June 2012 Dressage, Naturally Newsletter by Dressage Naturally

June 2012

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

Karen Rohlf Upcoming Clinics: For full schedule, click here June 2-4 Gilroy, CA Sweet Spot taught by: Shelby Hume Shelleycandelario@yahoo.com

June 2-12 UK 2 clinics taught by: Karen Rohlf stefgaunt@yahoo.com

June 15-18 Poland taught by: Karen Rohlf Contact: beata@400.pl July 20-22 Ebro, Ontario, Canada Upward Spiral with Karen Rohlf

Welcome to the June 2012 Newsletter! In this issue: • Join us at a clinic! • Classroom DVDs coming soon! • Send us your video! • Q & A: Can you be bit-less & Classical?

What is a ‘Temenos’?

June 29-July1 Bridgewater, NH Sweet Spot taught by: Shelby Hume Contact:

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.

laddfarmllc@me.com

Video contest!

Dressagenaturally.net

clinics@dressagenaturally.net

2011 Classroom archives coming on DVD!

Quote of the Month: “We can be absolutely certain only about things we do not understand” ~Eric Hoffer

Join us at a clinic! Karen is coming to Ontario! Contact: clinics@dressagenaturally.net to create a clinic in YOUR area!

July 20-22: The Upward Spiral of Success. Taught by Karen Rohlf Contact: breannepeters@hotmail.com Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a little while since I have been to Canada and I am so excited to be returning!

Upcoming Finding The Sweet Spot Clinics with Shelby Hume: Gilroy, CA June 2-4 Contact: Shelleycandelario@yahoo.com Bridgewater, NH June 29-July 1 Contact: laddfarmllc@me.com

Rider Spots are full but please come join us as a gallery student!

UK Clinics with Karen Rohlf

Poland Clinic with Karen Rohlf

Somerset, UK Focusing On Connection June 2-4 Private Lesson format June 6-11 Contact: stefgaunt@yahoo.com

Warsaw area June 15-18 Contact: beata@400.pl

Do you like the Sonnenreiter riding pants I usually wear? D,N followers get discounts at Proryders.com Simply mention my name! If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live in Europe, (They are a German company), then

Proryders is the place to get them. Just mention my name by leaving a message during check out, (you will be refunded in a separate transaction), or place your order by phone 650-726-4234

The Classroom is going strong! There has been so much great feedback - it is so satisfying for me to hear all the results you are getting from this!

Join the Classroom!

2011 Classroom Archives AVAILABLE on DVD in July!

The D,N Video Classroom Archives from 2011 will be available on DVD!

You asked for it...

Available to long time subscribers at a low cost! Were you a Classroom member for more than 9 months by the end of 2011? You will be able to purchase them at your discounted price. It will be our “Thank You” to you for being a long-time subscriber!

The DVDs will also be available for everyone, and can be found in the web store. We are aware that some people’s internet simply isn’t fast enough to be able to make on-line viewing possible. Soon everyone will be able to benefit from the videos!

Being a subscriber to The Classroom still gives you the best value. As a current subscriber you enjoy the most immediate viewing of the videos, as well as access to The Forum... Still, we are so excited to be able to offer this to folks who have been unable to access the videos on the internet.

Video Call to Action! Chance to win free year of Video Classroom! I hear from students all the time about how Dressage, Naturally has effected them, their horse, their partnership, their dressage, their foundation... The story below is a recent example.

I LOVE these stories! They bring a smile to my face and make all the late nights editing and cramming my long legs into small seats on airlines all worth while!

I would love to hear and see more of your stories, so am calling all you students of Dressage, Naturally to

make a video that explains how D,N has effected you and your horse Anyone who sends us a video will be sent a D,N Big Picture Poster.

The most compelling video will win a year free subscription to the D,N Video Classroom (a $288 value) • • • • • • •

“

Create a video no more than 8 minutes long Upload the video to youtube (make it ‘public’ or ‘unlisted’ (not ‘private’) Send the link to us at: video@dressagenaturally.net Include your name and mailing address Submit it to us by Sept 15, 2012 and we will announce a winner October 1, 2012! Don’t worry about fancy editing... Just speak from the heart! By sending us the link you give us permission to share your video

I just wanted to share these picts with you. My Lippizan, Nigel on the first day we got him 3 years ago and

then this last monday. I want you to know how much your pictures of Brave Tom gave me hope. You are always talking about being open to possibilities. If I hadn't seen those and been listening to you....I don't know. But sure enough Nigel looks better at 16 than he did at 13. You are awesome! Thank you for being such a great mentor. The DN classroom is one of my favorite tools. All my best to you and your ponies.

”

Emma

Can I Be ‘Classical’ If I Ride Bit-less?

Q: Karen I have a huge question. I am told that for "classical riding' to be truly 'classical' one must ride with a bit. I am convinced that this is untrue as I can get all the flexions demonstrated by Philippe Karl from my horse bit-less. I am told that without the bit you cannot get jaw flexion, but this I can get bit-less, and without jaw flexion you cannot have a true partner ship with the horse. This confuses me so.

The word 'classical' is thrown around a lot to the point of being a little meaningless, in my opinion. I believe it is possible to do all movements in healthy, correct biomechanics without a bit... But I also agree that it can be a good tool, and some horses find greater clarity from it. It is true that with a bit there is more possibility of directly influencing the jaw (to relax, ideally)... but that doesn't mean you can't cause a horse to have a relaxed jaw without a bit... I want to make sure we know what we are describing: Poll flexion to me is when the angle of the head and neck decreases (going from nose up to nose at vertical, for example). Direct communication about this from bit or halter is possible. The actual lateral and vertical components of poll flexions are divided between the atlas and axis joint, but I think we don’t have to go into that detail here. ‘Jaw flexion’ to me isn’t really an accurate term... Often people use the term jaw flexion to mean vertical flexion. Probably they mean ‘flexion at the jaw area of the horse’. The jaw joint can either open or close the mouth. So I would call what the bit can do is a ‘jaw release’ meaning we can actively ask the jaw to open thereby releasing any excess tension holding the jaw closed or tight. This is what is difficult to directly ask for if you are not with a bit. However, when a horse licks and chews through relaxed understanding he is doing the same thing that the is being asked for with jaw releases (Philippe Karl stuff). How important this direct communication with the jaw is, really depends on the horse. Monty licks so frequently while being ridden I had no need for it. Another horse may hold his jaw open in tension in which case a halter could help him remain relaxed. Another horse may hold tension in his jaw tightly closing his mouth and simply asking him to open it with a gentle upward suggestion with the bit is the clearest, most gentle way to release a chain of tension that can effect his whole body! Let’s let our horses teach us what works... We can let the historians figure out whether or not to call that ‘Classical’ ;-)

DRESSAGENATURALLY June 2012

The Art & Science of Dressage, Naturally... Prints, tote bags, and mugs as well as all the instructional materials are available in the web shop! All artwork by Karen.

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