So please refer to the picture I have included in this note. Here is Kerryn, asking "Fin" a young 2yr old Hanoverian to please go out on the circle. Parelli tells us there are three parts to the circle game, the send, the allow, and the Bring-back. Here Kerryn is demonstrating the safe and proper send position. Her right arm is extended asking the horse to please follow the phase 1 suggestion of taking its nose to the right on the circle. Also notice that the horse is backed far enough away from her to allow him to turn and go out without pushing on her personal space, this is VERY important for safety! Also notice that Kerryn's right leg is also stepped BACK and out to the right. This opens her body, and directs her energy, helping the horse understand which way to go.
In thinking about the importance of stepping back with your sending leg, Pat also likens it to a pitcher standing on the rubber. They are NOT allowed to step off the rubber before the ball leaves their hand, THIS is what makes the game fair, in baseball, AND in horsemanship. IF you step FORWARD and tag your horse, that is NOT using Principle #5, "the attitude of justice."
You will also notice that in Kerryn's left hand her stick is slightly raised, this means that she is part way into Phase 2, using the stick to push and guide the horses nose and shoulders out onto the circle. It is always important to BREAK down your phases, Lead it (with your finger), Lift your stick, swing your stick, tag your horse on the shoulder. Obviously, as we move into different levels in the program we adjust the speed of these phases, but try and think of this as turning a volume dial up fast, not actually skipping any phases :)
The last thing to notice is that the rope is SLACK. This is not how we first begin. At first we LEAD our horses nose in the correct direction, causing the snap to move and influence the halter, asking the horses nose to go in the correct direction. Later however, we begin to ask how Kerryn is asking Fin, preparing him for Liberty work! Remember, "Expect that they will respond, but be prepared to correct, not more one than the other"
Hope that this gives you some interesting insights and things to muse on in regards to your send, and remember, there are no rules in parelli, only guidelines :) Also, A few months back Linda wrote an AWESOME blog on the psychology of the circle game, so check that out too!!
