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As a child I couldn't understand why my parents wouldn't let me keep a pony in our concrete back yard and sleep in the 4' wide garden shed. I had to wait until 1992 until I got a job working at a livery yard and riding school and had the joy of learning to ride on all the different horses that came and went. It didn't take long before I was then able to have my very first horse Brannigan, a lovely rescue thoroughbred from a point-to-point racing background. He was soft, gentle and ever so grateful for all the love you could give him. I was also fortunate to be able to continue to ride lots of other horses until Bailey came into my life in 1997 as a then 2 year old. Big, bold and boisterous, highly dominant 17hh and utterly gorgeous in my eyes. I had another mare at the time but Bailey was the 'main man'. Unknowing of Parelli at this time, I did lots of ground work with him, had lots of fun running and playing and asking him to be polite and well mannered.
Having initially learned traditional riding methods, I moved on to studying classical dressage with a fabulous instructor for many years. Achieved some positive outcomes but Bailey didn't seem to be enjoying it and progress hit a roadblock. A friendly Parelli student magically appeared and the intrigue began. Dressage lessons stopped and Parelli level 1 was commenced. Being with horses started to be fun again. I loved it so much I progressed to graduating the level 4 On-line, Liberty and Freestyle savvys. I am presently enjoying developing Finesse to level 4 using Linda Parelli's Game of Contact. Bailey is now full of enthusiasm for his 'work' and puts positive energy into everything that is asked of him. .... And in August 2012 along comes Khartane (aka Kane), a 2yr old Belgium Warmblood who I'm excited about giving a Parelli foundation to and bringing him on slowly to take over as my performance horse as Bailey gets older and wants to take it easier.
Following the Parelli programme has further deepened my levels of patience and perception. Learning to more effectively communicate with another species has given me even greater understanding around communicating with people from different backgrounds, cultures and views about life. My background is in therapeutic counseling and coaching and I am passionate about helping people to achieve their dreams with horses.
Having initially learned traditional riding methods, I moved on to studying classical dressage with a fabulous instructor for many years. Achieved some positive outcomes but Bailey didn't seem to be enjoying it and progress hit a roadblock. A friendly Parelli student magically appeared and the intrigue began. Dressage lessons stopped and Parelli level 1 was commenced. Being with horses started to be fun again. I loved it so much I progressed to graduating the level 4 On-line, Liberty and Freestyle savvys. I am presently enjoying developing Finesse to level 4 using Linda Parelli's Game of Contact. Bailey is now full of enthusiasm for his 'work' and puts positive energy into everything that is asked of him. .... And in August 2012 along comes Khartane (aka Kane), a 2yr old Belgium Warmblood who I'm excited about giving a Parelli foundation to and bringing him on slowly to take over as my performance horse as Bailey gets older and wants to take it easier.
Following the Parelli programme has further deepened my levels of patience and perception. Learning to more effectively communicate with another species has given me even greater understanding around communicating with people from different backgrounds, cultures and views about life. My background is in therapeutic counseling and coaching and I am passionate about helping people to achieve their dreams with horses.
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EQ Life Magazine
May 2013:
written for their Experts Advice page (click picture to read) |
