Liberty Games

• Initially make sure you have a good connection. Does your horse follow you when you take off the halter?

Stick-To-Me

• When she falls behind, look, and tag! while keeping forward momentum.

Figure 8

• Walk straight back (as shown on orange line in sketch). 

Spin

• When horse comes around barrel, back up so she turns in, send her around it and quickly switch stick to other hand and fling the rope to direct her nose to keep turning.

Lead by the Tail

Left-Brain Introverts

• motivate to go faster by initially asking to go REALLY slow
• if they slow down without you asking in the round pen, hit the correction spot on the ground, not the horse
• rewards: RESTING, scratching, treats
• a horse coming to you with her ears back is dominance; in that situation, drive her away before asking her to come back again
• match energy; she’ll like you more
• have a plan!
• motivate with treats when she’s lazy not when she’s willing; only when you have to
• keep her busy so she can’t think about anything else

Traveling Circling Game:

• don’t hold her tighter when she’s freaking out
• don’t look at her unless she stops, stay on track
• keep track of her while she’s circling w/o being obvious (even when she's freaking out) -- stay focused
• have stuff in the way of traveling circle so she has to think
• if she stops or comes in circling w/o you asking, pull her in half-way and Send!

Touch It:

• slow down right before your touch it

Catching:

• walk toward zone 5 and then tag her until she looks

Parelli Tips: Parelli Patterns - "On Line Patterns"

"On Line Patterns"

coming soon...

Parelli Tips: Levels Pathway - "Get Started"

• let her curiously explore the trailer so she goes in when she is ready
• make the trailer a safe, comfortable, and relaxing place by driving her around it and when she gets to it, let her stop and chill, taking the pressure off
• when she boringly/somewhat forcefully pulls away, strongly disengage her hindquarters
• walking away takes away pressure off and tells her thats the right answer
• scratching/playing with something is a sign of confidence -- let her fiddle with it!



"Get Started" DVD

• make sure she stops when you put your stick in front of her

Parelli Tips: Success Series - "Seven Games"

"The Seven Games" DVD

• The Friendly Game: 
• try putting your fingers in and around your horse's mouth
• if he's nervous, fling the rope behind you (away from them), taking the pressure off them
• when he back's up, let the rope slide through your fingers while appling some pressure
• rub your horse when he's good
• retreat when he's afraid
• The Porcupine Game:
• when he moves, stop the pressure and move
• rub before and after so your horse doesn't hate your touch
• The Driving Game:
• drive at your horse, if you run into him before he moves, then just turn it into the Porcupine Game
• you can touch him at the beginning if he doesn't respond but soon, he'll learn what you want
• get more vigerous in your driving as you get closer to him and he doesn't respond
• don't follow him, driving, if he responds and backs up
• if your horse if facing you, drive at him and roughly tap him on the nose or swing the stick at his chest
• if you want to move his back end, you can hold him at the front, lean over, looking at his hind quarters, and gently swing the stick at the back end
• The Yo-Yo Game:
• drive your horse out of your personal space before wiggling the rope
• if your horse doesn't stop when you stop wiggling stand still. If they just keep going, go with them a bit not to trap them
• to pull him, let the rope slide through your fingers, hand over hand and apply pressure until he responds
• if he backs up and won't come in, move to one side until he has no choice but to move and come to you
• if your horse won't go back, first, go back to the Porcupine and Driving Games and review, then, try "putting your ears back" and wiggling the rope until your ferociously swinging it
• when he goes back, you stop wiggling!
• The Circling Game:
• first, master porcupine (backing up), driving (backing up) and yo-yo (backing up) to get him on his circle
• then point with your arm which way you want him to go and use the stick to give him energy on his back end
• 2 or 3 times max; or it will get to boring (like lunging)
• to stop him, look at his hind quarters; pull on the rope a little; wiggle the rope to get him to stop if he won't
• if he stops, resend him
• The Sideways Game:
• (1) send him sideways; (2) drive front end, back end, front end, back end, front end, etc.
• if one end is not paying attention, give it more energy/driving
• yo-yo or have a fence if he moves forward
• The Squeeze Game:
• point with your arm which way you want him to go and use the stick to give him energy on his back end
• yo-yo to stop him

• Have your horse pretty much master the first 3 games (the basics) before going to the next 4
• if you have an agressive horse, you can play some of these games outside the fence till he realizes you arn't against him
• Go in phases (ex: when backing him up, press your fingertips on his chest until he moves. When he does, release the pressure. If he doesn't move after about 3 seconds, press harder)
• give him energy in all the games for more "go"

Parelli Tips: Success Series - "Natural Attraction"

"Natural Attraction" DVD

• You can sometimes let your horse stop and look if something is bothering him 
• Put yourself between your horse and something frightning them
• Don't take your horse right toward something frightning
• Lead him around, sort of circling it, (approach and retreat) thus gaining his trust
• Learn to direct your horse by his nose
• Sometimes bring treats, so your horse knows you mean "good things"
• Rub and scratch your horse in good spots
• If your horse is excitable going through a gate, keep doing it, until he is calm
• Lead on both sides of horse, so they don't get one-sided
• Keep him out of your space (Yo-Yo Game)
• Once you are connected with a rope to your horse and are trying to bring him in, walk backwards and behind him and reel in the rope, drawing them to you, keeping curiosity
• If your horse stomps away from you, reel in the rope from behind
• Always smile
• If he stalls, pick up the pressure
• Wait for your horse to come to you (what if someone walked into your bedroom without knocking?)
• When he first looks at you, turn around
• Ask your horse to give you his head for the halter
• Come out of a gate gradually - don't rush!
• Halter the easiest horse first - taking other horses away may attract the last
• Make things intresting
• Don't sneek a halter behind your back
• Never directly bribe

Parelli Tips: Success Series - "Safe Ride"

• your horse should approch you; not you them
• Pre-Ride Checks: be able to throw your rope all around your horse's body; be able to swing rope over your head and then on horse's neck; be able to back your horse up with his nose; be able to put his head all the way to the floor
• put hand on withers and spin around and give horse a hug - do the saddle the same way
• be able to have your horse's head all the way down and put the bridle on from the floor
• your right elbow should be able to be on horse's mane while bridling
• have your horse get inbetween you and a fence before mounting
• make sure your horse stands before you get on
• to dismount: one rein tight, opposite foot out of stirrup, swing leg over, face front, down, back up, and down
• in emergency, jump off and lead horse with you with hind quarters away from you
• never avoid things when afraid but never face things head on when afraid; instead, practice the approach and retreat method



"Safe Ride" DVD

• when you first feel fear, step away from what you are doing, or imagine doing so

Parelli Tips: Success Series - "Natural Rider"

"Natural Rider" DVD

• You must become smooth with your horse. 
• Don't avoid the trot: sit, post and stand to it
• Your balance point shouldn't be up on your crotch or on your tailbone
• Find a place inbetween.
• To ask your horse to speed up, bring your life up
• The horse will want to copy what you do with your body
• Try Pedaling-move ankel back and forth at walk. Gives you better position and prevents your heels to go down, which stiffens your body
• Mimic the horses front with your front. It gets you in tune with them.
• Push hands on withers and push yourself back into the saddle, at walk or trot. Keeps you with him and keeps you from jolting forward
• If you hollow your back, or put your heels down, your horse may run away with you, stop, or buck.
• Watch horses movement on the ground to help get in tune with them.
• You can go inbetween gaits with your energy level. (ex: faster or slower trot.)
• For a canter: put your thumb under your butt and try not to let your butt leave it.
• Turn your body and let horse match it. Pretend you have eyes all over your body and look where you are going with them.
• Only guide with reins
• For sideways: look where you are going, push with one side of your body and swing with him.
• and move your butt to move his hind-quarters only and same with upper body.
• For backwards: suck belly-button back to your spine.
• A horse may shake his head if you are on his mouth.