Playing with Circles

Playing with circles I have learned a valuable lesson which I wish to share. We often recite the values of Parelli, and we know we should take the time it takes, and we are looking to out principles to purpose, and it is often said that most do not spend nearly enough time on getting things right. We are probably all guilty at one time or another of being too direct line, putting our needs before the horse and not looking after the relationship as much as we should.

One afternoon I was excited that I had a whole afternoon free. No rush, no other plans, completely Jack time. I had a structure of what I wanted to play with. Went into the school and set up some blocks to practice my weave and change of direction, a nice big jump for jack to do some squeeze and be a bit more provocative. A hula hoop to play some games with. Prior and proper preparation….tick!

Brought Jack in from the field, and headed for the school. He was high headed and snorty, but I figured I would be provocative and get his mind in no time. Well I set off with my play session, jump this, squeeze over that, go round that….well he was doing everything I asked. But something was missing. Yes he was listening, yes he was doing, but he wasn’t connected with me. That is another analogy you hear about the seven games. It isnt about doing them, it is about why you do them. Can you ask yourself why you are asking your horse to do something. What really is that purpose in your mind? As I delve into a deeper place within my horsemanship this is something I keep asking myself, and if I don’t know, then should I be doing it?

As I was DOING the seven games, I stopped and remembered something I learned in the fast track. How much value Pat puts on the circling game. Not just to give the horse responsibilities, but to show things up for what they are. Just like everything I do now, I am striving for excellence. In some places it goes well, in others we have a really really long way to go. I didn’t have excellence. Jack was distracted, and just going through the motions. So what was missing? What was I looking to achieve and how was I going to achieve it. Well my initial plan was to get my weave and change of direction better. But what MUST the horse have to be in a learning frame of mind? Jack wasn’t particularly calm, he had no standstill whatsoever! He was being obedient, but not motivated…..

So, my decision was that I was going to put him out on a circle to see what showed up. He maintained his responsibility ok, but he was very distracted still, tense through his back, head high and looking to the outside, he wasn’t circling, it was oval. Then I looked further. His nostrils were flared, his breathing fast, his mouth tight, his footfalls erratic. Not the picture a student seeking excellence would accept. So I decided that he would stay out on the circle until I got what I wanted. I set trot as our gait and I remained neutral. I wasn’t going to be particular about him breaking gait, this was about a picture I had in my head about how I wanted my horse to look. I knew what I was doing and I knew why.

Bracing, looking to the outside of the circle, mouth tight, distracted, no harmony

How long do you think? How much patience does it take? Jack, stayed out on that circle for 90 minutes. He probably came in a handful of times, and changed his own direction twice, and nearer the end he broke to walk now and then. But otherwise he just stayed out there……I closed my eyes and assessed him not with my eyes, but with my senses. I could tell when he was bracing to the outside, when he was tense from the sound of his breathing and his footfalls, when he changed……

Lovely positive expression, still have tension in the line, body now curving around the circle

My picture was finally complete with the circle, slack in the rope with no brace, regular breathing and footfalls, stretching through his back and neck with swinging shoulders and neck stretched down, mouth relaxed and ears cocked to me listening and waiting for the signal to come in, and for him to blow out his tension which I waited and waited for even when I had the rest.

Relaxed, head down, even footfalls, no tension in the rope

So often I will circle and not get excellence…..but I will from now! I want my horse to find rhythm and relaxation in every thing we do, so that we can climb the ladder of success and he can know I will nurture the relationship and ensure I will always put him first. I am starting to realise the importance of what we are told…..no matter how long it takes. So I didn’t get much fun today, but I think I learned a very valuable lesson, and I realised how much my horse needs to be able to find relaxation. I hope this is another breakthrough for us, so we can move further away from the place of stress that he can still get to so quickly. If he truly learns how to find relaxation, then before long he will find it quickly and in the end seek it, rather than going towards his RB behaviour which he is prone to do.