November 2011 Newsletter by Dressage Naturally

November 2011 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... “Precision arrives out of the possibilities that playing freely creates”

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.

This Month • New Gifts in Webshop! • Q&A • From Students

~Karen Rohlf

March 23-25 Finding the Sweet Spot with Shelby Hume

Georgetown, KY Contact: Janie Elliottt robertelliott@bellsouth.net April 13-15

Upcoming Clinics:

Clinic schedule: CLICK HERE

Finding the Sweet Spot with Breanne Peters

Embro, Ontario, Canada Contact: Breanne Peters Breannepeters@hotmail.com

June 2-12 with Karen Rohlf

multiple clinics, format not yet set

UK Contact: Stephanie Gaunt stefgaunt@yahoo.co.uk June 15-18 with Karen Rohlf Upward Spiral

Poland Contact: Beata

beata@400.pl

Auditors Welcome At All Clinics!

New Gifts in the Webshop!

‘Relaxed’ Energized’ & ‘Balanced’ 8x10 ready-for framing prints on archival matte paper. (Frames not included. Design gives the illusion of a matted print)

We have some new gifts in the shop for this Holiday season! Iʼm sorry I havenʼt been able to produce any new instructional DVDs, but the Classroom is really filling that need for now. (Donʼt worry, I still have more future DVDs in my mind!) Dana and I were feeling creative, so we now have some new Dressage, Naturally artwork that can be purchased as affordable prints to frame, on mugs, on mouse-pads, or tote bags. All artwork is done by yours truly... I hope you enjoy them!

Go to Webshop

Many items are on sale!

15 oz mug; Relaxed, Energized, Balanced

Mouse-pad Tote Bag

Gift certificates: Available in the webshop for the webshop. You can choose your amount to give. A page from Karen’s sketchbook: An 11x14 print of pencil sketches of the elements of the Sweet Spot. Handwritten notes for each of the drawings of ‘Relaxed’, ‘Energized’ & ‘Balanced’.

You can also purchase a $60 Gift Certificate for the D,N Classroom in the webshop. If you want to give someone more that $60 -worth in the Classroom, you can go to the Classroom home page and download a form where you can select the custom amount you would like to give.

See more prints like this 2

News

Photos at Right: Dawn Garner

6 Days in the Temenos 8 students participated in my 6 day clinic. It was a really fun week and the progress from the last time I had seen everyone.... As well as the progress within the week left me beaming with pride! Dawn Garner was a guest there and took some lovely photos which can be see here. One of the students, Vicky Thomas, also wrote some notes in

her blog.

We focused on many different topics, as we had a range of horses at different levels, but that is one of the beauties of these smaller format clinics. It enabled us to see how all the layers of D,N fit together. We were able to use the Big Picture Poster as a guide to put theory into practice We saw horses that needed us to put a priority on Foundation, or Finding the Sweet Spot, or looking at our quality of connecting through the reins, or going through different patterns to develop them gymnastically.

We were able to keep an idea of the goal, but also see how each horse and rider were moving towards that goal, yet coming from a different direction! Big Picture Poster

So congratulations, participants - Pictured at right, Top to Bottom: Shelby Hume, Vicky Thomas, Kellie Anderson, Martis Burkett, Sarah Grimm, Marilyn Ganahl, Karen Woodbury & Geri Dorosz. And Thank you again, Dawn Garner for the wonderful photos.

News Continued:

Hello Karen, When I met her I couldn't believe I Thoroughly enjoyed the clinic. Shelby Humeʼs Finding the Sweet had found someone with the com- One thing that stood out was bination of reining/dressage Shelby's ability to help 10 riders/ Spot clinic in KY October 28-30 knowledge that I was craving! And horses at various levels, everyone was a huge success! as a fan of natural horsemanship - received the help and guidance Here is what some of the people both Parelli and others - it seemed they needed. In so many cases said about it: too good to be true! Guess fate instructors resort to addressing the works in strange ways! lowest common denominator, but Photo: Dawn Garner ..... that did not happen. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn about Dressage Learned tons, took lots of notes, Naturally had fun and my partner, Isadora, through such a gifted instructor as and I look forward to "Finding The Shelby. I can understand why you Sweet Spot". are happy to have her on your team! I hope to join the online Shelby talks so highly of you and classroom program and forum - so your program, looking forward to thank you for the offer to do that as an Upward Spiral of Success well! Clinic in the future (hopefully in Regards KY). Judy M. and Boone! Karen, Regards, I had a great time with Shelby, she JoAnne (Smokey) has such joy for what she is shar- Dear Karen, Loved it so much had to give a ing. I am so glad that I was able to attend--I have several great ideas glowing review on my "My Walk Breanne and Shelby are available for With Mu" blog: clinics and there is a special Introto take home and share with my http://horsejourney.wordpress.com ductory Rate if you sign up before horse. Thank you for the DVD. January 1st to host a clinic with Bre /2011/11/01/finding-the-sweet-spot Thanks, Cheryl or Shelby sometime next year... -clinic-review/ Shelby did a fabulous job helping Thanks for all you're up to! me understand the principles behind the basic techniques we were Marti and Mu trying to learn, and she did it in a way that I could see how we needed to have a good foundation Photo: Dana Rasmussen before we could move forward.

Please contact Sally Taylor at: clinics@dressagenaturally.net for more info D,N Instructors: Breanne Peters, Me, Shelby Hume

And as an added bonus she made it fun and entertaining! It helps that she has a background in western riding and reining horses in particular, as Boone is a reining horse with extensive training in that discipline - so she both understands the things we need to teach him - and in some cases unteach him - as well as appreciating him for what he is and his talent as a reining horse. 4

Q&A Light response off your leg I am confused with the best way to motivate my horse to respond off of leg pressure. Is it through a series of exercises or is my phase four not being effective enough? Or a combination of both. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated! Hi Sue... Great question and one I think many people have! It is of course a combination of things... I will put these in a list, but for any individual horse, they may need to happen in a different order.. 1. Does your horse understand what it means? Have you gone through a teaching process? 2. Is he motivated to move in general? (on line, from rhythmic pressure, at liberty, in an open space, or in a 'point to point' exercise)?

Many horses do not naturally move from pressure - in fact, many have the opposite response naturally, so I try to see if I can cause them to move without using my leg first (follow another horse, or rhythmic pressure from string or stick tapping my own leg, for example).

It may just be a case of learning the coordination. It is absolutely normal for horses to not be able to sustain energy during those yields in motion at first. Results in Harmony DVD #2 shows some of this process. Most horses lose energy during the yields during the learning process and even after they learned it, but have not developed their coordination, confidence Can you get him motivated in more fun and skill. It is important to be able to tell: circumstances, such as at liberty? "Is my horse trying, but uncoordinated" or (look at the March video: Building Enis he "not trying". The difference being in thusiasm, Ovation) the first case, don't necessarily increase Think about all this and see if someyour aids, just perfect your position, be thing connects! patient, persistent and get out of the way! Let me know! In the second case: make yourself clear, Karen regarding the ingredients that make up the movement, follow through on your (Follow up Q from Sue) communication... get in and get out! Hi again, Karen! My horse has the basic yields down pat. Here is another guideline: When you Hind quarter, forequarter, and sideways have a choice and are unsure: Pick one. yields are very soft and willing with light be conscious and trust that if it is unsucpressure (in the saddle, liberty, and oncessful you don't have to continue, you line). We have some nice liberty and oncan change your mind! But do it whole line stuff going on. It's when I'm in the heartedly! Many people run into trouble saddle and start putting the yields in mobecause when they are unsure they 'sort tion that I run into troubles. My mare reof try it'... which gives no real information sponds appropriately to pressures and we to you or the horse and you can get stuck have some great conversations about there forever!! energy as she can lack in that area some- As for being unsure about which aptimes (she's a LBI). proach to take....

3. How is your leadership in general? Often we are lacking in many areas, but it will show up more in the most difficult area... is there room to 'up your standard' in the other areas of comWe've got a good relationship and she's a munication? solid horse leaving the herd and riding out by herself. As far as my leadership ability 4. What do I do when my horse does re- goes I know there are things I could be spond? Do I get greedy, or do I make better at but I believe I'm a good leader sure he doesn't regret putting in the for her. I feel like I'm appropriate in my effort? leadership but I do question my phase 4s as in if I am firm enough, which led me to When I have a horse that is less remy question sponsive, these are the things I investigate... I need to know they underI am very mindful about not asking for too stand, and that gives me the permismuch especially in the teaching phase sion to follow through effectively. I also and I do see the advantage in lengthy want to make sure that he feels like it rest periods. is in his benefit to respond... (the sooner he responds, the sooner he I am really stuck on this and I don't want gets to rest). I make sure that the cirher to get dull to my leg but I believe that I cumstances are motivating for him. am now causing that because I am unWith some horses this could mean a sure as to what approach to take. bigger space, but with others it means a clear path. Ovation got lost in open Hi Sue, spaces... He was easier to motivate It sounds like you have really thought this going around the outside of the round through and are aware of a lot going on pen or going point to point towards a with you and your horse... fantastic! clear destination.

A guideline I like to use is: "Any 2 qualities I would like to have at the same time, I practice in transition from one to another until they naturally combine." So if you have yields, and you have response to energy.... then practice doing one, then the other (straight and lively, then yield in motion, then straight and lively....) Be patient as you and your horse gain the confidence of the coordination of the yield. Karen

Q&A Canter-Trot Transitions Hi Karen, I have a problem with my canter-trot transitions. I have been trying different things to get it better, but nothing is really working, so I wanted to ask you. When I get from the canter into the trot, my horse doesn't make a nice transitions to the trot, but falls out of the canter and goes into a very speedy trot.

pre-requisites do I need to have for good quality canter-trot transitions. What do I need to be thinking off? I am definitely missing something, but what? Sincerely, Sanne S Hi Sanne, Thanks for your email.

Let me know how that goes! Cheers, Karen

From a student...

My first thought was yes, a balance problem... And as you said: she can go canter to walk or halt, so she is trying to stay with you...

Dear Karen, I attended a 'normal' dressage clinic this past weekend and just wanted to drop you a note. As I watched lesson after lesson, I knew I needed to send you a little Nice smooth canter trot transitions require note letting you know how thankful I am a soft, supple back (and that you decided on your journey and the balance is a prerequisite to that)... You incredible way it has affected mine. I Just a little bit information about myself say the stretch is improved, but the 'probcannot thank you enough for your courand my horse: My horse is a 24 year old lem' is worse... Not uncommon for the age to 'go your own way'. (but very fit) carriage-bred dutch warmhorse to get more on forehand during a blood. I have owned her for 16 years, so I stretch... I not only understand where my skills fit know this has been a pattern for the last into 'normal' dressage, I can also see (not sixteen years, also in our pre-Parelli Because of her age there may be a everything, of course...yet!), where and dressage days ;). strength ʻthingʼ, as well as a habit ʻthingʼ if how the foundation plays into dressage. you have practiced these transitions Through Parelli she had moved from a other-than-smooth for a while. You have made everything make sense to fairly extreme RB-Ex, to a relaxed horse. me. The clarity in how I am starting to We are now studying level 4 Parelli. Our I would highlight balance and selfunderstand the pieces and parts are a online is towards level 4. Online and libcarriage (no plunging the neck down!) testament of what an excellent teacher erty she can easily do canter-halt, canter- Once a horse is feeling like they want to you are. :) For the first time in very long walk and canter-trot transitions. Freestyle stretch, they also need to respect the time I am excited to play with every horse is already harder. The canter is relaxed length of the reins and not assume they I can and I feel as though I have someand I can make transitions through bend- can pull them if your posture is saying thing to offer. I love waking up in the ing. When I am on a clear pattern and ʻstand upʼ! morning and serving people by helping she is thinking about stopping, she will stop from my seat and go to walk or halt. We do want to be in as light, round soft a their horses. moment as possible for the What an amazing feeling, when you see a Whenever I want to go into the trot, she transition. Make sure you are not using horse relax for the first time in...well, trots fast and falls on the forehand. To your reins to come back as that can put maybe in their lives! And to see 'normal' me, this feels like a balance problem. I the back into contraction. dressage people start to understand what have been trying a lot of your exercises. relaxation, energy, and balance feels like We do the basic alignment and she had But even without using the reins, you may without the strictness they were used to learned to stretch well. We are doing a lot be thinking 'stop the canter' more than before. It is a pleasure as a teacher to of the moving haunches and forehand 'start the trot'. It is important to 'think forwatch my students giggle and laugh as and then trotting or cantering off. The ward' to the they are riding, when before it was tenstretching in the trot has become good, trot. Or at least think of from the first trot sion and frustration. but the problem had only gotten worse. step... no matter how yucky the transition, Instead of trotting of with her head high, you are not going to drop your intention I just wanted you to know that in my corshe now plunges forward, puts her head until you find the good trot again... then ner of the world, horses (and people) are down and fall even more on the forehand. get better and better at setting a landglad you are who you have chosen to be Transitions for trot to back-up are going speed record for recovering! :) well and I can really feel her shifting her weight then. Another thing to think about is that the Thanks, canter and the trot need to be N Hopefully, we can participate in your clinic close to the same speed to be smooth... next summer (I'm living in the Netherso you may need to slow or speed the lands) and you can help me with this canter or slow or speed the trot to get that problem. I hope you could already tell me to happen... experiment! what else I need to have in place, what 6

Now that I am home for a while it is time to start up Natilla again. She is 3 and a half now. I got on her last March for just a few rides in the round pen, but since she is a BIG girl I wanted to let her just grow over the summer. She is a solid 16.3 hands now! These photos are from our second ride this week and our first solo ride in the arena. She was a star! As you can see by her ʻsmileʼ in the second photo she is feeling quite proud of herself. Last year she made that face once and I said “Oh how cute”, gave her a treat and well.... Now she does it on command, when she wants attention or when she is feeling proud of herself (or I guess when she wants a treat!). If I could only be so effective in training all the things she needs to learn! ;-) Our next project will be learning to be on the rail without being so close that my leg gets smooshed... Ahh, gotta love the babies! Perhaps I also can learn to match my colors better since there is always a photographer lurking around! ;-)

Don’t forget to join us in The Classroom! There is over a yearʼs worth of videos and some great discussions happening in the Student Forum! It is the place to be!

Here is a link to a preview of this monthʼs videos or go directly to the home page of the Classroom for more information. I am currently getting the December videos edited... we will follow up on Wouter from the November videos, Jedi and Atomic will help me demonstrate a cool pattern for developing confidence in counter canter.. and... Youʼll have to visit us to see what else! As always, please take time to look around the webshop. The book/DVD set is a must-have and is currently on sale. It is ʻThe Mother-shipʼ of the Dressage, Naturally information. There are 6 DVDs in the Results in Harmony DVD series, a poster with the Big Picture of D,N all in one glance, as well as reins, SiMoN, The School Master Noodle for learning lateral work (currently on sale) and the new gifts and prints shown on page 2! copyright 2011 temenos fields, inc november

I want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. It is an American holiday, traditionally to do with pilgrims surviving the winter and giving thanks for having enough food, etc to survive... It is a reason to gather family and friends and eat a lot of really wonderful food. But it is also a reason to contemplate what we can be thankful for. So in celebration of Thanksgiving... Here is a tiny sample of the things I am thankful for

!ank y"... Students who trust me to teach them Horses

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” ~Thornton Wilder

Sunshine

Dana Carlos Open

spaces Birds Friends Family Computers cappuccino All my teachers My Nutella

Digital cameras

The Temenos

health The post office Sushi People who can cook imagination thumbs

All the animals who have allowed me to take care of them

Problems that force me to think about things differently Golf carts Really comfortable bed Facebook air-conditioning

Electricity National Parks People who do the jobs that I can’t or don’t want to do

People who know more than I do

Problems that bother me because I am

too stubborn to think differently because they will eventually teach me to think differently even when I don’t want to

The internet

modern medicine ancient healing

techniques and the people who know when to use which one

seat belts

refrigera-

people who can do things much better than I can massage calculators peaches Books comfortable shoes moisturizer Memotion

ries 8

Love

smart-wool socks

Music