My Future: My Journey
by Yvonne Welz ©2008
March 2008
Yvonne riding Belle, March 2008
I reached a turning point in late spring of 2007. In May, my
4 year old warmblood mare, Belle, bucked me off. It seemed relatively innocent:
she simply spooked, and took off bucking, just an “accident.” I
went flying, and was knocked unconscious -- with my helmet on! My major injury
was my hip, which was severely bruised, and took a month to heal. It was my
first real injury in my 21 years of riding.
I didn't have any emotional trauma from it, thank goodness. That was something I was worried about, because I have never had any serious fear issues about riding. I was back in the saddle for a short (but painful) walk only 4 days after the injury, but I didn't really start riding for about one month. I was tentative for a short time, but then everything was back to “normal.” However, it wasn't normal - it was like I had the sense knocked into me. I realized there was a problem going on with my horse, and I didn't really understand her as well as I thought I did.
Yvonne riding Belle in First Level Test 1, Nov 2007
Yvonne riding Belle, January 2008
My young, extremely talented, extremely good-natured mare had
become increasingly resistant as I began asking for harder exercises. I was
advised that it was absolutely necessary to demand that she engage her hindquarters
more at this point in her training, and directly address her natural crookedness
issues. The more I attempted to do so, the more problems began cropping up.
Sometimes she would totally stop and refuse to go forward at all. Other times
she would kick at the whip, or buck. And then she began to act spooky at odd
times, which was not typical for her. I now recognize all those things as
“feedback.” She was trying to tell me something!
I reflected back upon that day of the bucking accident. She
had given me two “warnings” before the buck, two small spooks
that I didn't recognize at that time as signs of impending explosion! How
could I become more connected to her? How could I learn to read her better?
How could I gain her trust more completely?
I had long questioned some of the training practices that I
saw so commonplace, but that I did NOT employ, such as tight short side reins
while lunging, adjusting the position of the horse's neck with the reins while
riding (as in shorter and higher), and extreme aggressiveness with the aids
in order to “sharpen” up the horse's responses, as well as overuse
of whip, spur and all aids in general. While I had done my best to avoid that
type of training, I was so surrounded by it, I could not help but be affected
by it. The quickest way (but not the best way) to make progress is to force
the horse. In competitive dressage training, this force is sometimes done
in a quiet way, but it is still force by any definition. I reevaluated everything,
and began avidly studying the works of dressage masters who preach against
all use of force, such as Walter Zettl.
I wanted to know what was going on in my horse's mind! And then one thing led to another, and I stumbled upon the Parelli Horsenality concepts. This was like a breakthrough for me. I had to learn more. I soon began studying the Parelli Natural Horsemanship Levels programs, and their Liberty & Horse Behavior Course. I was also able to participate with my young mare in a Parelli introductory clinic. Through all this work, I have begun to understand this horse better and better, and our harmony has greatly increased.
I gave my mare lots of time off, and when I started riding again,
most of it was on a loose or long rein, in a long and low frame. She was very
happy when ridden like that, but not so if I tried to put her into a normal
working frame. I listened to her closely, and allowed her to have an opinion.
Through this listening to her, I finally realized that she was uncomfortable
in her saddle (which technically fit), and switched to a new, wider one with
an extra pad. She was delighted that I finally understood what she had been
trying to tell me for so long! All the difficult exercises were now easy;
she could round her back and hold herself in a correct carriage.
In my future, I see a fusion between gentle, classical dressage training, which develops the horse's body, and natural horsemanship, which develops the horse's mind. In so many ways, the two concepts are the same, with the good of the horse as the priority. The possibilities are endless!
Yvonne riding Kendra, January 2008
Yvonne riding Kendra, ponying Belle, January 2008
For others interested in this kind of horsemanship, here are some sites that
I highly recommended:
Dressage, Naturally with Karen Rohlf
Karen is highly educated in both advanced dressage and Parelli Natural Horsemanship.
http://dressagenaturally.net/
Liberated Horsemanship
Animal behaviorist Bruch Nock, PhD, shares his insights on horse training:
tactful communication and gentle training based on modern learning theory
and the natural behavior and instinct of horses. Don't miss his book, "Ten
Golden Rules of Horse Training."
http://homepage.mac.com/brucenock/Index.html
Horses for Life online magazine
Fantastic resource for the best in classical riding, as well as articles that
rock the boat!
http://www.horsesforlife.com/
Walter Zettl
One of the world's living legends, a great master of classical horsemanship.
I highly recommend his books and DVDs, as they offer the clearest explanations
of classical riding you will find anywhere.
http://www.walterzettl.net/
Parelli Natural Horsemanship
Classical and advanced riders, don't pooh-pooh this stuff! There is much to
be learned here, especially in regards to natural horse behavior. Look into
it, and you will be intrigued. It is more than just waving sticks around,
looking silly, I promise. Just ignore all the marketing and hype, and you'll
find some interesting material in regards to groundwork, basic exercises,
and relationships with horses.
http://www.parelli.com
Yvonne riding Belle, Feb 2008
Yvonne riding Kendra, January 2008
Belle & Yvonne, January 2008
Kendra & Yvonne, January 2008
(March 2008)
