Pat and I were having an interesting conversation last night. As usual, we were talking about our day and how our horses did and I was talking to him about finally learning how to be provocative enough for my Trakehner, Allure. It’s taken me a long time to get here with him for a couple of reasons:
- He is Left-Brain Extrovert (LBE) that goes extremely Right-Brain Introvert (RBI) as a learner.
- I really only made the riding breakthrough with him this summer, which I blogged about.
So here’s the interesting part: I started making great progress with him but I forgot to be provocative. Hmmm. Interesting. And what’s the difference? Hence this blog!
If you are a student of Horsenalities, you know that the goal with every horse is to have them calm, trusting, motivated and willing. Each Horsenality presents its own challenge within that spectrum, for example getting the trust of a Right-Brain Introvert or motivating a Left-Brain Introvert. With the Left-Brain Extrovert, it’s about getting willingness.
Allure was becoming quite obedient. He was calm, trusting, but not exactly motivated and definitely not willing. Willingness feels like “Yes Ma’am! I would love to do that… let me offer some enthusiasm along with my response!” Nope, not there. In fact sometimes he would feel rather dull, but motivation strategies were not the answer. I finally realized that he needed things to be more interesting, more “provocative.”
I remember coaching a member of our faculty, Kathy Baar with her horse Macchiato. He had terrible displaced behavior with his tongue when ridden in the bit, no matter how light the contact. So using my Game of Contact I experimented with them. Great results every time, but she could not sustain it. Finally, I noticed that it had nothing to do with technique, that after 2 – 3 sessions with what I’d taught her, Macchi would start rolling his tongue again. As soon as I realized what happened before what happened happened – that it would regress after doing the same thing a few times, I suggested that she try to be more provocative, to ask more, to do the unexpected, to change things up sooner and not wait for things to be perfect. Being more Left-Brain Introvert (vs. her Left-Brain Extrovert horse), Kathy has a lovely, thoughtful calmness about her and provocative was not a term you would assign to her personality! So, as she struggled with this, I told her to “channel Pat.”
Bingo. That hit the spot. Things started to improve dramatically and the two of them began to look more in harmony, energy-wise, and Macchi became much more mentally engaged and… his mouth went quiet. You might be interested to read about her escapades with Macchi on this too.
So as I was playing with Allure, I suddenly realized that I too needed to be more provocative with him. At first, like Kathy, I felt very demanding and a bit rude, and that I was picking on him but the look on his face told the opposite story. He was more alive, present, interested… and relaxed. Quite amazing, he would very quickly let out a big blow and lower his head. I remember that used to only happen at the end of a session.
Allure
Now, I am an extrovert but I learned to tone it way down in order to inspire confidence in my Right-Brain horses. And then having spent a number of years being careful with Allure as an unconfident / damaged learner, I was now missing his needs as a Left-Brain Extrovert. So he changed, but I didn’t. The Left-Brain Extrovert Horsenality is smart, a fast learner, charismatic, energetic, playful and when we are too slow, hung up on perfection, trying to be consistent and take it slow, it’s emotionally and psychologically painful for them… kind of like those hyperactive kids who can’t take sitting in the classroom unless they have a teacher who fascinates and entertains them! The word “provocative” has synonyms like challenging and stimulating. Heck, I was just happy to be surviving my rides on Allure and recently enjoying the fact that he was calm but it didn’t take long for him to get pretty bored with me, even though we were making progress. Now that I am working on being more provocative, we’re making progress at an amazingly faster, happier rate.
Find out more with my regular updates on Allure’s wall on ParelliConnect. (open to existing customers now)
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Hello!
My horses name is Magic and my name is Alyssa! He is a left brain extrovert and I’m a left brain introvert!
Today I just had another break through with my horse! (more for me than for him…!)
So today, I was playing with my horse. And in the beginning he was full of energy, he wasn’t paying attention to me and put more effort into not doing what I was asking than doing what i was asking! He also seemed bored. And so, I decided, hey, why not do something that he is totally not expecting today, let’s do something fun, creative and different today. To me it felt like my horse was just kinda ya doing what I wanted but not really there with me. So while doing something different, I also decided to ask for more and really see how far he can go, at the time I didn’t know the word and what it ment, but now I know that I was actually being more provocative.
And so, by the end the results were amazing, I felt like his attention was going 100% to me and he was way calmer and more into thinking mode and very willing to do what I asked. He was also way more softer and after we were done, I came to say hello to him and gave him a nice rub and he just seemed so much softer, brighter and gentler! And more interested in me
And now I just read your article, and I can totally understand all of this and it makes alot of sense to me!
Thank you Linda for doing this amazing blod! I LOVE reading all your articles
I’ll never want to stop learning
I LOVE PARELLI ! You guys represent everything I believe in for horses! Thank You
Hi Linda,
I’m enjoying your blog. It’s very informative and full of useful tidbits, even for a nervous rider like myself. I am finally starting my 7 year old mare, Chance. She suffered a severed extensor tendon that put the brakes on her training for a long, long time. I was so discouraged that I didn’t do much with her at all for almost 3 years. My vet and farrier said she is servicably sound (whatever that means) and encouraged me to get her to work. This summer we are playing the 7 games and walking and trotting under saddle. You can see it in her eyes. She’s so happy to get out and play. I hope to take her on a few trail rides before I have to return to my job in the classroom. Our current challenge is getting her to yield to an indirect rein. I’ll keep reading and learning. Thanks!
Well i have been playing with my LBI and we have progressed somewhat. The first time I sat for more than 30 minutes till she stepped 2 steps then I quit. A week later we were back to no movement. I could go in turns on the haunches in both directions, back up but no forward motion. Decided to try the treats on 2 buckets. We went side to side and eventually got to the bucket and she found the treat. Then the treat was on a barrel so turned her toward the barrel and kept staring at it and finally she went to the barrel. Wow! Why do they do that? She went back to the bucket. I decided to take the saddle off and ride bareback, which I have never done and she did move more but not for more than a few steps but she did offer to move. I was trying to find out if she was having problems with the saddle and my weight on her. I do not think that is the reason for her not moving. She is in the mode of you can not make me. Iwill continue to use treats for motivation and see what she does. This takes a lot of mental and physical energy for me to do all of this problem solving. Shew!
Uh huh. She knows it is still hard for you. When you can find that spot where you are truly fascinated by her and can let go of your agendas… things will change
Well you brought a smile and then a few tears. I know I want to be a better partner for Sweet Pea. She follows me everywhere, wants attention and I will take on the challenge to be a better partner for her. It is amazing to me that the horse can sense my feelings so well.
I just want to progress with her and I am not getting too far. Never dealt with a LBI before and it is not easy. What a challenge!
Okay, today my LBI, Sweet Pea, decided we could walk from new grass sprout to sprout. I even had the chance to say Whoa, ask for a stop she walked so much. Then the snow started so had her take me over to the trailer so I could get off. I did not use my legs to ask her to move, just raised her head from the grass and said lets go to another clump and she moved on her own. Amazing!!!!
It’s interesting the way you put that Linda. I was goal orientated and now I find myself, meeting my horses with my Parelli levels in hand and then forgetting about the levels to just meet the horse that turns up and watch their interaction with each other and myself. I went back to level 1 and was really intrigued with their reaction. The more I find the deeper I get and the more I want to find out about these horses and watch their reaction to different things I do. Thanks for everything
When I first read Linda’s response above I thought “Okay Agenda vs Plan, Hmmmmm.” Agenda is having a specific order to follow… I do not think I am doing that… I make a plan and it is always changing to fit the needs of the horse or myself sometimes. I know I am doing a lot more thinking about the horse and trying to figure them out then I have done in the past. It is amazing to me how much this is a mental game. I love it! The blog helps me through the process even more. Thanks!
Hi Linda, I’ve been trying to find information on your progress with Allure – the LBE side. I acquired a LBE that I thought would be easy! Ha Ha. He had been so suppressed during his one year of riding that he couldn’t cope with me playing with him but was entranced by me. The saddle was something to attack and while I could mount, he was so stressed he had to bite something and then begin yawning his head off. Then his confidence increased and he challenged me on the ground. Now I get my energy right up and change what I’m doing a lot. I feel like I’m beating up on him but the end result is a relaxed horse with a lowered head and he doesn’t even try to take off my shoes or bum bag! He still has issues when being ridden. I’ve learnt to tell when he’s stressed tho first horse that I couldn’t feel it in muscle tension. Sometimes he’s ok when ridden but not often and often not for long. I used to think I could be provocative when riding a horse but don’t know if I can be provocative enough with this one. If there are any DVD etc you can point me towards and I’d love to find your ‘encouraging Allure’, I’d really appreciate it. Also, there was a DVD of Pat riding Allure, which I can’t find. Love this boy to bits and waited a year before I could buy him. He’s taught me a lot and is a heap of fun.
Thanks Linda
PS Passed on my previous horse Jo Jo (I wrote to you about her in your blog) to my daughter and they are doing well in developing a relationship. It seems a great match – talented horse and young girl.
Great thoughts – and hopefully you are following Allure on ParelliConnect! I think you’ll pick up some nice tidbits there.
Linda, I was watching your latest mastery lesson with Allure. I was interested to note that when he put his ears very alert and forward (he was going forward) you would ask for the rider to release and would reward him with rest. I am doing my level 2 now and have a right brain extrovert (but mostly now left brain introvert) and when riding and her ears are very forward I was always told as a kid riding that means the horse is not listening to me and concentrating on other things.
I always tweek (softly) a rein untill one ear is back on me before I go on. Can you explain your reasoning/training to me please. Thanks Pip Australia
Ahh, difficult one. A lot of what we teach is the opposite of what is normally taught
Put the relationship first. Do what is right for the horse, to bring out the best in him/her… and that will tell you when to release.
My husband and I live in the UK,we have three lovely Andalusian horses in our lives and thanks to Parelli we go from strength to strength. What I wanted to share with you is when I get to the horses I ask myself where I am at in myself, if i am a bit LBI or RBE for example the horses mirror this back perfectly, they are prompting me to ask questions of myself all the time (and boy have there been a lot of questions
the answers have come thick and fast as a result they are teaching me that as I connect with myself and become more congruent they have no need to mirror that aspect of me, and we can can move swiftly on.They are the best therapists ever! What I love about Parelli is how diverse it is,it encourages growth on every level, as they say ‘variety is the spice of life’ it is very easy to get your head down and go from A to B with no connection to ourselves but there are are million ways out there that
with Love and Gratitude to you Pat and Linda
it can be done when you are connected, and thanks to our horses being perfect mirrors I am in no doubt when I am fully connected or when I have become disconnected and show me how to move forward
I have a fighteningly smart, dominant, LBI mare who would not canter with human involvement. In the pasture she was active and playful, but enter a human and she would just become very oppositional, even standing straight up on her hind legs! Once she even reached around and bit my foot! What finally got through to her was encouraging her to canter on the trail, and helping her learn to enjoy cantering with a rider. I have had to really work on being a quiet, non-interfering rider! She definitely dislikes being in an arena, but loves being out on a trail. Now she loves a good gallop, and no longer bucks when asked to canter,even in an arena. She also enjoys some basic reining moves and is very good at them, but gets irritated with repetition. Constant variety! She keeps me busy, and I’ve learned a lot from her. It transfers to people relationships as well. I’m a Parelli convert for life. My horses have never had bits in their mouths, and are barefoot, wearing boots on rough terrain. We ride in the mountains in Colorado.
Our LBI taught me a lot . First of all I have to use very little pressure, low-low energy and long thinking breaks. The energy issue can be so minor for you, but huge for the horse. Rosie was already frozen up before we even started, the end was either nothing or fight. I re-approached and changed my approach with her. First of all I wait until she is relaxed BEFORE i start with her, watch her careful and keep my energy low (I have to work with low energy since my other horse is LBE, but with the LBI it is easy to fall into the trap to work with higher pressure and energy, since they often are slow in reactions)
Once Rosie relaxed I was able to get more energy from her, with little from me. She has more fun playing now and gives me the signs when we can move on and add things or be faster in our routines. She is more alert, more interested and does not freeze up anymore…
I started out with simple circling games , but I kind of walked with her, let her guide me , not make her go, not drive her…. like a stroll in the park , that helped relax her….
and I have my own little rule: once I try something 3 times with the same approach and it does not work and i dont see anything changing I better start over with a new approach…that keeps me thinking , I added new arrows and ideas all the time and we all dont get bored….talking to friends, revisiting PNH DVD with an open eye, looking at You tube videos, etc….
Sorry this should have been under Kristin’s post.
Hmmmm…so I wonder if this is why my newly assessed RBI seems to deliberately set himself up for failure to sqeeze through the barrels, which is odd since it took him a while to have the confidence to do that by himself and once he’d done it, I thought that repitition would give him confidence to just ‘nip’ through that little space no probs. But the opposite has happened….hmmmmm
You are certainly getting me thinking Linda and I’m so looking forward to the UK conference!!
Great!
Absolutely, yes. I have a DVD on it that will tell you all about it. Planning on launching a book next year.
L
Great blog. Superb. Sets me upright and has me wanting more.
So, any time you feel the urge to share Horseanality bits with us please do.
Whether here or on a Savvy Club DVD. I can’t get enough. THANK YOU.
I was soo pleased to read your blog today. I have a LBE who sometimes goes RBE when she catches on someone else (horse or person) on adrenaline. She is a Morgan/Australian stockhorse cross and is just soo smart and realy a lot of fun. Recently I have put her with a yearlying and a 2year old horse in a 40acr paddock with lots of grass. Now she is playing the catching game with me and winning. I was thinking “what has gone with our relationship? as soon she sees the halter she just becomes a different horse to the one she was when she was relying on me for for food or play. I realise that I am just not as much fun as the younger horses in the paddock and all her needs are met with water and food. How do I compete? I have now locked all my horses up in a smaller paddock and they are eating out all the feed so now she is easier to catch.
Do the opposite… chase her! In fun of course
The more you try to catch her, the more she’ll want to run from you. I’ve even hid behind trees and kept them guessing.
I don’t understand this. How does the chasing improve the relationship and the involvement. I thought the chasing would bring out the prey instincts and stop her from wanting to be around you as she would always run away from you. My horse will let me do whatever I want with her but when I walk into the paddock with the halter or rope or bridle she takes off and doesn’t want to be caught. I have watched the Natural Attraction DVD and have started just hanging out in the paddock and I actually got her to let me rub her over with the halter bunched up but only cause the other hand at first was giving her a carrot. She stayed a little longer after the carrot was gone but was like well if ya got nothin else for me, I’m outta here and moved away to graze. If I tried to put the halter on her she just wants to go away. She is LBE (I figured out from your Horsenality DVD) but she has the LBI tendency for motivation with food. I just don’t know how to move from her coming to me for treats and letting me rub her with the halter to her letting me put the halter on without any fuss or opposition. How do you even begin to get to the 7 games until you can get your horse to welcome being haltered? Once you get her to stop long enough and you can put a rope over her neck and she will be awesome to walk around and put her halter on but still not in a welcoming way. Its more like “Fine, if I have to”. Do I push the issue a bit more with her and continue to work with the Natural attraction but balance out with insisting on the halter so we can start the games and show her that its fun…
Sorry the rest I think didn’t get included so here is the rest that I typed.
with the halter on cause we play games or what? Or do I just be patient (has never been my strong point but I am really trying with this cause I want to get it right and do right by Calli and so holding myself back) and keep going with the Natural Attraction alone until she is coming to me and not balking at the halter in any way and then progress to the games? After 12 months of heartache because of incorrect information given to me I want to get it right. I want to move forward with Calli and I want us to be partners.
We have LBE and LBI ..one was running away to play rough and the other one was dominate and is was not her time to play/work…. below is what we did and we have 2 changed horses !
I would let her come to you rub her if she let you or give her a cookie and then no agenda , no haltering nothing walk away ….. she will be looking at you as if you lost you lost your mind …while walking away move in a small distance first towards her hindquarters…. if she is not reacting ask her to disengage her hindquarter and face you ask her to come ( important is for you do release right away and open up take a step back ) …. here it comes do not go to her…. main thing is she needs to come to you …. no agenda… cookie rub and leave again … we got both girls follow us like puppy dogs now … LBE and LBI .. we never put halter when they come first to us … we never walk to them …. always wait until they are in tune with us and then at gate halter …. the relationship changed, the riding changed big time with both ….
Wow this is a great blog….I started parelli with my LBE around the time you got allure and my horse also goes right brain extrovert/introvert as a learner at the moment I am getting tons of LBI I am now sure this is because I am boring him…….What I have been reflecting on is how because hes extreme LBE he is now extreme LBI and food has become hugely important and is now pivotal in his expressions of boredom (I would have called this being wilful but know better now!) whereas before we started parelli he was much more ambivalent about it. Whereas both he and I were working with unconfidence we are now working with boredom due to me…….hes so quick to sense the slightest ounce of emotional unfitness and lack of leadership in me….wow hes a good teacher!! Many thanks for sharing this is great learning for us.
Linda, thanks so much for this blog!!!! As you know, my main Parelli partner is Julian, an LBI. He’s getting better at moving online and at liberty because I’m becoming more provocative. His problem is not moving while riding, which is fine for me right now as I’m regaining my confidence in the saddle. When the kids ride him, he’ll take a step when they ask but then he stops. I am finding though that his greatest incentive to move is of course treats. I only do this every now and then though. When my daughter, Mikayla, does an indirect rein he’ll move his HQ and then walk off a few steps. This blog will definitely help me with more ideas though. I’m hoping that by the time we leave for Fast Track 4 in Pagosa next July, he’ll be a little more willing to move. I’ve gotten a partial scholarship for the course – I’m just working on getting that first payment in to lock my spot – hopefully by Christmas.
Hi Kristin
I also have a LBI who does really great with on line now, she was not good at all in the beginning. When I first got her she moved off well under saddle but I was always riding with others. Lately, there hasn’t been any one to ride with and she will not move when I get on her. Any ideas that you might have done with your horse that worked would be welcomed. Linda said not to use phases with her but ask and let her think and I need to wait for her. After it warms up I will try this and see what she does. in the past when I ask she just stands still and does no move. I amy be sitting for hours. Hmmmmm
I have to say I agree with Linda’s advice. I’ve also been told by other Parelli instructors to practice lateral flexion and direct/indirect rein. Basically, like Pat always says, ‘Take the time it takes’. Eventually, the horse will move its’ feet. That’s when you release completely. It just takes time. Does that help?
Hi Kristin,
I will take the time it takes to help my LBI. So if she does not move her feet, I just sit on her after asking for her to move off…. and if she never moves I do the same the next day? She does lateral flexion really well, will do indirect and direct turns and backs. She does not resist when doing these activities. I will let you know how long it takes… It is below zero tonight and will be chilly for a few days so I will not be on her till it gets above 30 degrees. More fun! Thanks for your suggestions.
Hi Vicki,
I too have a LBI, Gem, that doesn’t want to move or go forward and was advised to sit and take as long as it takes for her to decide let’s go forward. When Marc Rea, 3* PP came and helped me, he showed how to be a leader and help her along. He never spoke negative always calm, soothing and saying, what a good or great girl she was and got on her like she was ridden every day. Then he also took the carrot stick along with him to help guide her without pressure on the reins. Using it to porcupine her HQs both directions and go forwards. The weather has hampered us too and as soon as it is decent will need to get her out and about. I too do not have anh one to ride with and would have to trailer across town. Many of my friends who ride will not ride in inclement weather. Just have to be patient.
I have not used a carrot stick with her so will try that too. Sweet Pea(Traveler’s Lady) will be better as soon as I understand better how to deal with her. She is a Fox Trotter and has a great gait when who moves. I would love to ride in the Winter, especially when the sun is out. Colorado has some great weather for winter riding. I will talk to Teri Sprague 4* an d see if she can help me if I do not have any success stories to share in the near future. I know that I have to think about the positive and great things about Sweet Pea. She is friendly, always come to me…does not run away so I know she wants to be my partner in many ways. I am sure she was forced to go forward in the past. More fun for the future. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Vicki – I know about weather woes too. I’ve got 2″ of snow on the ground, and, the ground is frozen. The other thing I’ve learned with my LBI is to reward the smallest try, in this case when she takes one step, celebrate it by quitting that lesson. It will blow her mind, and, she’ll start to move more. I find that if I start slow, I get quicker results than if I try to push it. Julian, my LBI, will flatten his ears and start ignoring me if I put too much energy into asking him to do something. Then, I have to back off and get more provocative to be progressive. Good luck! Since I’m going to Fast Track this summer in Colorado, I need to really get our relationship rock solid!
Do you find that on line is easier than riding as far as getting the LBI to move. When I first started playing with Sweet Pea, she would rear and bulk with doing the circle game. She has changed with on line and does well now with very few arguments. She seems happier but I am not sure what I did to get a better reaction. Maybe I do not ask so abruptly now as I did in the beginning.
I also have an RBI that I really had to slow down with and she is doing great now on line, liberty and in the saddle. She is so much fun to be with now that it makes it even harder for me to be with the LBI. I know I have to be with the horse that I am with at the time but it is difficult when I want to have fun too. I have to figure out what is fun with my LBI. “Take the Time that it Takes” This makes me crazy sometimes but I know that it does help the relationship. I just have to learn more about the LBI horsonality.
My Gem used to rear and bulk all the time and get away from me. Since she has a dominant nature, I help her along by asking her to go faster until she asks a question and relaxes. She then will flow into a nice relaxed trot. She gets bored real fast with the circles so I mix it up with barrels, poles or anything to use their mind, change of direction, etc. Marc Rea advised I take her out of the backyard more often away from home to explore and get her used to other things around her. And, yes, the weather has not cooperated to do so. Today, I got to move her about the round pen for a little bit. The ground is hard but slippery, so must watch not to over do it. Then we walk side by side, do backups turn the hdqrts go the other way and quit. Of course, she is always looking for cookies in my pocket. HA!HA!
Hi Vicki, Kristin & Pat, It’s been great reading about your LBIs. I have a LBI and a LBE. Swapping between the two is a challenge on controlling my energy. It’s been hot here in central australia, sometimes 40 + C. I had so much trouble with getting my LBI to move forward at all. He’d do a great front end round both ways but we’d go no where. I went back to the ground and taught him a go forward cue I could use on his back. It helped but didn’t resolve the problem. We got ‘stuck’ on a trail ride with my impatient daughter. She kept coming back to try and hook him onto her pony while I tried my cue and also using the cart horse manoevre of one rein then another. Finally I achieved 4 whole steps forward, more than what I expected and we turned for home, much to my daughter’s disgust. He’s been great since then and it only took a year and a half to get such great forward movement. Great canter! I have found that checking the go button as Pat does has helped with his responsiveness to energy up! The other day we were in the river, in the heat and my daughter was riding up and down in the water while I was laying on my LBIs back, falling asleep while rubbing his chest. What I love about my LBI are those times, and when I’m sitting down and he’ll just come over and spend time with me. My LBE is too impatient for all that stuff.
I always begin slow and have my energy low with my LBI. I’m an extrovert and so am trying to make less body movements but find that low energy and calmness especially really helps. I’m trying to decrease energy even more…
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