The Refinement Program Level 4
What you may want to know & bring when attending Refinement Horsemanship Camps:
Welcome to the Refinement Level!
Level 4, the final step of the ladder to becoming a Horseman
I’ve always said, by the time someone reaches level 4 in this program, anyone observing them interact with a horse would realise they have savvy. Real savvy. They are more than just a rider, they have savvy in all 4 areas of horsemanship:
- On Line
- Liberty
- FreeStyle
- Finesse
Once you have positive reflexes, harmony and impulsion with a horse, you are ready to explore the next level: refinement. Refinement means that you trade a long flex for a short one. Gone are the days of exaggeration to teach, now you will refine what is already there in a good foundation. You will develop accuracy, more feel, precision, your communications become almost invisible to the on-looker. You’ll have Grace and finesse, you’ll discover the benefits of vertical flexion and achieve true collection through respect, impulsion and flexion property and naturally combined.
Make sure you have something to refine!
It is easy to want to start at the top. There are many competitive disciplines that dictate how you should use your hands and legs, reins and spurs… and how a finished horse should look. The trouble is, people are often trying to teach green horses through subtle rein and leg aids and to ‘finish’ horses that do not have a solid enough foundation!
Every day you can see horses that are being forced to work “in frame” using tie down, martingales, champions, rogues, etc. etc. People know that a finished horse needs to have vertical flexion, and an arched neck but they don’t often know why. They think it’s so he’ll look good, so he can use himself correctly, because that’s the only way to be able to win… and sometimes its just to stop their horses head from flying up in their face when they pull on the reins. But as you learned in Level 2/3, putting vertical flexion on a horse gives him power. Do you want him to use the power for good behaviour or for bad behaviour? The horse will not distinguish between the two, therefore its important to have the good behaviour in place first, a harmonious partnership that can achieve greater things once vertical flexion is added to the “skills”.
To review the levels:
- Level 1/2 is about partnership: respect and mental fitness
- Level 2/3 is about harmony: impulsion and emotional fitness
- Level 4 is about refinement: flexion and physical fitness
If you remember the formula
Rapport – Respect – Impulsion – Flexion
Unless you have rapport & respect, you won’t get true impulsion. If you don’t have impulsion, you won’t get true flexion. Each level prepares for the next in a strategic way. Its about prior and proper preparation so when you begin to explore the next level you don’t find glaring holes. And if you don’t fill in those holes, you end up resorting to force.
Natural horsemanship, natural savvy means that you know how to work with the horse mentally and emotionally first, to get the right before you address the physical. A horseman would do nothing less.
How long did it take your to get here?
Some of you may have made the trip through Level 3 in 12 to 24 months. Some of you may have spent 5 years or so there. Now it may take you at least the same amount of time to achieve Level 4, solidly. But once you are there, your savvy is deep and its a part of you. The good new is, when it comes to developing your next horse it will take you a fraction of the time. Why? Because you now know what you are doing. You’ll have the new horse at Level 1 in a week. Level 2/3 will be a relatively short journey too, a matter of months. And Level 4 will be around a year, because there’s a certain amount of time that needs to be invested for the horse to be mentally, emotionally and physically there. (The only reasons this would take any longer are if you have a very young horse or a very difficult/ruined one, or your ability and time available affect it).
Some advice: Take on horse to Level 4
A common mistake many people make is to train lots of different horses. this will hold you up and delay your journey to Level 4. Its important to focus on one horse and get all the way there in as short as possible. Dont get distracted along the way go ogg on tangents. You actually don’t learn more, you get experience in handling different horses, that’s for sure… but your feel, timing and technique does not get as good as the you’ve achieved Level 4. You get stuck on the Level 1 treadmill.
Look at the person who spends their whole life starting young horses… and never finishing them. And what about the person who rides on ly at the top level of their sport with someone else doing the early training of their horse? What gaps do you think exist in their savvy? Does this explain the lack of finesse so commonly seem in the “colt starter” and the advance rider’s lack of understanding for the green horse’s emotional trouble?
If you get yourself to Level 4 you will truly have something to offer a horse. Remember Principle #7: Horses teach riders, riders teach horses? Not a truer word was spoken. The you are Level 4, you will be a good teacher fro horses, not before.. your savvy is yet incomplete.
Here again is another perspective on the Parelli Natural Horsemanship System:
- Level 1 through 4 are for teaching the human.
- Level 5 through 10 are for teaching the horse.
Dont ever lose sight of this. All your enthusiasm to get out there and start reforming horses is without earning the ridge to do so… until after you have achieved Levl4.
Become a Horseman
Become a Horseman. Mentally, emotionally and physically. Learn to think like one, learn the attitude of a Horseman. Become outstanding with horses. When you become a Horseman, no matter what your goals, for the most casual to the heights of competition (English or Western),you’ll be able to achieve them with your horse as your partner. The horse deserves nothing less.
Level 4 is a huge subject. it addresses the flexion system, further develops impulsion, develops mental, emotional and physical fitness to new levels in both you and the horse, increases the riding elements significantly and culminates with manoeuvres of such refinement and grace that horse and rider look like one… and the aids are almost invisible. Perhaps the greatest learning curve here arrives in the form of influencing your horse with refinement and vertical flexion. Many of the manoeuvres relate to dressage, reining and even barrel racing. You’ll be able to elect moves like half passes and flying changes, stops and back ups with barely a sign, bridle-less riding and more spectacular moves at liberty.
Now don’t get to over whelmed! You can take as long as you need to get through it. The average time taken for Level 4 varies through home study. This of course can be accelerated if you are working with an instructor and attend Parelli horsemanship courses and camps. And don’t be demoralised if takes you twice as long. The beauty of this program is that you can do it at your own pace. No one is putting any expectations on you… except your horse! What horse wouldn’t want you to hurry up and become a Horseman?
There are sections on theory, psychology, tools and the there are Stages to work through. Your main information is in the theory and then your tasks and instructions are outlined in Stages.
Preparation: The Stages are designed to teach you what you need to know before you can do the next thing. By following its path you’ll find yourself being properly prepared, mentally, emotionally and physically for what’s coming up next.
Level 4 Theory
- 7 Keys to Success
- The 10 Qualities of a Horseman
- Particular vs Critical
- Knowledge Refinement & Finesse
- What is Collection?
- Feel down to the feet
- Gait regulation
- 7 Talents of the Horse
- Bits & Hackamores
- Spur Savvy
- Equine Psychology Part III
Tasks & Stages 1-9
All of the information is being updated to my Current Student Page, if you are a current student (have attended a course or camp within the past 12 months you have access to this information via my current student FB page).
Attending a Refinement Horsemanship Camp.
*This is a Level 4 Online, Freestyle, Liberty & Finesse Parelli Natural Horsemanship 5-6 day Camp. Prerequisites, you have a good grasp on the Parelli Levels 1-3 and understand & developed the respect & impulsion systems of the horse (this can be done at home or by attending a Partnership Program Level 1/2 – 2 day course followed by Harmony Program Level 2/3 courses and camps), and be able to walk, trot and canter on a loose rein in a fenced area or arena. David knows that confidence is hard to get and easy to loose and puts the relationship first when it come to taking care of you.
*Equipment you will need for Level 4 camps: 12foot Lead Rope & Horseman’s Halter, 2 Carrot Sticks & Horseman’s String, 2x22foot Lead Rope & your 45foot Lariat Line, Horseman’s bridle with Horseman’s reins (or whatever you have usually been riding in) Saddle & Saddle Pad (bareback pad optional).
David carries some of Pat’s essential equipment with him for sale, if there is some equipment you know you would like to purchase, please feel free to let David know prior to the camp start date.
5-6 day camp $1500-1800 includes all tuition, camping with power & secure horse yards. Students numbers vary between 6-12 depending on venue & camp structure.
Below is the Refinement Program Level 4 DVD’s and additional of the essential equipment needed to proceed through the levels. Pat designed his Tools, pacifically to assist you accelerate your results, they are of high quality and will last you a lifetime of learning. The equipment is recommended when attending courses and camps, and the DVD’s will continue to support your progress at home.
