Natural horsemanship has been a method of which great expansion has occurred over the last 15 or so years. We have seen it flourish into a great marketing enterprise for many clinicians and expounded for the amazing feats it can accomplish. I myself have a background in natural horsemanship thanks to one of my first instructors. Even still, there has always been something which struck me as “not alright” in the way that Parelli came across to me. I have seen Pat’s videos, listened to audio and watched demonstrations in person. As his wife, Linda, became more involved and publicly instructive I felt the same way. Unable to put words to those feelings for a time I left it as such.

I haven’t thought about the Parelli’s for some time now, and it was only after being sent this video that my mind began perusing through those old feelings and came up with a solid explanation of my observations. In the following video you can see Linda ‘demonstrating’ how to correct a supposedly out of control horse, who is blind in one eye, after her owner/handler has failed.

Watch The Video at Ebaum’s

I suppose everyone who watches the video will come away with a slightly different feeling, here are my thoughts on the video and my previous impression of Parelli Natural Horsemanship.

In my mind, a method can only go so far. To apply the same practice to every horse in every situation is like saying that all people will be happy in a traditional heterosexual marriage that produces two children – one boy and one girl – with the wife staying at home and the husband providing. This model has proven to create mass unhappiness and we can see that by the sheer number of people moving away from it and finding happiness in other ways and order of their lives. Naturally, I am skeptical in a method that has one set way of working. The Parellis have put forth a system that takes equestrians from one step to another in a very specific and methodical way, leaving no room for wavering. This can lay the foundation for a great deal of dilemma.

Which leads me to my second observation… of all the natural horsemanship clinicians, and perhaps connected with just how prevalent and wide-spread Parelli’s popularity is, I have never observed a method producing so many dysfunctional horses. Through the years I have been conditioned to naturally shudder when I hear that a horse has been trained using Parelli methods, and now the owner is beyond recourse and needs help because the horse is dangerous. The other scenario is the horse is primarily a pasture potato, the owner has done the 7-games with him, and thinks the horse will make a great riding horse… only to visit the horse and find an animal which has learned how to use his size and strength against people, has no consideration or respect for you, and has zero inclination towards doing work of any kind.

I would be happy to stop there or even fall shorter if I had not seen so many cases just like this, but unfortunately that is not my reality. I will say there are happy exceptions. There are close friends of mine who use Parelli techniques and due only to their exquisite timing and understanding of the horse do they find a great deal of success with it. And there are many others I watch and cannot help but run the thought through my mind that, “they are going to get killed doing this, or inspire someone else to try this and themselves get killed!”

But why? The Parellis market themselves to equestrians who are afraid of their horses, are having a great deal of problems with their horses, etc. Perhaps in part to this they also end up with a great deal of failures in the sidelines. If someone wished to learn marketing tactics the Parellis would be an ideal model.

When I watch the video of Linda working with this half-blind horse, the main points that stick in my head are two-fold. One, is that she is terrified of this horse and trying so hard to get it to obey using the single method she knows. Second is that the horse has no idea what Linda wants and is completely confused. Another side-thought is that horses move into pressure, particularly when they don’t understand to do otherwise. Linda is applying pressure, the horse doesn’t understand, so in an attempt to stop the pressure the horse is moving into it. Yet, Linda is expecting a different result. Eventually she begins to get semi-correct responses, but only through the use of what I consider to be excessive pressure and force.

Then I ask myself, could Linda have accomplished her goal better by starting closer to the horse – perhaps a hand on the halter and direct pressure to start the idea that “this is what we are working on today,” and slowly moving away and changing the cue from nose pressure to the line shake? Making certain the horse understands at every stage before moving further away? I find it is extraordinarily easy for us to focus so hard on a single task and the end goal, that we miss piecing it together with small steps. That could even be the most difficult part of horsemanship I surmise.

Still, that is the fodder for my dislike and distrust of Parelli Natural Horsemanship Methods. Being so rigid in your method that you put horse and rider at risk is utterly negligable.

What is it to be a real horseman? Can you be a horseman even if you’ve never before been involved with horses? Can you be involved with horses every day and still fail to be a horseman?

That is a question that came up with a recent posting to an email group, Classical Dressage, that I am a member of which was also accompanied with the link to a great video of a number of people working to help with a large number of starved horses in bringing them back to life.

What has touched me so much in this video, outside of the immense amount of dedication on everyone’s part, is that many of them showed up to help who have had no previous experience with horses.

Then on the other side of the coin there are those who have caused this great amount of suffering to the horses involved, which I would suspect have many years of experience with horses. I see it other places as well, being so involved that we become blind and end up causing more harm than good. You can go to any show and see that multiple times over of riders hurting their horses for the sake of a $10 ribbon. The price of the prize may vary, but the symptoms still remain the same.

• Cleve Well, a prominent AQHA trainer and clinician, has been accused of abuse on several occasions.
• WalkingHorseChat.com posts videos of ‘Freak of the Week’ gaited horses in action.
• A blog devoted to exposing the abuses behind showing and competition, Shame In The Showring, gives you an inside look.

As much as we continue to expose the abuses that are going on to horses in every sport, discipline and level of involvement (from day one beginners to the creme de la creme of horse ‘celebrity’), little is being prevented.

It is my opinion that without increasing overall education (not just in the horse industry but on the whole) we are only kicking dirt on the forest fire. There has to be more. Our culture has moved towards zero responsibility, we have morphed into a corporate mindset on the personal level. No one is taking responsibility to earn an education about horses before riding or owning one… or rather instead of nobody, very few.

Those who are highly educated that I encounter who are looking to learn to ride horses – do so with the same adept skill in which they undertake other areas they have no education in. They ask questions. How many experienced riders do we know that still ask questions? Less and less. Then there are others who I encounter who feel they know all the answers (even if those answers aren’t enough to enable them to do all that they want, which is exactly why they are contacting me), and because of that there isn’t a question in the world they would like to ask.

Do you still ask questions? I do, every day. Every second it seems when I’m working with my horse. Not necessarily questions about what I’m doing, but often now it is why I am doing it. How it is going to impact my horse, what the motivations are, etc. I don’t, however, ask myself questions about how much money I can make with my horse, or if I place in a certain class it will increase my perceived value and skill by my peers. Admittedly there was a time when I asked questions like how I could turn my hobby into something that profited me (and I did so with breeding horses for a time).

Now, however, I do offer services that bring money.. but they aren’t the source of my survival and I’ve given up on achieving ‘fortune’ through my horses. It takes me to a place in my mind, to think about using my horses in such a way, that seems akin to prostituting them out. As it stands right now they help me teach people and in that I am always grateful for all that they give and settles in my heart much better than the thought of them as being ‘money makers’. That is probably much of why I gave up competition, too much in it for the money and accolades to let me sleep sound at night.

Have A Good Question?

This is your chance to be involved in my next video (and still maintain anonymity… lol) and win a FREE autographed copy of my book. Exactly what does this involve? Well, let me tell you!

I want you to ask me a question… but not just any question. Only the BEST QUESTION asked that is appropriate to what I am hoping to demonstrate will do (and win the prize!). So, to adequately prepare you to submit a potentially win-worthy question, here are some guidelines :

• The question should provide as many details as possible.
• The topic of your question should revolve around the horse (as opposed to your riding ability/balance/position).
• The question should highlight a problem you are having (like “my horse refuses to change leads”), rather than how to accomplish a goal (like “how do I teach my horse to change leads”).

Prize Package :

• FREE Autographed Copy of my book, “Centered Self, Centered Horse : A Simple Guide to Horsemanship“!
• Your question will be used in my next Core Workshop video, demonstrating how to use critical thinking to problem solve!
• Be the first to be notified (via email) of the said video’s release online!

To submit your question by email Click Here
To submit your question through comment… scroll down (all comments are moderated before being posted, so no submissions will be posted publicly).

Thanks everyone!

We know what we know, until we know more or less about what it is we think we know. Basically, we only know as much as we know in any given moment and that can change in a split second. We can know more or less of what is true, what cannot be hidden beneath well versed words or attractive grace.

Horsemanship is like anything in life that relies upon our abilities to form relationships. The way in which we relate with other people is directly translated into our activities with the horse. Normally our perspective, our filter, our position in life through which we view the goings on also shapes the way in which we form, nurture, develop and continue relationships with the people around us and the horses we ride.

I was forwarded this neat video today and wanted to share it. I think it outlines very well, just how perspective can be changed to the complete opposite by the shift of order, punctuation, intimation, expectation. I don’t know if anyone else will notice a change in their own feelings when the point is reversed in this video, but I felt a change from downtrodden and slightly confused / expectant, to uplifted and hopeful. There was even a smile beaming from my lips.

Lost Generation

Also, I will be talking more about relationships with horses this following Sunday, February 01 at 12 noon (cst) during the AIR Radio Channel Online Broadcast. I invite you to tune in or catch up with the recorded show if you cannot make the live show.

Perhaps fitting, yesterday was my birthday, and I was born in the year 1984… the same year that Reiner Klimke scored the Olympic Gold Medal aboard his Westfalian gelding, Ahlerich. Here is a tempting video, highlighting their victory lap at the Olympic Games.

And, in case you weren’t privy to the show live or watched it previously, or maybe you just want to watch it again… here is the winning video of Reiner Klimke riding Ahlerich to Gold at the 1984 Olympic Equestrian Games.

Time is running down, the clock is ticking, and there remains but two weeks before the ASPIRE Therapeutic Riding Benefit, “Dances With Horses” in Waterloo, Iowa. Which reminds me today that I need to get my horse his traveling papers…

All deadlines aside, I wanted to make an update on how the project is progressing. My dress, which I’ve mentioned previously, is beginning to make it’s appearance in the world. We’ve been doing daily fittings as we slowly construct and create it. While it is based upon a high-fashion dress by Emanual Ungaro, it will have it’s own variations and unique qualities, the least of which being that we had to make adjustments so it doesn’t get caught up on the back of the saddle.

I thought it might be a bit more entertaining if everyone could see some behind the scenes…

And for some more visual… me and *Tanjobi playing with some ideas for our ride, of course the final ride choreography will only be revealed after the event.

This is a new clip that I put together recently. If you like it let me know, pass it around, share it with friends and horsie-fam. More to follow soon…

More Horse Videos From Erica K. Frei

I was perusing the Olympic website looking for show times for the Equestrian games… when I spotted this video and gave a chuckle. Good to see a horse so personable and who has such a relationship with his rider! I hope everyone is looking forward to the games as much as I am…

Watch The Video

Many of you may or may not be aware, but I was in fact in a movie. Last fall I worked on an indie psychological thriller and am excited to say that the premiere is coming up fast! The premiere is open to anyone wanting to pay to get in the door, and is coupled with an eclectic mix of dj’s, art and several other films.

More information about the movie, including the trailer, can be found at Secret School Productions.

I caught this one on my way out the door for the day, and it put a smile on my face. Simple, easy, enjoyable. Reminded me of starting my first horse, minus two blondes… Oh, and for those that think this is a dig at the hair pigment challenged… fyi, I’m a blonde myself.

I have two more video clips to post from this weekend’s Core Workshop held in Milton, Wisconsin at Awareness In Riding. Thanks again for those who participated!

Clip #2

Clip #3 – A brief conversation

We are still running through lots and lots of video taken over this weekend from The Core Workshop, which was put on at Awareness In Riding in Milton, Wisconsin. Many thanks to those who showed up, it wouldn’t be a workshop without participants! I also want to thank my wonderful camera ‘man’ (my mom).

This clip shows some excerpts from Saturday, talking a bit about clarifying words, the meaning behind natural horsemanship, the predator/prey relationship, communication and so on.

You can find out more about The Core Workshop.

I’ve posted a new video on YouTube which talks briefly about the seat and one of its exercises. This is my first video, and am looking to critique it and create more!

The movement of the piaffe, or trotting in place, is one long considered to be a movement achieved only through the mastery and ultimate refinement of aids coupled with the correct training structure to develop the horse. Piaffe is often seen performed in a myriad of venues; dressage competitions, horse fairs and demonstrations, circus, trick performances, etc. It has become more of a common sight, to see a horse trotting in place, and the awe and impress that follows is that in accordance with the rumor that the piaffe is difficult to train. This assumption is often incorrect however and is made by those who have not learned to train the piaffe or have struggled with it’s training.

The piaffe, whether forced or encouraged with lightness, is not a difficult task to teach. The piaffe is a natural occurance when the aids are correct – it simply happens when the horse is physically conditioned and able to perform it. The piaffe can also be beaten into the horse’s understanding. It is afterall a balancing of stop and go, acceleration and braking. It is the ability to inspire energy while containing it from escaping forwards.

There are hundreds of thousands of horses who perform piaffe which is not classically correct for one reason or several. There are few who perform a classically correct piaffe. Of the incorrect piaffe, it is often resulting from an imbalance in the aids – not enough energy or not enough posture to contain that energy from escaping forwards, or both. How this translates in the piaffe is that the horse becomes overbent and the hindlegs trail out too far. The horse loses his collection, he falls onto the forehand. He loses tempo, his feet become sticky to the ground, the hindquarters bounce while the forehand is still. The front legs travel further under the horse’s body to assist in balancing. For example…

Anky Van Grunsven – This is a great video to show the loss of balance, sticky feet, overbending and trailing hind legs. Often piaffe is shown only from the side, which discounts any ability to judge the horse’s lateral balance. In the beginning of this video you can see AVG move into piaffe and her horse bobbling from side to side as he constantly attempts to regain his balance during the piaffe. His feet swing side to side and rather than him lifting them upwards there is more lateral displacement of them – that is of him moving his whole body in an effort to move his limbs more effectively. He falls behind the vertical often, the hind legs do not provide any carrying power and the front legs are the major support as the fall in under the horse’s body. There are frequent breaks in the horse’s tempo as well and faltering between transition of movements.

Escola Portuguesa de Arte Equestre — This is an improved showing of piaffe. The horse is taking more weight onto the hindquarters, the front limbs are more upright. There are moments when the horse is behind the vertical and the front limbs are also trailing under the body a bit for support. The cadence and tempo of the horse’s piaffe is broken as well. His posture is much improved, as is necessary for the rear that follows the first piaffe. There also appears to be less side to side lateral imbalance during the second piaffe which cannot be judged in the first.

P.S. Lusitano Pirueta Piaffe — An interesting display not often seen, the piaffe pirouette. This starts out showing promise as the horse’s posture is not easily judged from the front. As he moved around and we are able to see a lateral view, you find the horse’s posture ducking down and behind the vertical. His hindquarters bounce more at times than others, which is masked a bit by the slow motion. It is difficult to tell if he would have sticky hooves, but it is certain to tell that he lacks some mark of consistency as his posture changes along with the bounce of his hindquarters. His front hooves stay beautifully aligned upright from the start, and he has wonderful lateral balance which is evident to see as we get a good view from the hindquarters. It does appear as the video continues that the horse begins to degrade in the piaffe over time, lending to the conclusion that he is tiring.

Matt McLaughlin – This video showing the first in-hand work of piaffe with an 11yr old Andalusian mare shows a good foundation. It is clear to see the energy MM is able to inspire in the mare and he buffers it by containing through postural control. This allows the mare to ’sit’, dropping her hindquarters into the steps of piaffe. This is one of the first sessions of piaffe work according to the video’s description. She shows loss of tempo at times, as does MM in the application of the aids, however she displays no loss of balance through hyperflexion, or trailing hind and fore legs. The video moves on to show piaffe steps under saddle and some passage. I won’t comment on the passage right now…

Spanish Stallion Condor – A lovely piaffe shown in the pillars. Truly magnificent to watch, despite the surroundings. This horse displays balance, tempo and posture in one package. He maintains his piaffe for an extraordinary amount of time and begins to show some tiring by the end. His front legs maintain erectness, his hind hooves are placed so near the center of balance that any further forward and he would be standing. The moments that he attempts to drop his posture you’ll notice he loses balance, only to regain it once again by correcting his posture.

Young Horse Training – Another video showing piaffe started in hand. This is lovely – light and correct. The young horse has energy without the constant nagging from the handler. He shows beautiful posture to support the balance of the piaffe. The hind limbs are stepping under, he is light of foot and maintains erect front hooves. Just lovely.

“El Gordo Dancing His Horse” – One last video, which I hesitated to put on, but illustrates an important point. It does not take skill or tact to teach a horse to ‘trot in place’, or to even trot in place with a measurable amount of collection and balance.  Here it is done with nothing more than a curb bit, spurs, dual purpose ‘whipping reins’ and a rider who just wants his horse to dance…

It becomes easy to see when watching this clip, exactly how Reiner Klimke became not only a champion in his own respect, but an icon of great horsemanship. There is a thread of modern competitive dressage leaking through his performance, primarily the trot work, however RK is a rider deserving of accolades for his refined and subtle aids.

In particular I want to draw attention to RK’s legs… they are quiet, they are subtle. In the extended trot we get a beautiful view of these as the horse approaches almost directly towards the camera. Compare this to modern olympic riders and you will see a stark difference. RK’s legs have become one with the sides of his horse, they do not thump at every stride, you do not see daylight between horse and rider. RK also inspires such immediacy in movement from Ahlerich, which is no wonder considering there is no evidence of him overusing the aids which results in a loss of forward and honest energy.

Secondarily, Ahlerich’s posture. There are moments throughout the ride where we see Ahlerich’s posture fall behind the vertical, particularly in the piaffe and passage. His posture improves however as he is taken into the canter and extended trot. In these places he really shines as he becomes more free and fluid with his balance and posture.

Although his piaffe is nearly free from any forward movement, Ahlerich could be taking a bit more weight onto the hindquarters. His posture plays a role in this quite importantly. With his head dropping down and behind the vertical, Ahlerich has to take little responsibility for his weight placement and comes onto the forehand in these places.

Summary : In summation, there are points where the horse’s performance is reduced by the simple fact he loses his balance. It is easy to hide with his naturally large, graceful movement, but the evidence is still there to show that a more effective half halt would improve his trot work and I imagine his already beautiful canter work would have garnered 10’s across the board.