Comments on: Be Careful What You Focus On http://parelliworld.com/be-careful-what-you-focus-on/ This is a blog by Jerry S. Williams for Parelli students. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:03:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ROSIE STEEL http://parelliworld.com/be-careful-what-you-focus-on/comment-page-1/#comment-405 ROSIE STEEL Sat, 19 Sep 2009 04:07:05 +0000 http://parelliworld.com/?p=95#comment-405 I have very slowly and with much caution been learning to focus on my natural horsemanship....and my focus isn't where it should be...after reading your wise words I can see just how far I have to go. I'm a RBI my 12 yr. old Arab is definitely left brained. Soooo I mainly go on my calm and nearly 30 yr. old Thoroughbred. I am not afraid to ride him, but always seem to run out of time before doing much with my Arab. It's a fear factor but also I haven't learned to focus well so see this as a real eye opener. I'm not a kid; I'm 65 years old with 1 new knee and another needed so focus comes after fear. I feel inspired to work on focus tomorrow and will give you a report if I have something good to say. Thanks so much Jerry for your help via the computer....Rosie Steel Mahaska, Kansas. I have very slowly and with much caution been learning to focus on my natural horsemanship….and my focus isn’t where it should be…after reading your wise words I can see just how far I have to go. I’m a RBI my 12 yr. old Arab is definitely left brained. Soooo I mainly go on my calm and nearly 30 yr. old Thoroughbred. I am not afraid to ride him, but always seem to run out of time before doing much with my Arab. It’s a fear factor but also I haven’t learned to focus well so see this as a real eye opener. I’m not a kid; I’m 65 years old with 1 new knee and another needed so focus comes after fear. I feel inspired to work on focus tomorrow and will give you a report if I have something good to say.

Thanks so much Jerry for your help via the computer….Rosie Steel Mahaska, Kansas.

]]> By: Helenmarie Espinosa http://parelliworld.com/be-careful-what-you-focus-on/comment-page-1/#comment-385 Helenmarie Espinosa Fri, 29 May 2009 21:24:28 +0000 http://parelliworld.com/?p=95#comment-385 the Power of Focus Years ago I did a clinic with Neil Pye in Albuquerque, NM around 1997 That day I learned the power of focus and have never forgotten it - and use it daily in everything I do. My horse took me out of the arena and through cow stalls and other areas to get back to his stall buddy. Everything I did, I couldn't get that horse to do anything but be glued to his equine friend. Finally, Neil realized I was missing and sees me in the distance(considering an arena can be a pretty big place.)! He calls to me over the intercom system and softly spoke to me - "Focus, Helen, look where you want to go!" After talking me through this - about 20 mins. later we were able to get back to the rest of the clinic in the arena. It was a turning point in my work with horses - focus is a very important factor in riding and even in ground work. Helen Espinosa the Power of Focus
Years ago I did a clinic with Neil Pye in Albuquerque, NM around 1997
That day I learned the power of focus and have never forgotten it – and
use it daily in everything I do.
My horse took me out of the arena and through cow stalls and other areas
to get back to his stall buddy. Everything I did, I couldn’t get that horse
to do anything but be glued to his equine friend.
Finally, Neil realized I was missing and sees me in the distance(considering
an arena can be a pretty big place.)! He calls to me over the intercom system and softly spoke to me – “Focus, Helen, look where you want to go!” After talking me through this – about 20 mins. later we were able to get back to the rest of the clinic in the arena. It was a turning point in my work with horses – focus is a very important factor in riding and even in ground work.
Helen Espinosa

]]> By: Kathy Craig http://parelliworld.com/be-careful-what-you-focus-on/comment-page-1/#comment-384 Kathy Craig Thu, 21 May 2009 00:48:51 +0000 http://parelliworld.com/?p=95#comment-384 Hi Jerry! You certainly have a way of making me think...and think deeper than I normally would or have in the past! I have a long way to go in being consistent in my focus. When I first began my horsemanship journey I was VERY scattered and so was my poor horse. I think I drove him nuts!! Poor thing never knew what to expect from me as I was NOT consistent and had no focus on the ground or in the saddle. It was akin to driving my vehicle, if I focused I could keep it between the lines but look to the right or left and that's where my vehicle went! It was the same for my horse, if I kept my focus we went there and if I lost my focus everything fell apart and we were like a ship without a sail blowing about the arena. I have gotten better as time goes on but because I was so unfocused and inconsistent for so long, I taught my horse I was not reliable and not to be trusted as a leader. Being a LBE, this was the worst thing I could have done for him since as a LB'er he really doesn't need a leader. Now I have to work a lot harder to undo the assumptions I taught him but with the power of focus we are making progress and I'm working to keep it between the lines!! Kathy C. Hi Jerry!

You certainly have a way of making me think…and think deeper than I normally would or have in the past!

I have a long way to go in being consistent in my focus. When I first began my horsemanship journey I was VERY scattered and so was my poor horse. I think I drove him nuts!! Poor thing never knew what to expect from me as I was NOT consistent and had no focus on the ground or in the saddle. It was akin to driving my vehicle, if I focused I could keep it between the lines but look to the right or left and that’s where my vehicle went! It was the same for my horse, if I kept my focus we went there and if I lost my focus everything fell apart and we were like a ship without a sail blowing about the arena.

I have gotten better as time goes on but because I was so unfocused and inconsistent for so long, I taught my horse I was not reliable and not to be trusted as a leader. Being a LBE, this was the worst thing I could have done for him since as a LB’er he really doesn’t need a leader. Now I have to work a lot harder to undo the assumptions I taught him but with the power of focus we are making progress and I’m working to keep it between the lines!!

Kathy C.

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