Game of Contact: Rachel Robertson's perpective

A friend and I recently attended Linda’s Game of Contact Course in Sydney.

We both have dressage backgrounds and found Parelli in different ways. I have been in the program for about 3 years, and up until now I found that I had to unlearn more stuff than I could have imagined.

My dressage horse, I thought was pretty good, until I started in the program! Game of Contact, well I have this all sewn up (ha ha). Does my horse accept the bit? – Well he doesn’t fight it! Does my horse travel straight? – well mostly! Does my horse round his back and power through from the hind end? – Well who needs all that power anyway?!! Is my horse consistent in the contact? – well, yes, except for when he’s not!

So maybe we don’t have it all sewn up, maybe I have gotten away with a few things over the years because he looks nice and is obedient (don’t you just love a RBI?)

I have trained with English and Spanish trainers and took my own things out of it. A horse I inherited was so heavy on your hands that I locked my (crappy) elbows by my side and hoped for the best! He didn’t even know how to walk on a freestyle rein!

The Game of Contact was the turning point in the program for me. I knew I had to go back and build the foundation but where to from there? Now I know. It all makes sense. Make it a game! Resting hands, if you don’t take the contact I will, go slow, approach and retreat, four stages.

Thank you Linda, I hope the Dressage world will sit up and take notice, please no more tying horses’ heads down, no more Rollkur. To explain the unexplainable is a credit to you, Pat and the program.

 

Onwards and upwards (or never ending self improvement if you prefer!)

Now on to Steady Eddy I go!!