WELL......won't do that again!

Very disappointing after the Double Dan clinic. I knew it wouldn't be Parelli, but I didn't realize it would be farther off than I thought. I don't like to bash people, so I will be as nice as I can. I love how Parelli puts the horse first, the relationship fist, and doesn't MAKE the horse do things. They want the human to learn how to get their horse to be with them and be a willing a partner. I did buy Level 1, and Level 2 of the Double Dan DVD's before hand. I usually can tell then  in the DVD's if people are too hard, or I don't like their training before I do any clinics. To give an example, I bought the Guy Mclean DVD also. After watching it, I knew this man was not for me. He was more forceful in the DVD and also was more about getting things done with the horse. He even tied a tarp onto a horse tail and ran it around till the horse was used to it. Needless to say, the horse ran and ran scared and got quiet sweaty. It just wasn't my cup of tea. Anyway, I watched both DD(Double Dan) dvd's and I didn't see any force, or anything. I practiced all the maneuvers at home on the Level 1 ground control tape before the clinic! Kaspin did great! At the clinic there were people there who had no ground manners with their horse what so ever!!! And honestly shouldn't have even owned a horse!!! I knew then it was going to be a long clinic. My next question was could we take pictures?? Dan James said, NO! A red flag went up in my head. I thought that was odd! What was Dan trying to hide?? Eventually, Dan took 2 of these horses at separate times from those people who knew nothing about horses. Dan explained he has no problem hitting a horse and he only has to do a little, then never again. Ok, I got that idea!!! Well than Dan started with one of the problem horses but Dan hit the horse so hard( I never could cause that much force anyway). All I saw was a super scared horse that didn't understand what Dan wanted. Give you an example. If Dan wanted the horse to move forwards. Dan would pick up his whip and point the stick to the horses hip and if the horse didn't move? Then, WHACK went the whip. Ok, I get it, but why did the 1st whack have to be soooooooooooo darn hard???? Then Dan would pick the whip up again. Same thing if the horse didn't try to move that WHACK again just as hard! It hurt me to the core and I had to leave and not watch. I really didn't understand why Dan couldn't give the horse more phases to understand what he wanted? Later these horse were better acting after Dan worked them and had them run around and sweating their asses off. But I just thought there really has to be a better way! Than just making the horse do what you needed. I have never seen any Parelli clinics(or behind any Parelli scenes) do something like this in person. Now I can see why no pictures at the DD clinic. Either way, it just really bothered me for the rest of the day and I realized the clinic was so not for me. I have spent soooo much time gaining Kaspin trust and bringing out his confidence in people. The last thing I needed was a stranger now WHACKING Kaspin to make him do something! I never went back on SUNDAY! I never said anything to Dan James, nor asked for any money back. I knew I wouldn't get my money back anyway. I also knew Dan would see me as one of those horse people who only want to love their horse, and feed it treats, and put it in bubble wrap all day long!!!! Like I mentioned before even in Pareli they teach us phase 4!!! And if you need it you better use it to save your life, or the horse from hurting themselves. I just thought Dan used his phase 4 way too much and too many times in a 15 to 20 minute period. And Dan James was more about making a horse do what you needed. And again that was not my cup of tea. Kaspin is sensitive enough. I left there Saturday night with the best day ever in our eyes anyway!!! Kaspin trailer the best he has ever trailered!!! No screaming, pawing, or kicking both ways!!! Kaspin was quiet in his stall and even ate hay and drank a whole water bucket. He usually is too nervous to eat, or drink, and screams also. Then in the arena Kaspin was a cool cucumber also and did all the DD moves perfectly. Thanks to our practice at home already! What a great boy Kaspin!! The other thing was the clinic was poorly managed through the day,  and arena too small for 12 horses. So we had to split up into groups. Which left for lots of standing, or sitting around doing nothing!! Way to much money to basically get 2 hours out of the 400 hundred dollar clinic. Either way, I tried and I was happy to go home with Kaspin's dignity in tact!! 

Keep it natural and safe! Bummed J9, Happy Kaspin, and the late Enzo!