A review and recommendation of

THE 7 GAMES OF NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP
by

John O'Leary
Horseman
© 2006

I am a Horseman from the old School but with a very open mind. Whilst I find certain weaknesses in Natural Horsemanship versus other methods, I think the 7 Games is probably the most important break through in history. Pat is to be congratulated.

Of course such things have been around for centuries but Pat packaged it, modernized it and marketing it to the World in a way that Horse owners everywhere can understand and utilize.

I recommend these teachings every day of my life and have converted more people into Natural Horsemanship than most in this Country. I was there around 17 years ago when Pat did his first clinic.

The World's Horsemen and Women have copied him, repackaged his system, renamed it as their own but they can never deny that it was Pat who did it. :)

Now the ground manners teaching and skills in this Country are appalling, being passed down via the British Horse Society teachings through the Australian Pony Club system, and are by far the main reason that people run into trouble with their horses. You cannot enter into a game of strength or bulk with a horse but most do.

The most cunning part of the 7 Games of Natural Horsemanship is that it forces the Human in the partnership to learn proper ground training techniques and to convert them from a 'beard leading' horse wrestler to a sophisticated operator who gains complete respect from their horse as a result.

The problem for Trainers however is that it takes 2 days to teach a horse the '7 games' but 3 months and more to teach the human. Just shows who is the smarter around here.

Most Humans will have great difficulty in letting the rope go longer and getting the horse 'out of their space' That is a psychological thing and they are brainwashed by the system. So too are horses that have been handled the old fashioned way. When you first attempt to send a horse to stand 'out of your space' it will have great difficulty handling it and when you do finally get it out, it will come straight back into you. It too has been brainwashed and mentally has to be standing 'in your lap' Then you are doomed as you are 'up close and personal' with a 'heavy weight fighter' and just like with the 'lightweight boxer', you should be staying way out of the dangers of battles of strength and bulk. Common sense I would have thought.

So I write this article for all of those people who write to me daily with any of the following list of problems:

  • "My horse tries to bite me'

  • My horse is charging me on the lunge'

  • My horse is turning and trying to kick me'

  • My horse is squashing me against the rail when I saddle'

  • I can't get the bridle on my horse'

  • I can't float load my horse'

  • My horse comes out of the float too quickly'

  • I can't lead my horse in a straight line'

  • My horse spins around in circles when I lead it'

  • My horse leads me'

  • My horse lunges too fast, slow, cuts the corners, turns around when not asked, won't go at all, rares up'

and many, many more reasons.

So if you are having any such problems with your horse, get out of the 'dark ages' of the Pony Club leading systems, their webbing halters and puppy dog lead ropes and 'smell the Roses' This is 2006 and we are far more sophisticated thanks to Pat Parelli. Find yourself an accredited Instructor, buy the PROPER EQUIPMENT and the video and change your ways. Your horse is waiting for you.

http://www.parelli.com/

 

Read these pages regarding equipment and so on.

http://www.horseproblems.com.au/Breaking%20in%20Equipment.htm

http://www.horseproblems.com.au/horse_problems_on_horses_with_ig.htm

http://www.horseproblems.com.au/leading_the_horse.htm

 

 

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Mail: horseproblems@horseproblems.com.au