How to SUCCEED with the Patterns

(This post is from the February 2009 Savvy Times Magazine, I thought you might like it, because it helped me ALOT!)-
     I know the patterns are new for you so I want to give you come big pointers to help you get the maximum benefit. Over the past month I've personally helped a few students with problems and when I asked if they were doing the patterns they said "sort of" or "no"...but they had them! My advice iwas, If you do the patterns, these problems will go away! They kept trying to fix them by troubleshooting the Seven Games...but the problem was not the Seven Games, it was a horse that was ged up, unmotivated or confused. so here are a few pointers to help those of you who might be in the same boat...
1. DO them, juse DO them!
     We observed that most people find it hard to come up with a consistent plan for every time they play with their horse. And that means that your leadership takes a dive! When you do the Patterns and progress along the Levels accordingly, you'll be astounded at the progress you'll make and how much more solid your horse will become. Many behavioral and riding issues especially occur because the horse is not exercised enough, mentally, emotionally, and physically. You see the best part about these patterns is that they impact all three, they are way more than just giving a horse a workout. Once you start doing them, you'll see...but until you do I suspect you look at them but can't see why they are special. Go back and read some of the testimonials if you need more proof.
2. Check it off horizontally!
      I know some of you that have been doing each Pattern 'vertically'' instead of 'horizontally'. That means you took one pattern and did it at Level 1,2,3 then 4! This is not the idea and it's how you can turn it into a drill for your horse instead of an education. You need to complete one pattern seven times, then move to the next pattern, not the next level. In this way you systematically develop your horse and odn't drill him, make him bored or confused. You get the perfect blend of consistency and variety and that's a huge secret for success. Oh.. and make those check marks big and visible! you need to see how much progress you're making and you need to be disciplined about doing it. Can you imagine how disciplined Pat Parelli is? All this is in his head but now its's visible for you.
3. The Horsenality Factor
     I played with a rather extreme Right-Brain Introvert for the class here at the Florida Parelli Center last season. He would seem to be doing the pattern just fine and then suddenly take of and tear away from his owner. Essentially, he looked quiet and obedient but as soon as he was asked for a little more oomph, he'd blow up. Interestingly, this horse can already do a lot of Level 3 stuff, but he had been misread for years, no one realized he was a Right Brain Introvert so he was pushed a little too much at times.\
     When I played with him and waited for him when he hesitated (as you must with a Right Brain Introvert), he became completely immoblie and couldn't move. We were doing the Figure 8 pattern at a walk (Level 1), but on a 22-foot line and he froze up on the second turn. So I kept the feel on the rope untill finally he could take a step and as I released, he took a big sigh, licked his lips and walked over to me. And then I quit... and if he was my horse, I would have put the first check on the OnLine Patterns Map that day. Even though he didn't do the whole pattern, he had a breakthrough. Can you imagine how much better the next Figure-8 would go, and then the next... untill the 7th time? And then I'd be on to the next pattern.
     You are not aiming for perfection, you just want something to improve according to the Horsenality: Right-Brain Extrovert-stay until he's calm. Right-Brain introvert-stay until he's trusting. Left-Brain Introvert- stay on it until he offers to keep moving for at least one lap. Left-Brain Extrovert- stay on it until he's obedient. Each day it will get better and better, so be happy with the improvement and don't go for perfection. This is a development program with four levels that you can see mapped out in front of you.
4. Combining Savvy's and Other Activites
     Some of you will only be doing the On Line patterns. Then at about half way through Level 2 patterns, start the FreeStyle Patterns, or if you don't ride then start the Liberty Patterns. Then as you get to Level 3 On Line and FreeStyle, start your Finesse. In this way you'll be playing in one, two, three and then Four Savvy's. If you are already playing in all Four Savvy's you can decide what you want to do today... play at Liberty and then focus on FreeStyle; or some On Line and then Finesse or maybe just one savvy today. Yesterday I just played at Liberty with my horses. Any way you want to do it is fine so long as you are not overdoing it. And then, if you like to go on trail rides, or play games with friends, do a couple of patterns as your warm up and when your horse is totally in tune with you, off you go.
     Every horseman has a plan. The Parelli Patterns are designed to help you DO what Pat Parelli does so you can put a solid foundation on your horse and grow your horsemanship instead of getting stuck or dextracted. From the moment you get your horse, or get on your horse, you must have a plan or your horse will not think you are a leader.

I thought this was a GREAT article! Linda did a great job explaining what they were for, I have all four Parelli Patterns but I didn't really understand them and most of all didn't really do them. I'm going out with Pride right now, and there's not any better time to start using them than right now!