Kloka ord från Parelli instruktören Jerry S Williams till er som likt mig inte gjort så mycket med era hästar i vinter .. Såg att han studerat konsten att skriva på högre nivå och det märks.

"In most parts of the world we would say that spring has finally arrived. (Here in Florida we may think it is more like summer!)

At any rate, I know many of you are finally dusting off the saddle that you have used very little this long winter and are looking forward to many fun days ahead with your horse(s).

Setting yourself up for a successful riding season is important for both you and your horse and the following ideas are a good place to start.

Prepare...by playing on the ground.

Make sure you prepare your horse to ride by playing on the ground first. This is the time to check your respect and trust levels with your horse. Is he listening to me or more interested in the herd? Is she confident in my leadership? Pay attention as you play the games and if you find some holes in your communication, fix it on the ground before getting in the saddle.

Practice...the fundamentals.

Make part of your first riding sessions a good review of the fundamentals of riding. Saddling, mounting, Indirect and direct reins, whoa and go, backup and stop. Make sure these foundational riding skills are good before moving on to work on more challenging things.

Patterns...develop consistency and confidence.

Practice and develop patterns as part of your overall plan of developing your horsemanship. Circles, Straight Lines and the Cloverleaf patterns should all be part of the mix and you will find your horse's impulsion, responsiveness, and purity of gait will improve with consistent patterns.

Plan...and be flexible.

Remember to have a plan when playing with your horse but make sure that plan includes HAVING FUN for both you and your horse. Enjoy some moseying walks in the pasture as well as some concentrated pattern sessions.

If you start your season right being mindful of these ideas, I know you will enjoy your time and find you are making real progress in your horsemanship."

Journey On,

Jerry S Williams

 

Bilden nerifrån hagen, de har de ganska bra nu fyrbeningarna. Vintern hade gått hårt åt hagarna men nu är det snart fixat när det gäller trådhagen i alla fall.