7 games

I think it's all about the end results. If the rider gets acheives their goal then it's all worth while.

Maybe it has to do with lifestyle as well. It seems with me that I am always on a time limit when it comes to my horse so I like to make sure whatever time I have with my girl is invested in a good ride. I do all the same things you guys do, I just do it in a working way. When I groom Phoenix I make it her job to move around me, if I am opening a gate from the ground and it opens towards us I make Phoenix back up and it is always important that she lets me go through first and comes through only when invited. I see the value of the purpose of the 7 games I prefer making the objectives of them part of Phoenix's job if you know what I mean, rather than a game that she thinks she can treat as optional.

In the course of a ride I think I do use all the 7 games, the only difference is that they are a way to enhance my ride rather than an end in themselves.

The 7 Games aren't something the horse sees as 'optional.' When I ask my horse to move, he moves. When I ask him to go, he goes. Right now. He gets in the wind when I say go because he has a positive reflex to my request. And I've done nothing but Parelli with him.

The BASIC 7 Games, online or in the concept of riding, DO enhance your FUTURE rides because those Games are your foundation for the "fancier" things.

Yes, the Games with a purpose come right after teaching them on their own initially.

Exactly. Once the horse has the idea, it's very important the person moves on and gives them a PURPOSE so they don't become the 7 tortures.

What would you do after you have done the seven games? Like what is the next step up?

Well like rebecca said you don't really "do" the games. You teach them to your horse, then you more like "use them". For example, I taught sonny the sideways, driving and yo yo game, then combined them with the friendly to get him to sidepass over a pole. I like to think of the 7 games as tools. Sonny has always been very afraid of water, but I used the friendly game, the squeeze game, the driving game and the yo yo game to get him to go through it without any problems. So I use them to help me get what I want accomplished.

Once you establish the IDEA of the 7 Games, then you go out and use them! Use your imagination and whatever you do with your horse you keep the PRINCIPLES you learned in mind. If you have a true understanding of it's nature, you can diagnose and treat any issue that comes up. The first 3 Games (friendly, procupine, driving) are your principle games meaning that any issue you have with your horse comes back to one, or a combination of, those Games. The rest of the Games are your purpose games meaning they are an extension of your principle Games. You advance the level of the Games as you further in your progress.

So say your horse is afraid of a tarp. Which principle game is broken? The Friendly Game. Your horse doesn't move off your leg when riding....which principle game is broken? The Porcupine Game. Get the idea?