By Neil Pye (Instructor Emeritus)
Students who study with Neil Pye have often heard him say, "your horse needs to be a Good Citizen."
But what does he mean by that phrase exactly?
So we sat down with Neil to find out more……..
There is so much to learn when you first come into Parelli; there are the Seven Games, the Four Savvy's, Eight Responsibilities, and the Eight Principles of Horsemanship. We are so rich with information from over 40 years, which is wonderful but can also be a little overwhelming.
This phrase puts horse training in human terms and makes it more relatable for the student, as it is the student who will need to change how they think, act, and play with their horse.
Creating a good citizen means learning and playing the Seven Games to engage with your horse and allow them to become calmer, confident, and safe to be around.
Here are some examples of a horse being a Good Citizen
- He respects your space and doesn't push on you.
- You can pick up all four feet
- He lowers his head to halter and bridle
- He stands still when you saddle him
- He stands still when you mount and doesn't walk off as soon as you are in the saddle
- He responds to your life and intention when you ride
- He willingly trailer loads
- He ties up
The list goes on and on. The reality is horses are large animals, and humans are significantly smaller. We need to establish some boundaries and have expectations of horses being Good Citizens. The Seven Games are tools we use to communicate our ideas and expectations to him.
For example, during get out of my space, a horse will learn to respect their human's personal bubble. Horses don't automatically know to respect this bubble, and most humans don't either. Some people will treat horses like dogs and let them encroach on their space. This leads to the person backing out of the horse's space.
We are just stepping back so as not to get trodden on in this scenario. What we don't know is that it is a major signal for a horse that we are weak, and he can dominate us. So, the early lessons of Games 1, 2, and 3 and getting a horse to respect your space is a major breakthrough for most students. When you feel safe and in control, your confidence will grow, and the relationship with your horse will change completely.
Another great example of creating good citizens is asking your horse to put his head down. You want them to put their head down to easily put their halter or bridle on. If you are particular each time you approach your horse, get into position alongside the driveline, put your right hand over his neck and touch his cheek, he will learn to bring his head down and around. This is a good citizen!
Another example of a Good Citizen is trailer loading. If you can load your horse, you have freedom and flexibility; you can take him to places, clinics, and outings to help build his confidence.
Here in Australia, we are often threatened by bushfires, although it has been more about floods this year. People have had to move their horses out of flood zones. It is really important for you, your family, and your neighbors, in the case of an emergency, that your horse will load. Having your horse easily trailer load comes back to proper preparation. As you work through your Levels and learn the Seven Games, you will address all these 'Good Citizenship' issues.
Levels One and Two tasks are designed to create a 'Good Citizen' that is safe for you, your farrier, and children to be around. He acts like a partner, relaxed, calm, and cooperative, and you can do most things with him. He is not explosive and worried, tense, and reactive.
There is a whole world of what constitutes a good citizen when it comes to riding, and that's what you learn through Freestyle and Finesse. Your horse doesn't have to be the greatest dressage or jumping horse in the world, but he needs to stand still to be mounted, bend his neck and head around, move off, walk, trot, and canter and come back easily. These are all signs of a horse being a Good Citizen.
So, by focusing on teaching your horse to become a good citizen, you can see the big picture as you dive into the Seven Games and all Four Savvy's. As you get enveloped by all the detail, don't forget the number one focus is to create a 'Good Citizen.' A calm, cooperative horse that you and your family can handle. You will have taught him about partnership thinking instead of prey animal thinking.
If your horse is well mannered on the ground and in the saddle, what I call a 'Good Citizen,' you have a horse everyone would love to have.
Thanks for sharing this long game called horsemanship with us.
Neil Pye
Sydney, Australia
