This is a topic that I did see covered in one of Pats' DVDs, snag is I can't remember which one and I have dozens ! Therefore I am going to write my own piece on the subject as I see it and hope it reflects Pats' thoughts as well.
To many people it seems that they only think they are "doing" Parelli when they are with there horse in the school, round pen or whatever and are playing variations of the seven games. Natural horsemanship is so much more than that. As Becka reminded me in my recent lesson with Billy the interactions of natural horsemanship start the moment that the horse is aware of your presence. As we don't know when that is we had better act accordingly all the time we are in the vicinity of the yard. After all horses can easily distinguish your presence from the sound of you foot falls as we all have a slightly different gait. On James' yard he expects everyone to walk with a purpose whether or not they are leading a horse such that it just becomes a habit. He says that he, and Pat, can detect a truly natural horseman just by the way they move !
Often the first physical interaction occurs as we enter the stable. It is worth reflecting how you would feel if someone entered your bedroom without the manners to ask permission and then gave you a big personal space invading hug. At my friend Garry's yard recently I did just that. I got out of my car, walked over and gave him a big hug, his face was a picture. I then asked how it felt. "Invasive". I then shook his hand and put an arm on his shoulder, which felt pleasant. The difference was not the actual actions but how they were carried out, in the second case the hand shake asked permission to touch him. Even in humans the difference of feeling ok and violated occurs at a deep subconscious level and is not using our higher brain and mind to process it. Thus this feeling of what is or is not good manners is instinctual. If that is the case in humans, why not in horses ?
If you observe horses in the field you will almost invariably see that the first interaction prior to a pleasant encounter is to touch noses. (An aggressive encounter does not include this "handshake" which is partially what makes it more aggressive). From this "nose shake" they then move onto touching and grooming other parts of the body, typically the whithers first.
I don't wish to suggest we touch noses with our horses if we want to keep them intact but offering the back of the hand on an outstretched arm is a good substitute. Why the back of the hand ? It doesn't look like the claw of a predator, these small differences are important.
Once this "nose shake" has been achieved then we can move to the whithers for a good scratch. Research has shown that touching the whithers immediately reduces a horses heart rate thus making it a good spot to scratch to give a reward and induce calmness.
I would advice against ever patting a horse. Such rhythmic pressure only occurs between horses when they are playing the driving game with each other and that is designed to move the other out of ones space. When we are trying to create a bond do we really want to drive them away by patting them ? It is true that they will learn to tolerate patting from humans but natural horsemanship is about using their natural language as much as is practicable and patting a horse is not a necessary act so I suggest not doing it. Simulate the stroke and scratch as horses do with their tongue and teeth instead by using fingers and finger nails. If the horse is of a nervous disposition use the back of the hand for the stroke, see previous comments about claws. That's natural.
Once this pattern is established the horse will start to actively come to you as you enter the stable looking for this pleasant, reassuring interaction. Now doesn't the horse coming to greet you sound a lot like "Have horse catch you" in the Plan ?
Once we are over this initial introductory period then we can do what is necessary to provide for their welfare or to prepare to ride them. All these actions should also be done in exactly the same way as we would in the training school. If I need to move the hind quarters I would apply the same porcupine phases in the same spot on the horse as I would in the school. The horse does not distinguish the difference between interactions in the school and those in the stable, they are just interactions. One of the keys to training success is complete consistency. Without this consistency we wind up with a confused horse which is commonly perceived as heavy or dull. They are neither, they have just become confused as to what various aids mean and in extreme circumstances can withdraw into a state called "learned helplessness". In this state they stop even trying to respond to our increasingly frustrated and aggressive signals and just tune out.
Thus even picking out the feet in the stable must follow the same "Place the Feet" ideal that we use when preparing to ride. Having done it in the stable, of course, it may not be necessary to waste time doing it in the school.
The "Touch all over section" can be accomplished with a nice groom, but being methodical to ensure the whole horse is touched and observing their reactions. If they tense or twitch when the back is rubbed maybe a quick check for a sore back is suggested prior to creating more discomfort by saddling, riding and being bucked off !
As I suggested in the last post following the Plan need not take any longer than the usual preparation people perform prior to getting on. The difference is the intention of each section and the continual awareness of the "score" each section has achieved. Knowing these scores will give you a clue as to what needs working on in order to have a safe and progressive ride or ground training session.
I also cannot overemphasise the importance of having a plan. The horse does not know anything about plans of course, but it does change your attitude to how you do things. You'll find that with a plan you will be more definite and methodical in the things that you do and will perform those tasks with more intention in you body language. The horse will notice that you appear to know what you are doing, know when you are doing it and know why you are doing it. If I were a horse that feels a lot like a good leader worth following and trusting with my life !
To many people it seems that they only think they are "doing" Parelli when they are with there horse in the school, round pen or whatever and are playing variations of the seven games. Natural horsemanship is so much more than that. As Becka reminded me in my recent lesson with Billy the interactions of natural horsemanship start the moment that the horse is aware of your presence. As we don't know when that is we had better act accordingly all the time we are in the vicinity of the yard. After all horses can easily distinguish your presence from the sound of you foot falls as we all have a slightly different gait. On James' yard he expects everyone to walk with a purpose whether or not they are leading a horse such that it just becomes a habit. He says that he, and Pat, can detect a truly natural horseman just by the way they move !
Often the first physical interaction occurs as we enter the stable. It is worth reflecting how you would feel if someone entered your bedroom without the manners to ask permission and then gave you a big personal space invading hug. At my friend Garry's yard recently I did just that. I got out of my car, walked over and gave him a big hug, his face was a picture. I then asked how it felt. "Invasive". I then shook his hand and put an arm on his shoulder, which felt pleasant. The difference was not the actual actions but how they were carried out, in the second case the hand shake asked permission to touch him. Even in humans the difference of feeling ok and violated occurs at a deep subconscious level and is not using our higher brain and mind to process it. Thus this feeling of what is or is not good manners is instinctual. If that is the case in humans, why not in horses ?
If you observe horses in the field you will almost invariably see that the first interaction prior to a pleasant encounter is to touch noses. (An aggressive encounter does not include this "handshake" which is partially what makes it more aggressive). From this "nose shake" they then move onto touching and grooming other parts of the body, typically the whithers first.
I don't wish to suggest we touch noses with our horses if we want to keep them intact but offering the back of the hand on an outstretched arm is a good substitute. Why the back of the hand ? It doesn't look like the claw of a predator, these small differences are important.
Once this "nose shake" has been achieved then we can move to the whithers for a good scratch. Research has shown that touching the whithers immediately reduces a horses heart rate thus making it a good spot to scratch to give a reward and induce calmness.
I would advice against ever patting a horse. Such rhythmic pressure only occurs between horses when they are playing the driving game with each other and that is designed to move the other out of ones space. When we are trying to create a bond do we really want to drive them away by patting them ? It is true that they will learn to tolerate patting from humans but natural horsemanship is about using their natural language as much as is practicable and patting a horse is not a necessary act so I suggest not doing it. Simulate the stroke and scratch as horses do with their tongue and teeth instead by using fingers and finger nails. If the horse is of a nervous disposition use the back of the hand for the stroke, see previous comments about claws. That's natural.
Once this pattern is established the horse will start to actively come to you as you enter the stable looking for this pleasant, reassuring interaction. Now doesn't the horse coming to greet you sound a lot like "Have horse catch you" in the Plan ?
Once we are over this initial introductory period then we can do what is necessary to provide for their welfare or to prepare to ride them. All these actions should also be done in exactly the same way as we would in the training school. If I need to move the hind quarters I would apply the same porcupine phases in the same spot on the horse as I would in the school. The horse does not distinguish the difference between interactions in the school and those in the stable, they are just interactions. One of the keys to training success is complete consistency. Without this consistency we wind up with a confused horse which is commonly perceived as heavy or dull. They are neither, they have just become confused as to what various aids mean and in extreme circumstances can withdraw into a state called "learned helplessness". In this state they stop even trying to respond to our increasingly frustrated and aggressive signals and just tune out.
Thus even picking out the feet in the stable must follow the same "Place the Feet" ideal that we use when preparing to ride. Having done it in the stable, of course, it may not be necessary to waste time doing it in the school.
The "Touch all over section" can be accomplished with a nice groom, but being methodical to ensure the whole horse is touched and observing their reactions. If they tense or twitch when the back is rubbed maybe a quick check for a sore back is suggested prior to creating more discomfort by saddling, riding and being bucked off !
As I suggested in the last post following the Plan need not take any longer than the usual preparation people perform prior to getting on. The difference is the intention of each section and the continual awareness of the "score" each section has achieved. Knowing these scores will give you a clue as to what needs working on in order to have a safe and progressive ride or ground training session.
I also cannot overemphasise the importance of having a plan. The horse does not know anything about plans of course, but it does change your attitude to how you do things. You'll find that with a plan you will be more definite and methodical in the things that you do and will perform those tasks with more intention in you body language. The horse will notice that you appear to know what you are doing, know when you are doing it and know why you are doing it. If I were a horse that feels a lot like a good leader worth following and trusting with my life !
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