Creating healthy biomechanics and stronger partnerships through combining

natural horsemanship principles with the art of dressage...

never underestimate the potential for harmony & lightness to improve in ways you cannot yet imagine

This Month• News

• From Students

• Responsibility for equine teachers

Clinic schedule: CLICK HERE

Upcoming Clinics:

March 6-116 Days in the TemenosFull, closed to auditorsContact: K2@dressagenaturally.net

April 17-22 6 Days in the TemenosFull, closed to auditorsContact: K2@dressagenaturally.net

April 3 - June 1110 Week IntensiveFull!

August 17-28 3 days Sweet Spot, 3 days Upward Spiral, 3 Days Advancing Private lessonsSomerset, UKContact: Stephanie Gauntemail: stefgaunt@yahoo.co.uk

Sept. 16-17 2 days Focusing on Connection, Sept. 18-20 3 days Upward Spiral (smaller group, more private attention)Lindstrom, MNContact: Sally TaylorPhone: 612.616.2550email: zazz@aol.com

Sept 23-25 Custom Clinic!Co-teaching with 5* Parelli Profes-sional David LichmanBridgewater, NHContact: Brenda Ladd603-217-0205 B603-715-0253 Claddfarmllc@me.com

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Welcome back to the Temenos...

Temenos is an ancient Greek word. It refers to a sacred space that has no limits, where special rules apply and extra-ordinary events are free to occur.

We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails.

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Karen Rohlf

February 2011

Biomechanics ofA Happy vs Un-Happy Athlete.Dana & I created a short video to investi-gate the biomechanical differences be-tween a happy and an unhappy athlete.

Thatʼs all I will say.. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJyTafckHVs

A Tip for SiMoNWe know that doing lateral work creates an increased ability to find straightness. Doing lateral work requires flexibility and mobility, and so an another benefit of do-ing lateral work is that you can also gain greater suppleness!

It is the same with SiMoN, the School Master Noodle Horse! Some of you may be finding that after a bunch of sessions with SiMoN, his shoulders become looser! The trouble is, since SiMoN is a specialist for lateral work, we cannot bal-ance it with collection, transitions and ex-tensions to build his core strength and carrying power like we can with real horses.

SiMoN may need a little help to regain that original core strength. If you are find-ing that the ʻhandlesʼ on SiMoN are get-ting a little floppy, you can do a couple things:

1. Move the handles up or down a bit from their original place. The noodle will start to compress leaving the han-dles loose.

2. Check the wing nuts under the han-dles. They do need occasional re-tightening.

3. Place a piece of cardboard or similar between the noodle and the clamp for the handles. Something around 4” long is ideal. Place it so the corrugation runs length-wise.

That should take care of any floppy shoulders! Shoot us an e-mail if you have any questions. karenrohlf@dressagenaturally.net

Join the Classroom, Join the discussion!I am just finishing up new videos for March 1st in the Video Classroom. In March we will see the next session with Duncan. This time we will see his owner ride him as well as my first time riding him. Duncanʼs first session on the ground is in the current February videos. He is a 15 yr old FEI horse who came to the Te-menos for help him with some extreme heaviness issues as well as some big problems with farriers and wash stalls.

We will also meet Marcel (heʼs a human) as he talks with us about the power of breathing. Ovation will also make an ap-pearance as I show you some things I am doing at liberty to keep him enthusiastic and accessing his ʻinner golden retrieverʼ!

Those videos will be up March 1st. All videos are archived in the Classroom so you always have access to all of them! They are searchable by going to the top menu: Videos/Search Videos, then en-tering a keyword in the search box. It will bring up any video that has that word in the title or description!

I am also excited about the discussions going in in the forum... It is a nice way for me to stay in touch with everyone.

You can get to the D,N Video Classroom here: http://dnc.dressagenaturally.net/

A few conversations at once!

Hi Karen,I thought you'd be interested in something that I learned on a super horse vacation I took in Costa Rica earlier this year.  I went for a 5-day horse trek from the mountains to the ocean.  At the end of the trek, there was a 2-day clinic with David Lichman.  I hadn't ever ridden with David before although I had audited a Level 1 clinic he taught MANY years ago, even before I ever owned a horse.  He was the Parelli instructor that first inspired me to think that I could own my own horse and

not need the requisite "professional-trainer-included".

The 5-day trek was fantastic!  Beautiful scenery, rugged terrain and a wonderful 10 year-old Criollo horse name Beau.  Since the 2-day clinic was at the END of the trek, Beau and I created our rapport and relationship "on-the-go" throughout the duration of the 5 days.  He started as a very high-headed and hollow-traveling horse.  Every time I touched the reins, his head would go straight up.  On the morn-ing of the 2nd day I switched from his bosal-type bridle to a rope halter & lead-rope, and continued with that for the next 4 days.  By the last day he was mostly choosing to move in a much more relaxed frame.  Touching the leadrope now meant for him to lower his head and loosen his back.  His breathing changed, his de-meanor changed and our relationship changed as well.

During the clinic, David asked what I wanted to work on with Beau, and I said I wanted to continue to help him find confi-dence in relaxed movement.  David asked how I planned to do that and I sug-gested an impulsion game like the bullseye.  David agreed, and I started the bullseye game on a loose rein (I'd tied the leadrope around into a loop rein).  Beau understood the circle pretty quickly, but couldn't maintain a steady, netural gait.  

When David came over to us, he men-tioned that I had the ability to concentrate on more than just *don't change gait, don't change direction*, and was there anything else I thought I could do to help Beau out?  I said "Well, I could work on the basic alignment exercises I learned with Karen, but that would probably take some contact, can I do that with the bullseye game?"  David replied that yes, I could do that, so I took up the slack in the reins, got a nice connected feel on the halter, and started helping Beau move different parts of his body while still fol-lowing the bullseye pattern.  

Beau immediately improved his gait and dedication to the circle, and after about 5 circles, he lowered his head and neck and loosened his back at the trot.  It was a really nice feeling for me, and I'm sure it had to feel nice for him as well!

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In any case, I learned that mixing founda-tional principles (the 4 responsibilities of the horse) with more advanced concepts (riding with some connection, basic alignment exercises, finding neutral and matching my picture of energy & balance) equaled reaching the goal sooner and with less stress on both Beau and me!  Thanks to you for teaching me how to help this horse get to a relaxed place quicker, and thanks to David for helping me recognize an opportunity to have sev-eral concurrent conversations (energy, balance, relaxation) while still building foundation.  I'm not up to 9+1 conversa-tions yet, but I can certainly see why I'd want to quickly improve to that point!

Take care! Sally

Thanks, Sally! What a great realization to have! It must have been difficult to concentrate with that kind of scenery around you, though!

Although the technique of ʻisolate, sepa-rate and recombineʼ will always be a good one, as you progress as a rider you will be able to keep track of more things. Many of the things you originally needed to do in isolation were because you as a rider were just learning them! As you pro-gress it is not only ok to combine them, but it will speed along your ability to effec-tively communicate/illustrate to your horse what you want!

Experienced riders can make a multitude of effects on a horse simply because they have many skills at an ʻunconscious competenceʼ level.

The key is to realize when one piece is out of communication so much that you cannot continue.... And you got it just

right... this is the realm of the 9+1 conver-sations idea! Maybe it isnʼt a symphony, but a really good quartet can be just as nice!

KarenPS: Thanks also for giving me a great lead-in to this next topic:

Custom Clinic: From Foundation to Specialization5* Parelli Professional David Lichman and I are going to co-teach a clinic in NH September 23-25.

We were chatting about exactly what we were going to teach and came up with the idea of letting the students decide!

Participating students will send us their top topic requests and then David and I will create a series of sessions over the 3 days, weaving the knowledge together to create a customized and cohesive clinic. Students can participate or audit as they please.

This will give the ability to cover a wide range of topics from Foundation to Spe-cialization and of course how to take your Foundation forward with you as you spe-cialize.

This will be a wonderful clinic to partici-pate in or audit. The Ladd farm is an ex-cellent and comfortable facility, and if we are lucky the fall colors will be in full swing! For more info contact Brenda Ladd at: 603-217-0205 B, 603-715-0253 C laddfarmllc@me.com

New formatsThis year you may notice some other changes on my clinic schedule... In MN I will be doing 2 days called: Focusing on Connection. This is meant for people who have taken the ʻFinding the Sweet Spotʼ clinic, have the theory, but still want time really working on the basics, espe-cially as it relates to riding in connection with the reins. This is a great clinic for people who have participated in the Find-ing the Sweet Spot and understand it, but now need more practice!

Another thing you will notice at the MN clinic is for The Upward Spiral of Suc-cess. I am limiting it to 8 riders, and we will have more individual attention. This more individual attention will be hap-pening the last 3 days in the UK clinic as well.

There are some other things up my sleeve regarding clinics, but you will have to wait for that for now! ;-)

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Arena Inspiration?

Hi Karen,

I would like to say thank you for all the fantastic teaching information you have provided.Its been a very wet and cold winter here in the UK, have given my horses a bit of time off but after receiving your full set of DVDs and book I have found a new mo-mentum.I predominately ride my 17hh 11 yr old idxwb who can be a bit on the short side. We have been through the parelli levels and passed all of the old level 2 apart from the flying changes. My mare is dominant but very unconfident.

Anyway to cut a long story short we are in a pretty good place and have been out competing last year, I love your spiral of success. I have always know that the RPMs could be better but my horse is so good at putting in the minimal effort and making me use my aids or spank her more. Unfortunately this time of year we can only ride in my school and its not the most stimulating space for her. I think The info. you provide indicates I need to ask for more speed and quit sooner, is there anything else I can try?

Many many thanks Rebecca

Yes, it can be really difficult to keep them inspired when you only have arenas to work in... But if the external environment is not so stimulating, you can make sure the internal one is!

Be an interesting conversationalist and give your horse feedback about his an-swers. No one likes to play or talk with someone who just nods and smiles no matter what.

Also know your horse... some horses love consistent patterns and find freedom within them. Some love variety. Some love if you do a little passenger lesson, some find that incredibly boring.

Find things that your horse loves to do and use them as a beginning and end point. Even something silly like putting a foot in a tub. Ovation will work very hard

just to get to go over and put his foot in a tub!  :-DSometimes students think they need to be ʻeasyʼ on their horses thinking that they donʼt like to work, but for some it has the opposite effect... it bores them. Up-ping your standard could make things interesting.

Yes, as you said, with a horse who is very economical with his energy you have to ask for more and quit sooner... but it is not about speed, but of energy. Think of energy as the ʻwillingness to apply effortʼ. And donʼt sustain something that he doesnʼt willingly offer in the first place. Read in my book about the Energy #ʼs game (starting on page 55, especially exercises 5 & 6).

Make sure the payoff is good for him. For some horses a release is enough, but for some you need to up the value of the re-lease.. get off him, give him a cookie (if you are Ovation or Atomic, let them stand in their precious feed tubs!).

And finally, remember to balance your experience with him so you spend plenty of time with him not in the arena being bored. You may need to get creative in the winter when space is limited, but mak-ing the relationship in general better can always help!Cheers,Karen

A Cry for Help....

Dear Karen,I have nowhere to go for advise and as I write this there are tears running down my face, I need your help or just a word of advise for I don't have anyone else to talk to. I ordered both of your dvd's the other day and I am working on learning some of the techniques you have in them. I am also working on Parelli second level but, to be honest I dont think I did such a good job for I am having major problems with my horse. Ya see, I waited 16 yrs to get a horse again, I had to give it up for I was raising a daughter by myself. I was told he was a lesson horse and the owner of the barns daughter use to ride it. So that was good enough for me and at the time when I

bought him sound horses were not going cheap. So now I finally have my dream horse, he was 12yrs old when I bought him so I fig-ured he's not young he has been there done that. I think they drugged him for after 2 months of owning him he started to get really spooky. This horse is a chronic head tosser, he's teeth are good and the saddle fits him fine, it's when he gets nervous. Now I did a lot of Parelli work with him. It took me four years to get the rope over him where he didn't flinch. We came really far, he goes on trail, over bridges, in water and all that stuff. I ask him to go in snow four feet deep and he does it for me, him hav-ing faith in me as a leader I feel is solid. It's the riding part we are stuck. When I first starting schooling him, he could not get two feet without this head in the air, now he goes around on the bit and some-times relaxed and ok. It's the canter work I am stuck, he pulls and flips his head and grinds his teeth, when I ask for the canter, he doesn't want to stop. He gets so strong he pulls my back out and I have a bad herniated disc, i get shots to control the pain. I changed him into a rubber pel-hem and at first he was enjoying the bit foaming on the bit almost soft and the canter work was getting better. but, the head tossing and the pulling is getting really bad again. Karen he is going on 16yrs old, I have been schooling him un-der a trainer for four years. She does not do the natural stuff but, she in kind and fair to the horses. I started getting frus-trated with him and I put a tack noseband on him to stop the head tossing and yes-terday I beat the hell out of him and pulled and yanked on his mouth and I can't believe he didn't rear up on me. I feel so bad now, i can't stop crying, I real-ize that pulling is the one thing he is afraid of, but I can't get him to stop and when he does, he pulls me out of the saddle. Do you believe there are some horses that can't be fixed. I want so bad to fix him for I love him so much. The trainer at my barn says some horse own things and they own it till they die. All I want is to take him to some local shows and do walk, trot canter. Last time I took him to a show, he dug a hole outside the ring, he was pawing the ground. I am lost and angry at myself for hurting him but, I can't take in back now.

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Any advise you can tell me would be appreciated. Thanks, J

Hi J, Thanks for your email, I am sure that was not easy to write. I hear your frustration.

First, don't take his behaviors personally. Just like any relationship... if the relation-ship is not working, it doesn't mean either one of you is 'bad', it just isn't a match. Sometimes the most loving thing to do is change yourself in order to harmonize with the other half of the relationship, and sometimes the most loving thing is to choose to not be in the relationship. Just know you have choices.

The horse, on the other hand does not have so many choices in this world. It is our responsibility to take care of them and serve them well.

Your main choices are:Listen to him and do what ever he needs in order to make this relationship with him work... That means staying within the boundaries of what you both are comfort-able with and understand, while fairly try-ing to expand that range by getting help from someone who is equally interested in his well-being...

OR

Find a horse for you that matches your goals and another human for him that matches his needs.

There are no bad horses. They are all perfect until we create a situation for them where they don't fit.

There have been plenty of horses that I have met that have frustrated me or where I have reached an impasse... and I move them on only for them to be someone else's dream horse! (and vice versa).

Only you can make that decision, but to stay and fight with him, as you have found out, does not feel good to either of you.

Change yourself and your goals for him... or keep your goals and change

horses. Just do so responsibly and with love for him.

The good news is that either decision will feel good when you do it, if you do it with love and honor. (DONʼT repeat the cycle of drugging him or 'sending him down the road' to another place that may not understand him).

This is his lesson for you. Horses are all about forgiveness... He will forgive you, you must forgive him and forgive your-self. I hope this helps. My Best, Karen

A TransformationHi Karen,Just a quick note because I have to say Thank You again!!!

I have been slowly working on develop-ing Rowley with what I learnt. Myfocusing has been to strengthen his back by getting his weight over the HQ, nose in front of the vertical and stretch-ing without dumping on theforehand. This last week we can finally keep self carriage, find the sweetspot and stay there through a range of exercises. The sessions have beentiny, which you know is unlike me, and I was wondering for a long time if Iwas on track until I was looking at him the other day and it seems to havemorphed into another horse!

The photo from March 2006 (upper) was taken on the day he arrived, what a handsomebeast! :)

Thank you, thank you, thank you ~ Anne

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Wow, Anne... What a difference! The second photo from the top is from when I saw you with Rowley in late April 2010, So the differ-ence in him from 2006 to 2010 was al-ready significant, but the change in him during these last 10 months is incredible! especially since you were away from him for almost 3 months with me, and that your sessions “have been tiny”... Really illus-trates that it is about quality time rather than quantity of time!

What a muscle-man he is now! I think what you learned in those 10 weeks in the Temenos certainly traveled home with you! Thanks for sharing that! ~Karen

March 2006

April 2010

February 2011

February 2011

But everyone ʻknowsʼ not to get too attached to a lesson horse... It is heartbreaking to have to watch everyone else ride them too. They are everybodyʼs horse and nobodyʼs horse.

And so it goes if you are a lesson horse: People can love you or hate you or forget you, but no one gets attached. Maybe you used to be a show horse, and as you got older a less experienced rider got to ride you, your life became easier, it was nice for a while... But you got older, and an even less experienced rider got to ride you. You taught them quickly and they moved on, or they leased you out. If you became a favorite lesson horse, everyone rode you... And everyone moved on.

We have such a responsibility towards these animals. They are so dependent on us. Often horses end up in bad places not out of meanness but because of one small irresponsible decision at a time. Decisions where everyone assumed someone else was paying attention.

I am not really sure what happened to the first horse I owned. He was sold to a friend, then sold again to I donʼt know what or where. All I know is no one wanted to tell me.

This haunts me still and is probably why I am lousy at selling horses. My second horse I placed with someone who had a better facility for him than I could give him at the time and he lived a happy life until almost 30. My third horse was with me in paradise until paradise started hurting too much... He is buried out back.

But even before the horses are retired, we can still make an effort to treat each lesson horse as if they were our own. For that brief period you spend with that lesson horse, you can be the best you can for them. In this way they could be the luckiest ones... They could be loved and cared for by so many! If you own lesson horses you need to pay them back double for their efforts.

Maybe I am too soft for this business.

There are many wonderful people who do rescue and retirement for horses, and these are really the angels of the horse world. Please, if you cannot keep a horse any longer, do the right thing by them. I know I am preaching to the choir with all of you, but thanks for letting me get that out... ~Karen

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Responsibility towards our equine teachers

I heard some news that saddened me. I am not sure if it is true, or what the circumstances, but I just canʼt shake it. I heard that a horse that was a favorite lesson horse at the stable I formerly trained at in NY was found at a res-cue place... She had been starving, gosh she must be 20 or so by now.

This horse was used a lot... And I do mean used... but she was wonderful; a favorite, always had energy. Our facility was one of the good ones, and she, as well as the other lesson horses, were well taken care of, I am sure, according to the typical lesson horseʼs average experi-ence.

Good lesson horses are clever in order to withstand the rigors. The best ones are just a little passively naughty... They simply do not do a drop more than the person is ready to ask for, and just enough to keep things going smoothly for them.

Every rider can think back of a lesson horse that taught them a good lesson... If it wasnʼt one you wanted, it was one you needed! We probably hold a special memory for them... Even though to them, you were ʻjust another per-sonʼ, just ʻanother hourʼ.

Me & Pete: One of my first and favorite school horses at Smoke Run Farm summer camp. I got my first pinch from stirrup leathers on my calf

that I still have a scar from (because I wouldn’t stop riding no matter how much it hurt), and I didn’t mind at all that he always tried to roll in

the puddles! He was the BEST!

“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight.”

~Albert Schweitzer