is out!  This month....

Riding with Linda Parelli The ups and downs of long distance hauling in winter The Horsenality/Humanality course with Dr. Patrick Handley Meeting Christoph Hess and Silke Vallentin What the students are saying Opportunity: Event Coordinator This month's savvy tip Upcoming Events For Sale The team at Linda Land - Linda Parelli, Liz Jones, Sean Coleman, Aurélie De Mévius, Iris Kleber, Ryan Pfouts, Sarah Bert - and I am taking the photo! You enjoyed this article?  Let us know by submitting your comments and feel free to share with your friends! For more info on Parelli training, visit www.vifargent.com

Equine Learning - There is Science Behind the Friendly, Porcupine and Driving Games!

I recently came across this wonderful video of a talk by Dr. Andrew McLean at Equitana Australia 2011. It's a long one (over 50 minutes), but if you are passionate about horse training and understanding how they think, feel and learn, you will also be captivated by this clip.

Andrew McLean holds a PhD in equine cognition and learning, has been an accredited horse riding coach for over 30 years and has written 5 books (including an International Best Seller) and authored 35 peer-reviewed journal articles.  

In this presentation, Dr. McLean shows us a glimpse of the scientific evidence which explains why Parelli and other natural horsemanship methods actually work and how they align with the way horses learn.

I could not help but jot down some key points and takeaways as I was viewing this talk.  You might also find them quite interesting and be curious to watch the whole video, which provides several live examples with video clips and pictures.

The differences between the human and equine brain

• Humans have a rather imprecise memories and are wired to extrapolate and revisit a memory without being in the context, and expand or modify the memory.
• Horses have very specific, photographic memories, and they are context specific.  Their recall span is 5 seconds or less, which explains while timing of the release or reward is critical to their learning process.

Herd dynamics and leadership is not set - the social hierarchy is very fluid and mobile, and changes according to the resources being contested and context. Very simply, one horse can be dominant for food, but not so in other areas.  They can be dominant with other horses, not with humans, or vice-versa.  

Negative Reinforcement is not negative, it simply means using the process of applying and releasing pressure to teach a response.  Release of pressure is the most common way to teach all animals.  Every horse has its own profile of NR, based on learned experiences!  

First impressions will tend to stick with a horse for life.  This is why the way you introduce a horse to a new context is critical.  The example of the foal with the umbrella in the arena really demonstrates how easy it may to teach a young horse to be afraid of an object if the process is not done with understanding and control.  Learning in new contexts must be done gradually to help the horse.

The horse is wired for fear.  The amygdala (the fear organ) is largest in horses and it has strong projections to the jaw.  This is why horses often express fear and pain through head and jaw movements and reactions.  Salivating, teeth grinding, head tossing, tongue hanging out... you get the picture.

Operant conditioning is training through Negative Reinforcement (application and release of pressure).  This would be the equivalent of the Porcupine and Driving Games in Parelli, using steady and rhythmic pressure to initiate a response.  Dr McLean explains why RHYTHM, TIMING and phases are important.  

Positive Reinforcement is where you add a positive to reinforce - treat, scratch, clicker - but works best once the behavior is trained with NR.  It makes the response more likely to be repeated and accessed over time.

Classical conditioning is training the horse to respond to a very specific cue - voice, aid - it is identical to a Pavlovian response.

Backup cure biting!  We have all heard Pat Parelli say this one.  Dr. McLean explains why!

Habituation is the process of getting a horse confident to a stimulus (we call this the Friendly Game).  Dr. McLean explains the 5 ways of doing this and how some may be more effective than others.

He also explains how a fear response in context, once learned, will never completely disappear.  It can be suppressed, but it is likely to resurface spontaneously at any time.  This would be why a horse that has learned to pull back may never be 100% rehabilitated.  It can be improved, but that horse may never be completely safe when tied.  He demonstrates why general habituation is not the best way to teach a horse confidence (again, like leaving a horse alone with an object so it gets 'used' to it - the opposite may result).

This is why educating a young horse is such a huge responsability and must be undertaken with a lot of savvy, knowledge and feel.

The importance of teaching a horse to stand still!  This teaches a horse an alternate response to his natural instinct, which is flight.  He shows a nice demonstration with police horses and an inflatable clown.  Go and whoa should be equal, this is what the Yo-Yo Game is all about in Parelli.

The importance of being consistent and not changing the rules!  If reins means stop, they cannot mean something else (like round)... That will only confuse the horse whose brain is very context specific.

Finally, the psychological effects on the horse of inescapable pain and the coping mechanisms:

• Active coping - resisting, physical expression (rear, buck, run, etc.)
• Passive coping - becoming dull, enduring, giving up - this can lead to....
• Learned helplessness - usually a fatal condition, horses may never recover from this state. Unfortunately, we have all seen horses that got to this point  :-(

Dr. Mclean pokes the dressage community a few times, or at least, a certain approach to dressage that he feels is not based on the welfare of the horse.  He also makes a point of explaining why contact should never be heavy.  In the presence of real communication between horse and rider, contact should never exceed the weight of the reins.  In Parelli, we aim at 4 ounces or less :-)

Enjoy, and feel free to post your comments and highlights below!

You enjoyed this article?  Let us know by submitting your comments and feel free to share with your friends!

For more info on Parelli training, visit www.vifargent.com

What is kicking all about? By Linda Parelli

This article was originally published in the August 2008 issue of Savvy Times magazine. 



Kicking is the most natural thing for a horse, and it’s good to know that the hind legs tend to be the weapon of choice for introverted horses. So why do horses kick? What provokes them? Is it a right-brained or left-brained behavior?

Horses kick when they play (this is left-brained - confident, dominant), and they kick when they are scared (this is right-brained - unconfident, fearful). They also kick when they are defiant (left-brained).

Right-brained horses mostly kick when cornered and surprised or scared. Left-brained horses kick out of defiance, so it is more likely to happen when you are trying to get them to do something. This includes asking them to move when they aren't ready or when they don't want to, and touching them in areas you haven't tested for brace yet.

The potential of getting kicked, bitten, run over or struck at is high anytime you're with a horse who feels cornered, threatened or pressured, if the horse is on adrenaline, or if he or she doesn't respect or trust you. The whole point of being savvy is to stay out of the kick zone, be able to defend your personal space, create undying trust and respect and never put your horse in a position where he feels the need to defend himself against you or attack you or to go to Phase 4 to get his message across.

Horsemen are a lot like the rest of us - they just read horses better! And they know what is apt to happen, so they don't go there. And if they get kicked, the first thing they acknowledge is what they did to cause it.

Click here to read more...

You enjoyed this article?  Let us know by submitting your comments and feel free to share with your friends!

For more info on Parelli training, visit www.vifargent.com

Pressure motivates and release teaches

This article was originally published in the August 2011 issue of Savvy Times magazine. Recent back-issues of Savvy Times are available for Parelli members in the Resources section of Parelli Connect.

Appropriate Application of Pressure Exquisite Timing of Release-by Linda Parelli

Many years ago, when I first heard Pat say, “Pressure motivates, but the release teaches,” he made it sound so simple. And teaching and training horses really is quite simple, because it involves not much more than the appropriate application of pressure and the exquisite timing of the release. But those adjectives, “appropriate” and “exquisite,” are where the real challenges lie, because these are the very things that make the difference between a horse having trouble, responding obediently, or responding with enthusiasm.

So... how do you apply pressure appropriately and time your release?  Find out below.

Click here to read more...

You enjoyed this article?  Let us know by submitting your comments and feel free to share with your friends!

For more info on Geneviève Benoit, Licensed Parelli 3 Star Instructor, visit www.vifargent.com