Horsenality Profiles: Meet the H&R Staffers' Horses
In a Q&A in the November 2008 issue of Horse & Rider, Linda Parelli explains her groundbreaking new method for identifying a horse's personality or, as she and husband Pat Parelli call it, "horsenality." The article includes a chart that readers can use to discover how their own horses' unique characteristics provide keys to overall personality.
Here, H&R staffers tell you how their horses "type out" on the Parelli Horsenality Profile.
The staffer: Editorial Director Jenny Meyer
Her horse: Brego, the 14-year-old Arabian/Mustang gelding owned by her daughter, Sophie, for going on four years.
Horsenality type: Right-brained introvert.
The details: Linda Parelli says the major difference between right-brained and left-brained horses is that the first tend to be timid or fearful and need reassurance, and the second tend to be dominant and self-confident and have the potential to bully a timid rider. Given that, Brego clearly falls into the right-brained category. He's not terribly spooky, but he does "worry" about things. Like a classic right-brainer, he looks for leadership, and because he's developed a strong bond of trust with Sophie, he's not as nervous as he might otherwise be. He actually scores "extreme" for quiet and obedient.
Brego has dots in both the extrovert and introvert quadrants, but on balance he tends to the introvert side. He has more whoa than go, which is one of the things we liked most about him as child's horse.
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The staffer: Lifestyle Editor Juli Thorson
Her horse: Riley (All American Choice), now 5, a Quarter Horse gelding she's owned since he was 8 months old.
Horsenality type: Left-brained extrovert.
The details: I team up with Riley for showing and trail riding. He's proven equally adept at both activities, and especially seems to enjoy going to new places and having something new to do.
Riley falls almost perfectly into the left-brained extrovert category. (Exception: He's never offered to bite or strike.) He's definitely got a naughty/mischievous side, but counterbalances that aspect of his personality by being charismatic, friendly, and smart (probably why I've been able to forgive him for chewing up at least three sets of reins.)
If I had to pick someone to play his voice in an animated movie with him as one of the characters, I'd have to go with Chris Rock. A lot of times, I think of Riley as a stand-up comic, zipped up inside a horse suit.
The staffer: Managing Editor Alana Harrison
Her horse: Memphis (Patt's Memphis Beau), a 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding she's owned for six years.
Horsenality type: Right-brained extrovert.
The details: As do most horses, Memphis has different moods on different days, but he's clearly a right-brained extrovert. He often won't stand still; he's almost always alert and somewhat "on edge"; he's high-headed; and he's definitely a "forward-aholic."
Much like Thoroughbred racehorses that dance in place pre-race, Memphis engages in this behavior pre-show ring. On more than one occasion, my trainer's had to clear the gate area to prevent us from flattening other riders/trainers. (It's rather embarrassing.) But, that explosive energy is great for the jumper ring.
Without extensive training with draw reins, I should probably consider giving up the hunter classes, as Memphis demonstrates his best giraffe imitation with his head straight up in the air. And, as for his "forward-aholic" tendencies: During our first hunter show, we covered what should have been a four-stride line between two fences in two strides (not terribly impressive to a hunter judge).
On the ground, he's pushy, sometimes flat-out rude in invading my personal space. (I know I need to address this!) He weaves in his stall and when tied, and he tends to be hyper-alert most of the time. Not always, but when he has a lot of pent-up energy, he finds bolting, bucking, and rearing entertaining. Me? Not so much.
But even though he's challenging this way, I adore him. Our personalities just seem to fit well together. Call me crazy, but I like riding horses like this. I like the speed and the energy, plus the strength I gain as a rider through dealing with such mounts.
The staffer: Executive Editor Debbie Moors
Her horse: Honey, a 13-year-old Haflinger mare that's been with the Moors family for two years now.
Horsenality type: Left-brained introvert.
The details: I think Honey fits this quadrant pretty well. Within the individual characteristics, she's definitely food-motivated, and her favorite part of a schooling session would be the walk back to the barn, but she's also tolerant and usually unconcerned.
In particular, I remember an incident that occurred not long after she arrived at the barn. My husband and I had her cross-tied in the barn aisle, and were grooming her and getting her ready for a ground-driving session. One of her barnmates stalled nearby kept banging at the metal hay door (which opens out like a bin into the aisle). Suddenly, the heavy metal bin dropped out and landed on the cement floor directly behind Honey. Kirk and I jumped in unison, but Honey barely flicked an ear.
She can be a little pushy (give me that cookie NOW, please), but for the most part she's a calm, quiet mare. The "easily bored" characteristic that typically goes with this type made me wonder. I haven't really noticed her picking up on bad "boredom habits" (she's not stalled, so that helps), but I'm betting she could benefit from a little more stimulation.
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