Nov '09 Newsletter by Dressage Naturally

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

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

Welcome back to the Temenos...

"To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others."

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.

-- Tony Robbins

December 19

This Month

Private Lessons at Temenos Fields Contact K2@dressagenaturally.net

• Question from student • Student feedback

• New Discount Code: DN09Spcl gets you 10% off!

Upcoming Clinics:

• Photos

November 21

Clinic schedule click here: Private Lessons at Temenos Fields Contact K2@dressagenaturally.net

Top photos: dana Rasmussen, Center Photo: Terri Miller

December 20 Open Format Workshop at Temenos Fields Contact K2@dressagenaturally.net

Auditors Welcome!

Feedback

humorous with the right attitude...), and went away wanting even more lessons! The group was so very supportive of where I was (and am...) as the *new kid*, and helped me understand aspects of dressage that were new to me. I can say that, by the end of the week, I felt like I had some real inklings of understanding where I could go with this, and how lucky I am to have such a willing and talented equine partner.

Sally and Cody

Dear Karen: It's been about a month now since my *Six Days at Temenos Fields*. I've thought about my experience at your wonderful facility every day since I left -- it was such an enlightening, positive and progressive experience for me, as well as for my horse, Cody! The small, intimate group of 8 allowed me to concentrate on not only my own lessons and achievements, but those of my fellow students as well.

Learning to lead the dance, while it doesn't come naturally to me, is now an exciting possibility that I look forward to practicing on a daily basis. With the kinds of movement Cody's given me, both at the clinic and now that we're home, I think he's happy to practice as well. He's prancing all over the place these days -- just being led, during the circling game, and even as I try to stay true to a relatively precise 15m (10m @ the trot...) circle.

free to occur". I certainly experienced a myriad of extraordinary events during my extraordinary time there! Take care! Sally PS, I have something I'd like to offer up to the dressage community: At Karen's Venue, Every Stretching Horse Can Master Relaxation, Balance, Posture, Freedom ((: It has truly been a wonderful journey to learn, feel and love Dressage Naturally. It has really shown me what flexibility and movement is with horses. The results have been amazing. The freedom of movement, with a 19 year old Arabian, between horse and rider is now making sense. I could never actually visualize what it meant and even felt like, until now.

I am very excited that I have found you and to add this part of my horsemanship to my horse awakening. You are intuitive I feel a need to dress better around him to the horse and rider, which allows us to these days -- so I don't look like a slumlearn together. Your additional support dog next to His Highness! I'm finding with your books, DVD’s, and posters help that I'm paying closer attention to the real- to guide us when we are not riding in front ity shows *Dancing with the Stars* and of you. *So You Think You Can Dance* -- relating to the difficult job of Karen, your teaching skills and the way Having no prior dressage training whatgetting the *amateur* (me) up to par with you play with horses, along with us as soever, I was especially interested in learning about what relaxed, the steps, the musicality, the tempo, the rider’s is your forte you excel at it. My energetic and balanced movement should endurance and the attitude of the *pro* horse and I appreciate what you do for us look like -- it was a big part of why I chose (Cody)! I think he hopes to be voted Thank you. through as the winner! to drive the 3000 miles to participate! I Claudia C. Milton, Acting Chief Miami-Dade Schools Police Department wasn't disappointed, as each participant I also want to express how much I appreand their partner clearly showed me the ciate your incorporation of the I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed prerequisite *sweet spot* leading to imParelli foundation in everything you do. the Clinic and how much I learned both proved flexibility, mobility and collectibil Being able to talk about things in Parelli from my lessons and all the other girls' ity. terms and maintaining Parelli principles lessons as well. Have the feel of an upThe diversity of learning experiences over and Keys to Success made everything right shoulder now, going to use many easy for me, especially with regards to the 6 days was a real plus. From group serpentines (that was feeling very good lessons to individual lessons, simulations, Key #1: Attitude. Your positive and crea- during the drill, even though we were off tive attitude as an instructor bolstered my discussions, partnering exercises, and course and too fast) and now understand, individual practice time, it all added up to positive and progressive attitude as a finally, the value of "follow the rail". progress. I am so excited with everything student, which kept Cody's attitude willing and cooperative...even in the record heat! Will do a lot more groundwork and playI learned -- especially my very first *official* dressage lesson! Wow! How lucky do I feel to have had you as my instructor for that?!! VERY LUCKY! It was a ton of fun, I learned loads, giggled quite a bit (those dressage arenas can be quite

Thanks so very much for the opportunity to ride with you at the Temenos. It kept true to its credo of being "a place where extraordinary events are

ing too - - - hope that we can show some improvement by lesson time. I'm inspired and excited about where Alley and I can go with this. Thank You. Best regards,

Bonnie

2 questions: Collection & Horse ‘analities’.

learning how to ride bridleless it was my quest to do everything in dressage bridleless. Now I am not so sure that is as important as I thought. Geez, dressage is already difficult enough for these horses... why try to do it without all our tools of communication? I can do everything bridle-less, but in the end, my picture of collection riding is where the horse and I are connected everywhere and it is still feeling free.

Hi Karen. I searched your website to learn more of your training style. I have a couple of questions that I couldn't find answers to. I was wondering if you teach the horse collection on the ground, maybe without a bridle, before you teach it onboard. I know a few people are doing this It is easier to communicate to the horse now, but how they do it is a mystery! about keeping a stretchable topline, (so important for the health of their bodies), if I've been watching a lot of the Parelli dvds, most recently the 'horsenality', and he has something to stretch in to. When I see people doing bridleless collection, too think I've figured out that my horse is many times the horse is being taught to quite the challenging combination contract instead of to be powerful. mostly high energy right brain introv/ extro., with a few left brain stubbornness But with that said, I do think that there are lulus thrown in. So, I'm wondering if you some excellent ways to build collection address any of these horsenality issues in both on the ground and bridleless that I your dressage techniques. would find it hard to live without! Thank you. Dona Collection is mental and emotional and well as physical, so their state of underHi Dona, standing and motivation is key. Thanks so much for your questions. Collection is a posture of readiness and balance, so any exercises that reFirst regarding collection: I think the first thing is to make sure that we all have quire them to be consistent in their the same picture of what collection is. It is rhythm and then able to transition to anwhen the horse is engaged, carrying him- other rhythm (gait) is building their collectibility or collect-ability. self ʻuphillʼ. The steps are active, and higher, with a feeling of both potential enThis is true riding with or with out connecergy and consistency. A horse in collection, as well as at liberty. tion will look at the same time as if he could stay there forever, yet also appears to be ready to do anything in a heartbeat. Some people would say that a connection through the reins is part of what defines collection, but I look at a good connection with the reins as part of the ingredients of riding a horse in collection. A horse is able to collect without a rider. It is the horse that invented collection, we just try to recreated it when it is our idea! And for sure when we are on their backs, collection becomes a challenge because now he has our body weight to try to deal with. That is why solid ʻworking gaitsʼ are an important prerequisite to sustainable, healthy collection. So do we need reins to collect: No. Are reins an excellent tool to communicate with our horse about consistency, precision and a circuit of energy from horse through rider? Yes. When I first started copyright 2009 temenos fields, inc november

I tend to make sure my horses understand how to stretch their top lines first, then play with a variety of maneuvers that develop the skills involved in collection. As the human, it is important to develop your eye for it, and what would be great is to play with a horse on the ground or riding that already knows it. Then you will be better able to create it. Always keep in mind that the ingredients of collection are lightness of the shoulder, active, hindlegs, elastic top line, balance, straightness and ability to shift the weight back. In the exercise pictured below, I am combining a few conversations. I am asking the horse to have a ʻquick to initiateʼ, energetic canter depart, while at the same time I am playing within a ʻstick-to-meʼ game. So the horse learns that in order to solve the puzzle, he can direct his steps higher instead of faster. My posture is clearly embodying collection and I hope that in the end, my posture is the predominant signal (aid) to collect. To answer your question about different horse-analities (as described in the Parelli system). Well, for sure anyone who deals with horses has had to deal with many different characters of horses. If they havenʼt given it much thought then I am sure they have had troubles! (continued on next page)

Atomic (left) learning the first hints of collection at liberty. He is tightening the topline and using his neck muscles to lift him. I allow this (no draw-reins, etc) because he IS trying and he needs to experiment. Monty (on right) understands it better, is stronger, more balanced and more practiced at it, so he has figured out how to use his abdominal muscles and keep his topline more stretched. His posture in the collection is more ‘correct’ as a result of his understanding and keenness to do it, as well as my awareness of targeting these habits. 3

I am personally always trying to figure out who my horses are and who I need to be to be right for them. Most of the time I make sure I observe the cause and effect of what I do. If something goes well, I rewind the tape in my mind and try to assess what it was that made things go well. If things go poorly, I do the same to find out what not to do next time! To comment on the Parelliʼs Horseanality information specifically I will say that it is a great resource. I wonʼt attempt to explain it here, as Linda Parelliʼs DVD does it so much better. If you are reading this and you havenʼt seen it, it is a DVD I would recommend. But... I will tell you what I have observed has become a problem in the way some students are interpreting and using the information. I have many students who will describe their horses as a LB/Introvert or RB/ Extrovert. They give the horse that name and that is that. I know that horses for sure can tend to be one of these or the other, but I would really caution you against giving your horse these titles.

called: Is Your Horse a Rock Star. by Dessa Hockley (can find it on my More Resources page). She has you assess your horseʼs archetype by looking at whether he is dominant vs submissive, high vs low energy, afraid vs curious and friendly vs aloof. From there she gives each combination a name (and a wonderful cartoon caricature). Then she describes what they like and donʼt like. For example, Monty is a Boss (as in a mob-boss) He is Dominant, High Energy, Afraid and Aloof. He doesnʼt like to be fluffed over, he is very business-like and likes to call the shots, but he can find comfort in a secure, predictable job. He prefers lessons to be repeated the same way each time. He demands respect and prefers to be in charge. He needs me to be firm, fair and fearless for him as he is highly emotional. Ovation, on the other hand is a Reluctant Rock Star. He would never think of being a star, but if you get him out there, he is so proud of what he can do he just canʼt stand himself!

This is for a couple reasons:

He is Dominant, Low energy, Curious and Friendly. His ego needs to be constantly 1. There is a saying: “We only know what pampered. He has a big ego, and he we see and we only see what is alhates to feel undervalued. He is a clown. ready in the mind”. So if you call your But his low energy means that I need to horse a _____. Chances are your brain be firm and non-negotiable so he actually will see this and you can perpetuate does what I ask (he can be tolerant to the the situation. point of oblivious), but he prefers a variety of different exercises in order to learn the 2. It doesnʼt take into account YOUR eflesson that is common between them. fect on the horse. Is he RB/Extravert ALL the time? Sometimes we humans Monty and Ovation both can have Left create these conditions in our horses! I Brain, Right Brain, Introverted and Extrohave met plenty of LB/introverts that verted moments, and they will manifest easily activate... when they are not differently with each horse, due to their bored to death! different characters in general. 3. These are often only described as negatives. I think it is important for students to remember that there are positive aspects to each of these character states! Depending, of course on how you can deal with them! I think the Horseanality information is wonderful, just remember to use it as a tool to help you make decisions, not as a label. There are some other books that I just love to help give me some other ways of understanding my horses. One is a book

ity Indicator for People, which is quite interesting, and she discusses how human personalities get along with different horse ʻpersonalitiesʼ. So if by now you are getting more confused by all the different information... Good! Because this is not simple stuff, and the reality is that personalities cannot be described in a simple system. The more you know that, the better you will see the horse in front of you each day, instead of the one you first saw years ago, when he was wild, or bored, or whatever. There is another saying that “anything really worth learning canʼt be taught.” So when I find complex concepts such as trying to figure out my horseʼs personality, and it gets really confusing, I know I am getting close to really understanding, (welcome to the strange world inside my brain!) :-) At best we can learn different ways of looking at it, understand different systems of describing it, then let that swim around in your mind. The observe your horse and do your best to notice the cause and effect. Most of all do your best to know yourself. It takes two to have a relationship, but if one of you changes it changes the entire relationship. So, Dona, that was a very long answer and now I will answer what you really asked: Do I address it in my materials? No, I donʼt have a system mapped out, but I do use the resources discussed above. I think they did a great job of explaining it, and I can benefit from them and share them with you so you can also! ~Karen

So Dessa Hockleyʼs descriptions help me know who they are in general, and the Horseanality information helps me know how they are in a particular moment. There is another book that is a great resource. It is called: Ride the Right Horse by Yvonne Barteau. She describes horses with respect to whether they are Social, Fearful, Aloof or Challenging, and then how passive or aggressive they are about it. She also is educated in the Meyers Briggs Personal-

Photo: Dana Rasmussen

DVD #5 is the missing piece I was looking for! I have tried to ask Product Reviews: for lengthenings but nothing ever really happened, my horse just ran As usual, GREAT DVD! [#5, defaster and it stayed a big mystery. veloping lengthenings] Loved it! I Now I know that how I do all my always learn so much from you and continued to be inspired to be transitions is what will build his ability to lengthen. What a great better than I was yesterday. My example of prior and proper prepahorses also thank you... ration! My foundation is good, but I Bonnie C always wondered where the power was supposed to come from after The poster is amazing! What a putting such a big emphasis on beautiful way to stay reminded of calming him down and (unfortu‘where I am’ and ‘where I’m going’. nately) knocking the energy out of And you were right about the pahim! per its printed on... as soon as I hung it up in the barn, my horse Now I know! Thanks so much for blew his nose on it, but it wiped all you do! clean with no damage. :-) THANKS! I sure appreciate you ~Chris thinking of everything! Wow, that’s a lot of informaTracy tion on that poster! what a great reference. Enter this code: You did it again!

DN09Spcl

Terry

To get 10% off your order, now thru Dec 31, 2009

NEW PRODUCTS!

New Featured photo on homepage You’ll have to go to the website to see it. Every month I will feature a new photo, this one is a sweet, artsy kind of shot.

A couple spots still open for January 23-28 clinic at Temenos Fields! Contact Karen Jones at K2@dressagenaturally.net if you are interested in participating in this course. It is limited to 8 riders.

Gift Certificates for Webshop are now available!

Instructional Poster

This 22” x 34” poster reminds you of the Big Picture of Dressage, Naturally in a single glance. The reality of horsemanship is that we are in many stages at any given time. That is why simple recipes only work to a point. We need to have the big picture of where we are and where we are going. I designed this poster so that from across the room, you can be reminded of how the whole process fits together. Then, you can come up close and read through the ample text to get more detailed checkpoints regarding the qualities and skills that are important for each stage. This poster reflects the way my brain organizes and processes information. I am really proud of this and hope you find it as useful as I dream you will. It is printed on material that is water and tear resistant, too so it will hold up to being posted in a barn, and will still look good in your home! Oh yeah, and no trees were cut down to produce this poster!

#5 in the Results in Harmony Series This DVD is about Developing Lengthenings. Ovation returns to show you his first attempts at lengthenings. I will discuss the necessary ingredients and how I prepare them. Then once again, you will watch an entire session (with minimal editing). The entire time I am narrating while I am riding. Lengthenings are all about building potential energy. The skills learned in developing this movement will set you up for success for powerful movements and true collection later.

New Caps and Visors. New design on new hats and visors. The visors are organic cotton and the hats are bamboo, a material desired for its wicking and antimicrobial properties as well as it being a sustainable resource.

Gift Certificates Now Available!

“Yeah, that’ll happen when pigs fly!” Well... I now have a flying pig at Temenos Fields, so I guess all sorts of ‘impossible things’ can start happening!

Carlos in his new ‘Dog Mahal’ He looks like he is quite sure he deserves this!

More photos from Dana Rasmussen... Ovation and I practicing our bridle-less riding.

Ahhh, my little wild child! Atomic being his fabulous, dramatic self! Auditor Dawn Garner took this photo!

6 Days at Temenos Fields... It’s very serious, and very fun!

THANK YOU DAWN GARNER & CARALEE GOULD FOR THE PHOTOS!!