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Play the Porcupine Game to Ward Off the Blues


A great game to play with your horse, in his stall when it’s cold outside, is Parelli’s game #2, the Porcupine Game, which teaches your horse to yield from steady pressure. Use this game to move the front and hind end away, push sideways, and lower your horse’s head. “In order to develop a partnership with your horse, you need to help him overcome his fearful, defensive reactions to pressure and learn how to yield and move away from it,” says Pat Parelli. “The better your horse yields from pressure, the easier he will be to handle on the ground and when ridden.”


The 4 Principles to the Porcupine Game Intention Your look, your life and your forward body language will help you clearly convey your intention: “Move away from my oncoming pressure.”


Steady Pressure Ask your horse to move by touching your horse anywhere, gently spreading your fingers and pressing against your horse’s skin.


Four Phases of Friendly Firmness...and Instant Release There are four phases to applying pressure. The first is the


ƒƒWINTER BLUES continued from p. 5


techniques focus on the vital life force energy called “chi” and seek to balance the energy at specific points on meridians, or channels of energy, and to harmonize the body systems.


lightest possible and the fourth is whatever it takes to be effective. The INSTANT the horse responds by moving away, or even tries to respond, immediately release all the pressure!


Rub-Press-Rub Every time you prepare to impress a horse with your press, you need to rub him first. After you’ve pressed and he responds, you need to rub that spot again. This is especially important in the teaching stages.


Scan the smart tag to watch Pat Parelli play the porcupine game with Allure.


The most obvious difference between the two disciplines is acupressurists rely on the use of hands, fingers, and elbows, to stimulate specific acupoints on the horse, while acupuncturists use very thin needles that are quickly inserted into the skin at a particular acupoint, leaving the needle to perform the necessary clearing of an energy blockage or stagnation. Acupuncture must be done by a professional. Both techniques often reveal some interesting clues about your horse’s overall state of health. Treatments release endorphins involved in pain reduction, building the immune system and calming the mind. Horses love it and will lick, chew or yawn when the energy has shifted.


UNDEMANDING TIME If every time you see your horse you drag him out to do work, your horse will get pretty tired of seeing you. Doing nothing with your horse in the barn, paddock or pasture can be a great opportunity to feel safe, confident and relaxed together. You can sit and read a book, catch up on work or just enjoy the scenery. By taking the pressure off and letting your horse just be a horse for a while you will create trust, build his curiosity, and get him interested in you again.


Instead of continually asking your horse to do things, spend undemanding time with him by offering a few quiet moments together. This will let your horse know that you truly care and will strengthen your relationship by helping both of you beat the winter blues.


Carolyn Crew is the newest member of the Holistic Horse family. She has over 20 years of sales, marketing and design experience in television, print, web and interior design. She is a Parelli Level 3 student and hopes to educate more readers about the horse-human relationship and the spiritual, mental and emotional sides of their horses.


6 | www.holistichorse.com Holistic Horse™ • February/March 2012 • Vol.19, Issue 77


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