What we know as the Passenger game in Parelli terms, I would like to call it Getting in Tune because its really all about both horse and rider tuning into each other.

When we think of being a passenger, we often think literally that its about sitting there and doing as little as possible. While this is a valid call, especially at the start of riding a horse for that session, this game can develop so that it gradually allows us to add all the other ingredients that make up the big picture.

So what is the big picture – what is our ideal for riding?

For many the ultimate would be the ability to ride their horse and be in harmony at all paces and over varied terrain without needing a saddle or bridle.

To some, this sounds impossible to achieve but if you never focus there, you will never reach this dream.

Imagine having such a confident, trusting relationship with your horse that you could go call him or her and they come running to you enthusiastically then you get on a fence or a log and your horse sidles up to you so you can gently slip onto his back.

Then, with complete confidence you could enjoy a jaunt around a huge pasture to check the fences or ride a trail through bushland, maybe even jump a log or cross a stream.

This dream can become your reality if you start out getting in tune with your horse every time you ride. Your horse needs to respect you as a leader when you’re on his/her back so should follow your energy up and down through all gaits. This is achieved by just focusing on this one task – allowing your horse to choose the direction while you focus on using your phases to go and whoa. In the beginning, you might just go with the flow to find out if your horse is over or under impulsive or just right. But once you’ve established where you’re horse’s impulsion levels are, you then need to do something about getting them to match your energy (or impulsion) levels.

When you bring your energy up by focusing up, pushing your leading hand forward and perhaps breathing in to lift your energy (phase 1), does your horse go? If not, then a light squeeze with both legs (just so your boots feel the skin) is phase 2. Then if you need more energy, support your squeeze with rhythmic pressure by swinging a string around your shoulders or slapping your thigh (phase 3). If that has no effect then keep the rhythmic pressure going and extend the string to touch the horse behind the saddle or spank on his rump gently with your hand (phase 4).

If you had to use phase 2, 3 or 4, then your legs should release as soon as your horse goes forward – they stay on with gentle pressure until you go forwards at the speed you’ve asked for, otherwise, taking the leg away rewards the horse for not responding to your leg.

Ideally, if you use your phases clearly, then your horse will soon respond to lighter phases until phase 1 – lifting your energy is all it takes to go.

It’s similar for a stop except it’s the opposite of energy up – your energy comes down to resist the forward movement by breathing out and focusing slightly down meaning go nowhere (phase 1). If after 5 seconds your horse hasn’t responded then slowly lift one rein and make contact with the head (phase 2). If holding the rein for 5 seconds has no result then reach down the rein and relax your free hand onto the front of the saddle (phase 3)– this also keeps you more secure in the saddle if your horse pulls against you.

And finally, close your fingers around the rein 1 at a time as you take the rein out low towards your knee to get lateral flexion and a stop (phase 4).

If you want a downward transition then the phases differ slightly as we don’t use lateral flexion as phase 4 because we don’t want to pull the handbrake on!

THE PASSENGER GAME – OR GETTING IN TUNE by Cynthia Cooper

For a downward transition, phases 1, 2 and 3 are the same as for a stop. But then to keep the feet moving we need to use an indirect rein to yield the hindquarters (putting the brakes on) which slows the gait. Once we reach the desired speed, we then release the rein and allow the horse to have the responsibility of maintaining the gait or speed within the gait.

There are many things you can do as a rider to get in tune with your horse as they learn to get in tune with your energy up and down. Firstly, its important to know about diagonals at the trot so you can be on the correct one for the direction the horse chooses – that way you stay balanced with the horse and help them become more supple as many horses are often one sided and prefer to put you on the same diagonal at all times.

Secondly, you can ride in a forward jumping type position which takes the weight off your horse’s back so when you sit down for a transition or a stop, that feeling is exaggerated for the horse, enabling them to understand phase 1 easily.

By resting your hands on either side of your horse’s neck with the rein bridged across just in front of the wither, it also gives you more balance security as your horse changes directions, especially at trot and canter.

Of course, its best to start this game in an enclosed area of a size suitable for your horse’s impulsion level. The faster your horse wants to go, the smaller area needed so he will make more circles rather than long straight lines which speed a horse up.

Whether your horse lacks impulsion or has too much, transitions up and down through the gaits frequently, will help your horse even out his impulsion and learn to match your energy as it goes up and down.

I use downward transitions to reward the horse when they go away from a place they are stuck in – like near the gate or the other horses. And upward transitions when they are in a stuck spot, to help them move away from it.

Once you’re accomplished at the passenger game in an enclosed area and your impulsion levels are better, riding on uneven ground and in larger areas is great for developing a more independent seat.

Another fun exercise is to ride to music playing (use your ipod or even the car stereo) so you can learn to stay in a particular rhythm within the gait you choose. Some music will suit more sedate, relaxed gaits while others will be more energetic and match a trot or canter better.

If you want to be more accurate with matching rhythm, buy a digital metronome from a music store – the kind you can hang around your neck, and set it to a nice rhythm that matches your horse’s regular gait. Then see if you can stay in that rhythm while playing the passenger game.

When you have spent some time getting in tune with your horse, you will then be able to easily add some direction – do it gradually so you’re not suddenly telling your horse to go here, stay there etc.

I like to focus on a circling game as I approach an obstacle – if I’m in tune with my horse I can go from being a passenger to focusing on the obstacle and just using my diagonals and legs, we ride a circle around it then go back to passenger game. At first your horse might need help with the reins but if you only pick them up when you need them, your horse will become less reliant on them for direction and start to listen to your focus and legs first.

From adding a little direction its then easy to progress to riding some patterns that will help your horse’s impulsion level or advance their education for whatever pursuit you have in mind.

Getting in tune with your horse is fun and helps you learn to listen to your horse and vice versa.

It’s also about gradually causing your ideas to become their ideas without us being bullies!

the UltimateHORSEMANSHIP EXPERIENCE

with MELFleming

& TONYRobinson

It’s hard to describe with

words the amazing 7 days

we all experienced. So we thought we would do it

with pictures as the saying goes

‘a picture tells a thousand words’.

We look forward to sharing this amazing experience with you

and your horse.

Connecting withHorses andRiding with

Synchronicity

Great Place, Great Food, Great People

Connecting withHorses and Riding with

Synchronicity

Universal Energy

Bodyworkfor

Horse and Rider!

Horse Care and Health

poulticing the legs

HavingFun

Hoof Careand

Trimming

How to care for the lower limbs

(knees & hocks to the feet) is

another essential aspect for

soundness, performance and

health and is generally a subject

very little is known about.

As a special addition for this

particular course, due to its longer

length we include sessions on

balancing the feet for shoeing and

trimming.

The UltimateHORSEMANSHIP EXPERIENCE

COURSES 2008Incorporating

• Connecting with Horses and Riding with Synchronicity • Universal Energetic Bodywork

with Mel Fleming & Tony Robinson

Macksville, NSW – February 2nd-3rd Introductory Course Psychology and Ground skills 2 day course

Coffs Harbour, NSW - February 6th-10thUltimate Horsemanship Experience 5 day course

Pontville, Tasmania – February 20th-24thUltimate Horsemanship Experience 5 day course

Bangalow, NSW - March 1stFREE WORKSHOP -WITHOUT HORSES

Connecting with Horses, Riding with Synchronicity,Universal Energetic Bodywork 1 day course

Bangalow, NSW - March 2nd-4rd Connecting with Horses, Riding with Synchronicity

Universal Energetic Bodywork 3 day course

Bathurst, NSW – March 8th-10thRiding with Synchronicity 3 day course

Moonbi via Tamworth, NSW - March 19th-30th Ultimate Horsemanship Experience (10 day course)

Adelaide, SA – April 2nd-6th Ultimate Horsemanship Experience 5 day course - (unconfi dent riders / horses)

Adelaide, SA – April 9th -13th Ultimate Horsemanship Experience

5 day course - (confi dent riders / horses)

Margaret River (TBA), WA - 23rd -27thUltimate Horsemanship Experience 5 day course

Gold Coast, QLD – May 7th-11th Ultimate Horsemanship Experience 5 day course

East Gippsland, VIC – May 21st -25thUltimate Horsemanship Experience (5 day course)

For all enquiries and bookings contact Mel Flemingemail: mel@melfl eming.com.au

02 6760 5519 or Int: +61 2 6760 5519 or go to website: www.melfl eming.com.au

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