The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Unbelievable!!

1K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  equiniphile 
#1 · (Edited)
I was looking for NH trainers in Ohio months back and found quite a few, I emailed them all, actually about Arthur's separation anxiety. One trainer suggested Parelli and offered to send me copies of the DVDs as I need them. So I've actually been working with Molly and she is AMAZING at Parelli. When I bought her she was tense, flinched at ropes being flicked near her and reins being tossed around, she was pretty skittish on the ground and under saddle until she was warmed up and comfortable.

After only a few sessions of parelli, I could toss the rope anywhere: Across her face (gently), across her tail, at her legs, under her legs, and I could crack the whip and toss it gently over her back, rub it all over her, all just from the friendly game.

She's excelling at the other Games, too. She'll pivot on her haunches or forehand with either driving or direct pressure, she'll back up with either, she's spectacular. In the yo-yo game she'll come with a hand motion, and we're still working on backing away without me having to invade her space, but it's coming along. She'll do the circling game on any length of rope (with slack, mind you), or just loose in the round pen, and will usually come right in when I put mental "pressure" on her hindquarters. In the squeeze game she's great, and our only game that really needs work is the sideways game.

We've done some "stick to me", and it used to be that she would never trot in hand. Now, with encouragement, she matches my pace at the trot, walk, and stops or backs next to me.

Today we had a great time; we did the games and then I did some other things to see how she responded to pressure. I stood at her shoulder and pulled the lead rope around her nose and squeezed very minimally, and she immediately tucked her head towards me, to her side. I cupped my hand around her ear (that's another thing she's improved upon, she always hated her ears touched) and pushed away from me, and she got the gist and turned her head.

Then I did some herd dominance things like standing at her shoulder and bending so my head and back were pretty low. I held the bottom of her halter with one hand and gently squeezed, and her head immediately came down level with mine. She just respects me so much more.

I'm so glad I started Parelli, Molly is just so spectacular now. She ground ties without a problem and doesn't graze, even when there weren't leaves covering the grass in the round pen, unless I let her. She's completely unphased by the whip unless I ask her something with it, and then she will respond without hesitation. I just had to share, I'm so happy with her!!

And then there was today, when I felt she was really listening to me, and it might not have been the safest thing to do, but I jumped on her bareback with her rope halter and lead and walked and trotted her around the round pen, with her listening perfectly. I'm amazed! This is the horse that, when I bought her, had to be ridden by the trainer in a Pelham until she calmed down and started listening. And now I've ridden her with a rope halter in a round pen! I love this horse :)

No pics, sorry, but I promise videos next time I work with her! We're still getting over this sudden fear of half of the round pen that popped up in the last month or so. If I don'[t monitor her she'll turn on her haunches and dart the other way so she doesn't have to walk by the woods....Silly girl :lol:
 
See less See more
#2 ·
Congratulations! I love it when I can "click" with my horses like that...natural horsemanship has greatly improved my relationship with my horse Scotch. Keep up the good work!

It would be great to see some pictures and videos when you get the chance too! :D
 
#3 ·
Thats great, i have the level 1 and 2 parelli dvds, a friend gave them to me, but i haven't really had time to watch them yet...I have tried to play the friendly game with my appy, but he is terrified of the carrot stick, I'll have him on a lead rope and slowly start bringing it up to his legs and as soon as it's within a foot from him he will rear(only like 6"-a foot off the ground) and try to run away, i'm not sure how to progress with him, any tips?
 
#4 ·
Thanks guys! Pics and videos hopefully tomorrow :D

Rachel--just be patient. If he's scared of it, have a long ling or leadrope attached to his halter. Approach him with the stick, not looking him in the eye, and be casual with it. If he's scared, slowly and calmy turn so your back is to him, with the stick in front of you, and walk around the pen flicking it casually on the ground in front of you. If he resists or tries to pull back, ignore his efforts and keep walking around the pen flicking it in front of you, with him walking behind you on a rope. When he seems comfortable, stop, and keep flicking the stick at the ground in front of you until he doesn't feel threatened by it. Turn facing him with the stick to your side and approach him. If he stands, reward him, if he backs or turns away, I would repeat the process again as many times as he needs. Eventually he'll come around. Good luck!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top