Dressage, Naturally with Karen Rohlf

Creating healthy biomechanics and stronger partnerships through combining natural horsemanship principles with the art of dressage...

photo: Terri Miller

never underestimate the potential for harmony & lightness to improve in ways you cannot yet imagine

This Month:• Aliens in Florida?

• Questions and Answers

• Dressage, Naturally in Australia!

Upcoming Clinics: Clinic schedule: CLICK HERE

Oct 3 Private Lesson DayOct 4 Open Format WorkshopTemenos Fields, Reddick, FLContact: K2@dressagenaturally.netAuditors Welcome!!

Oct 12-17 Six days at TemenosTemenos Fields, Reddick, FLContact: K2@dressagenaturally.net**(Full, closed to auditors)

Nov 1-6 Six days at TemenosTemenos Fields, Reddick, FLContact: K2@dressagenaturally.net**(Full, closed to auditors)

Nov 21 Private Lesson DayNov 22 Open Format WorkshopTemenos Fields, Reddick, FL

Contact: K2@dressagenaturally.netAuditors Welcome!!

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 9

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Welcome back to the Temenos...Temenos is an ancient Greek word. It refers to a sacred space that has no lim-its, where special rules apply and extra-ordinary events are free to occur.

Photos Above: Dana Rasmussen

Home of:

2 Copyright 2009 Temenos Fields, Inc September

Misc...What’s with the aliens?

Ok, I probably should explain that previous page... That really is my front field, and I really did think my working stu-dent, Marj, must have been under the influence of aliens... I admit I did tell her that it was fun to mow patterns in the grass. It give the horses more paths to follow; more interesting opportunities to prac-tice their responsibilities of follow-ing a focus. And every intersection is a chance to ask a question.

I’m not really sure what the locals think, but my horses seem to enjoy it and Marj gets to express her creative pasture-mowing passion. We may have even inspired a trend. The crew who does the mowing around the house left me with a nice rainbow pattern outside my kitchen door last time they were here... And I didn’t even have to pay extra! (photo credit of the crop circle: www.danarasmussen.com)

Question:Hey Karen . ..I have been thinking about this question a lot, and its al-ways been in the back of my head . . .

could you talk a bit on half halts, and where they fit in the Parelli program?

My question is I feel there is a line between when a half halt is needed and . . . When someone is overusing their aids to compensate for inade-quate mental, emotional and physical fitness in the horse.

How do you explain to someone what the line is? and am I on the right path of thinking? I just see sometimes that there are horses that have their re-sponsibilities down, but need a slight rebalancing, but then there are horses that are being BEGGED to stay in their gate or position with constant half halts. basically micromanaging . . any thoughts would help! L

Answer:Hi Laura,

I think you are on track with your thinking... a half halt is a physical preparation, like saying: 'Hey you might want to sit up a little straighter to get ready for this!"an excellently used half halt helps the horse, it does them a favor.

Holding the horse together with aids that never worked in the first place is never a good idea, and it wasn't an effective half halt to be-gin with if it doesn't get the result... or as you said, there may be men-tal, emotional deficits there that are over riding it.

Of course there are mental half halts, too, which we begin in foun-dation with exercises such as the question box... and things like making sure impulsion is balanced and the Responsibilities are in place are incredibly helpful so you don't need as many reasons for physical half halts!! 

In the end, we are riding the horse mentally, emotionally and physi-

cally, so it is ok to talk to all these parts of the horse. The body posi-tion we take when ‘coming to at-tention’ as part of the ‘mental half halt is very very similar to the posi-tion for the physical half halt... so if all training has gone according to plan, it should all blend together: the mental, emotional and physi-cal.

My Best,Karen

Question:HiI just purchased my next Dressage Partner and I am also a Parelli student.  I have been riding 40 plus years and the last 15 have been dres-sage focused.  I have ridden/leased upper level schoolmasters , trained with a number of good classical train-ers and brought a couple of horses along to 4th level.  My last 3yo , who was supposed to me my FEI prospect took me down a very different path that led me to Parelli.  So..... skip ahead a few chapters.  Because of various issues, I had to retire him.  I was able to progress with Online and Liberty Savvy's with him, but his soundness issues kept me from doing a lot because he just hurt to much.  He is a LBE with a few LBI dots as well. Next chapter in my life had me look-ing for my next partner that I could still enjoy dressage in a very classical sense, but wanting to do so without whips, spurs, tension etc.  I had learned so much about reading horses in the past year and half that I've been practicing , that I so want to do better by my new girl. Enter Amiga, a 4yo lusitano mare.  She was classically started (about 20 hrs or so under saddle) when I brought her home a week ago.

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This is not an alien, but it was found on my property, and it is pretty darn im-pressive.. I hate to think of what this turns into!

 I am committed to putting our rela-tionship first.  I have a pretty good plan for online and liberty savvy's.  I am completely at odds with what to do about the freestyle aspect of this journey.  All my riding skills are clas-sical, ride them forward into a contact etc.  I consider myself a rider with a good seat and good hands.  There are no Parelli pro's in New England and my dressage trainer is very classical.  So  ... my challenge is how do I mesh the best of both worlds.  I completely buy into all the principles of natural horsemanship.  I am struggling a bit to find a plan to mesh the riding techniques.  My mare just knows be-ing ridden on contact.  Thoughts? Advice?   Point me to ref-erences?  I'm in MA and it looks like your clinics are out of reach.  I am taking her to a Parelli clinic in Octo-ber with Kelly Sigler. RegardsDonna

Answer:Hi Donna,I love how you are thinking.. I believe with your heart where it is, you will do right by your new girl.To offer you help, of course, first I recommend my book/DVD (perhaps you already have it...?) It was written precisely for the natural horsemanship student wanting to learn the basics of dressage... And even though you have a pretty good amount of experience already in dressage, I think it can help you gain a fresh perspective on it and will see how it all fits together. Espe-cially look at the part where I explain the Big Picture.. it may help put things in context.

But, I think what I can tell you here, is to think of Parelli and dressage as bodies of knowledge rather than as

separate disciplines. They both pro-vide strategies and tools to achieve... something.

Next, dream about what you would like your horse to be like... How do you want her to see and feel about the world? What skills, qualities would you like her to have that will make her life calm, interesting and set up for success. With success meaning that she feels successful.

Then think of how you can explain those things to her. You will probably find that some of the things you want to explain to her can be achieved though strategies you learned in Par-elli, and some can be achieved through strategies you learned from your dressage experience. Since you are experienced in both... you will likely find that you can blend them... When you do freestyle types of exer-cises, you can still ride them with a position and feel that promotes a good rhythm and balance. when you are riding in connection with the reins, you can still be using your seat pri-marily for the aids.

From your experience you will realize when it is not a time to wrestle with dressage moves, like when she is un-confident or confused... and when she is in a state of mind where things like posture and bend become important. while doing dressage, you will remember what you learned from your Parelli education about when it is a good time to dwell, when it is a good time to make the ques-tions you ask her more challeng-ing, or less... You will have to discern when it is a coordination or balance issue that may make her emotional, and when it is an emotional issue that may make her unbalanced.

You will also know to trust your in-stincts regarding who to get help from about what. Within excellent coaches and trainers, there is still a difference of opinion about priorities, so feel free to ask your coach questions.  A good one will be able to explain the reason-ing to you.

I hope this helps! Please feel free to ask more questions as they come up.

My Best,Karen

4 Copyright 2009 Temenos Fields, Inc September

Photos: www.fotosiwek.com

More Misc...

CONTEST

Don’t forget about the contest... If you can identify the movie that is in DVD #3 of the Results in Harmony Video Series, you can win $100 gift certificate from my webshop! We already have many cor-rect answers... Winner will be drawn October 1st. Send your answers to Karenrohlf@dressagenaturally.net

AUSTRALIAIt’s official! Dressage, Naturally is going to Australia in 2010! I have many students down under who have been contacting me, reading the book, watching the DVDs and now I will get a chance to meet them.

Parelli Professionals, Fiona Darling and Kaye Thomas have taken on the task of organizing series of clinics in Queensland, Victoria and NSW in April/May of 2010. The schedule is as follows:

GOLD COAST Queensland…14-18 April 2010

MELBOURNE Victoria…22-26 April 2010

YOUNG So. NSW…29 April – 3 May

2010

MACKSVILLE Northern NSW…6-10 May

2010

For further information and to request a Clinic Booking Form, please contact:Pat Miller pmi23806@bigpond.net.au

Auditors are welcome and encouraged at all events!

OPEN FORMAT WORKSHOPS & PRIVATE LESSON

OPPORTUNITIES In FLORIDA

The Private Lesson days are all full! (Don’t worry, there is unlimited space for auditors), but there are still some spots open in the Work-shops

These workshops have been incredi-bly fun and successful the past few years, and I am happy now to have this chance to also get some individ-ual time with people.

If you are interested, or have more questions, please email Karen Jones at: K2@dressagenaturally.net.

Auditors are welcome and encour-aged for the workshops and the pri-vate lesson days. We love to have you join, and there is opportunity for Q & A with Karen.

The Open Format is two 3-hour ses-sions, per day. You can sign up for one or two sessions/day. The time is yours, you can use it as you like, bring a couple horses! There will be no formal presentation, but each stu-dent has the chance to get feedback on exactly what they are playing with!

The schedule is as follows:October 3 - PrivatesOctober 4 - Workshop

November 21 - Privates *November 22 - Workshop *

December 19 - PrivatesDecember 20 - Workshop

January 9 - PrivatesJanuary 10 - Workshop

February 13 - PrivatesFebruary 14 - Workshop

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I have a little secret...

*There is a rumor that David Lichman will be visiting the Temenos the Novem-ber weekend! You never know what might happen when he is around!

OK, my marketing advisor would probably not advise me to say this... (but I don’t have a marketing advisor, so I will):

If you are thinking of ordering anything from my webshop...Don’t. Well, not yet, anyway!

Wait a couple weeks. I have some new sur-prises for you and I want to offer them all at once. I will also be giving some nice dis-counts to all my newsletter subscribers. So stay tuned. we will let you know when it is ready.

Some of the Parelli Australia Team!

Ancota Imparo is what Michelangelo is quoted as saying upon finishing the Sistine Chapel masterpiece. It translates: “I am still learning”.

Ahhh, the vision of extreme youth... Now, I have long been conscious about nurturing my attitude of wonder for all things, to try to see each day as it is, and not as a creation of my assumptions based on the past. This kind of vision I feel like I can control.

But recently I have had a little trouble with my other vision... the eyeball kind. I remember the first mo-ment I caught myself moving something farther away in order to read it... A gesture I had always associated with, well... Old people.

Then I had another shocker... I went in for a regular prescription check and the doctor told me I would need .... Progressive lenses, bifocals! OMG. How did this happen? I have only recently become aware that I am a grown up... and now I am skipping right to old?! I picture myself with a blanket on my lap, my glasses half way down my nose, peaking over the top of them when engaging others in conversation. I don’t know, maybe I could pull it off in a sexy sort of way. (I might have to lose the lap blanket).

Then I got some exciting news. This doctor said that there was a possibility I was a candidate for Lasik. I never was before because I apparently have ‘mutant

shaped eyeballs’ (Yes, one doctor actually said that). But now technology has finally caught up with my mutant needs.

So now I sit, one week after my surgery, watching my vision change by the hour, and watching my working student play with my horses. The first days after the surgery, I felt sea-sick when I opened my eyes, I need eye drops every 30 seconds, I have to sleep in goggles (so much for trying to be sexy)... All this I can easily handle. But not being able to go out and play with my beautifully dusty, they-might-bop-me-in-the-eyeball horses for 2 weeks is another thing entirely!

I tried to convince the doctor that really, I could ride... I was better on top of them than next to them... I could ride in the morning so no sweat would go in my eyes. I could wear goggles! Of course the first few days after the surgery all I wanted to do was sleep, but now... Now I feel great and it is so hard to just look out my window and watch my horses look so fabulous... Without me.

Actually, I am not sure what is more difficult: to not ride them, or to admit to myself that maybe they are enjoying some time away from me, and my patterns.They actually look like they are having fun out there. Hmmm, I guess while my eyes are heal-ing I will have to accept insight instead of eyesight.

So my working student has been given the intention for each horse, and some freedom within that to make her own plan. She’s doing with them the things that I haven’t been doing as much of. And I am feeling very proud of my boys, (and amused when I see them test out Marj... like Monty when he does his cute little bucky thing, and Atomic when he pretends to be scared of something, to get her to let him go over and graze near it.)

But mostly I realize how good it is to step back and observe. Every artist knows that you have to step away from your creation, take a break, and then go back to it in order to see it more clearly. So I have resolved myself to enjoy being in my house for a couple weeks. I decided to look out my windows and do my best to “recapture that freshness of vision which is characteristic of extreme youth”.

When I was extremely young I can remember watching someone ride beautiful horse after beauti-ful horse, and thought: ‘Wow, I wish I could do that.’ Or I would see beautiful property and think: ‘Wow, I wish someday I can have a place like this as my own.’ I let myself remember that feeling. Because then I get to remind myself that I can ride beautiful horses, and I do have this place as my own.

Hmm, seems things are getting clearer by the min-ute. OK, I’ll wait a little longer before I get horse dirt in my eyes again.

6 Copyright 2009 Temenos Fields, Inc September

Ancora Imparo

“I would like to recapture that freshness of vision which is characteristic of extreme youth when all the world is new to it.”

— Henri Matisse