DVD Review:** Spanish Walk with Allen Pogue

Spanish Walk and Liberty Pole: **

Yet again, I had to do alot of 'filtering'  But I will say, it gave me alot of IDEAS.  And while I am watching it, all I can think of..IS....why in the HELL don't Pat and Linda do trick dvd's.  Absolutely rediculous that they don't.  As I watched, I was thinking of the many ways, I would have to tweak the 'training' to make it go along with the way I would go about teaching this to the horse.  The problem is, I did infact get inspired by watching this.  NOT because of his method, but because where else was I going to get the ideas on how to do something fun, cool, useful.  Yes, spanish walk is useful. IMO.  Clinton Anderson will be coming out with a 'trick' dvd soon, I think I will have to watch it too!

So here is the deal.  There are quite a few upper level parelli students doing this stuff, and I know it wasn't taught by parelli, but OBVIOUSLY the intrest is there, or students wouldn't be doing it.  I too want to do it, and think it would be a fun way to fill the gloomy winter months.  But I didn't honestly have much of a clue how to start.  So in this dvd, first thing i realized is that there was a pre-curser dvd I should have rented, which is the "shaping behavior' dvd where he teaches the "salute".  That is the pre-requisite to the spanish walk as it teaches the horse to raise and hold it's leg up.  But, I saw enough in this dvd, that I think I can go without, although I will rent the dvd.  Since I was already thinking of what "cue" I would use rather than his incesant voice commands, and exclusive use of the the whip, I got the idea of how to start the 'salute' anyways.

So how he does it, like i said, is voice and whip touches to the legs.  I would prefer to use MY leg as the cue, and the whip touch as the motivator (phase 2-3-4).  I would also like to stand facing forward, so this can be a "stick to me" "mirror me" game.  He does have good tips of what NOT to do, how far NOT to take it.  His use of his 'liberty pole' seems a bit unrealistic, though it works for him.  I can think of better, more natural and 'get in harmony' ways to do it.

So I am giving him 2 stars again, as I am sure there are better trick training dvd's out there, AND I believe there are better ways to do it as well, BUT as I said, 2 stars for getting my imagination flowing and giving me a starting point.

Savvy On
Michelle