very interesting to hear this Jocelyne!
we mix everything up nowadays, I try doing the gymnastic exercises which I learn with a cavesson from my teacher and then I try to do them without any tack or try doing them with the cavesson and my hand on the reins but trying not to use it, which is for me an interesting exercise as well...
today I came past a treestump and suddenly it reminded me of the parelli exercise of stepping backwards up on things, the great thing was that Beau used to know the exercise and did it, but always with a lot of tension because he was worried about the consequences... either of hitting something with his feet or getting higher phases...
So I decided to do it with positive training, like I did with my dog, he goes backwards up onto anything nowadays, after only a short time he got it and was really relaxed about the whole thing. It makes me happy that I can do some of the exercises Parelli teach but this time without any pressure
I just don't want to get my levels because I don't like some of the exercises, like riding around with the tail of your horse over your shoulder and some other things (but maybe they are already out of the program again, I don't know anymore)
I will need to reread your diary
Big hug
Barbara