Oct '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...

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”

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.

John F Kennedy

This Month

Upcoming Clinics:

• New Website/Webshop!

Clinic schedule click here:

• New Products!

October 12-17

November 21 Private Lessons at Temenos Fields Contact K2@dressagenaturally.net

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

6 Days at Temenos Fields FULL, closed to auditors

• Contest Winner!

November 1 - 6

at Temenos Fields

6 Days at Temenos Fields

Contact K2@dressagenaturally.net

• From Students

November 22 Open Format Workshop

FULL, closed to auditors

Auditors Welcome Nov 21 and 22!

New website!

Members Only!

Welcome to the new website! I thought I would just point out a few of the features. At the top of the home page you will see a large photo with 4 smaller photos underneath. You can click on any of the small photos to see it larger, and to read about that subject. An introductory paragraph will appear to itʼs left, and you can click to read the whole story.

When you get to the home page, you will register or login in on the left side of the page. Once logged in, look to the right side and you will see the Memberʼs Menu. Here you will have access to the entire newsletter and podcast archives as well as any currently active Discount Codes for my special registered guests!

Keep scrolling down and you will find a search tool, a featured photo that will change each month, links to information about the Ansur saddle I ride in (that so many of you have asked me about), Upcoming Events, as well as latest news.

If you were already registered on my old website, I apologize that you will need to re-register. Because of this there is a chance that you will receive a duplicate newsletter email. If this happens, you will be directed where to email to let us know so we can rectify it. I know what it is like to get more emails than you need!

You will also find a place to register on the site, or login if you are already registered. See the next column here to read more about that! Across the top you will find a menu that will lead you to everything from the clinic schedule, to my training philosophies, to stories about my horses. There is a lot for you, and I am still in the process of adding even more content!

Enter this code: DN09Spcl To get 10% off your order, now thru Dec 31, 2009

NEW PRODUCTS!

New Shop! The shop has a whole new look. It is still a secure credit card processing site and now offers an option to pay by Echeck, which is just like writing a paper check, but the info is transferred electronically rather than through the mail with a physical piece of paper. International customers, please check out the link to a feature called Bordelinx. This is a delivery service that allows you to see all import/customs fees that your country may charge you, in advance! It will also give you tracking every step of the way and delivery to your door. It works out to be a little more expensive than my standard delivery, but for some of you who have missed your packages at the post office, or have been surprised by fees, you may really appreciate this service. The web shop has a separate log in. So even if you have logged in to my site, you will need to log in again to the shop. This is because the shop is a separate entity, and can remember all your information securely. Look for the My Account tab at the top of the page to manage your account and track all orders. I think you will find it a really user-friendly site.

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

New Caps and Visors.

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 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!

CONTEST WINNER!

The current 6-day clinics have been booked full the past 2 years, so I am now adding a new one to give more students the opportunity to study with me. This is open to riders who meet my normal clinic prerequisites (you can find this info on my website under Education/clinic Prerequisites). It is a small enough group that individual instruction can be given at a range of abilities, so whether you consider yourself advanced, or simply just meeting the basic prerequisites, you will have a great learning experience! For more info, contact Karen Jones at K2@dressagenaturally.net.

Debbie Raynor of Bozeman, Montana is the contest winner. Many of you submitted the correct answer to the question: What is the movie that is playing on the TV in DVD # 3 of the results in Harmony Series.

Karen to teach the Equus Projects dancers

I just added a new 6-day clinic January 24-29, 2010 at my place in Ocala, FL. There are only 8 rider spots. It is closed to auditors in order to keep this a more private learning experience. However, all riders are allowed to bring one guest to audit (at no charge) for the duration. Copyright 2009 Temenos Fields, inc October

Australia 2010

Registration has begun and already rider spots are being reserved. We highly recommend registering sooner rather than later. All clinics are open to auditors. I love having a great auditor gallery at these clinics; they can really give a positive Photo: Coco energy and support to the riders. I also make time to take questions from I just arranged a day with the dancers the auditors.

from the Equus Projects. They will be holding a 2 day clinic in Yahala, FL March 6 & 7, 2010. The next day, March 8, I will be working with them to help them with their horsemanship and creaKve possibiliKes... And you are invited to observe!

Sunrise at Temenos Fields, Photo: Dana Rasmussen

I personally ﬁnd it so rewarding to be around the dancers, as it helps me to expand my vision of what sort of body language is possible, as a human. Since we use our bodies to communi‐ cate with horses it is like geWng a whole new vocabulary list to use! For informaKon, contact: JoAnna Shaw at: jmsnyc@aol.com

Wow, We have gotten amazing response to the announcement of the Australian tour of Dressage, Naturally!

The correct answer was, indeed: Casablanca, (one of the best movies of all time, in my opinion!). Debbie has won a $100 gift certificate plus one free shipping in the Dressage, Naturally Webshop!

New 6-day Clinic opportunity at Temenos Fields!

nice to share this with you! So it is open to auditors. You will be able to observe us working together, and we will also interact with the auditors to answer quesKons, etc.

When the dancers and I collaborate, it is usually a really fun day of brain‐ storming, creaKng ways for them to beQer interact with the horses, and to improve their horsemanship, as well as to help them create ‘scores’ to per‐ form.

With this said, there are logistics involved, and in order to plan a great experience, it is important that we know how many people are going to be attending! We realize that often auditors wait to make the decision at the last moment, but spaces at venues can be limited, so please email Pat Miller at pmi23806@bigpond.net.au to save your place.

It oTen proves to be a really interest‐ ing day, and we thought it would be 3

like shoulder in and haunches out, etc.? Do you feel these can be The Role of Bits taught effecKvely in the hackamore? Karen, I would love to hear your thoughts/ I am not opposed to bits and I know opinion about the role of the bit in that in well educated hands/minds, training. I have been working with bits can be quite friendly. But, since I my horses to develop beQer balance, don't show I really don't see a reason rhythm, energy and relaxaKon at all to go back to using one if I can ac‐ three gaits, and to help them each complish the goal of teaching my discover their "let loose" posture in horses proper basic dressage move‐ each gait. This has been fun and re‐ ments in the hackamore. I am also warding for all of us! Now I am also curious (in case I do someday want to asking my two older horses to start show my 2 year old that I'm raising thinking about (and experimenKng and in case dressage rules change) with) the transiKon from stretched what you think of bitless bridles such posture to collecKon (at the walk so as Dr. Cook's? far) under saddle. Thanks in advance for considering my I ride my horses in the Parelli quesKons! hackamore exclusively (or bridleless occasionally). I am not interested in Kim Sturgeon showing or compeKng (my focus is www.claritycanine.com simply on training and teaching horses… and helping other humans Hi Kim, train their horses when I can). I use Thanks so much for your great, and frequently asked question. clicker training as part of my ap‐ proach, and it's easy for my horses to First, I want to clarify a term. ʻCollectionʼ take and chew hay pellets in the is word that people often use as a synohackamore, which is an added bonus. nym for riding in connection with the reins, but it is a separate subject. In However, I've had many people advise ʻdressage-landʼ there are ʻworking gaitsʼ me that I'm making things harder on which is what we call it when the horse is my horses (and myself) by not using a moving in a round posture, accepting a snaffle bit. So far, I do not see or feel positive connection with the reins. A young horse will spend a year or so here that the hackamore limits either me before beginning collection. Collection is or my horses in any meaningful way. when the horse becomes more clearly My horses are very soT and light in up-hill through increased engagement the hackamore, but they also accept and carrying-power. Many students make the mistake of intellectually (and physiand respond to a soT "handshake" type feel on the reins without trying cally) skipping the working gaits stage and have a picture of collection in their to evade the discussion. mind as soon as they take up the feel on the reins... This often causes riders to I know you ride your horses in "col‐ artificially and prematurely ask their lecKon" with the hackamore (and fre‐ horses to come ʻup and shortʼ instead of through their backs. estyle), but did you teach them col‐ lecKon in the hackamore? Is there I stress this point because it is important! any reason why using the snaffle bit The role of the bit is not to shorten the to teach proper collecKon would be horse! A horse who is already confident beQer or would make things easier and in self -carriage in the working gaits will develop collection as THE BODY befor my horses? What about moves

Student Question:

comes stronger in its carrying power through gymnastic exercises for THE BODY. The reins have a few functions that they alone are good at: 1. As another point of connection between the rider and the horse, so the rider can receive sensory information about the body of the horse. 2. to explain clearly to the horse, the precise position for his head and neck, and 3. To complete the circuit of energy through the horse and rider. If things are going well, in the hackamore, the bit can be even more precise and fine-tuned. If things are going well, it is a sensitive place to make a mistake, and this can cause even more problems. This is a double-edged sword, though, because sometimes with some horses and riders, the hackamore allows more mistakes that the horse can happily tolerate. Whereas with a bit, the rider will be made more aware of their hands and will be caused to get better in their technique quicker. For me, I want everything to be well understood in the hackamore, and then this will make things go even better in the bit. If the body is ridden well, the connection will be good. The head and neck are a reflection of the entire rest of the horse. But... sometimes the precision and light responsiveness that can be created with a bit in good hands, is just the piece that the horse needs to understand and carry himself. when trying to decide when to use the bit and when to stay in hackamore, as with most of my answers... the answer is ʻit dependsʼ!! But I think the more we intellectually realize that we want to create free, loose bodies that can elongate and reach forwards (to what ever contact you have)... Then we want to create gymnastic athletes who learn how to carry on their hind quarters, it can make the skill of riding in connection (which can be tricky and artful to do) at least not difficult to conceptualize. I hope this helps!!! Karen

Release: When to walk, when to stand? If you observe people doing ʻnatural horsemanshipʼ and people doing dressage, there are of course, many differences, but one thing that you may notice, is that when natural horsemenʼs horses do something they are really happy with, they tend to stand... And when a dressage riderʼs horse does something they are happy with they tend to walk. As a natural horsewoman and a dressage rider, I needed to understand why this was the case. Why did these two groups do this differently? Was there a reasoning behind it, and if so, then how would I choose when to apply each method of dwelling? Here is my answer to this question: In natural horsemanship, the priority is mental and emotional balance... Understanding and Calmness. Standing still is the best way for a horse to have a chance to process information... Nothing else is going on and they have an opportunity to really lick and chew on something. It also gives us a chance to really observe them; their subtle facial expressions and postural changes. It also is a chance to see that they are calm. Often (but not always) horseʼs tension will show up as a need to move their feet. Ability to be OK standing still can be a good indicator of their calmness and satisfaction with where they are. Of course, some horses have been taught to stand still and not move even when stressed out... Or are simply exploding on the inside

and are frozen in place, but hopefully you have learned how to not be fooled by this! Standing still has a down-side, though: Lactic acid is building up in the muscles. If the horse has really been moving around and then you just stand still, they can become over-heated, as air doesnʼt pass over them, and their muscles can become stiff. So from a physical point of view, continuing to move freely at the walk is the best way to allow them to recover aerobically, yet stay loose and limber. If a horse already understands the concept of dwell time as a release and reward, it is absolutely possible for the mind to feel released even as the body continues to move. It also

helps the horse to learn that relaxation can happen during movement, something that will serve a dressage horse well. Walking has itʼs down-side too: tension can hide in the movement, with the mind never really feeling like it gets a break. Often riders feel they MUST keep the horse focused or they wonʼt be able to get back in to work. (For me, that would be a red-flag of a training issue). What happens is what I call ʻThe dressage-zombie walkʼ. The horses keep walking but they are checked out mentally and are not relaxed. So... with this information, when playing with my horses, if I feel that the horse just made a mental breakthrough, an emotional shift, or really understood something, or changed a pattern, I will tend to stop, get off, or stand with them. If I felt that they were already in a great state of mind; understanding and comfortable about their work... but I want to give them a break, I will allow the body to keep walking to stay loose and free. I put such a strong emphasis on making sure my horses understand when they can relax, that they recognize the feeling of me thinking “Wow, that was great! take a break!”. I also teach myself to recognize the feeling of a horse thinking: “Wow, I really did that great!”. If we are on the same page with that, then I can allow the body to walk. And, since there are no recipes... Also keep remember that body and mind are connected, so sometimes taking the body for a walk is what will calm the mind, and letting the mind be calm through standing still is what will release the body... Good Luck! I hope this helps.

A leader is best When people barely know that he exists, Not so good when people obey and acclaim him, Worst when they despise him. ‘Fail to honor people, They fail to honor you;’ But of a good leader, who talks little, When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, They will all say, “We did this ourselves.”

— Lao Tzu Photo: www.danarasmussen.com I just finished a 6-Day clinic here at Temenos Fields, and I just wanted to take this opportunity to say: “Wow”. I was really blown away by the progress of these students. This is a group of riders that I have worked with on several occasions, over the past few years. I was incredibly impressed by the dedication and focus they showed, not just during the clinic, but since I last saw them. Each of the 8 riders/horses showed up on the first day looking better than their best moments from the last time I saw them. Of course, I could brag here about how amazing my program and information is, I could use this as evidence of how I am such a great teacher... :-) but, to be honest, the overwhelming thought I had, was that I was creating students who didnʼt need me anymore! It was less that they are students in MY program, and more that I am part of THEIR program to realize their dreams. These were students who have obviously made a commitment to take charge of their learning experience and to invest their energy towards achieving their dreams.

I have witnessed, and been on the receiving end of teachers who either consciously or unconsciously want to hold their students back. If they get too good, they find a way to show them just how much they still donʼt know. I have seen students who diminish themselves in order to appease their teacher... They learn to not have confidence in order to preserve the relationship. The paradox of the teacher/student relationship is that although dedication to methods is vital... In the end, it is the student who must be confident, and the teacher who must be humble. When you think of the apparently separate ʻdisciplinesʼ of dressage and natural horsemanship, you could get confused and intimidated. One definition of ʻdisciplineʼ is: “The practice of training to obey rules, using punishment to correct behavior.” However, another definition of discipline is: “An activity or experience that provides mental or physical training.” I tempted my students to continue to look at Parelli and dressage and Dressage, Naturally

as knowledge-bases that they can consult... Tools they can use in order to create their reality, not just as systems that they must ʻdo rightʼ. When the teacher is there to serve the students, and when the student takes charge of their learning experience, amazing things can happen. So with reference to the quote above, maybe I personally might have to work on the part about “talking little” but for sure my goal is to have students realize what they can do themselves. The word education after all, means: “to bring out latent potential” to bring out that which is already inside. So congratulations to: Ginger Cecil, Donna Blem, Shelby Hume, Kellie Anderson, Geri Dorosz, Sharon Nehrings, Sally Taylor, and Lisa Howell, I will not quickly forget the image of you all riding in my fields. I am happy to be able to witness your progress!

~Karen