Mastery Lessons

Dear Friends,

I’m really enjoying the interactions with our Gold Savvy Club members for the new Mastery Lesson DVDs we’re doing. Pat does a lesson with his Mastery students, and I do a discussion/problem solving session I call “Ask Linda." It’s great to be able to talk to actual members while they are here at the Parelli Campus. I can ask them questions, talk about and demonstrate answers – often with simulations – and they often bring up questions that many others students have, too.

In response to one question this month, I had everyone trotting around the room and changing their posture to feel the difference between relaxed FreeStyle and engaged Finesse – Vinny got into it too, running with us and jumping up and trying to grab my hand!

The question led me to discuss the differences in rider and horse posture because there’s been some “talk” that what I used to teach with Fluidity, Balance Point, etc. is no longer relevant. Of course it is! What needs to be understood here is the different postures and energy required in your body according to the riding situation. For example, FreeStyle riding is more about balance and going with the flow whereas Finesse requires you to sit in a taller frame, longer stirrups, “hover," still be on your Balance Point, and to engage your core and top line – exactly what you want the horse to do in his body. It is impossible to ride bareback and bridleless like that!

So as we were all trotting around I told them to relax first, and then engage by pulling their belly button back, ‘wrapping’ their thighs and pulling their ribs together and the difference in their gaits was amazing to feel and to watch. The steps got higher, more elegant and more, well, engaged!

The principles of Fluidity are so strong, and they apply to everything we want to do when riding. Whatever you want a horse to do in his body, you have to do in yours. You can’t ride soft and relaxed as in FreeStyle and expect your horse to increase his suspension and collection. It just doesn’t work that way! :)

Yours Naturally,
Linda