Jul '09 Newsletter by Dressage Naturally

Home of:

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

Welcome back to the Temenos...

“Truly successful decision mak-

ing relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking.”

Temenos is an ancient Greek word. It refers to a sacred space that has no limits, where special rules apply and extraordinary events are free to occur.

This Month: • Student Mail • News • Question and Answer

Clinic schedule: CLICK HERE Auditors welcome at all events except as noted!

~Malcom Gladwell, from his book: Blink)

Oct 3 July 29-31 Upward Spiral of Success

Private Lesson Day at Temenos Fields

Wiltshire, U.K.

Contact: K2@dressagenaturally.net

Contact: info@playlikeahorse.com +44 (0) 798 930497

Oct 4 Workshop

Aug 3-7 Upward Spiral of Success

Oct 12-17 6 Days at Temenos

Avenches, Switzerland

Temenos Fields, Ocala.

Contact:

FULL (closed to auditors)

carmenzulauf@pnhforyou.com Photo Above: Dana Rasmussen

From Students Hi Karen and Karen, Â I uploaded a youtube clip with footage from your last clinic in Oostburg (Nl) which is a short summary of what I personally did/learned in the clinic. I have permission from the three other riders in the group (they appear in passing), so that part is OK. Please let me know if you have comments, would like me to make changes, or remove the clip!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ NJyP77Ajo Thanks again for a lovely clinic (please come back next year!), Nathalie Lagasse Nathalie, Looks great! Thanks for asking for permission to post it... You make me very proud! ~Karen Hi Karen, What a thought provoking newsletter [June 2009]. Thank you for encouraging us all to pause and think about where we are going with our horses and whether the path honors them as sentient beings. As a herd animal which has evolved little over thousands of years horses remember who they are. They embody cooperation rather than domination, connection rather than competition and remind us all about respect for nature of which we are but one small part. The best of what horses have to offer us is only beginning to be realized, lessons about authenticity, compassion, empathy, generosity and respect. When we learn to listen they do indeed help us to be better people, for a better future for our children and our planet. Thank you for being part of the solution instead of the problem. Best regards Pauline Maleny, Australia

Well, we're back from Poland.

We had a wonderful four day clinic with Karen and I got to see all my Polish riding buddies again. It was like going home. It was so relaxing and enjoyable. I was happy 2

every minute. I didn't have to think of anything but horses, food came at regular intervals with no effort on my part and Tessa was happy, energetic and her 'stiff' left hind leg just got better and better every day. By the end of the first day I realized it had been stiff because she wasn't getting enough exercise! Well, darn - what a great thing! Tessa was just plain awesome. And so was Karen - who parted with me saying that Tessa had "no limits" on what she could do and was a Grand Prix horse in the making. She told me I was at an exciting point, because all the pieces are there, I just have to use the exercises and give Tessa's body time to increase her strength,stamina and flexibility. Wow. I can't believe it. After almost giving up on this horse, then working through many internal issues inside myself and helping Tessa be the horse she was meant to be with the help of PNH for seven years, playing and cursing and crying and sweating, I 'suddenly' have a horse who just gives and gives and is HAPPY about it! This whole weekend, Tessa was smiling! Each time I came to get her in the paddock she came running up to me ready for more! We did have moments where I would ask for something, and Tessa would question 'do I really have to do this?' I said 'yes, try it you'll like it.' She agreed to give it a try and we both had a great time each step of the way. Karen says at this point, I have to be willing to ask for more, be particular, but positive and let the horse work through some of the awkward moments to find the good feeling before stopping a particular exercise, so they'll go 'Oh, that's why you wanted me to do that weird thing.' Sometimes things will get worse before they go up a level and get way better - so I have to be focused and know that what I'm asking will help, however weird it may look/feel at first.

ing correctly behind. Karen showed me a bunch of exercises to play with to help her progress. I'm just floating on clouds of happiness... When I come down from my cloud, I'll share some of her exercises, although virtually all are mentioned in the book and in her new DVD's. The gold with being with Karen is how she makes everything so simple and logical and shows the path that's just right there in front of you if you will just take that first step. I have pages of notes personalized for me and Tessa, my GPM (Grand Prix horse in the making). Regards, Sarah Drew sjdrewziomek@hotmail.com

And those kicks at the FLC's you could see in my Freestyle video? Apparently very common and a 'phase' horses sometimes go through as they improve their physical strength. Who would have thunk? Karen said it's probably because Tessa is not getting her front end out of the way fast enough. But, she is changPHOTOS BY PAWEL SIWEK

Hi Karen, I thought you might enjoy some pictures from our two recent trips to the beach (Ocean Shores, Washington). The on-line pictures are of my mare, Mona - still amazing at nineteen years of age. The under saddle pictures are of me and my ten-year-old gelding, Aiko. He continues to make a lot of progress. By day three of our most recent trip, he was like butter - completely relaxed and light as a feather. I was able to sit the trot comfortably and work on our mobility exercises while riding up and down the beach. We would not be where we are today without your relaxation and stretching exercises. The last photo is our encounter with a dead whale that had washed up on the beach. It was very interesting. The horses did not pay much attention to it at first - until they caught a whiff of it! We were able to address the right brain behavior, and I must say, this is probably one of the most interesting objects I have played approach and retreat with! I hope all is well with you. sjmcghie@yahoo.com Warmest Regards, Shelley McGhie

Things and Stuff New Podcast on the concept of ‘neutral’ in dressage! I created a new podcast. you can get to it by going to: www.dressagenaturally.net/newsletters.h tml . This one is called ‘neutral’ and on it I talk about the concept of neutral and how it fits in with the kind of clear, close leadership needed to do dressage, or sustain more specific postures. Many students have trouble riding consistently, as they fear they are ‘micro-managing’ or controlling the horse. In dressage, though, since we are talking about the ‘way in which’ they move, we do need to be able to give the horse specific information. The key is to do it in a way that our horses see us as great dance partners, not naggers! People who are great at being the lead in a dance DO give their partners a lot of information. And when riding you are never really doing nothing.

Web-site wizard needed! I am looking for some website assistance. I would like someone who can be in charge of keeping things up to date for me. I thought I would search among my ‘friends of Dressage Naturally’ before I just start shopping around. Here is what I am looking for:

• Someone with professional or advanced So I hope this podcast just helps you feel skills in this area. a little better about not being afraid to give your horse clear leadership in the • Someone who will actively participatdance... without crossing the line into ing in putting things up on my site, can controlling. Oh, and I forgot to turn of my be pro-active and present ideas to me A/C so sometimes you will hear some about how to improve the site. noise in the background...sorry!! • Someone who is accessible and responsive. Photos: Dana Rasmussen

• This may mean learning to work with my existing set-up, but I may be interested in a whole fresh start. Please contact me at Karenrohlf@dressagenaturally.net if you are interested, let me know what you have to offer!

Photo of Karen and Monty included in Sylvia Loch’s new book. Sylvia Loch is a prolific writer of books about classical dressage. Her newest book, The Classical Seat, The Key To Great Riding includes a photo of Karen and Monty doing bareback, bridle-less piaffe!

New books on the More Resources Page of Dressage Naturally Website I am reading Temple Grandin’s latest book; Animals Make Us Human. Temple Grandin is a PhD, and also happens to be autistic, and so has a unique ability to see the world as animals do. all her books are very interesting. At the end of the section on horses, she gives Pat Parelli a positive mention! You can get to links to her books on my More Resources page on my website.

Question from Student Dear Karen, I'm an adult amateur dressage rider and have just had the good fortune to buy a lovely Arab/Trakehner mare named Macey. I've been exploring natural horsemanship as a means not only to improve my own skills but also as a way to help create a stronger partnership between Macey and me. I live in the Dallas area and have met a couple of times with Dr. Grady Carter, who is a certified Parelli instructor. He and his wife Devvy referred me to you so that I could get a better sense of how Parelli actually compliments the discipline of dressage. I've spent some time on your website and was very encouraged to read about your philosophy of how the two disciplines work together. Can you share any of your insight or experience on how, once you started your Parelli work, you were able to incorporate that into your dressage riding? And, one more request....I watched your collection video on YouTube and absolutely loved the music. Could you share the name of the artist and title of the song? Regards, Vicki Dennis Flower Mound, Texas Hi Vicki, Thanks for your question... Without getting super technical (all that is in my book!), one way to explain how I combine dressage and natural horsemanship is that natural horsemanship is the context within which I do dressage. To me, this means that the partnership is more important than the dressage... it comes first and last. Of course, many dressage riders feel this way, too, so the lines become blurred, which is a good thing! I don’t like to think about natural horsemanship as a discipline, I think of it as a source of information about how to relate and communicate with my horse. And Parelli sure provides a lot of information on that subject, and is interested in humans learning it. I don’t think of the basics of dressage as a discipline, either... it is just good biomechanics that every horse should have the opportunity to experience. Unfortunately, historically these experts in

Copyrigth 2009 temenos fields, inc JULY

mental emotional partnership development (NH) and biomechanical development (dressage) don’t talk to each other much, so there is not as much shared information as I dream there will be one day.

Depending on how things are with you and your horse, you may not need to drop all dressage cold-turkey... much of what you are doing may be very beneficial! The key is to not do it half way... for example, if you understand that the benefit of learnIf you are interested in dressage, and ing Freestyle riding is to install responsialso a horse-lover, just imagine how you bility of gait and direction in your horse, to dream to be with your horse... what would have balanced impulsion, independent you like to be able to communicate with seat and mutual trust... (those seem like him (or her!) about? How would you like great ideas to me!) then really go there to be able to move with her? What pieces and do all you can to really learn and unwould need to be in place in order for that derstand it. And if you want to keep doing to happen? Where can you find out how dressage also, go for it... but be aware, to achieve those pieces? and if you start to realize that, for example, when you do dressage things aren’t The Mental, Emotional and Physical asgoing well because your horse gets pects of the horse are equally important, heavy because you have to use your and they all effect each other, but I think reins for too many things, give yourself there are many prerequisites that need to permission to not make dressage as high be in place before things like posture, are a priority until the Freestyle benefits have important. what I have learned, is that if been achieved. there are issues in the foundation, they will show up ten-fold if you try to ride the That’s what helped me... I saw strategies horse into a ‘frame’ or demand precision being taught in Parelli for some qualities too soon. The again, if you wait too long that I wanted to have to improve my dresto develop the skill of riding in good possage, and that inspired me... then of ture, it can cause undo wear and tear on course I learned that there are more imtheir bodies and too many poor biomeportant things than dressage, too (hard chanical habits form that are only harder for a Grand Prix dressage trainer to admit later to resolve. to herself!) But I am a horse-lover first... I am still that horse-crazy little girl, who Practically, I think if you are starting to happens to know a lot of skills about learn the natural horsemanship techdressage. niques it is important to really understand WHY you are doing them, and underI hope this helps! ~Karen stand what the intention is, then you will be more inspired to put the dressage on PS: The song is by Santana, featuring hold for a moment to give yourself the Seal: “You Are My Kind”. time to learn it.

Visit the Web shop Instructional Book / DVDs

www.dressagenaturally.net

Reins

T-Shirts & Riding Pants

BOOK:

Dressage Naturally... Results in Harmony: A Guide to the Basics of Dressage from a Natural Horsemanship Perspective. A result of Karen Rohlf's combined experience as a dressage professional and her immersion in natural horsemanship, this book/DVD bridges the gap between these two worlds. The material will take every horseman on a practical and philosophical journey to create healthy biomechanics and stronger partnerships through combining principles of natural horsemanship with the art of dressage.

DN Reins: The best of both worlds! These reins have the elegant look and quiet connection to the bit of a leather dressage rein, but the 'live feel' of a rope. They are hand made from quality yachting line and leather. Available in 10 and 12 foot lengths

Spiral Bound / Hard cover

Organic Cotton T Shirts Available in Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s style in Chocolate and Black Unisex style in Black

Sonnenreiter Riding Pants ON SALE! A limit number are left... Buy now before we stop carrying them!

184 pages 59 Exercises Forewords by Anne Gribbons and Linda Parelli 53 Illustrations by the author Almost 3 hours of DVD

DVDs:

Results in Harmony Series: 4 DVDs: Riding in Connection with the Reins, Developing Mobility, Playing with Posture, Playing with Posture II

Intro to Dressage Naturally: Non- instructional, but inspirational. Beautiful images as Karen explains her philosophy.