THOUGHTS ON GAME OF CONTACT: Why? ;)
Since spending the last
year studying with Linda Parelli, I wanted to go back with a little more
clarity and revisit Game of Contact. Over the last year, I learned so much,
both through physically studying, listening to her speak, watching the DVD’s
and then getting through the notes you can really see how Linda has taken the
understanding of Contact to the next level. I wanted to take a few minutes to share with you HOW and WHY I feel this is going
to transform the world for horses ... yet again ... and how WE can help ;)!
The 4 stages make it easy
to progress your horse, and help him truly understand what his responsibilities
are with the bit. Obviously your freestyle riding, and your relationship
with your horse should be excellent first, because Finesse is a level 4 Savvy.
But once you get there it is easy to follow ... to get your horse thinking
forward and to the bit ... nose, neck, and the feet. So many horses fight contact
in some way... or do not come through and over their backs, Nose, Neck AND Feet. Its appalling to
see flash nosebands CRANKED shut to keep horses tongue’s in, and dressage
horses getting fancier and fancier in the front end but hollow in the back.
I have heard Linda say that
it's easiest for Parelli to get the attention of the top and the bottom of the
horse market... People that have competed ultra successfully and are now in
horses FOR the horses, are quickly seeing the benefits of Game of Contact and
Linda has been asked to assist at barns all over the world. Then there are the low-level
horse owners like myself... and many students, who want unity and enjoyment
from their horse. We are in Parelli because we won't, stand for strapping heads
down and mouths shut. So as a community, it’s OUR job to get excellent at
contact to help the middle ;) ... The middle is all those people who still have
ego in their horsemanship... simple as that.
I said it the first time I assisted Linda with a Game of Contact course in Australia ... but now I KNOW it rings true. SO many people find Parelli
to solve a problem .... Or because they see someone do something inspirational.
Like trailer loading, liberty, backing your horse out of your space... etc. If
we as a Parelli community engage in finding a way to get EXCELLENT at contact
... and Linda has shown us that way... step by step, Then we will have one more
way to inspire people to become excellent with their horses. TO build a
relationship, and to remember that "the most important quality of your
horse is your belief and understanding of him."
Lillan Roquet
Parelli 2* Junior
Instructor
Level 5 Student
