Jun '08 Newsletter by Dressage Naturally

Dressage, Naturally

Results in Harmony

with Karen Rohlf

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

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

Welcome back to the

Temenos...

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

Click Here to go to the Dressage Naturally website... and to Purchase the Instructional Book/DVD • •

This Month: • On the road again: My Clinic Season is here... in the past month I have been to Minnesota, Ontario, Poland and The Netherlands! Read about the various clinics.

to listen to a Podcast about collection CLICK HERE

Clinic schedule: CLICK HERE Upcoming Clinics:

July 5-8 Port Angeles, WA Local Contact: Jessica

July 10-13 Spokane, WA Local Contact: Terry

• Question from the Natural Dressage Forum, Answer from Karen. • Clinic notes from a student.

ONTARIO: Parelli Professional, Don Halladay sent me this after particpating/hosting my clinic in Ontario.

“It was my pleasure to welcome Karen

Rohlf to the beautiful Windreach Farms near Uxbridge, Ontario for three days of “Dressage Naturally” and an evening workshop in May. Windreach Farm was a perfect setting and a great learning environment. Founder of Windreach Farms, Sandy Mitchell, attended much of the program; he has a keen interest in dressage, and will be participating in the Para Olympics in Hong Kong later this year. My purpose in inviting Karen to Ontario and particularly the Uxbridge area was two fold. On a personal level, it was a great opportunity to take a clinic with Karen during my clinic season. During the times I have been at the Parelli Center in Florida I was fortunate to take private lessons with Karen. In addition I have participated in two “Dancing with Horses” clinics. Karen’s ability to obtain relaxation in her horses while asking for collection is fascinating and I wanted to learn more about Karen’s experience and thoughts. The second purpose was to have Parelli students experience natural horsemanship at a higher level.

Three events were organized around Karen’s visit. An evening gathering pre-

sented an opportunity for clinic participants to meet Karen and support the work Windreach does in giving people with disabilities access to riding, nature and farm life. The following three-day clinic with Karen was exciting, informative and fun. Participants enjoyed Karen’s demonstrating with different horses and she has the ability to make the concepts clear. Things got very interesting when Karen worked with an individual horse and rider to effect relaxation, balance and energy. Riders experienced major changes. Karen has a way of working with people that gives them confidence to try new approaches. On Saturday evening a large number of spectators came to hear Karen talk about her concepts as it applied to two guest dressage riders and their horses. The dressage riders had considerable experience and training; one rode a mature competition horse and the other rode a young horse just beginning dressage. For those of us that have had little exposure to dressage it became clear why the foundation is important. Those more familiar with dressage were able to see it from a natural perspective. Karen rode one of the horses and wowed the gathering with her ability to find small adjustments to help the horse.

Inspiration comes in many forms and Karen’s clinic inspired both participants and gallery students. It is good to be reminded why a foundation is needed and why it should be a sound one. It is clear that the farther one is along in their horsemanship journey, the more they will take away from

a clinic with Karen. At the evening gathering I introduced Karen to those gathered by saying “ Karen Rohlf has melded the principles of natural horsemanship to dressage in such a way as to take into account the mental, emotional and physical aspects of the horse. In a hundred years when people talk about when and how the idea of “Dressage Naturally” began, they will trace it back to Karen Rohlf’s life work.” I can think of nothing more exciting than being among the first wave of students that walk the bridge from natural horsemanship to dressage naturally. The three days of Dressage Naturally at Windreach Farms was an international event with participants from the Cayman Islands, Florida and Michigan joining riders from southern Ontario and the Uxbridge area. The events at Windreach featuring Karen Rohlf had a fund raising component as well, $5,800.00 was raised by silent auction and ticket sales during the Saturday evening workshop. The events at Wind Reach were enjoyed by the participants and a great number of gallery students. Todd and Maureen Owens organized the very successful events at Windreach - their dedication and promotion of the Parelli Program in general and Don Halladay in particular has brought natural horsemanship to the forefront in the Uxbridge area.

” ~Don Halladay

It is clear there is great interest for Dressage Naturally in the Ontario area! This is why I plan on coming back twice a year... in the fall Parelli Instructor, Fawn Anderson will host me (Oct 3-7, Stone Mills, ONT) and in the Spring, I will be back with Don Halladay (6 days in mid May 2009, dates to be confirmed soon!). I love coming to areas where there is a lot of cooperation with and between Parelli Instructors. I feel that gives the best means of support to the students. Thanks, Don for writing this! It was great to work with you again... ~Karen

For information on Don’s clinics contact Maureen Owens durhamsavvy@sympatico.com For info on Fawn’s clinic contact: pnhclinics@yahoo.com

Engagement... moving from understanding to achieving. (Photos this page,: Terri Miller)

Q: Hi Karen, This month's question is about relaxation and engagement, balancing the two while actually getting somewhere! We understand that sometimes to add energy we may lose relaxation for a moment, or to restore relaxation we may lose energy for a moment. We understand the lateral exercises and transitions should provide us the tool for developing engagement and impulsion while maintaining (or restoring!) relaxation. Many of us are still struggling truly GETTING that engagement, impulsion, bendy legs without resorting to more traditional concepts like 'kicking leg to hand.' For those of us that have read your book, it seems possible to get this freestyle or with a light connection? If it is not being offered, where would we start looking to find the hole that needs to be filled? -The Members of the Natural Dressage Forum

A: The question you ask gets right to the heart of things... This is the same question I ask myself all the time in the kitchen. “Huh?” you may be asking.... Stick with me here: I follow the recipe, I obtain the ingredients, I prepare the ingredients, I put all them all in their little bowls on the counter, just like on the cooking channel, and then I add exactly the amounts that the cook book says and still....I struggle to truly GET that wonderful flavor (like when my friend made the meal... Or mine doesn’t look like the photograph) without resorting to my more traditional concepts of cooking like: ‘ordering take out’. On a bad day I start yelling at myself like the guy from Hell’s Kitchen to see if I can scare myself into making a better meal, but so far my mediocre cooking only tastes worse when accompanied by a side-dish of low selfesteem... But I seem to have digressed!

There are certain nuances, like maybe cooking the onions a bit first, and definitely adding the cheese last, and spritzing a little water on it and covering it towards the end so it gets really fluffy (although that’s a Level 3 move). I would give you more analogies, but I am afraid I may embarrass myself with my lack of actual information in this department. So yes, from your question, it sounds like you have an understanding of the ingredients, and you are correct in the theory that many exercises containing transitions and lateral work (mobility exercises) will increase engagement. The key is how are you putting it into practice? Also know that even with perfect practice, the results don’t always happen instantly. Many gymnastic exercises only make small changes in the moment, but over time, riding them with quality will yield you an improvement. You need to be able to identify ‘what is quality’. You can refer to the General Impressions on the bottom of dressage competition tests, as well as the Training Scale for ideas about what to look for (I talk about these in Part I of my book “What is Dressage?”).

When you find yourself in a circumstance where you seem to have all the pieces, but you still aren’t getting the result, you may have to dial up your standard of quality of what you do. Simply doing transitions won’t necessarily increase enFor example in transitions: First, are you gagement, the same way dumping a in a reasonable ‘sweet spot’ for the workbunch of eggs, onions and cheese in a pan won’t make an omelette worth eating. ing gait to begin with? Then are you aiming to be able to transition in a way that Copyright 2008 Temenos Fields, Inc June

there is only the pure rhythm of the first gait and then the pure rhythm of the new gait without any funny strides in between? I mean reeeeally? Sometimes, for example, I tell a student they must prepare to canter from the trot and when they tell me they are ready, I play a game of seeing if they can get the transition done without me seeing it coming. If I see anything change in the trot at all I let them know. I let them prepare again, then when they say they are ready we try again. A good transition, that is prepared and ridden well will just happen and no one will see it coming. Another qualitative thing to look for is: after the transition, how many strides happen before it is in the sweet spot for the new gait? A quality transition happens in a way that no one sees it coming and the first stride of the new gait is the best. Also, the ‘best’ trot for example, is the trot that you can transition to a canter, walk or back up to with equal ease and quality.

First and Second Level maneuvers don’t feel as good until you can do Third Level, etc... My original dressage trainer, Anne Gribbons like to say: ‘In order to make an omelette, you’ve got to crack some eggs’. Please, please, promise you don’t start Craig Johnson talks about ‘going two just ‘kicking the leg to hand’!! (And I steps up, then one step back down’. At promise when I make you an omelette I two steps up you and your horse think: won’t put the burner on high and just ‘wow, this is a challenge’, then you come throw all the ingredients in at once... it’ll back down and everything else is now just make a big mess and I’ll just have to easier, not just in comparison, but beclean up the mess later). Not only can all cause you just increased your skills. this be done in lightness... but it HAS to Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself now be done in lightness! Asking for too much and then so the range of your horse’s vertical flexion without the body being ability increases and then everything beprepared, or holding on too tight is a big fore that will become easier. You need to reason for your horse to NOT engage! be good enough to be able to do more We may think it could work to hold the challenging maneuvers, but you won’t be nose so the hind end can catch up, but good enough until you do them. All the the more we hold the nose, the more the best things in life are wrapped in parashoulders block and the less the hind end doxes like this one. is able to come through. Also, as far as relaxation, sometimes you need to adjust your idea of what that means. I have seen many students get Walk/trot, trot/walk transitions and trot/ into an ‘on or off’ sort of problem: either canter, canter/trot transitions will tell you they are being active, or they are relaxa lot about the suppleness, relaxation of ing, doing nothing. And of course what the back and balance of your horse, and we want to find is relaxation during the ridden well will improve this. Canter/ movement. This kind of relaxation will walk and walk/canter transitions will tell feel different, perhaps than what you you a lot about the engagement and think it will feel like. There is something strength of your horse, and ridden with particular about let-loose athletic relaxaquality will improve these aspects. tion. Words sometimes limit us, and ‘relaxation’ has so many different types. This is just an example. Once you find We already know that rhythm causes the sweet spot of the gaits, it is the artful relaxation from the first time we ever gymnastic training that will develop your learned Friendly Game. And when we horse’s gaits. That means riding very Put a big focus on finding a sweet spot at are playing with our horse’s biomechanwell through gymnastic patterns, and do- the working gaits, then use transitions to ics, if we can find a balance that is good ing it with a focus on choosing a benefienough, the horse can maintain their test whether or not that is really a sweet cial pattern and paying great attention to rhythm of their gait. (Rhythm is a good spot that has all the qualities that will althe quality of it. You may want to review indicator of balance). And when their low you and your horse to be prepared the Dressage Naturally book starting on balance is consistent enough, the rhythm enough to move easily from one gait to page 14 where I talk about qualities that another. Think of the adjectives you want of their gait causes another layer of reare important to dressage, these are the laxation. So sometimes in order to find to use to describe your horse and pay qualities that need to be maintained attention that you are able to use more of the real, athletic kind of relaxation you through a pattern or exercise. It is by do- the positive adjectives and fewer of the need to be pretty active, and this can be ing this that over time, like investments in ones you don’t want. Do exercises for counterintuitive to students. You can go the biomechanical bank, your horse’s way flexibility, mobility and collectibility. Keep through relaxation in order to release enof moving will improve. checking the sweet spot and the quality of ergy, but it is also possible to go through activity in order to release tension and your riding. And don’t forget to continue By finding the sweet spot we can release to make those investments. Also don’t gain athletic relaxation in body and mind. our horse’s best way of moving for this Sometimes students are afraid to be so forget to challenge yourselves. Trainers moment, and by artful riding of that sweet know that you have to push the limit to particular with adjusting their horse’s balspot through gymnastic patterns, we can have the more basic things improve. That ance or energy or sustaining an exercise, improve how he looks and moves in his if they get a little tense in the process, but is why when you train at Third level, you future moments. Of course choosing the compete at First and Second Level. And the benefit gained by getting to this other appropriate patterns takes experience, place can be huge. It, as usual, comes 4

but you can start with the Collectibility section of my book, or even just take out the dressage competition tests and do pieces of those... with quality!

down to awareness, experience, fairness and effectiveness, as you make choices of what to ask for when, and for how long. Another point that may help is the knowledge that if you improve the canter, your trot will improve. The nature of the gait is such that (if you do it with quality) the lower back of the horse flexes more than in the other gaits, so it can be a very limbering gait. Very particular lateral work at the walk can also be very valuable... again, if you are very particular about positioning the horse so you are actually achieving the benefit and not just riding around sideways. It is only appropriate to be that precise if you have horse that is highly responsive and light, but once you have that, then lateral exercises at the walk can really help you understand and develop your horse’s engagement. At the walk, every leg moves independently of the others, and there is no ‘air time’ so all must be done in balance and by good ‘piloting’; there is no leg that comes along for free, and not so much momentum and jump to carry you through. It is a great way to calmly and quietly increase engagement. Shoulder-in’s and turns on the haunches (dressage-style,, where the hind legs stay active, not the foundation type of forehand yield where the hind legs may pivot.) are particularly valuable. And If it still feels to you like it ought to be working but nothing is improving, it may be time to have someone observe what you are doing and see if maybe you could find a more athletic sweet spot for your horse, to be more sure you’re practicing what you want to be practicing. Remember, it’s something to do with Relaxation, Energy and Balance... Be aware of the adjectives you are looking for from your horse, be smart in your choice of pattern and exercises to do, be aware and be fully present in the moment and so you can monitor every step for quality... that is for sure the biggest mistake I make in cooking... I forget to stay in the kitchen. If you have my Instructional book/DVD, you will see on the end of the DVD there is a chapter called: Brave Tom, An Illustration of a Transformation. Here I show photos of the first horse I did dressage on. It is a truly remarkable illustration of the power of consistent gymnastic training. Of course, if you do not yet have the book/DVD I highly recommend it!

Poland and The Netherlands 2008!

Yes, there are horses in Poland!

Not only are there horses, but there are diehard Parelli and Dressage, Naturally students! And that’s not all... It is the home of the first translation of the Dressage Naturally Book/DVD!! The field in the photo above was my view during the clinic ( I have the best office space in the world!) ... Beata, a Level 3 student who I met the first time in a clinic in Austria, stayed in contact, invited me to come to Poland, and organized this wonderful event held not far from Warsaw. She also singlehandedly translated my book and DVD for the Polish publishers! (See the next page for some of her notes on the clinic.) And although I think the students were feeling a bit intimidated before the course started, I was very impressed with their strong partnerships and abilities with their lovely horses. For more info on Parelli in Poland go to: www.parelli-info.waw.pl

Then it was on to Parelli Professional, Eddy Modde’s Horseman’s retreat in Oostburg, Netherlands. Three years ago I came to Eddy’s and there were 3 students, a lot of rain and an open field... This year There were 15 students and about 20 auditors who came from as far as Ireland, Spain and Sweden!

Eddy Modde

Another development is a new indoor with a lounge and viewing area. It was a beautiful mixture of old farmhouse, new facility and a feeling of great things to come.

Eddy Modde’s new indoor (left) ... and original barn (below).

I look forward to returning to both Poland and Netherlands in the future.

A student’s notes Beata from Poland (Karen’s comments are added in red to help explain) Karen:

These are my notes from the clinic and my observations a few days later.

Our problems: - downward transitions - getting to ideal 5 in impulsion. Werest is fine freestyle, with active transitions he is winding up, becoming emotional. - better quality of canter - overall balance

Diagnosis: - Impulsiveness, getting emotional whenever there is any misunderstanding, loosing balance of a horse/rider or the task is more demanding. Werest does not understand one leg cue as move sideways - he is speeding up when feeling a pressure of one leg. (we found lots of escape instead of yield)

side. - Whenever the horse gets emotional or is not responding to a seat and keeps moving forward do not hesitate to disengage his hindquarter and stop ASAP. Do it in hackamore rather then a bit. (save the horse’s delicate mouth for communication!) - everything starts and end with RELAXATION!

hear... that it still makes sense and works even after the clinic is over!

Beata’s horse had issues which were a combination of emotions and lack of balance (or we could say lack of balance emotionally and physically) Mentally he was balanced because he did understand and was willing. Emotional and physical imbalances After the clinic I had a chance to ride him are tricky because it is alike a chicken four times. Unfortunately when Werest is and egg dilemma. I gave Beata and alone (no other horses around) I have to deal also with his emotions. Whenever he Werest some gymnastic exercises, to help the body, then put a great focus was getting distracted or was raising his on making sure he was let loose to head and looking anxiously around I asked him for shoulder-in or sideways. I the suggestions of the positions we had started to do it some time ago howwere asking him for, otherwise we ever now, I am being more particular would just be taking an already imabout relaxation and I am rewarding him for this and stop. The first day I had to go balanced horse and giving him more to worry about! Taking the time to set to a roundpen so that I did not have to deal with his willingness to run off to the up positive responses and punctuatbarn and we got beautifull streched posing every gymnastic with total relaxature in all three gaits. The other days I tion helps to give the horse the skills played in the arena and I went trail riding he needs to find a better balance... to the woods looking for relaxation and without blowing his mind in the proclightness. ess. ~Karen After these few rides Werest is incredibly elastic and supple. Yesterday he also surprised me with a quality of downward transitions from canter. He was stopping on a dime - I was asking for a canter-walk transtition and there was immediate stop which I rewarded. Wow! Cheers, Beata

Beata and Werest

Solution: - more clear preparatory command for upward and downward transitions - from the ground and from the saddle. Clear "and.... canter". (not surprising him.. give him time to understand and prepare himself) - desensitization for a one leg cue. Zillions of stopping by sideways movement followed by relaxation. As a result I should expect Werest to relax when he feels one leg and not to speed up. (We found that there was tension that could be traced all the way back to a friendly game... when I rode him, if i moved my leg around while he was walking or trotting, it already caused tension, so I made sure we cleared that first (desensitizing) then we added that everytime he felt a pressure on one side, that he quickly could find the yield (sensitizing him) so he could also relax quickly... we were looking for a melting quality instead of a bracey kind of yield.) - lots of transitions to shoulder in. Like: walk shoulder in - canter - transition to trot- transition to walk shoulder-in. From the ground and from the saddle. Do more shoulder-in to the right and only check it to the left. Werest's ribs are pushed to the This is what I love to right and he has difficulty bending to this Copyright 2008 Temenos Fields, Inc June

Ancora Imparo “It is great to have an end to journey towards, but in the end it is the journey that matters.” — Le Guin

There is nothing like flying above the clouds at 30,000 feet to get a dose of perspective... I do some of my best thinking in airplanes... for just that reason. As I look out the window I am happy when I fully realize where I am. It is so easy to just focus on the small seat, mediocre meals, the things I need to do when I get home. But to be fully aware that I am mere inches from flying alone through the sky! I am up above the clouds! Can you imagine it?! What a gift, what a ride! I feel so small when I am up there, but in the way that feels good; in the way that I realize that all my worries put together are so small (“... where troubles melt like lemon drops away above the chimney tops....”) and that maybe if I just let go I have a possibility of realizing I already am in harmony with this unbelievable magic that is our world. It is the same with me and the horses... It could be easy to focus on goals not reached, frustrations and judgments. But I got into horses so I could fly with them and so I could feel small in a way that I become lost in their magnificence. They show me that I already am in harmony, if I just let go. I am riding a horse! Can you imagine it?! What a gift, what a ride!