Rapport, Respect - Parelli Savvy Club

S AVTVI M
Y ECS L UB
G OLD M E M B E R
No Two Horses
Are Alike
Blood Is Thicker
Than Water
Does Your Horse
Hate Corners?
D I G I TA L ISSUE 6
Savvy
TOUCHSTONE 6
Rapport, Respect, Impulsion, Flexion.
We need to balance these four things. As I was
learning to become a true horseman, I learned
that rapport was number one; horses will run
faster and jump higher out of heart and desire.
Once I had rapport and I’d gained their respect,
I could achieve true impulsion because I wasn’t
bothering them emotionally. The more I learned
about precision riding – bringing out the
best in the horse’s body – it became apparent
that flexion was the final key to unlocking my
horse’s top possible performance, no matter the
discipline. That’s when my horses knew I was
becoming a horseman.
Caton Parelli & Aspen
ISSUE 6
30 SPORTS SPOTLIGHT
The Sport Of
Combined Driving
23 QUIZ
Rapport, Respect,
Impulsion, Flexion
25 FUN CHALLENGE
Sideways Into Transitions
6
No Two Horses
Are Alike
Blood Is Thicker
Than Water
Pat Parelli
Pat Parelli
10
8
Rapport, Respect,
Impulsion, Flexion
Does Your Horse
Hate Corners?
Pat Parelli
Linda Parelli
BREED SPOTLIGHT
Marwari Horses
15
CENTERFOLD
Hot Jazz
20
DID YOU KNOW
Horse Facts
34
JUNIOR SAVVY
Kiddo of the Month
29
FLASHBACK
Movie Prep!
26
A Ten For Tessa
Sarah Drew
12
Remembering Why
Kellie Sybersma
Cover photo by Coco
4
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No Two Horses
Are Alike
BY PAT PARELLI
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This Is A Story About Horsenality, And The
Relationship Of Rapport And Respect.
I have two fine horses, Poncho and
Lefty, that are full brothers and are only
one month apart! Well, you ask, how
did that happen? This is the miracle of
what they call flush mates.
Cutting Horse Futurity. The word futurity
means, “contest for three year olds.” The
word futurity in the western performance
world means “a contest for young horses
that have never been shown.”
Poncho and Lefty are by a world
champion cutting horse stallion named,
Rockin W, owned by Alice Walton (who
owns Walmart).
There are over 700 horses here with four go
rounds; the first go round they eliminate
40% of the horses and it is narrowed down
to only about 260 horses. Second go round
gets down to about 100 horses to make the
semi-finals and in the finals they take the
top twenty-five.
The mother, Royal Red Peppy, is a full
sister to Peptoboonsmal, who is a world
champion and one of the top sires of
cutting horses of all time. The Atwood
Ranch bought Royal Red Peppy and
started flushing eggs out of her and
having as many as five or six foals a year
from her by putting the embryos into
other reset mares.
You might think that Poncho and Lefty
being full brothers, and one just month
apart, would be very similar. Well, they are
about as similar as chalk and cheese.
Poncho is a gorgeous red roan, Left Brain
Introvert and Lefty is on the axis of Right
Brain Introvert/Left Brain Extrovert. Poncho
is pretty laid back and even a little dull at
times, but Lefty has very thin skin, is very
sensitive, and quick to make opinions.
One year ago we started riding them and
now, 14 months on, we are in Fort Worth,
Texas at the world championships for the
As we have been preparing for this big
event it’s been quite interesting to see the
differences in how Poncho and Lefty have
advanced. The interesting teeter totter that
has been going on is one week you think
Poncho is going to be the horse that does
well, then the next week Lefty is the horse
that’s going to do well, then the next week
vise-versa, and sometimes it even happens
one day to the next.
So here we are at the futurity with both
horses are in their stalls. As most of you
know my horses live outside and are only
brought into the barn for grooming and
preparation to ride, then out they go again,
so it’s understandable that neither one of
them are tickled-to-death about being in
these stalls. To help, I have been trying to
be their playmate and exerciser, give them
the necessary attention, lots of grooming,
providing feed and water, cleaning the
stalls, and all the things you do to care for
horses living in stalls.
I walked by he started putting his ears
forward and would nicker to me – this is
all about rapport.
But on the fourth day, Lefty started pinning
his ears back as people approached the
stall. All the people, other than me, were
leading their horses by or just walking past
by themselves. At first Lefty did not pin
his ears back to me but then he started. I
thought, “This is about rapport and respect.”
To fix this, I approached it in a way that
would help him get interested in what I was
doing because it’s not about the ears – it’s
about the mental attitude.
But what is the relationship with rapport
and respect? My definition of respect is
“the appropriate response to pressure.”
If someone says hello to you as they are
walking by you have a lot of choices in how
to respond, but probably the appropriate
response is to smile and say “good morning”
back. Not everyone does that. Someone
saying “good morning” or “hello” to you is an
example of pressure.
The rapport part is Lefty not being happy
about being in the stall. So I started
opening the door and stepping back, with
Savvy String handy, allowing him to walk
out of the stall towards me about ten feet,
then presenting him with a cookie.
The next day, twenty feet, each time
with a cookie. After the third day when
One week you think
Poncho is going to be the
horse that does well, then
the next week Lefty is the
horse that’s going to do
well, then the next week
vise-versa, and sometimes
it even happens one day
to the next.
A lot of people think the word pressure is
a big evil word but we all have pressures,
including this thing called gravity (and by
the way, gravity always wins). The other
thing I want to bring up about respect is
that it has to be mutual, it’s not something
we get the horses to do with us only, we
respect the horse and we have to get the
horse to respect us.
Horses have needs, wants, thoughts, and
feelings. They are horses and we have to
respect that. This is a mutual relationship.
As we go along with respect I find that the
more I put into rapport, the respect that
Lefty had for me would grow.
Poncho, on the other hand, he is just
happy to see me. I show up and provide
him some entertainment and some fun.
So again, no two horses are alike, they are
like snowflakes, they look a lot alike, just
like these two horses that are bred exactly
the same but are chalk and cheese; Poncho
and Lefty.
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Blood Is Thicker
Than Water
Photo by Coco
BY PAT PARELLI
HOME
Horses Are Not Only Prey Animals,
They Are Herd Animals.
It is in a horse’s DNA to recognize other
members of their species, especially
members of their specific herd. This is
really important to know.
Because horses are a precocial species
they can bond to the oddest things.
You may have heard this expression
which originated at race tracks, “he’s
got your goat.”
Horses are herd animals needing other
animals to bond with, therefore people
would often put a goat in the stall with
the horse to keep him company. The
horse would fall in love with that goat,
and become emotionally distraught if
the goat was taken away.
The saying came about when horse
trainers looking for a competitive edge
would steal another horse’s goat before a
race. The horse would get very upset that
his friend was missing and run his race
before he even got out of the stall!
That is how important it is to horses to have
another animal they consider as part of
their herd.
I have often said that there are
a couple of things that goats do
that people don’t do:
1
They spend a
lot of time with
their horse.
2
The time they
spend together is
undemanding time.
3
hey are very good about
T
defending their boundaries
and personal space, and
therefore the horse respects
them for that – so the horse
likes them and respects them.
This is where the bonding starts. I believe
the reason horses have trouble with people
is because people think like people and
people think that horses think like people.
Every great horseman knows how horses
feel, think, act, and play. Our goal is to help
the world become a better place for horses
and humans that love them by helping
people learn how to think like horses.
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ARENA TIP
Does Your Horse
Hate Corners?
BY L INDA PARELLI
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Have You Noticed How
Horses Often Don’t Like
To Go Deep Into The
Corners In An Arena?
... And the more you make them do it the
worse they get!
Let’s look at it firstly from the horse’s point of
view: Being prey animals, horses are naturally
claustrophobic, afraid of being trapped… and
a corner is a trap. So that’s the first reason they
don’t want to go into corners, but the second
reason could be you!
A lot of people lean in when they turn and this
actually guides the horse in the same direction
– as they lean in it puts more weight on the
shoulder.
SOLVE THE PROBLEM
1. Build Your Horse’s Confidence In Corners.
If your horse is afraid of corners, make the corners rest
stops where your horse can find comfort instead of
pressure.
Ride to the corner, as close as your horse will go, then
stop with your horse facing into the corner for a good
30 seconds to a minute, doing nothing.
This will feel like an eternity, but it will make a
huge difference!
Do this in each corner until your horse starts to draw
to the corner and is actually wanting to go there.
If you do this for seven sessions in a row, your horse will
start to have a very different attitude about the corner,
rather than being a scary trap, it will start to look like a
comfy spot.
HINT: The more afraid of the corner your horse
is – won’t go close, can’t stand still - the longer
you should stay there. Later you can stop for a
few seconds.
Take the time it takes and in the end it will take less time
and help you solve the problem rather than wrestle with it
for the next months and years!
TRY THIS QUICK TEST:
Ride your horse along the rail at the walk on
a loose rein.
Now start pushing straight down on the
stirrup farthest from the wall and notice that
your horse will veer away from the wall!
In fact, you could walk around the arena and
experiment with this effect, weighting one
stirrup for 10 seconds, then weight the other
one.
2. Weight Your Outside Stirrup Going Through The Corner.
I learned this from Rider Biomechanics expert, Colleen
Kelly. A former dressage judge, she told me the secret of
riding sharper turns and deeper corners is to weight the
outside stirrup.
I was excited to try it, and sure enough… if I weighted
the inside stirrup I’d get a shallow corner, but if I
weighted the outside stirrup my horse would go
deeper into the corner! Pretty cool.
HINT: Just add some weight with the ball
of your foot on the stirrup. If you push the
stirrup forward, you won’t actually weight
it, so make sure you lightly push straight
down and not forward. Oh, and don’t lean
out either!
99% of the time, the horse will turn or veer in
the direction of the stirrup you weight.
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Rapport, Respect,
Impulsion, Flexion
BY PAT PARELLI
HOME
Horses Don’t Care How Much You Know Until They How Much You Care.
It took me a long time to figure this
out because when I was a young man,
besides having ‘young man’s disease,’
I just wanted to know what to do to
get horses to ride, slide, spin, win,
turn, burn and do all the fancy stuff I
wanted them to do.
I found out pretty quickly that I had to
get to the respect but I did not think
about the rapport and getting horses
to want to do something for me. In the
end, how I really discovered this was by
training mules.
I’ve had over 300 mules, either in training
or owned, over the years. You must treat
a mule like you should treat a horse.
Mules are just like horses and more so,
so when I talk about rapport, respect,
impulsion, and flexion it’s because mules
are like horses on steroids, you have to
do more of this.
I’ve found that if a mule doesn’t like
you, he’ll work against you and if he
loves you, he’ll do anything in the world
for you if he can. But you have to have
the leadership and a plan for him to go
forward with.
Think of it this way, if we combine
rapport, respect, impulsion and flexion
we have collection.
What I’ve found out is that if you really
THINK OF IT THIS WAY:
Rapport is heart collection,
Respect is mental collection,
Impulsion is emotional collection,
Flexion is physical collection.
want to be good with horses you need
to watch what everybody else does and
do the opposite. What I see most people
do is concern themselves with the
physical making of getting the horse to
put themselves into a physical position
- to put his head in, down, or wherever
they want with different gadgets and
thinking that’s collection. It’s really just
called subjection by forcing the horse to
do things.
Where I see that people still don’t get
it right is they do lots of rapport but no
respect, impulsion, or flexion. So the
two extremes are the ‘carrot person’ and
the ‘stick person’. Of course the carrot
person thinks the stick person is wrong
and the stick person thinks the carrot
person is wrong and they are both right
and wrong, it’s called being an extreme
middle of the road-ist.
I do whatever I can to get a horse to
like me and like what we are doing,
that’s the rapport part. I do whatever
I can to get my horse to respect me
and that comes from three things: one,
having a plan, two, having enough
will power to have leadership, three,
having impulsion and emotional
collection to where go equals whoa
and whoa equals go.
If you watch a horse play in the field, he
can run as fast as he can, come to a stop
put his head down in two seconds and
begin to graze. But when people ride
horses, they ask a horse to gallop and
they ask the horse to stop, the horse is
usually so upset or emotional that he or
she is all fizzy on the inside, so how do
we get these things to happen? This is
what the Parelli Program is about.
The last part is the physical shaping
of the horse for different maneuvers
to prepare to a position to make a
transition, and the position on the
horse’s end before you ask him to do
something can be important.
It’s going to be important that the
horse knows how to yield to your
hands, your legs, your seat, and to
your thoughts - which is the willpower.
In the end, if you want
to have true collection you
must have rapport first
without losing respect,
have respect without
losing rapport, have
impulsion without losing
rapport or respect, and
then work on the flexion
system in your horse.
Think of each one of those four
things as a system, and it’s a little
bit like a gas engine: air, fuel and
fire. It takes all of those systems to
be harmonized together to get the
results that we want.
Remember, there’s nothing you can’t
do when the horse becomes apart of
you – Rapport, Respect, Impulsion,
and Flexion is how you get your horse
to be your true partner.
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Remembering Why
BY K ELLIE SYBERSMA
2-STAR PARELLI PROFESSIONAL
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Given That You Are Reading This Article, I Think It’s
Safe To Say You Are On A Journey In Your Horsemanship,
I Too Am On The Same Voyage.
In the last couple of years I have
learned something that I would like
to share with you, the importance
of remembering why you are on
this journey.
To give you a little background I’ve
been around horses my whole life, I
consider myself blessed to be able to say
I was “raised in a barn.” I started natural
horsemanship 12 years ago, I was 11 at the
time, my mom was curious so she put me
in a Parelli clinic. It took me a few years, but
by the age of 13 I was hooked.
A few years into Parelli, I started to get
really serious about natural horsemanship
and my parents and I made the decision
that upon turning 18 I would go to the
Parelli University. When that day finally
rolled around, and I was on campus, I
decided that horses were no longer going
to just be recreation for me, they were
going to be my profession – and I was
going to become a Parelli Professional. Fast
forward a few years and here I am, a Level
4 graduate and a 2-Star Parelli Professional
actively teaching in Ontario, Canada.
I have always been competitive in my
horsemanship, prior to Parelli I competed
in the Caribbean on the show jumping
circuit, in the summers in Canada I dabbled
in the hunter jumper world. Later, I was on
the Asheville Boarding School Equestrian
Team in North Carolina. Next I found
myself in the Endurance, Ride & Tie and
Competitive Trail world, and now I have
arrived as a Dressage competitor.
I don’t think my competitive experience
sets me apart, I think most of us are
competitive, even those of us who don’t
compete in the traditional sense. You see,
those of us with that competitive spirit
are always competing, even if it’s just
against ourselves. I love my competitive
drive, it keeps me moving, keeps me
motivated, but sometimes, when it goes
unchecked, it can become a hindrance to
my horsemanship.
During my time as a Parelli student on
campus, going through the Professional’s
pathway program, and now, as an
instructor in the field, I have seen many
folks allow their competitive spirit to come
between them and their horses. I see it,
because I have been there myself.
I don’t think I am the only one who is
familiar with that burning desire to just
get that flying change, to get those close
range liberty circles, get my horse to jump
higher, run faster, etc., etc., etc.! All of these
things that we want to “get” our horses to
do, often for the sake of our ego and to
please that competitive drive. Whether the
reason is to pass an audition or earn a level,
perform well in a demo, or just prove that
you can!
I went through a time not so long ago that
this competitive drive to have everything
be just perfect, exactly how I planned it
would be, and be able to check off every
task, that I became so serious about it all,
and I lost the fun – I lost the love.
You see, I believe there is a shift that
happens in people when they decide to
take this horsemanship thing “seriously,”
I was extreme in that I decided to take it
from recreation to profession, but there
are other levels of this, such as deciding
to finally film in an audition, setting a goal
to earn a level, or trying to qualify for a
course. All of these things can be enough
to tip the scales away from recreation. This
is part of the journey, or at least, it was part
of mine, but I hope that this article can
help lessen your time spent in this phase
(for the sake of you, and your horse!).
a photo, that transformed my horse life as I
knew it. This photo was of a toddler Kellie,
peering through the arena fence looking at
the horses, watching a riding lesson.
The moment I saw this photo everything
changed. There I was, little mini-Kellie,
mesmerized by horses. This moment sent
me time-travelling, back to the days when
all I wanted to do was ride a horse, pet a
horse, go to the dollar store and buy a toy
horse. The days when I was in complete
awe of these magnificent creatures.
I started looking for more photos,
searching for the answer, looking for my
“why.” I came across a photo of little me on
a pony ride, clinging to the saddle horn for
dear life with a grin ear to ear and a sparkle
in my eye. I found another of myself
dressed as a princess, this time a little older
and more relaxed, going along for the ride.
And then a little older still, leading a pony
There was a point in time that came, when
I realized I wasn’t having fun and neither
was my horse, and I had to have a chat
with myself to figure out what was going
on. In this exploratory phase, I came across
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to the arena for a lesson. In all of these
photos the purity of love for the equine
species is glaringly evident. The light and
life in my eyes shows a time when it was all
magic, the fulfilment of dreams.
I still have goals, and
I am still competitive,
but now, I notice
the small things, the
small improvements,
the small changes,
and I am able to take
pleasure in them.
These photos showed me that I had lost
respect for what I was doing, a day spent
with a horse is a day that should never
be taken for granted. Here I was living
my childhood dream and I wasn’t even
enjoying it! I was too busy waiting for
the next thing, working towards passing
that next Level, qualifying for that next
course, working on a new demo, that I
wasn’t even enjoying it and all I could
see was what wasn’t working. I had no
gratification in all of the things that were
going well. My poor horses!
I started to make an effort to smile,
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to giggle with my horses, to find that
magic again. Taking the time between
activities to just stop and look and
admire my horses. To pet them with the
joy I had as an infant. Reconnecting to
my reason for having horses brought
back all of the initial joy, excitement and
bliss that I felt as a child.
Since that time, I have found balance. I still
have goals, and I am still competitive, but
now, I notice the small things, the small
improvements, the small changes, and I am
able to take pleasure in them. I make the
time to admire my horses forelock blowing
in the wind just so,
the smell of their
breathe as they rest
their muzzle against
me, the prick of an
ear when we are
communicating.
Anytime I feel
myself getting too
serious about this
whole horse thing,
I remind myself of
the mini Kellie who
is still a part of me,
and I remind myself
that I am doing all
of this for her.
Heck, my career is
playing with horses,
and helping others
to do the same, I
really shouldn’t take
myself too seriously
– and neither
should you!
Horses are
supposed to be
fun, and we are
supposed to be fun for them, and without
the fun, there can be no magic!
This article is for anyone who has lost the
fun with their horses, those who feel the
magic is missing, those who are no longer
being energized by time in the barn.
Don’t let your love be buried by a nagging
competitive spirit. Remember WHY you are
doing this.
For me, it’s all because of a childhood
dream. My challenge for you is to first
figure out your reason. It could be
anything, maybe it all started when you
where young like myself, or perhaps the
fire lit inside when you met your first horse
as an adult. Whatever your reason is, find it,
and then I challenge you to hold tight to it!
Remind yourself of it daily, relive the initial
euphoria every time you see your horse.
If you are having a bad horse day, or horse
moment, step aside and revisit your why,
and be true to it – no one gets a horse
because they want it to be hard, or they
want to be frustrated!
Why did you get your horse? Remember
that, remember what you were looking to
feel, what type of relationship you wanted
to have, and focus on that, live in that
energy and recreate your dream.
I’ve found that no horse day can be a bad
horse day if I only remember my why, and
stay true to that little Kellie living inside
me. Each day with my horses I feel the love,
I feel the joy, and I feel the magic.
HOME
“Jazz is the most challenging
horse I’ve had to train… not
because he has baggage, but
because he is very hot, high
spirited, and RBI (Right Brain
Introvert)! He’s my exact
opposite, so he has taught me
a LOT about patience. Quite
honestly, the first couple of
years felt like watching grass
grow, I had to go so slowly and
really work on his confidence.
But it sure paid off. One day, I
suddenly felt him blossom and
out came all this wonderful
expression, exuberance and
power!”—Linda Parelli
Hot Jazz, Linda’s 8-year-old
Oldenburg warmblood super horse!
He is by Hotline (Old.) out of Tamarinde
by Jazz, KWPN.
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BREED SPOTLIGHT
Marwari Horses of India
BY LEAH VAN DINTHER, MEMBER SINCE 2009
Photos by Jeremy Van Dinther & Poonam Chand
Leah & the
black stallion
Rajpraladh
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Leah’s First Day with Rajpraladh
Leah with the famous
Marwari stallion, Sultan
Raise Your Hand If You’ve Ever Heard Of
The Marwari Horses Of India!
Now, how many of you raised
your hands? Likely, only about 10%
of you did.
Not many know about this exotic and very
rare breed of horse, so let me enlighten
you to this gorgeous creature that is a part
of India’s cultural heritage.
The Marwari horse hails from the Marwar
region in the North West of India, about
where modern day Jodhpur is. They have
been bred there since the 12th century
as warhorses, and the mounts of Kings
and Princes.
They were said to have been created
when seven Arabian horses washed up
on the shores of India after a disastrous
shipwreck and bred with the native ponies
that inhabited the area at the time. Indeed,
the Marwari horse is the only indigenous
Indian breed that carries Arabian genes, as
well as genes from the Mongolian horse
and the Akhal-Teke horses of Turkmenistan.
Marwari horses come in all equine colors,
with piebald and skewbald being the most
prized. Their most distinguishing feature
are their ears: they are long and slender
with distinctive, inward-curling ear-tips.
These horses usually stand between 15hh
and 16.2hh, have slightly convex profiles
and an upright frame. They are noble
looking, and carry themselves proudly,
with their heads held high in the air. They
display a singlefoot gait, called the rewaal
or revaal, which makes them extremely
smooth and comfortable to ride.
They are known for their temperamental
nature and their bravery. It was said that
there were only three ways a Marwari
would leave the battlefield: 1) In victory;
2) In death; or 3) If carrying a wounded
master to safety.
“Well, how did you find out all of this stuff,
and why?” you may ask. I used to be a
Montessori teacher for children ages 3-6.
The children used to love to ask me all
sorts of questions. They all knew that I love
horses (really, no one who has ever met me
could doubt it), and various children would
sit with me and we would look through the
school’s biggest horse book while I told
them about how amazing horses are. The
most asked question about horses was:
“What’s THAT horse? His ears are silly!” We
would invariably be looking at the photo
of the Marwari horse. So, to find out more
to tell the children (and to assuage my own
curiosity), I looked them up online. I found
a few paragraphs in Wikipedia, and not
much else. And then I found the story
of Chetak....
Chetak was the war-mount of Maharana
Pratap during the Battle of Haldighati, June
21, 1576. He was said to have a bluish tinge
to his coat, which is why Maharana Pratap
is known as the “Rider of the Blue Horse” in
many folk ballads.
The story says that Maharana Pratap’s
forces were decisively outnumbered by
the Imperial Mughal army, which was
commanded by Raja Man Singh, seated on
the back of a war-elephant.
Beautiful pageantry
Just as the battle seemed all but lost,
M. Pratap turned Chetak and rode him
into the front ranks of the invading army!
He fought his way through the ranks of
enemy combatants, left and right, and
rode Chetak right up to Raja Man Singh’s
elephant. Chetak reared up and drummed
his hooves on the elephant’s forehead,
while M. Pratap threw his spear at Raja Man
Singh up top. The spear struck the mahout
(elephant driver) instead, killing him
instantly and causing the elephant to go
out of control, turning the tide of battle.
Now, in those days, the elephants were
taught to fight alongside the men. Some
were even taught to use giant swords! Just
such an elephant was the one upon which
Raja Man Singh rode.
The story goes on, saying that, while
Chetak was fighting with the elephant, he
received a “fatal blow” to one of his legs...
but he refused to fall. Instead, he carried
Maharana Pratap out into the countryside,
jumped over a river and ran on, eventually
collapsing and dying in the arms of his
beloved rider.
Maharana Pratap erected a monument
for Chetak at the place where he fell.
The cenotaph still exists at Haldighati in
Rajsamand District.
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Needless to say, I was blown away by this
story! How amazing! How interesting! I
had to find out more! I looked and looked
online and finally found the Marwari Horse
Society of India.
I signed up to join the webpage, and
a few days later was contacted on
Facebook by one of the members, my
friend Rathore Inder Singh Ren.
We had a few conversations about
horses, and then I told him about Pat
and Linda Parelli and their philosophy
of how horse training can be kind and
communicative, instead of forceful and
domineering. He was extremely receptive
to this idea, and proceeded to introduce
me (on Facebook) to the top breedphotographer, Manu Sharma. He also
liked the things I had to say.
One day, last year, Manu showed me
a photo of his niece, a new rider, on
the back of a Marwari mare. I made a
comment, and the very next day, she was
sending me messages, asking me if I could
coach her online, because the points I had
made had already helped with her very
next riding lesson.
I proceeded to tell her about Parelli and
told her some of the founding principles.
(The fact that horses are prey animals
and humans are predators was a HUGE
revelation to her!) We talked many times
about horse philosophy and Parelli
concepts and, in February 2015, she sent
me a photo of her on a famous Marwari
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Leah with Badal
mare, called Mare Mohini. They had been
invited to ride in a 40 km endurance race,
and they had finished sixth! She said that
all of the things I had been telling her had
made the ride even possible, and she was
able to get Mohini to both listen to and
connect with her.
Later, Manu Sharma showed photos of
the Muktsar fair, one of the biggest horsefairs in India. I saw photos and videos that
proved to me, beyond the shadow of a
doubt, that India NEEDS Parelli.
So I was invited to India to work with
Marwari horses! I have stayed in Calcutta,
in a tiny village called Ren (where my
friend, Rathore Inder Singh Ren, owns
and lives in a 500-year-old stable where
Marwari horses were bred for the
Maharaja). I am currently in Jodhpur, the
Sun City, where I was invited to ride in the
third annual Marwari Horse Show.
I have worked with several horses while
here and have found this breed to have
intelligent minds, a bonding nature, and
amazing suspension in their gaits (their
trot is dreamy! It’s so smooth, you can’t
even post to it!).
It is a dream come true for me: to work
with exotic horses and show people
how it can be done without force or
intimidation or coercion. It just goes to
show, Parelli can change the world, one
horse, one human, at a time. We really
CAN make this world a better place for
horses and humans!
MARWARI HORSE PROFILE
Registered Name: Badal
Best Savvy: On Line
Age: Partner: Leah Van Dinther and Rathore
Inder Singh Ren
5
Breed: Marwari
Color:Black with white stockings and
white blaze
Height: 15.2 hands
Sports: Pleasure Riding
Horsenality: LBI
Parelli Level: Pre-Level 1/Just Starting
About: A very calm and gentle stallion,
belonging to a very calm and gentle man.
He really proves the saying: your horse is
your mirror.
Leah is currently in India playing with these
beautiful horses! Leah was also one of our
$1000 shopping spree winners in our 21 Days
of Parelli Holiday Cheer in 2015-16!
HOME
HOME
DID YOU
KNOW...?
Horse Facts
A horse’s knee joint is equivalent to a
human wrist and their hock joint is equivalent
to the human ankle.
According to Arabian folklore, chestnut horses
are the fastest and bravest of all the colors.
Horses cannot vomit!
When cantering, a horse takes a breath with
every stride.
The first cloned horse was a Haflinger mare in
Italy, in 2003.
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HOME
”
.
.
.
.
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
A
“
ay
S
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HOME
1.Horses don’t care how much you
know until they:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Are done eating
Know how much money you have
Know how much you care
Decide they like you
2.Your horse is never:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Wrong
Bored
Unmotivated
Scared
Rapport, Respect,
Impulsion, Flexion Quiz
3. Parelli defines respect as:
a. The appropriate response to your tools
b. The appropriate response to pressure
4.The three reasons horses have
trouble with us are:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Fear, dominance, hunger
Fear, pain, confusion
Fear, dominance, confusion
Disrespect, dominance, lack of rapport
5. Impulsion is:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Emotional collection
When go equals whoa
When whoa equals go
All of the above
6. Short horses need:
a. Straight lines
b. Circles
7. Long horses need:
a. Straight lines
b. Circles
8. There are ____ types of flexion:
a. 2
b. 4
c. 6
9. Lateral flexion is for:
a. Emergency stopping
b. Relaxation and trust
c. To prepare for hindquarter disengagement
d. All of the above
10. R
apport is heart collection, respect
is mental collection, impulsion is
physical collection, and flexion is
neck and head collection:
a. True
b. False
Answers
1. c, 2. a, 3. b, 4. c, 5. d, 6. a, 7. b., 8. b, 9. d, 10. b.
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THE PARELLI FOUNDATION
Help make the world a better place for horses and humans with the Parelli
Foundation, an independent, non-profit organization for the natural
horsemanship community! The Parelli Foundation is focused on providing
programs and assistance, financial and otherwise, in the following areas:
• Youth Horsemanship
• Horse Welfare
• Therapeutic Horsemanship
• Equine Talent & Career Scholarships
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This wonderful organization is dedicated to fulfilling
Pat Parelli’s lifelong mission of providing natural, effective
horsemanship education to students all around the world,
for the benefit of horses and the humans that love them.
Visit parellifoundation.org to learn more!
HOME
FUN CHALLENGE
Sideways Into Transitions
Can you go sideways to
the rail and then step out
into a trot...
Go sideways to the rail
and then step out into a
canter?
Click on the play button and
watch Linda show you how!
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HOME
A Ten For Tessa
BY S ARAH DREW
2-STAR PARELLI PROFESSIONAL
HOME
Last February I Had The Opportunity
To Take Linda’s Master Class At The Florida
Parelli Campus.
During that course, we learned the
Finesse Training Sequence that helped
our horses become forward, relaxed,
and supple first with a loose rein, and
then with contact.
Linda and her team, including Ryan Pfouts,
her protégé and a gifted teacher, helped us
improve our position and understand how
to support the horse and be athletic in our
own bodies.
After that course, I decided I was ready
to participate in dressage competitions,
something I had done a handful of
times in the past. I took a lesson with a
dressage instructor who recommended
I start at Training level. Her advice was
to make the test the easy part, since
the showing experience would be new
and stressful in itself. That way my horse
Tessa would leave the show ground with
a positive experience.
In the spring and summer of 2015 we
attended three dressage schooling shows.
At the first one in May I rode training
test 1 in a class called ‘fix a test.’ This is a
wonderful concept where the rider gets a
mini lesson in the midst of a dressage show
by riding the test and while still in the ring,
receives verbal comments from the judge.
Then we immediately rode the test again
and got another debrief. The score sheet
showed both sets of scores and comments.
In our second show a month later, we rode
training test 1, and won the class. There was
a long break before our second test and I
spent the time riding parts of training test
2 over and over again – so much so that
when I went into the arena Tessa was tired
and her gait was uneven. I stopped after
the first circle and scratched from the class.
Tessa had given such a great effort, that I
didn’t want to force her to complete this
second one when she was uncomfortable.
I went home and that started a two month
downward spiral of lameness issues, that
was finally resolved when we confirmed
she had Lyme disease and put her on a
course of antibiotics.
During her recovery, I did very little riding,
and what I did do was at the walk. We
played with accuracy, good circles, straight
lines and particularly how to get Tessa
to take responsibility for a square halt. I
realized that what I ‘thought’ was a square
halt was usually uneven. I had to learn what
that square halt felt like, without leaning
over and looking.
I rewarded Tessa when she halted
square, by pets, ‘good girl’ and
occasionally a cookie. When she got
stronger, we started riding trot to halt.
If the halt wasn’t square, we would trot
around and down a straight line and
halt again. I didn’t make it punishment,
rather it was repetition – of how can we
make this feel straight and square.
At first, we would trot, halt and trot again,
it might take 5 or 10 minutes, during which
we did 10 to 20 transitions before a square
halt came (and it was often my fault, rather
than hers that the halt wasn’t square).
I learned how to stay out of her way while
keeping a clear focus – and soften into
the halt (sometimes by way of a few walk
steps), by dropping my energy while
maintaining a steady contact with the reins.
In a few weeks, her halts were consistently
square, and my focus was much better at
knowing whether we were straight down
our line.
In September Tessa was healthy and full
of energy, so we went to a third schooling
show, completing training tests 2 and 3.
After I halted at the end of the first test,
the judge congratulated us, and said “I
gave you a 10 on your entrance and halt.
You were the best of the day and I saw
only two legs!”
My mouth dropped in surprise: I had never
heard of a 10 being given out – the rule of
thumb was if you get a six, you should be
pleased.
We collected a first place ribbon for our
effort. After the last show and her recovery,
I was very concerned about over-riding, so
in between the classes, I got off and hand
grazed Tessa for 45 minutes. I hopped on
a few minutes before the class did a walk,
trot and halt and went into the test. I was
thrilled that she had plenty of energy,
so much so that she decided she would
rather trot than walk in one movement. We
received a second place ribbon for that test.
When I decided to bring my horses to
Florida this winter, I planned to ride with
Pat, assist in a course on campus and
attend some schooling shows in first level,
with the goal of moving to second level
next summer.
I signed up for a schooling show at
Longwood, which is conveniently just
down the street from the Parelli Center. It
was the day after a full week of riding with
Pat. That week with Pat was wonderful
and so full there was no time to practice a
dressage routine with Tessa.
I memorized the first level test 1 in the
evenings and refreshed my memory for
training test 3. I went on You Tube and
watched several clips of horses and riders
completing the first level test, which gave
me a good picture of what it should look
like. I wasn’t concerned about not riding
Tessa through the test in advance, as
we had previous experience with all the
movements.
Friday Pat had us working on circles,
sideways and hind quarter control. We rode
in a big arena and he brought a few cows
in as distractions. I found myself searching
for the cows, worrying about their affect on
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HOME
the horses, until Pat said “focus on where
you’re going!” and I came back to
my senses.
Pat’s words were still with me the next
day when I got to the show. Since Tessa
didn’t know the test, it was my job to focus
strongly on where we were going. When
we got to the show grounds, I hand walked
her through the test in the grassy area
near our trailer. That simple task helped to
calm both of us down before saddling and
walking to the ‘real’ warm up area.
I let her graze while watching some of the
other riders and then we moseyed around
checking out some jumps and flags. After
some brief traveling circles at walk, trot
and canter, I got on and asked for a freely
forward walk and trot (number one on the
finesse ladder) and then picked up the
reins and did ‘ride the line’ to connect with
her. I rode through the first few movements
on training test 3 and finished with a brief
canter, trot, and halt, and then we went in
to do training test 3.
Tessa settled into her job, and we came
down the center line and went through the
test without a hitch. After the final salute,
the judge said “Wow what a ride your horse
just gave you!” She gave me advice on how
to ride the trot stretch circle and remarked
that I had not come all the way to the letter
in one movement.
In the time between the first and second
test, I walked Tessa and reviewed the first
level test 1. I wanted to improve the trot
stretch circle and increase my accuracy. As
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After I halted at the end
of the first test, the judge
congratulated us, and said
“I gave you a 10 on your
entrance and halt. You
were the best of the day
and I saw only two legs!”
soon as we entered, I could feel Tessa
following my focus, responding like a
true partner. I felt like I had lasers for
eyes as I rode past the letters, keeping
track of where we were and getting
prepared for the next movement.
The judge was beaming when I
halted at the end, praised Tessa’s
willingness and told me that my
accuracy had raised our overall scores
on impulsion, gaits, and submission
from a six to a seven! As I was talking with
some of the spectators afterward, the show
manager came up and said “Look at this,
I’ve never seen it before!” The judge had
given me a ten for my entrance and halt!
I never expected to get one ten, let alone
two from different judges for the same
movement! We went home with two
blue ribbons.
Schooling shows are a great place to get
used to competition. Each one I attended
had a supportive and friendly atmosphere.
The judges have all been positive and
provided encouragement and helpful tips.
Dressage schooling shows have walk-trot
‘intro’ classes for those with young horses
or who aren’t ready for cantering. It gives
exposure and experiences in a friendly and
supportive atmosphere.
I feel so fortunate to have found Parelli
so many years ago. It improved my
horsemanship, changed my life and has
enriched all my relationships. And now
it has enabled me to re-enter the show
world, albeit on a small scale, and make the
experience a pleasure for me and my horse.
How I prepared:
• I used the first six steps of the Finesse
Sequence as a routine part of my warm up.
• I did a lot of riding freely forward on a
long rein at trot (and eventually with a light
contact at canter) until both me and Tessa
felt comfortable and relaxed at a higher
level of energy. Then I practiced keeping
this same feeling when I had contact with
the reins.
• I worked on my position when Tessa was
going freely forward, figuring out how to
be balanced, keep my body up and straight
(rather than leaning forward) and staying
strong in my core and legs. (I thought of
‘riding like royalty.’)
• I played with making transitions
from gait to gait smooth, effortless, and
forward feeling.
• I started with walk/halt/backup/trot
transitions and worked up to trot/halt/trot
and canter/halt/canter – so all I needed to
go or stop was to change my energy and
intention and did not have to make any
other change in my body.
• We practiced stretching through the rein
in walk/trot – great to do on the trail – I
got her to follow my hand/feel without
grabbing or pulling at the reins. I let the
reins out a bit at a time and waited for the
horse to settle into the longer feel, then
lengthen the reins a bit more, until I had a
nice feel at different lengths.
• I learned and practiced riding the
dressage test ‘backwards’ (5-Star Parelli
Instructor David Lichman told me this).
Start with the last three movements and
memorize them. Then take the next three
and learn those and the last three. Then the
next three in front of that and learn those
and the last six etc. That way I learned the
end of the test the best (and practiced it
the most).
• I worked on pieces of tests rather than
the whole test.
• I focused on where I was going and tried
to be accurate in when and how I did each
transition, circle, or turn.
• I gave myself plenty of time at the show
grounds for both me and Tessa to look
around and get used to the place.
• I went with the attitude that just showing
up was a success. If my horse wasn’t
ready to go in the ring, that was okay. I
appreciated what she offered me and
remembered there’s always another day.
• I always thank the judge, ring steward,
show manager, and all the volunteers
helping at the show.
HOME
FLASHBACK
1989 – Did you know that Pat was the specialist who prepared Tom Selleck
to be a better rider for his part in the movie Quigley Down Under? Pat said
Tom is an incredible human being - fast learner, focused, authentic.
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SPORTS SPOTLIGHT
Combined Driving
BY S AMANTHA THORNING
Photos by Coco
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Pat and Caton
Parelli with Zeus and
combined driving
cart (called a Spider).
HOME
The Sport Of Combined Driving
There is something about competing
in sets of threes that people must love,
because we see it come up frequently
in the competitive world.
Take the Ironman Triathlon for example,
it is a series of races held over three days
comprised of running, bicycling, and
swimming. Then there’s the 3-Day Novel
Contest where writers have just 72 hours
to create a completed fictional novel. I’m
sure you’ve also heard of 3-Day Eventing,
in which horse and rider compete over the
course of three days in stadium jumping,
cross country, and dressage.
competition.
Navigators
help the drivers
and grooms
balance the
carriage,
keeping it
upright in fast and tight turns. Navigators
also help the drivers remember where to
go on the course, keeping time and notes
for the driver.
Then we have the
sport of Combined
Driving, also known
as horse driving trials.
A unique, three-day
experience for the
driven horse. The trials
are designed to evaluate speed, stamina,
obedience, and athleticism in dressage,
obstacle, and marathon driving.
Drivers can choose to run a single horse,
a pair of horses, or a team of four horses.
Any breed of horse or pony is acceptable
for competition, though warmbloods and
Morgan horses are popular at the higher
levels.
If a driver is driving more than one horse
to a carriage it is ideal for horses to be
of similar height and body type so they
can move similarly and work together.
Cosmetically, matched colors and body
type are also preferred by judges.
Now, it’s obvious there must be a driver
and horse(s) to compete, but did you know
there are also grooms and navigators
that play a key role in the success of the
team? Grooms stay with the carriage at
all times, holding reins, and keeping the
horses and carriage safe especially when
stopped. Grooms help hitch and harness,
assisting the driver as needed, though
they are to remain silent during the actual
Carriages may either be two- or fourwheeled, however four-wheeled carriages
are the most popular due to their added
stability. Carriages have hydraulic disc
brakes, a low center of gravity, and
extending axles so the carriage can be
used in all phases of competition.
Day 1, or Phase 1, of the competition is
dressage, judged on two presentations.
As a post-Level 4
activity, Combined
Driving takes a strong
foundation and years
of dedication to truly
have an excellent
partnership.
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Day 3, or Phase 3, is the Obstacle Cone
Driving and is considered to be equivalent
to the show jumping phase of Eventing.
The course is laid out with up to 20 pairs of
cones, spaced just centimeters wider than
the spread of the carriage wheels. Judged
on accuracy, speed, and obedience, hitting
cones or refusing a section of the course is
a penalty, as well as being over time.
The first presentation is based on turnout,
safety, cleanliness, general condition and
impression of the horses, tack, and vehicle,
the matching of the horses or ponies, and
the dress of the driver and groom(s).
The second presentation happens during
the actual dressage test, scored while the
horse(s) and driver perform a variety of
maneuvers, including circles and figures
of eight, at all gaits. Judging is based on
accuracy, responsiveness of the horse(s),
and quality of movement.
A competition like Combined Driving relies
on each horse-human team to have big
doses of rapport, respect, impulsion and
flexion. As a post-Level 4 activity it takes a
strong foundation and years of dedication
to truly have an excellent partnership at
this level.
Day 2, or Phase 2, is the marathon driving
which is composed of three sections. The
first and third sections, known as A and
B, are usually performed at the trot. The
middle section, known as the Transfer, is
often done at the walk
and may include a vet
check at the end.
The challenge lies in the
obstacles, which can be
natural features such as
water, trees, and slopes,
but can also include
man-made objects like
posts and rails.
Drivers choose between a
choice of routes through
the obstacles, deciding
whether to go on a
shorter, more challenging
route, or a longer route
that allows for more
maneuverability.
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Head over to our Savvy Club forums and
find the thread “Driving Horses” under
Touchstone > Rapport, Respect, Impulsion,
Flexion and share your thoughts about
the sport! We want to hear from you, so
tell us, what Savvy do YOU think Driving
is? We’ll give you the “Pat answer” at the
end of the month!
Combined Driving events are governed
internationally by the FEI and the National
Federation level by the USEF. For more
information visit https://www.usef.
org/_iframes/breedsdisciplines/discipline/
alldriving.aspx!
DRIVING VIDEOS:
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=pmviGMSDaD4
https://youtu.be/NpSgNSmJ6Ks
https://youtu.be/uSmveYLhR4M
HOME
No Rapport...
No Respect...
So, therefore ol’ chap....
No Impulsion!
Illustrations by
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J U N I O R S AV V Y
Meet Level 1 Graduate,
Emma Grace
Our featured Parelli kiddo this month
is nine-year-old Emma Grace. Emma
Grace is an ambitious, talented young
horsewoman in the making!
She has committed to never-ending
self-improvement by riding her pony
regularly and studying with 2-Star
Parelli Professionals Kat Green, Ashley
Tippets, Samantha Thorning, and 3-Star
Parelli Professional Mattie Cowherd in
Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Emma Grace passed her Level 1 this
summer at one of the local Pagosa
Springs Parelli Kids Workshops.
Watch Emma Grace’s Level 1 Audition
here: https://youtu.be/l1uhc06s3MM
What do you love about horses?
One thing I love about horses is that my
horse is always there for me.
Tell us a little about your horse:
My horse, Cockleburr, is an 18-year-old
pony. He was a champion rodeo horse
before I owned him. So, he has a lot
of “GO!” When I first got him, he was a
little bit too fast for me. I learned the
Parelli Seven Games with him and now
he listens to me a lot better.
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What is your favorite thing to do
with Cockleburr?
My favorite thing to do with him is ride
bareback. We also do speed events and
trail ride. He is a much better trail horse
since we started Parelli.
How has Parelli helped you with
your horse?
The Parelli Program has helped me
understand my horse better, built
confidence, and we have a much
better relationship.
What is your dream with horses?
One of my dreams with horses is to be
able to ride and understand all different
kinds of horses.
Tell us about one of your favorite
memories with horses:
One of my favorite horse memories
is when I won my first buckle with
Cockleburr at the County Fair
Horse Show.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I like taking lessons and going to
camp with Parelli Instructors so I
can learn more about horses and
have fun.
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HOME
Level 1 On Line = Red Savvy String
Level 2 On Line + FreeStyle = Blue Savvy String
VIEW A LIST OF OUR MOST
RECENT LEVELS PATHWAY
GRADUATES!
The Parelli Levels Program began in 1991. It was the first
ever horsemanship home study “college” course of its kind
designed to teach people how to become a horseman and
professional, comprising four levels in “Four Savvys:” On Line,
Liberty, FreeStyle, and Finesse. Each month, students who
graduate these official levels are awarded certificates.
See this months list of official graduates!
If you are new to the Savvy Club, the Levels Program is
built into the curriculum. But if you are ambitious or have
professional goals, you may want to get more in depth and
participate in Levels tests as well. (You’ll learn more about
this option in Touchstone 5 - The Four Savvys.)
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Level 3 On Line + Liberty + FreeStyle
= Green Savvy String
Level 4 On Line + Liberty + FreeStyle + Finesse
= Black Savvy String
HOME
The Parelli Web Shop
Savvy Mastery:
On Line, A Mental
Connection
with Silke Vallentin
Renowned 4-Star Parelli Instructor Silke
Vallentin is known for her breathtaking
displays of the On Line Savvy on the
ground with her horses, which take On
Line to a level of mastery that few have
ever achieved. On this expansive DVD
set, Silke lets you in on the secrets that
will help you develop your On Line skills
beyond Parelli Level 4!
Silke frames these lessons with her Four
Qualities of an Exercise – a set of guidelines
that influences everything she does with
her horses. Over the course of this
four disc set, Silke is joined by three
students for hands-on teaching sessions:
Parelli Professionals Liz Jones, Shawn
Coleman, and Fawn Anderson. She
emphasizes the importance of selfreflection and patience, setting these
students and their horses
“This video series will knock your socks
off. I’ve watched all four DVDs twice in
about a week, and have six pages of
notes! I’ve been implementing these
philosophies with my Left-Brain Introvert
mare the last few times I’ve played with
her, and I’m getting phenomenal results
already, both on the ground and in the
saddle. One of the best products ever
from Parelli! Well done Silke!”—Steve
Check out our online shop for the latest and
greatest in Parelli products! From education
and equipment to apparel and accessories,
and everything in between, the Parelli Web
Shop is your one-stop shop for all things
Parelli!
up for everything they’ll encounter in Level
4 and beyond.
This immersive product includes student
lessons, breakaway sessions, and a
14-page accompanying pocket guide
(English version). From refining your cues
and fine-tuning your body language to
managing your energy and improving your
horse’s biomechanics, you’ll learn all that
and more with Savvy Mastery: On Line
with Silke Vallentin!
Runtime: 5 hours, 18 minutes. MULTILANGUAGE available with English & German
audio track.
www.parellisavvyclub.com |
37
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Meet Our Parelli Partners! www.parelli.com/partners
Dear Savvy Club Member,
We are happy to introduce our
official Parelli Partners! Each of
these wonderful companies share
our dedication to improving the
horse industry, and the quality of
their products is matched only
by the strength of their principles
and values. To our Parelli Partners
- thank you for doing what you
do, and for helping us make the
world a better place for horses
and humans!
—Pat & Linda Parelli
Horse Motels
International
38
| www.parellisavvyclub.com
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