#3 July 2008 Lesson With Linda

parellisavvyclub.com > Back Issues > DVD's > July 2008 Issue 35 > Lesson with Linda Part 1 - 4

Linda Parelli
Approx 1 hour

Before I start unfortunately part 4 of this video wouldn't load up for me, tried it numerous times but it kept coming up with an error. The first 3 chapters were so good, I was really disappointed when it wouldnt work, it gave me so many breakthroughs as you will hear. I considered picking another video but considering the first three chapters were as good as I found, and I'd written 3 pages of notes which would be a shame not to share!! So do let me know if part 4 works for you and share what it was about!

Video description is... All of a sudden my horse got scared...Linda helps Ann and her horse, Bandit, discover and solve the subtle signs of impending panic. 


 One of the first thing Linda talks about is the difference in finding relaxation in innately Right Brain (RB) horses, and innately Left Brain (LB) horses. She explains that when a RB horse gets scared, its actually a lot easier to calm them down because they are seeking leadership, and when you effectively give that to them they tend to cling on and relax easier. She said it is harder to calm down a LB horse as they arent looking for leadership, and its more of a 'leave me alone, I gotta take care of myself and I dont need you for that!' So they require a lot more... usually ;) I totally understand that, I know with General he can run 50 RBE laps around me before even NOTICING I'm there... whereas RB horses I've played with will do that for a moment, and if I make enough effort to show them leadership, they will start to calm down and see what I have to say.

She talks about how when a horse gets RB, they are only trying to save themselves. By being quiet and trying to get them to stop, it only makes things worse as their instinct is to run and you are just building up the adrenaline more, and by stopping that you are making things 10 x harder, because you are going against his instinct rather than using it.

So then Linda starts making some 'commotion' in the arena while Ann plays with her horse, to get him used to stuff going on/crowds while he is doing spotlights etc. Linda explains the importance of keeping your focus and getting the horse busy while this is happening, so that the horse keeps you as the leader. This obviously relates to other things too, as well as this exercise, like if its windy or theres something going on over there, whatever, its not about the flag, the person, the wind, etc etc. Later in the video she explains how when something is going on, you say 'dont worry about that, we got stuff to be doing!'

As Linda is shaking the flag, Bandit gets a little worried at points but he isnt flying around, so thats the first sign he's got a RBI side, rather than RBE. It shows that he was a little tense as he starts to blow out after a while, releasing the tension and adrenaline. Linda says to take off the pressure when he does this, and retreat to make him feel good. As she says, if the moment he says 'ahhh, I'm starting to feel ok now..' You say 'ok NOW DO THIS THIS THIS AND THIS!' he's going to go all RB again. At the same time, when he is real unconfident, take him away from the thing that is scaring him, and let him reapproach. So basically retreat retreat retreat! As much as you can! Which is the same for any RB horse. But ALSO allow him to move forward, around, and explore the situation or obstacle as much as he wants to. But instead of asking more, quit while he's ahead and back him off again. Then let him reapproach. Til soon he asks to go more, more and eventually all the way. This is an amazing confidence building exercise.

He starts to paw the ground when Ann is playing squeeze game with Linda and the flag, and Linda explains that this is him figuring the situation out. Its an emotional, RBI state horses put themselves in, and the best thing to do is let them do it as much as they need to until they become confident. Look at your horse in scary situations and work out if he's dealing with it as an Introvert or an Extrovert, so then you can help him in the best way possible (for an Introvert giving them time to think, process and wait, for an extrovert get them moving more.).

When he starts wanting to move a little more Linda says to give him one good send them leave him alone to get to his threshold. As soon as we start pushing, its so easy for the horse to feel pressured and say 'I'm never trying that again!' Especially a RBI. She put so much emphasis on this, giving them time to think!!!! Then he starts to yawn, chew on the stick and bag, and it takes a while, but eventually his confidence comes right back up and he's ready to start again.

She talks about the improtance of being ready to change yourself for the horsenality that shows up. Bandit switched from RBI to LBI throughout the demo, and Ann has to get good, fast, at changing her behaviour from being very slow and allowing, to dominant. She says that if he is unsure, just hang with him and wait, but be there for him. And then when he's confident and offers energy, use it! He's naturally a LBI so its important to not shut energy down so that he offers it more often. But at the same time, if he starts swishing his tail and getting cranky, be ready to slow down again before an argument starts!

Here's where the next topic starts, which is expression. I hear instructor talking about getting a good expression all the time, but I never really knew how to do that with a dominant horse without offending them or causing it to go the other way and they dominate you! Linda explained how to 'stop them in their tracks' when they put their ears back (or whatever they are doing), back them off, etc etc, and say with your body 'wipe that look off your face!' They played with that for a while and you really saw the difference in Ann's horse, just a couple of sharp wiggles when he came in too close or flattened his ears was enough to get him moving out snappier and pricking his ears. 'She's onto me! I gotta keep my eye on her..'

Linda then spoke about how LBI's need to earn treats, not be bribed into them. Bribery just causes dominance, and soon you'll be seen as a food dispenser, not a leader or partner. Earning them, so that the food is a bonus, creates curiosity, and an interest in what you have to say. If he pleases you, he gets a bit of food, oh boy, then you have a LBI's mind!

OOOOH then she explains something I was talking about yesterday. How do you explain Parelli to someone who doesn't know what it is?

She said..

You Know you are doing Parelli when..
- You put the relationship first.
- You study in 4 savvies.
- You're involved with never ending self improvement.

Which says it all really :)

She then mentions something else I was talking about this morning. She said that the further along in the program you get, the smaller different things seem, when actually they are huge! I'm currently helping a lady get over some confidence issues with her horse, both horse and owner confidence, and this week she has made some HUGE breakthroughs with him. They are at a place now that she could have only dreamed of a few months ago, yet today she was so desperate to move on to the next step! (which of course is fantastic confidence wise!) I explained the importance of hanging here for a bit and enjoying it, and remembering how excited you were to dream of it, and the rest will come with time. But Linda explains it so much better obviously ;)

So a couple more of the LBI points, with more extreme ones with dominance problems, you may want to use a fence to stand behind for safety at the beginning. They are always playing a game with you, and make sure you arent the one moving your feet first!! As when you do, they check off another point on their score card!
 She also explains that even though they come across tough skinned, they are incredibly sensitive and smaller phases often get a better response, so always start asking soft.

This part was very interesting, and another thing which relates to the lady I mentioned earlier. Her horse has started to lower his head down at the end of a game, which he never used to do. We are reading it as confidence, a submissive position and accepting his leader. Linda explained that there are 2 things this could be.

Number 1: RBI. She said some horses will lower their head, almost burying their head in the sand, not blinking, even noticably breathing, its like they go invisible. They are in a deep thinking state and its so, so important not to get them doing anything until they are well and truly out of that state!
This is often confused with...
Number 2: Submissive. These horses will blow out, blink, lick and chew, etc. Their head is more in line with the withers rather than their feet. Its so important to know the difference. I am still pretty sure the horse I help with is still number 2, although I will be looking even closer next time to make sure. This was a huge BFO with this video.

She then talks about when he has an intention (in this case jumping) that she makes her intention just as strong and add 4 ounces. This keeps the 51/49 relationship in order, and keeps you safe too!

With LBIs, to stop boredom occuring with repetition and the same obstacles, she suggests mixing things up with obstacles, doing something he isnt expecting. So like taking him to the barrels, he almost jumps then she stops him, and yoyos instead. This is a very, very powerful tool with LB horses.

The last couple of points I got were that introverts take a lot longer to get to the stage where they can lick, chew, blow out etc, as all that is thinking time, and they often have a period of time in between where their mind is over-riding. Its super super important to wait with them when they go there, NOT to blow through it, as thats when they explode and become dangerous to you and themselves. When RBI's are in this period they are often pretending that you, or the scary thing, isnt there, it doesnt exist. They know its there but they are so worried that they totally wrap up inside themselves until they can think straight again. Extroverts get there a lot faster, and I've certainly found that my horse will lick and chew half a second after we finish something. They learn super fast and most dont take much thinking time, they want to get moving again. Other of course will take a little longer :)


And thats where it cut out :( So frustrated that the last part wouldnt load. Anyway as I said, if it loads for anyone please let me know what points you picked out.

Hope you enjoyed the video and the post, longest one yet I think! But hopefully you will agree this is a pretty good one :) Please comment your ideas and BFO's, and otherwise I'll see you next week!

All together now, sAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAvvy!! *clap*