Ground Driving

I have struggled with ground driving. I've tried it a few times and ended up with a horse that wanted to side pass all over the arena. She is "trying", but as her teacher, I fell short. I struggled with how I could help convey what I was asking. What was I doing wrong? Thanks goodness for Michael Sparling.
Michael is a Parelli clinician I met a couple years ago and have had quite a few lessons with him. He is an excellent teacher. I think he is the real deal, a wonderful "reader of the horse." Regardless of how you feel about Parelli methods, Michael goes beyond Parelli and is just an amazing student and teacher of the horse. A big "ah" moment was thinking of the horses nose as crossing the diagonal...when she did that to the inside..I left her alone. The side passing slowly went away.
I always walk away from the barn imagining I can't love this horse any more. Then she does new things that make me so proud of her and she finds ways to become even more special to me.
Can you tell I am 30 weeks pregnant in these photos? In ten weeks I will have a baby girl. One I hope loves horses as much as I do....looking forward to pony shopping.

Judges Announced

They just announced the judges for the 2011 Road to the Horse Legends in Murfreesboro, Tennessee February 25-27. I have two friends going. I am so jealous. I am ordering the webcast and watching from home:-(.

Bill Enk
• Director of Judges for the National Reined Cow Horse Association, judging credentials with the National Cutting Horse Association, the National Reining Association, and the American Quarter Horse Association

Cody Lambert
• Long family history with AQHA racehorses, Vice President of the PBR Board of Directors, PBR co-founder and a three time PBR World Finals qualifier, nine NFR qualifications, recipient of the PBR Ring of Honor award, event judge

Marian Buehler
• Board of Directors for the Texas Horse Park in Dallas, over 30 years experience studying natural training techniques and methods among several species, transitioned natural horsemanship techniques into the performance arena

Jack Brainard
• Director on the Board of the Equine Program at Texas A&M University Commerce, original director of the NRHA, a founder of the Stock Horse of Texas (SHOT), active judge and member of the AQHA

Dr. Robert Miller
• Equine veterinarian, world-renowned speaker and author on horse behavior and natural horsemanship, father of the revolutionary foal training technique known as "imprint training"

Bob Moorhouse
• General Manager of Pitchfork Land and Cattle Co. 1986 - 2007, leadership or advisory positions with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, the AQHA, the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, the Working Ranch Cowboys Association and the Ranch Horse of America Association.

"Road to the Horse judges are selected from every facet of the equine industry. While some have experience with ranch, rodeo and performance horses, others have experience with dressage, show jumping and western pleasure. Combined they create the ultimate judging panel to determine who will win the title, prestige and honor of being named the 2011 Road to the Horse Legends Champion!"

Parelli Lesson

On Sunday, my barnmate and I drove up to Battleground, WA for a Parelli lesson with Michael Sparling. We met Michael at the Redmond Parelli tour stop. He is a young, enthusiastic trainer so we thought "why not?" I was a little anxious about things...I haven't had a Parelli lesson since Ann Kiser left over two years ago. I still worry about trailering new places and how Maddy will respond. I need to get over my fears. Maddy walked off that trailer, took a casual look around and started eating grass. So once I was over my worries about her, I worried about myself.

Running through Parelli procedures...trying to remember all the things they teach without my modifications. My lesson went really well. We focused on all online things...he called it a "day of refinement." Polished up my weaves and worked on a better depart for the circling game. He pointed out I need to direct her zones better, which is why my circling game departs kind of started with a sideways and then depart. He was very observant and was clear with his directions. I was pretty pleased and excited to have some direction and homework.

Joni doesn't know a lot about Parelli, but was willing to try a lesson. Joni and Sky had a very similar lesson to my own, working on shoulder yields and hindquarter yields along with better departs. He comes down to our area about once a month. We are hoping we can convince Michael to hold lessons out at our barn in the Beavercreek area...wouldn't that be nice. Below are a few pictures of Joni, Sky, and Michael in their lesson. The last one is Maddy, content, not a care in the world, just make sure my haybag is full.

Expo Likes and Dislikes

It took a week to recover, but it was a lot of fun...the 2010 NW Horse Fair and Expo. Friday, three of us headed down and hit Steve Rother talking about body control. Next we went to Al Dunning talking about Western Dressage. Then it was off to shop. I bought a few things, a Courbette dressage bridle, a dressage pad, and a cool bag.

Sunday..we hit Steve Rother again, trail obstacles. Then it was the "Mustang Challenge." We did a little more shopping and decided to head back into Portland.

Things I liked about the Expo:

1. I went with a fun group of friends, interested in learning and exploring.
2. Steve Rother is coming into his own as a clinician. He did a nice job this year.
3. People were willing to "wheel and deal." Got some really good buys.
4. Parelli had a booth and I got to catch up with Ann Kiser.
5. Ansur Saddle was there. Beautiful saddles, and nice to see a big presence.
6. Mustangs that were auctioned off seemed to be going high. Great to see the demand for these horses and love that the program is gaining popularity.


Things I didn't like about the Expo:

1. A lot fewer vendors this year.
2. I liked Al Dunning, but wish he would have taught us about Western Dressage instead of giving us his resume. He started showing us some patterns with about 15 minutes left in his hour.
3. Tired of the ya-hoo's that do Mustang Challenge and place high even though they are just jerking their horses head all over the place and forcing their horses into maneuvers. Top two were said "ya-hoo's". I prefer watching trainers with softer hands and have a more willing partners.
4. Tired of judges who still give high scores to ya-hoo's.
5. They schedule it the same weekend as Canby tack sale. Boo!

I can bad mouth "ya-hoos" because I was one once...thank you Tom Dorrance for changing my ways.

Parelli Job Update

I know I have taken forever to update people on my Parelli job interview. In ways, I am still processing my experience. It was a whirlwind of emotions for me. I flew in to Pagosa Springs, Colorado and met with Mark Weiler, CEO of Parelli and Sue Shoemark, VP of Parelli. We talked about everything "horse." Mark is very personable and I liked his energy. He made me feel so welcome and important. I think Sue is a kindred spirit, I liked her right away. On of my highlights is slipping away with her to get coffee. I felt I was out with a good girlfriend, not a potential boss. The morning flew by quickly and they had arranged for me to go visit Pat and Linda for lunch. I can't talk about specifics of our meeting just to preserve the confidentially of the interview, but I can tell a little bit about my experience. This is a story I will cherish and feel is fun to share for people who enjoy and practice Parelli. Mr. Weiler and I arrived at Pat and Linda's house and we went in. There was Linda, making lunch and Pat was just wrapping up on a video shoot. I put my nerves in check. They are important people to me, having been my inspiration for the past 3 years to become a better person for my horse. Not to mention, in my business, television news, I have been hired over the phone 4 times. Interviews are a new thing for me. I reminded myself to breathe, relax, and enjoy the opportunity. I think many would be surprised to know what an amazing cook Linda is. She started chopping things and whisking them into bowls. Within minutes, she had prepared a wonderful tuna salad and a cabbage salad with seemingly little effort. We sat down and talked horses and social media. We looked at many of your blogs. In particular, Mustang Diaries and Grey Horse Matters, I pulled you both up to show Pat. I enjoyed sharing with them the horse blogging experience and what our cyber community means to us. It was very enjoyable, but also very business oriented. I stepped out and they talked amongst themselves. I stood outside and took in the beautiful scenery of Pagosa Springs. The mountains surround you on all sides. It is a beautiful place. In that moment, I panicked a little. Could I be the right person for the job? Would they like me enough to offer me the job? Could I leave my life in Oregon? How would Maddy (my horse) deal with a move? Could I survive on half my salary to experience my dream job? Mark came out and we continued our tour of the ranch and then the rest of corporate. I ran into Ann Kiser, my mentor and teacher from Oregon. She is there on a trial position. It felt so good to see her. The Parelli Ranch is an amazing place. The corporate headquarters are stunning. I think they have revolutionized horsemanship around the world and they make a conscience effort to make this a better place for horses. So why didn't I take the job? Some days I ask myself that same question. For me, it was all about timing. It just felt "off." Things felt too perfect back in Oregon to disrupt and fears about the economy and a change in pay scared me. At the time, my decision loomed over me and kept me up at night. I quickly decided one day to just not take it. And as I hit the "send" in my email to Mark, I wondered "what have I done?" There is no way to know if I made the right choice. But I do know I will work for the Parellis one day in some capacity. Maybe I will become an Parelli instructor or a Parelli ambassador. The one thing I do know, I feel more confident than ever that I have chosen my mentors wisely and will continue to pattern my horsemanship after the two people, Linda and Pat, that have changed my relationship with horses for the better.

Walter Zettl

I feel so honored to have met WAZ, otherwise known as Walter Zettl, one of the world's most revered masters of classical dressage. He has joined with the Parellis to bridge the gap between natural horsemanship and dressage. For me going through the Parelli program, I went from a loose rein hackamore and then to bridle, but there wasn't a lot of teaching about contact and collection. I was studying Parelli and taking dressage and the two seemed a bit at odds sometimes. I was torn between my loose rein riding to getting her on the bit. So I am thrilled that they are addressing the hole and have added Walter to the staff. While working the event, we had to pass behind the main table where Linda, Walter, and the soundguy sat. On my way back in from a water break, I go to pass Walter, and he just put his arm around my shoulder and asked "Well how are you doing today?" I thought that was so sweet. He just smiled the whole weekend, chatting away, and talking to everyone who had questions. When I talked to him, I got a sense of his total understanding and compassion for the horse. So much so, sometimes his eyes teared up in the middle of a good story. Horses do that to me too. I am watching his DVD series, "A Matter of Trust." It is filling in a lot of holes for me about dressage. I am somewhat a "newbie." I have been taking lessons for a little over 2 years and have never competed. Maybe someday, but for now I am absorbing what I can and feel I have found a great resource in Walter. At the Parelli Celebration, he gave Linda a lesson. His timing is so impeccable, and he was so great at conveying what Linda needed to do to reach the limit, but not go over the limit. He grew younger as his voice carried commands to his student. I felt like I was watching a bit of history. After the lesson, everyone in the arena was on their feet, giving a standing ovation. One phrase he says that I like, "Now ride up in heaven," meaning look up and carry yourself like you are there. I can't express enough to everyone out there, if you ever get a chance to see him at a clinic, go do it. There are few like him in the horse world and I am sure he will leave the same impression that he left on me...."I am in the presence of greatness."

Get to be a Parelli Volunteer!

In June, I am heading to Madison, Wisconsin to volunteer at the Parelli Tour stop. I was notifided a couple weeks ago and just really excited to be a part of the event. The Reno stop fell on a bad weekend for me and I knew I would be in the Midwest in June, so I thought "what the heck." I gain so much motivation by going to horse events, being a bigger part of it will really inspire me.
I have been getting back into my Parelli work, hoping I can pass Level 2 and 3 this year. On Thursday, I am filming an audition for my Level 2...wish me luck. I started having Parelli Play Days out at Templeton every other Saturday. I am having a lot of fun with that. Even though I am leaving, I hope the interest remains and I can keep it going. We are having a good time and it is good for me to expand on things I have learned by passing it on to others. I am heading to a new barn at the end of this month, intent on utilizing the nice round pen to work on liberty. So I know after reading this post...many of you will say "Oh Photogchic went and drank some Parelli Kool-aid." I just like things that work...I use tips from every trainer on RFD..I love Clinton Anderson...I even listen to my racetrack father (sometimes:-). But for me, without Parelli...I know I would not still own Maddy. It has changed her, it works for her and it inspires me to work harder and get more creative. So no Kool-Aid drinking, just happy with the results. Any bloggers out there heading to Madison for the Tour? Let me know..would love to see you there.

Expo Season

I just reserved my room down in Redmond for the 2008 Parelli Tour. I got my fliers in the mail yesterday for the NW Horse Expo. Ugh! What a tough decision to make! It is the same weekend that Clinton Anderson will be in town! I've got clinic and expo fever. I love everything about horse expos. I love to shop and take notes at the seminars. This year the Mane Event is in October, so that gives me time to save some cash for the wonderful vendors and I may just have a booth again this year for Stable Hand Video. Booth rentals are pretty pricey and I am a one man band, so when I have a booth, I have to man it all day every day. It is a lot of work, but I meet tons of cool people. What could be better? The tough part is convincing people why they should get video of their ranch, their horses, or their riding. Lots of talking and enthusiasm wears me out and I usually don't get time to enjoy what the expos have to offer. I posted a couple of pictures of my booth space for the Mane Event from 2006. I didn't do one this year because I got so busy with little side projects, not to mention Maddy. But maybe 2008 is my year. I am trying to get more focused and finish my horse documentary projects, so I can get back to working with clients again. By the way, I posted a trailer of my documentary "Inside the Backside" on YouTube if you guys want to check it out. I am hoping to upload it here when I get the time because I am looking for some feedback. I have "tweaked" it a little since posting it, but essentially it is similar. I wanted to mention, all the things (excluding electronics) in my booth I either made or got at garage sales, including the breyers on the shelves. I love bargain hunting!

Mailbox Surprise

So I got something exciting in the mail today. My certificate for passing Level One Parelli came today. I got a nice red savvy string and a level one pin. I am really excited about this little package. I am proud of my girl, she worked very hard to get this and I think she is a solid Level One horse. I am new to the natural horsemanship thing, and I know not everyone who reads my blog buys into it.
I choose to take bits of everything and see what gets results, and I am finding great results with Parelli. I am just bummed that I am at a stand still. Maddy is still a little sore on her front. I am getting shoes on her on Thursday and see how that goes. For now, I just need to enjoy her accomplishments and hope that we are back on track soon.

Advanced Level Two

I went to another Ann Kiser Clinic this weekend up in Ridgefield, Washington. I learned a lot about working with your horse at liberty. Liberty just means without a lead rope. I have gotten her to lunge and play the seven games at liberty, but she has drifted a few times and I haven't really known what to do except follow her. Ann gave us plenty of strategies. The one I thought was effective was if they drift, immediately ask them to yield their hindquarters and start walking away....amazingly, they follow.
But the coolest thing about the clinic....the Honeycomb. The clinic was at this place called Kozy Manor and the owner of the barn put in what she calls "the Honeycomb." It basically is four round pens enclosed in a big circle. You have so many cool options on the rail, around in circles, straight lines...it is very cool.
All the horses made great progress after working in it. These pictures are from the perimeter of the Honeycomb. I liked it so much, I am considering moving Maddy to this facility. I think it would be such a great tool for a young horse to navigate. Arenas just get boring, and this thing would constantly have her thinking.

Putting on a halter

I am learning how to post video on the web, so this is a just a "test" one. It is a quick clip of part of my Level One Parelli test. I have to approach my horse and get her to lower her head before putting on the halter. I have been on vacation and just got back. I have lots of good stuff from the race track in Minnesota and some good horse stuff to talk about this week.

Level 2

This weekend I audited a Level 2 clinic by Ann Kiser. I got a lot of good information and ideas for things to work on while riding. Ann talked about direct rein and indirect rein, leg yields, and lots of horse psychology. We also learned a game the Parellis teach called "Tit for Tat." Basically you choose a point in the arena you want to get to, aim your eyes and bellybutton that way and if at any time your horse drifts, you let them go a couple steps and then you re-direct your horse 90 degrees. Keep going until your horse walks in a straight line to your focus point. If you get there, stop, pet, and give a break. Sounds like fun right?:-) I have to say I was kind of looking forward to seeing some good performances by Level 2 horses and I was sadly disappointed. I don't like to bag on other horse people, because we are all in this together, but I am not sure how some of these students even passed their Level 1. There were 5 horses out of eight that were at times completely out of control and then the owners didn't seem to handle the situation with much "savvy." Two horses bucked while people were riding and one girl was constantly rattling her lead rope at the horse with no clear idea of why she was even rattling it. If anything, it made Maddy look like a Parelli superstar and her bad behavior, very manageable. After seeing these horses, it seems like there is no standard when it comes to passing Level 1. I wonder if any other Parelli people out there have seen similar things and share this frustration. This week, I filmed and mailed out my remaining skills I needed to pass to get my Level one. After seeing these Level 2 horses, I am pretty optimistic, but it will feel like getting a gold star on your homework, only to find out later, the teacher put one on every paper.

Half way there

So Ann Kiser was not able to give me the test on Friday, but after seeing Maddy in the clinic, she filled out the paperwork and passed her on all seven games. We just need to submit our riding skills by video and we get our red savvy string. Yeah!!! Maddy did so well all week. We tried some new games, like some "binding" exercises and lots of advanced driving games. I thought she would panic in the first binding exercise we tried. I could just see her mind going the whole time. Basically, I put the lead around her and moved it back in forth across her side and legs, I let go with the front hand and step back which puts pressure on her halter. Normally, they would want to turn towards you, but the rope is pulling them the other way. So if they are smart (like Maddy) the give to pressure and spin around the face you like she is about to do in the top picture. The bottom picture is Maddy giving some flexion in her neck. She likes to bend around and she just waits there until I scratch her chin. She is a spoiled girl.