Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

The natural method of horse riding from Pat and Linda Parelli in the form of the so-called "seven games" serves as the basis for a further horse training program. These games are based on the games that horses play among themselves. The first three games are fundamentals focused on building trust and recognition in the horse. The other four games are targeted and strengthen the relationship between you and the horse. For detailed examples of seven games from Pat Parelli himself, visit his website at www.ParelliConnect.com. For the purposes of this article, you will keep your horse on the rein in all games.

Steps

1. 1 Friendly game. This game aims to build confidence in the horse in himself, in the environment, in you and in what you teach him. In other words, you need to make the horse feel completely comfortable in your presence and allow you to touch it.
   • Start by getting the horse comfortable with you. It is very important not to forget the basic rules. If the horse is against your touch, don't rush it. Use a rope (or a so-called "carrot whip" with a rope (if you have one), which is a cross between a whip and a carrot): rub it a little on the horse's neck, back, thighs, near the legs, etc. Do this in a measured, consistent rhythm. This exercise is a test of where the horse is comfortable with your touch and where it doesn’t.
   • The carrot whip is important to the Parelli Method, particularly in all seven games. It is not a real whip and serves as an extension of your arm.
   • In a friendly game, use the following pattern: rhythm, relaxation, and retreat. If your horse doesn't like something, step back. When the horse allows you to touch it anywhere (with a rope, a carrot whip, and finally with a hand), you are ready to move on to another game.
2. 2 Porcupine game. This game has this name because it teaches the horse to retreat from point pressure (from its sensation). In this game, it is important to make progress, that is, the horse should succumb to you more with less stimulation.
   • A good place to start is to place your hand on zone 1 (nose) and try to force the horse to retreat with the touch. Slowly increase the pressure until the horse backs down.
   • Phasing is important in this game. In the above example, the first step will be the minimum pressure, which, in fact, is created only by the very placing of the hand on the nose. If the horse doesn't react, you move on to the second stage with a little more effort. If this does not help, then you move on to the third stage with even more pressure. If the horse does not respond the third time, then proceed to the fourth step (and so on as long as it takes to get the horse to move). The horse should not be hit or hit.The transition to the next stage means only a gradual increase in pressure. As soon as the horse reacts, immediately stop pushing.
   • With time, practice and constant repetition of the exercise, the horse will need fewer and fewer steps to show the desired response. The pressure release moment is a kind of friendly game: "You did what I needed to do, so I take the pressure off."
   • This game isn't just about the horse's nose. Use the same step-by-step technique for the sides, for raising your legs, turning your head, and so on.
3. 3 Guiding game. Whereas porcupine play is based on incremental pressure, directional play is associated with rhythmic "pointing" pressure. The guiding game is a logical continuation of the porcupine game.
   • Use the same four steps mentioned, but this time instead of a hand with increasing pressure, use a "carrot whip" and tap the horse with it. The first stage means a very light rhythmic tapping, the second a slightly harder tapping, and so on. At the same time, it is imperative to maintain the same rhythm throughout the entire process. The speed and rhythm of tapping should not change, only the applied effort changes.
   • The game can be used to train the horse to step backward, backward, and the like. As mentioned above, for more information and demos with all games directly from Pat Parelli himself, visit his site ParelliConnect.com.
4. 4 Yo-yo game. It is quite easy to understand the meaning of this game from its name. Using the four steps, get the horse to retreat the required distance, and then, with your own retreating motion, induce the horse to return. As Pat says, "The better a horse retreats, the better it does the rest."
   • Use four steps to retreat your horse. The first stage involves very little movement on your side (only wiggling your finger refers to it), the second - a little more, and so on. Simultaneously with the change of stages, give the face a more strict look and use dominant body postures. Whenever you need to call the horse back to you, nimbly pull the rein and put on a benevolent expression. Body language is very important in all Parelli games, but especially in the yo-yo game.
5. 5 A whirling game. It is important to understand the difference between spinning play and getting the horse out on the line. In a spinning game, the horse is responsible for choosing the type of stride, speed, direction and focus. This is not mindless whirling, and the horse must remain attuned to your commands. At the same time, you must develop the three parts of the spinning game: promise, permissiveness, and return.
   • The message is exactly what the word means: the horse is sent to the perimeter of the highlighted circle. To get the message out, stand up and move the horse away from you the full length of the rope. Then pull the horse forward to walk in circles, keeping the rope taut enough. As long as the horse moves in a circle, you remain neutral (look in one direction, do not follow or control the horse). As long as the horse stays in its path, you don't interfere. This is permissiveness.
   • Whenever you want to call the horse back to you, use the same body language that you used to bring the horse back to the yo-yo game.
   • Practice circling play in both directions on different rope lengths and speeds (walk, trot).
6. 6 Acceptance. For an effective start to the game, you need to place the horse with his head against a wall or other obstacle. With the help of rhythmic pressure with the "carrot whip" (without touching, but only waving the whip and the rope near the horse's rear) step towards the horse, which remains perpendicular to the barrier.This will not immediately lead to perfect lateral movement, but alternating repetitions and retreats will allow you to avoid frustration in the way of achieving the desired result.
   • If you are worried that the horse might react to this play in the wrong way, place a couple of portable fence panels behind the horse and walk on the other side, waving the carrot whip as an extension of your arm to create the effect of putting pressure on the horse from behind.
7. 7 Anti-claustrophobic game. This game teaches a horse to walk between two objects. At first, these objects must be relatively far apart so that the horse can pass between them without any problems. For example, play a spinning game a little closer than usual to a wall or obstacle, and use a shorter rope. If you leave a distance of 3-4.5 m between you and the obstacle and induce the horse to go through it, you will start playing an anti-claustraphobic game.
   • Similar to the step-by-step approach, the more (and more efficiently) you play this game, the more comfortable your horse will feel in an increasingly narrow space. Remember the basics. If the horse goes through a 4.5 meter gap but not a 3 meter gap, do not force it. Step back, go back to 4.5 m or even 6 m, and slowly start closing the distance again.
8. 8 The fact that you can handle all the games does not mean that you are done with them. You should play them, or at least remember them a little, every time you are near a horse, regardless of your riding skill level. This will strengthen your relationship with your horse. Again, for more information on games, visit ParelliConnect.com

Tips

• Remember that all things you do with your hand must also be done with a carrot whip to show the horse that this is not a whip, but an extension of your hand.
• It is not worth starting games and then leaving them. You have to go all the way to the very end. You will not regret if you do everything right.
• Each lesson should end on a positive note with a little rest for regular games.
• Remember that your horse is doing his best, so he should be praised even if he succeeded in even a small part of what you intended.
• It is better to use more frequent short lessons than more rare and long ones. They can bore you and your horse alike.
• It is good to know the background of the horse (whether it was taught this or that method, whether it was offended, and so on).
• Remember that all this will take a lot of time and practice, the horse will not succeed the first time.
• Different horses learn in different ways. This article applies more to the average horse group.
• Don't try to force the horse to do what it doesn't want to do. This will have a negative impact on trust. If the horse feels uncomfortable about something, talk to him, let him feel that everything will be fine. However, you should never praise a horse for bad behavior or fear. This can teach the horse to be scared instead of behaving confidently.

Warnings

• Never hit a horse or yell at it. This will only irritate her and make the situation worse. Keep calm.
• If the horse is being bullied, be careful. These horses do not like swinging arms, pushing, ropes, so try to be very gentle and very patient with them.
• Individual results can vary greatly, and this article is a general guide only. Almost nothing in horse training can have rigidly fixed rules.
• Even if you did your worst horse lesson, end it on a positive note. You don't want the last thing a horse will remember is your scream. You should clean it, play with it, treat it, or pat it approvingly.
• If the horse is in a bad mood, do not even start the activity.Nothing will come of it. Just try playing a friendly petting game and use it to strengthen your relationship.
• Some horses will have to work hard on this training.
• If you are upset, the horse will feel it. Stop. With such a mood, you will not achieve anything. Relax for 10-15 minutes, relax, and only then start over.