emma kline's blog

Is Fear A Gift?

Posted Thu, 06/23/2011 - 00:40 by emma kline  emma kline

Healthy fear is a pre incident indicator. It can help us avoid many a sticky wicket, dangerous event or the shattering of trust and confidence in ourselves. Just as we need to respect our horse's prey animal self preservation instincts, we need to respect ours. www.emmakline.blogspot.com

 

One Day Makes A Difference

Posted Wed, 04/20/2011 - 17:24 by emma kline  emma kline

That was pretty much it. Last summer I started to feel the pressure of a nifty horse hanging around our barn doing nothing. We brought her into this world and are responsible for her life. I had hung back a little because I didn't feel like I could commit to several weeks in a row and I was thinking that perhaps it would be a detriment to her to have a few days here and there.

The Story Of Monty

Posted Tue, 02/15/2011 - 03:23 by emma kline  emma kline

It was so clear to me that this horse had been born for this stuff. Mentally, Emotionally and Physically. As we parted so she could get back to the clinic, I kissed him on the nose and thought to myself that someday I would have a horse like this. Someday...

www.emmakline.blogspot.com

Improving my leadership

Posted Tue, 01/18/2011 - 17:53 by emma kline  emma kline

This is such an interesting area of study for me. I tend to be pretty empathetic with my horses. The part I need to improve is "yes I understand you....now do what I say!"

My friend Wendy and I were just in Florida to see a lusitano gelding named Monty. ....

www.emmakline.blogspot.com

Linda Parelli's Game of Contact Course. November 19-21 2010.

Posted Sat, 12/11/2010 - 22:06 by emma kline  emma kline

http://emmakline.blogspot.com/

Six hours and the longest post in history....but here is my accounting of Linda's Game of Contact Course last month.

Principle #2.

Posted Thu, 10/21/2010 - 23:37 by emma kline  emma kline

The other night I almost got my head kicked off by Travis. The absolute last horse I would ever have expected it from.

Trav is in his thirties now. Kip and I bought him as a "17 year old ex race horse" ten years ago. lol. He was our first horse together.....my first horse as an adult. He was a wonderful school master and has been a special treasure. We've always talked about how he doesn't have a mean bone in his body. He has taken great care of both of us.

...www.emmakline.blogspot.com

Slow and right beats fast and wrong.

Posted Fri, 10/01/2010 - 22:37 by emma kline  emma kline

I fully acknowledge that I am slow in a lot of ways. Its not that I've ever been in a real hurry. I just notice being more and more ok with being a Tortoise on this journey as over time I achieve solid, lasting results with my horses. I really don't care how long it takes me....so long as I'm getting there.

I've heard Pat Parelli* say that Troy Henry told him that to be a really great horseman you have to master three things. Liberty, Lead Changes and (trailer) Loading.
 

......www.emmakline.blogspot.com

..at One With Horses Natural Horsemanship Center.

Posted Mon, 09/20/2010 - 04:20 by emma kline  emma kline

It is so indescribably wonderful to be with like minded horse people. I just can't even say. To have a whole Center of them springing up so close is like Christmas.

Wendy and Marc have used the old "if you build it, they will come" plan with startling success. In just over two years....www.emmakline.blogspot.com

Nigel and The Game of Standing Still

Posted Sun, 09/05/2010 - 17:44 by emma kline  emma kline

Probably the biggest thing I've learned from Linda Parelli* this year is "make it a game". Make it a game!!! How simple right?

Nigel is so amazing I very much want to take him places. As a result I am highly motivated to solve this bloody trailer issue. Thank heavens because my brain has been smoking for over a year....

www.emmakline.blogspot.com

learning by teaching...my beloved Game of Contact

Posted Thu, 08/26/2010 - 23:24 by emma kline  emma kline

(of course its really linda's game)

It sure was a riveting day teaching my fearless subjects Kim and her quarter horse Tunes, Shannon and her Iberian warmblood Desi and Lisa and her quarter horse Minnie.

This whole Game of Contact thing is FASCINATING to me. I want more people and horses to play with!
www.emmakline.blogspot.com

Getting Unconscious.

Posted Fri, 08/06/2010 - 00:03 by emma kline  emma kline

My Linda Lesson Video Part One.

Its funny how such a big learning event can be so packed that it takes months of practical application to sift through all the information. Its like little bits of savvy dust that have been swirling around suspended are now settling down to form a visible layer of gold. Lil and I have been continuing to develop our foundation in Four Savvys* to level 4 with delicate attention to the details of cause and effect.

....www.emmakline.blogspot.com

Dressage Naturally....

Posted Tue, 07/27/2010 - 21:00 by emma kline  emma kline

"After watching you teach I just come away with this soft, calm, clear feeling about the specialization of dressage, bringing our Parelli* foundation forwards and the excitement of all the possibilities. After auditing, I feel free, and light and intrigued and more in love with horses and dressage. That's some real deal skill right there Karen. Big ups."

Karen Rohlf has an amazing ability to sum things up in one clear sentence... www.emmakline.blogspot.com
 

 

Lil and I in Four Collections

Posted Fri, 07/02/2010 - 01:16 by emma kline  emma kline

What springs to mind when I look at this series of photos is Collection. The dreaded word. It is dreaded for me because the word itself is so over used and misused and flat out misunderstood.

I like how Pat points out that the opposite of collection is scattered. If we accept this to be true.....www.emmakline.blogspot.com

Beth, Louie, Jazz Hands, Revelation.

Posted Tue, 06/22/2010 - 04:23 by emma kline  emma kline

It is okay to be "wrong" ish if you trust in the fact that we can only learn if we use love language and leadership to attempt new things)..You cannot get a forward move by sitting still and waiting for life to happen.. We have to take risks and learn and grow.The contact game has taught me I have to engage and be alive in the moment..it is another game that will inspire us all to keep growing wanting and needing more ! : )
www.emmakline.blogspot.com

Nigel and I's 7th session playing "The Game of Contact".

Posted Sun, 06/13/2010 - 05:54 by emma kline  emma kline

In the video when I'm calling out "biceps" I'm taking the contact because Nigel is sucking behind my leg (losing self propulsion) or over curling his neck...or bracing somewhere etc. When I'm calling out "triceps" I feel him round over his topline, drive forward from behind and take the contact forwards. www.emmakline.blogspot.com

So I was up in the arena and I almost got faked out!

Posted Fri, 06/04/2010 - 17:27 by emma kline  emma kline

Lil was not going around the cones at first. I allowed her to work on it for a bit but when she seemed to have lost the plot I sent Zone 1*. I got the ears back for a second...shoot!..I must have asked too loudly. Of course she went around the cone but then straight away got stuck coming through the change of direction. Once through the middle she would start to trot...come around the cone and stop for a second before heading through the middle again. I'm so glad Linda pointed out the mental tension in her hesitation to come through the middle. Its so subtle....

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

Posted Wed, 05/26/2010 - 20:17 by emma kline  emma kline
Yaaaaaaaaaaahoooooooooooo! My lesson with Linda and Lil was priceless. I'll have to mill out what I learned as I process and absorb it. Yesterday I was playing with Lil and a very large bell went off in my head. . . .www.emmakline.blogspot.com

 

Improved Connection even out and about

Posted Wed, 05/19/2010 - 14:41 by emma kline  emma kline

When we got to Beth's Place everyone was already there hanging around outside handgrazing their ponies. We of course joined in and Lil hoovered grass while us humans chatted excitedly about the coming Parelli Across America Event.

Hiking with the ponies

Posted Sun, 05/02/2010 - 04:47 by emma kline  emma kline

Beth and Louie, Kip and Nigel, Lil and I needed a break from the treadmill and the arena. So we met at the BLM land just down the street from our house (about 20min from Beth's) for a hike. Just Three Horses, Three Humans, Three Parelli Halters, Three 12 Foot Lines, Three Carrot Sticks, Three Savvy Strings marching along the logging roads singing a merry tune. www.emmakline.blogspot.com

So I was up in the arena riding Nigel "pure bridless" for the first time

Posted Sun, 04/18/2010 - 23:03 by emma kline  emma kline

I've been wanting to do this for ages with him! I was just trying to be savvy and be sure I was sure. Of course it wasn't that impressive. But it was way fun.

Firstly...

www.emmakline.blogspot.com

 

Openness to Harmony

Posted Thu, 04/15/2010 - 05:53 by emma kline  emma kline

I wonder when I'll learn that that is a sure fire recipe for a let down. I need to remember to be open. Open to whatever, where ever our partnership is on any given day. Start at the beginning .... start with the 7 games...start with confidence...then curiosity...then teach/practice something...

www.emmakline.blogspot.com

Rapport, Respect. Respect, Rapport....Balance

Posted Wed, 04/07/2010 - 20:16 by emma kline  emma kline

Nigel is forcing me to step it up. We want to be as gentle as possible but as firm as necessary right? Well, I have been faced with the fact that I really don't want to. I don't want to have to get firm with him.

Its one of those "everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die" deals....www.emmakline.blogspot.com

Trailer Breakthrough!

Posted Thu, 03/25/2010 - 03:23 by emma kline  emma kline

The thing was, he was still banging around and making such a racket! But...he seemed to be just fine to stand in there and eat his grain. As soon as the grain was done the symphony began. ...

www.emmakline.blogspot.com

Yawning after Gymnastics!

Posted Thu, 03/18/2010 - 17:03 by emma kline  emma kline

 We've been playing with The Game of Contact (as Linda Parelli has been teaching recently). Over the last few sessions, after he's undressed and relaxing as I pack up the tack locker he's been yawning. And yawning. And yawning.

...www.emmakline.blogspot.com

so i was up in the arena .... i can't believe lil will let me lay her down flat.

Posted Sat, 03/13/2010 - 22:16 by emma kline  emma kline

Now its my turn to trust her.

I had a chance to talk with a wonderful Parelli Faculty member yesterday. She was helping me with a Nigel trailer question but also, I had sent in Lil and I's Level 4 liberty audition.....

www.emmakline.blogspot.com