The Game of Contact Horse Training Course

After five years of intensive dressage training and mentoring from world renowned dressage master, Walter Zettl, Linda Parelli has decoded the secret of teaching “contact”, the elastic connection between horse and rider via the bit. Discovering this method after years of trying to get her Dutch Warmblood, Remmer, to enjoy and understand contact, Linda has impressed Zettl with her ability to explain the unexplainable. As Mr. Zettl says: “I am recommending these DVDs to all my students and have sent them all over the world to my friends and dressage connections. Linda is teaching something most experts have not been able to describe and in this way is truly helping me in my work to keep dressage truly classic and beautiful.”

More recently, Mr. Christoph Hess, Director of Training for the German National Equestrian Federation said “I had a look at the DVDs and they just strengthened my impression of you, Linda, being a very exemplified calm and positive rider who sets a high value on the confidence and stretching of the horses. Your scale of training with the four different stages is quite similar to the classical scale of training that I am working with. Your approach of training and teaching horse and rider and the classical approach is not too different. I am convinced about this since I was able to see you training and also after watching your DVDs.”

As Linda says, “I call it the Game of Contact because it’s about the psychology of getting your horse to want to engage mentally, emotionally and physically… causing it to be their idea rather than something forced on them. It is absolutely in keeping with the Parelli philosophy of partnership with horses and now there is a clear pathway for carrying it through to the highest levels of performance and Finesse.”

The Game of Contact

This revolutionary approach teaches horses to be confident with the bit and riders to have more “feel”. It also solves perplexing riding issues such as:

• fear and avoidance of the bit
• head behind the vertical
• hollow back
• high headedness
• short and choppy stride
• tongue displacement issues
• open mouth
• grinding teeth
• swishing tail
• head tossing
• not wanting to go forwards
• … and more.

Game of Contact courses are taught by Certified Parelli Instructors: Lyla Cansfield (United Kingdom), Marion Oesch (Switzerland), Jackie Chant (New Zealand) plus Amy Book-Bowers, Lyndsey Fitch and Christi Rains (United States).

Click here for course dates and application details.

Advanced Game of Contact

In order to help students continue to advance even further in their Game of Contact journey, Linda Parelli will be offering the Advanced Game of Contact worldwide in 2012. This course is designed for students who are working on Stage 3 and focuses on improvement and advancing to Stage 4, with topics including:

• Improving Stage 3 (Frame)
• Beginning Stage 4 (Engagement)
• Rider Seat & Posture
• Refining aids
• Transitions
• Canter and Canter Leads
• Beginning Flying Lead Changes
• Applying Horse Behavior and Equine Psychology
• Training Plans
• Improving your Warm-Up
• Troubleshooting and Problem Solving

Click here for course dates and application details.

Who should take The Game of Contact Courses?
For beginners, we recommend studying the Game of Contact video (link), attending a Game of Contact clinic with one of our Certified Instructors (link), and/or coming as a spectator to any level Game of Contact clinic or course. The Advanced Game of Contact sourses are open to riders studying Level 3+ and above who have been studying Stage 3 of the Game of Contact for a minimum of 3 months.

Who should come watch?
Any time you pick up the reins, even briefly, you are making contact with the most sensitive part of the horse. Every rider should learn how to do that in a way that invites the horse to connect back rather than brace, resist or avoid it. If you are focused on going above Level 2 and advancing your savvy and grace, then this course is a must see, regardless of whether you are riding or spectating!

What should I expect to learn as a spectator?
You will see the process of horses with problems overcoming those problems, you’ll watch as horses that are behind or above the bit go confidently into the contact and move more beautifully and powerfully. You’ll also see riders learn to ride better, improve their posture. You will learn why all of these things happen and come to truly understand riding with contact. As a spectator you will also take part in some of the simulations – so bring your thinking cap and a notebook and be ready for action!

Available on DVD!

Study the Game of Contact at home with our new DVD and companion book! Also available on BluRay.
Click here to order.

I made up this little video of Sapphires changes since starting the GOC. We still have a way to go but it is really fun to see how far we have come. - Amy Book

What People Are Saying
About the Game of Contact:

"My half-Arab, National Show horse, Annie, has always given me nice, soft contact. She is responsive on her laterals, and moves effortlessly from shoulder-in to haunches-in to half pass. BUT, we have never had power and engagement. She was always very light, and would tend to get behind the vertical at times. I've taken dressage lessons for several years with different instructors, and was getting frustrated. The instructor would let us know that we didn't have the power they were seeking, but I didn't know how to get it. From time to time, we would see glimpses of it, but I didn't really understand how to get power and engagement on my own.

In the two-day lesson with Linda on Game of Contact, I was very surprised to learn that my sensitive Arabian LIKES to take the contact. Whereas, she had been a little lazy and reluctant to go forward in the dressage ring, she confidently took the bit and marched across the arena in a big trot, tracking up nicely. After all my dressage lessons, I really didn't understand how to ride with Contact, or how it should feel. Linda explained it so clearly and simply, and we felt it with the simulations. By the time we got to the horses, we knew what to do. As usual, Annie was ready when I figured it out. The more I learn, the smarter my horse gets!