I've made it no secret that I have dealt with my weight for many, many years. It has been the #1 thorn in my side for the last decade or so. I know that I originally gained the weight for two main reasons ...
#1 I gave birth to a set of twins in 1999 and my life unequivocally changed forever - from being an active, working out of the house newly wed to a homebound, stay-at-home mom of two tiny babies - a drastic life change that caused me to head straight to the fridge and my exercise level to drop to almost nothing!
#2 I started dealing with some major medical issues with my reproductive system that left me in chronic pain and suffering from exhaustion 80% of the time.
So today I am in a place where the reasons that caused me to gain weight all those years ago are no longer a factor - my kids are old enough to not even require a babysitter any longer and I had a hysterectomy in 2008. The time is right and I am ready to start pursuing the thinner, fitter body I once had.
So how to go about it. Weight Watchers has worked for me .. somewhat. But my reality is that certain foods, the foods that I really love, cause me digestive upset and increased cravings for unhealthy foods. These foods, any foods are perfectly acceptable on Weight Watchers as long as they are accounted for. But I know that they do me harm. So for the last few months I have been searching for a weight loss program that will not only cause me to lose weight but help me identify what foods are best for my body. Last year, the Parelli world watched as Pat & Linda slimmed to shadows of themselves on a diet Pat talked about as the "HcG Diet". Several weeks ago, I decided that I would look into this HcG diet. Going straight to the source, I called the Body Shop in Pagosa Springs, Colorado for the details. Needless to say, after some research and concluding that I wasn't going to harm myself on a 500 calorie per day diet - I signed on with Linda at the Body Shop to give it a go. First, my inbox filled with document after document that I needed to read (the food lists by blood type is amazing and spot on for me!!). Then just this morning a shipment arrived filled with bottle after bottle of supplements, tea, soap, toothpaste - even deodorant!! Everything I need to get going ... and ...... I am petrified!
Why am I so nervous of this?? I am nervous of anything referred to as "all natural". My vision of anything produced naturally is that someone went out in the field, picked something that looked like weeds, ground it up, put it in pill form and expects it to be the next cure of the century. All right - I am sceptical of the homeopathic/natureopathic movement. My impression is that the products work "o.k" - not really very well but the consumer mentally feels better in the knowledge that they are natural. Alternative therapies and medicines make me think that they are second best, a choice when you don't have access to the best option - that from the medical community. So where did this mindset come from? Why am I so sceptical of something that comes in a plain brown packaging? I don't really know. But I need to open my mind to the possibilities and accept that what I have done so far really hasn't worked that well - so why not?
It is the same thing with me and the red light therapy - for horses and humans. I am sceptical maybe because it seems so easy. And because I can't for the life of me figure out how what looks like a red Christmas tree light mounted in a flashlight can possibly make a difference to a 1200 lb animal. But you know, I was once sceptical of Parelli too. But I went to that first Level 1 clinic with an open mind .. and now look where I am!! Time for me to drop the preconceptions and assumptions that block my vision and try. Maybe while I am busy sorting supplements and getting underway with the HcG diet, I should take the course and learn more about the red light therapy too. Who knows maybe the outcome will be like that of my first Level 1 Parelli course and my life will be forever changed.
Wish me luck!! I don't think I'll be eating organic granola and wearing hemp clothing anytime soon, but I just might learn more about my body and what it really needs (instead of what I think it needs!). I'll update 45 days from now and revisit this topic again! Stay tuned!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
107 Days to a Dream
April 18, 2011
In preparation for the 5-Day Parelli Experience Camp that I was attending in May - a request from Parelli Professional Todd Owens, to list 7 things we hoped to accomplish at the event. This was #2 on the list that I emailed to Todd:
#2. I have a very BIG goal to be able to ride in a Walter Zettl clinic. I would like to find out where we need to be in order to get the most from a WAZ clinic. I would like to be assessed as to where I am currently and have some assistance in putting together a plan (aka - a list of tasks to accomplish) to allow me to reach this goal.
This was the first time that I had actually stated my Walter dream out-loud!
June 26, 2011
The rumour was confirmed today! After the search for a facility to host Walter's summer clinic, it was decided that it be held at the barn where I keep my horse, QuarDream Equestrian Centre in Mt. Forest! Walter Zettl in our own barn?? Could fate be playing a hand in this?
July 11, 2011
Today I got one of the best phone calls ever! Parelli Professional Todd Owens, called to tell me, in person, that he had a rider spot for me in the upcoming Walter Zettl lesson days! WOW. wow. I've been smiling ear to ear ever since. How did this happen?? In all honesty however, when Todd told me several weeks ago that he felt I was ready to ride with Walter - I didn't believe him. How could this 38 yr old mother of 3 be anywhere near ready to ride with such a master?? But Walter is looking for students who are well into Level 3 and ... get this ... are enthusiastic learners! So I may not be destined for the world dressage stage any time soon - but I am, if nothing else, enthusiastic. With a short list of preparatory tasks in place, I have left my anxiety behind and am just excited to have Walter Zettl help me with my horsemanship.
July 23, 2011
Only 14 days until my first lesson with Walter Zettl!! I can't believe how quickly this dream has come about. The preparation is going forward on many levels. I continue to increase the physical activity level for both Tido and I - this lesson will challenge us like nothing we have experienced before. WAZ's video library that I ordered arrived last week and I take any spare moments to watch him teach and listen to his lilting voice. Trying to let his accent wash over me so that I can hear his terminology. I have pulled every Savvy Times since 2008 and read every article that mentions Walter! My support system has been wonderful with many emails arriving from Parelli friends who plan to be in the audience watching. I am sure that some would find an audience cause for anxiety, but the positive energy from our group helps me immensely, in both the preparation and the actual ride I went through a phase of being extremely self critical of my riding abilities, my body image - even my pants! But I am now in a place where I combat negative thoughts immediately with positive ones about Walter's only intention being to help me become a better horseman.
July 26, 2011
Today I had a private "Finesse" lesson with 4* Parelli Professional, Don Halladay as a preparatory preview of what I can expect in my lesson with Walter Zettl (yes - I had a lesson, before a lesson). In all regards in went very well. Don reviewed all the tracks and paths involved in the precision pen with is much more difficult to ride than it looks. Those intersections come up very quickly, and that was only at the walk! Don also reviewed the various lateral movements - leg yield, half pass, shoulder-in, haunches-in among others. Quite an intense hour but I feel as though I have a bit better mental grasp on what to expect next weekend. 10 days and counting!
Friday August 5, 2011
I arrived at the barn at 12:30 today to meet Walter and watch him teach 5 lessons throughout the afternoon. My nerves started jangling as I parked the truck, but the moment I met Walter, they vanished! He is such a calming presence! He motioned me to sit beside him and there I was for the next 4 hours. Immediately upon the first horse & rider entering the arena, I learned why Walter is considered a master. From the first several footfalls the horse takes - he knows what instruction the horse and rider need. Nothing short of amazing to watch the transformations in each 45 minutes lesson. His sense of humour is infectious and although he "saved" me many times from flies with his swatter, there were several instances I got a good swat when there was no fly present. Although I was glued to his teaching, I am sure it was a "pay attention - this is important" reminder! I left the barn feeling as though I had been at the spa - relaxed and peaceful.
Saturday August 6th, 2011 - 11:15am
My first lesson with Walter Zettl. Although I didn't feel nervous, in hindsight, I wasn't as relaxed as I usually am (imagine that!). Of course, Tido picked up on that immediately and he slipped every so slightly into the RB quadrant. Walter immediately picked up on Tido's difficulties going to the right and our ongoing challenges with straightness. Something as simple as a slight shoulder-in to the right when asking for a halt left me shaking my head at the wonderful simplicity! Being my first time riding with Walter - I would be lying if I didn't mention that I found this learning platform very difficult. I wasn't at all prepared for the rapid fire instructions that came through my earpiece and the high degree of accuracy that is the goal of precision riding - my confidence took a bit of a hit. I found myself very cautious about using a trial and error method of figuring out what Walter was asking of us. As we left the arena I was not pleased with how things went. Although from the outpouring of support from spectators and Walter himself, it appeared we had no outward reason to feel disappointed - I felt that the harmony between Tido and I was less than I knew we were capable of. My day continued watching the other riders and then finished with a student dinner with Walter, his wife and the other riders/instructors.
Sunday August 7th, 2011
I was scheduled to ride in the afternoon, I took some extra time at home that morning to rest and collect my thoughts. The learning over the previous two days was large in volume and I felt as though my brain was reaching the breaking point. Being an RBI myself, the days of meeting new people and riding before a large group of spectators added to the stress of being out of my comfort zone. Even after taking a little extra time, I was still in my seat watching lessons by 9:30am.
As I got Tido saddled and warmed up in the afternoon, I focused on staying relaxed and riding in harmony with Tido during our second lesson. As we entered the arena, I attempted to clear my mind and just let Walter's voice guide me. Wow. Right away I could feel the difference. The challenges we faced in the previous lesson were virtually gone and Walter was able to take us into new territory - trying out some of our lateral work at the trot and continued practice with our ever challenging downward transitions. I was more confident in puzzling out some of Walter's instructions and achieving the proper response from Tido came much quicker! The intersections didn't seem to come up quite as quickly as they had the day before and I was much more able to think my turns before I made them. Our attempt at a collected trot drew a loud exclamation of "he's a Grand Prix horse!" from Walter and we finished with an "almost" perfect straight ride down centre line and a pretty good halt! Phew! But as we prepared to leave the arena, my best moment of the entire weekend occurred. Tido wouldn't leave. He kept looking over at Walter and all the spectators with a calm, confident expression that said, "hey that was great. Now where are my pats and treats?" After a spray bath and some undemanding time grazing and fussing over him, Tido hung around the pasture gate when I finally put him away. All the positive comments from Walter, spectators and other riders paled in comparison to my horse tellling me that he enjoyed our ride together.
Walter caught me in the barn at the end of the day and gave me a hug and the comforting words, "vunderful, my dear, vunderful.". I did it. I rode with Walter Zettl.
107 days ago, I dared to state my dream out loud. 107 days later, I am filled with the joy of having achieved that dream. But it was more than just riding and learning with Walter. It was meeting new people, rekindling with old friends and enjoying time spent immersed in a world of horses that I love. It brought talk of plans and opportunities for the future and stories told of the past. It was learning that sometimes, having your dream become a reality isn't as hard as you might think! And it was knowing that riding with a master is addictive and I look forward to my next opportunity to learn from Walter Zettl!
In preparation for the 5-Day Parelli Experience Camp that I was attending in May - a request from Parelli Professional Todd Owens, to list 7 things we hoped to accomplish at the event. This was #2 on the list that I emailed to Todd:
#2. I have a very BIG goal to be able to ride in a Walter Zettl clinic. I would like to find out where we need to be in order to get the most from a WAZ clinic. I would like to be assessed as to where I am currently and have some assistance in putting together a plan (aka - a list of tasks to accomplish) to allow me to reach this goal.
This was the first time that I had actually stated my Walter dream out-loud!
June 26, 2011
The rumour was confirmed today! After the search for a facility to host Walter's summer clinic, it was decided that it be held at the barn where I keep my horse, QuarDream Equestrian Centre in Mt. Forest! Walter Zettl in our own barn?? Could fate be playing a hand in this?
July 11, 2011
Today I got one of the best phone calls ever! Parelli Professional Todd Owens, called to tell me, in person, that he had a rider spot for me in the upcoming Walter Zettl lesson days! WOW. wow. I've been smiling ear to ear ever since. How did this happen?? In all honesty however, when Todd told me several weeks ago that he felt I was ready to ride with Walter - I didn't believe him. How could this 38 yr old mother of 3 be anywhere near ready to ride with such a master?? But Walter is looking for students who are well into Level 3 and ... get this ... are enthusiastic learners! So I may not be destined for the world dressage stage any time soon - but I am, if nothing else, enthusiastic. With a short list of preparatory tasks in place, I have left my anxiety behind and am just excited to have Walter Zettl help me with my horsemanship.
July 23, 2011
Only 14 days until my first lesson with Walter Zettl!! I can't believe how quickly this dream has come about. The preparation is going forward on many levels. I continue to increase the physical activity level for both Tido and I - this lesson will challenge us like nothing we have experienced before. WAZ's video library that I ordered arrived last week and I take any spare moments to watch him teach and listen to his lilting voice. Trying to let his accent wash over me so that I can hear his terminology. I have pulled every Savvy Times since 2008 and read every article that mentions Walter! My support system has been wonderful with many emails arriving from Parelli friends who plan to be in the audience watching. I am sure that some would find an audience cause for anxiety, but the positive energy from our group helps me immensely, in both the preparation and the actual ride I went through a phase of being extremely self critical of my riding abilities, my body image - even my pants! But I am now in a place where I combat negative thoughts immediately with positive ones about Walter's only intention being to help me become a better horseman.
July 26, 2011
Today I had a private "Finesse" lesson with 4* Parelli Professional, Don Halladay as a preparatory preview of what I can expect in my lesson with Walter Zettl (yes - I had a lesson, before a lesson). In all regards in went very well. Don reviewed all the tracks and paths involved in the precision pen with is much more difficult to ride than it looks. Those intersections come up very quickly, and that was only at the walk! Don also reviewed the various lateral movements - leg yield, half pass, shoulder-in, haunches-in among others. Quite an intense hour but I feel as though I have a bit better mental grasp on what to expect next weekend. 10 days and counting!
Friday August 5, 2011
I arrived at the barn at 12:30 today to meet Walter and watch him teach 5 lessons throughout the afternoon. My nerves started jangling as I parked the truck, but the moment I met Walter, they vanished! He is such a calming presence! He motioned me to sit beside him and there I was for the next 4 hours. Immediately upon the first horse & rider entering the arena, I learned why Walter is considered a master. From the first several footfalls the horse takes - he knows what instruction the horse and rider need. Nothing short of amazing to watch the transformations in each 45 minutes lesson. His sense of humour is infectious and although he "saved" me many times from flies with his swatter, there were several instances I got a good swat when there was no fly present. Although I was glued to his teaching, I am sure it was a "pay attention - this is important" reminder! I left the barn feeling as though I had been at the spa - relaxed and peaceful.
Saturday August 6th, 2011 - 11:15am
My first lesson with Walter Zettl. Although I didn't feel nervous, in hindsight, I wasn't as relaxed as I usually am (imagine that!). Of course, Tido picked up on that immediately and he slipped every so slightly into the RB quadrant. Walter immediately picked up on Tido's difficulties going to the right and our ongoing challenges with straightness. Something as simple as a slight shoulder-in to the right when asking for a halt left me shaking my head at the wonderful simplicity! Being my first time riding with Walter - I would be lying if I didn't mention that I found this learning platform very difficult. I wasn't at all prepared for the rapid fire instructions that came through my earpiece and the high degree of accuracy that is the goal of precision riding - my confidence took a bit of a hit. I found myself very cautious about using a trial and error method of figuring out what Walter was asking of us. As we left the arena I was not pleased with how things went. Although from the outpouring of support from spectators and Walter himself, it appeared we had no outward reason to feel disappointed - I felt that the harmony between Tido and I was less than I knew we were capable of. My day continued watching the other riders and then finished with a student dinner with Walter, his wife and the other riders/instructors.
Sunday August 7th, 2011
I was scheduled to ride in the afternoon, I took some extra time at home that morning to rest and collect my thoughts. The learning over the previous two days was large in volume and I felt as though my brain was reaching the breaking point. Being an RBI myself, the days of meeting new people and riding before a large group of spectators added to the stress of being out of my comfort zone. Even after taking a little extra time, I was still in my seat watching lessons by 9:30am.
As I got Tido saddled and warmed up in the afternoon, I focused on staying relaxed and riding in harmony with Tido during our second lesson. As we entered the arena, I attempted to clear my mind and just let Walter's voice guide me. Wow. Right away I could feel the difference. The challenges we faced in the previous lesson were virtually gone and Walter was able to take us into new territory - trying out some of our lateral work at the trot and continued practice with our ever challenging downward transitions. I was more confident in puzzling out some of Walter's instructions and achieving the proper response from Tido came much quicker! The intersections didn't seem to come up quite as quickly as they had the day before and I was much more able to think my turns before I made them. Our attempt at a collected trot drew a loud exclamation of "he's a Grand Prix horse!" from Walter and we finished with an "almost" perfect straight ride down centre line and a pretty good halt! Phew! But as we prepared to leave the arena, my best moment of the entire weekend occurred. Tido wouldn't leave. He kept looking over at Walter and all the spectators with a calm, confident expression that said, "hey that was great. Now where are my pats and treats?" After a spray bath and some undemanding time grazing and fussing over him, Tido hung around the pasture gate when I finally put him away. All the positive comments from Walter, spectators and other riders paled in comparison to my horse tellling me that he enjoyed our ride together.
Walter caught me in the barn at the end of the day and gave me a hug and the comforting words, "vunderful, my dear, vunderful.". I did it. I rode with Walter Zettl.
107 days ago, I dared to state my dream out loud. 107 days later, I am filled with the joy of having achieved that dream. But it was more than just riding and learning with Walter. It was meeting new people, rekindling with old friends and enjoying time spent immersed in a world of horses that I love. It brought talk of plans and opportunities for the future and stories told of the past. It was learning that sometimes, having your dream become a reality isn't as hard as you might think! And it was knowing that riding with a master is addictive and I look forward to my next opportunity to learn from Walter Zettl!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Observations from the Pool
This morning was the second-to-last, 45 minute, swimming class for my three kids. For just a day shy of two weeks, we have made the daily trek to the town pool for their lessons. Each day it has been an untold blessing to have 45 minutes of quiet. I have enjoyed sitting under the shade tree of the local park reading or watching long awaited Savvy Club DVD's on the portable player. Bliss!! Today I was told by my 7 year old son, in no uncertain terms, that I was NOT to watch horse videos and I must watch his entire lesson. From my vantage point at the top of the bleachers I had the perfect view of my son and all the other swimmers and their parents, grandparents and caregivers.
In the tot swim group located in the shallow end, one little fellow was having a bit of a rough time. Throughout his entire 30 minute class he had a long, low wailing, hiccuping type cry. For whatever the reason, on this day, he just was not enjoying his lesson and playtime with the instructor and other children. His mother along with the child's grandparents were sitting in front of me and I heard several comments about "how silly he was behaving" and "what is wrong with him - he never behaves like this!". After the lessons finished and the pool cleared of swimmers, I entered the family dressing room with my son and again heard that long, dry, wailing cry. The little boy's mother was quickly dressing him in his street clothes while glancing at the other parents with an embarrassed , apologetic look. Again as we walked through the parking lot and sat in the truck waiting for my older children to surface from the dressing rooms, that long, low cry was close in proximity. The little boy's mother and grandparents were standing around him starring at him as though he had suddenly turned a different colour, discussing why this normally quiet little fellow was having this meltdown. Finally, after much rolling of eyes and shrugging of shoulders, the mother got a soft look on her face, bent down and scooped him up. Immediately, his arms went about her neck, his eyes closed and .... he stopped crying. She rocked him back and forth and his face brightened and he looked peaceful and calm. A few minutes later when she set him down, he scampered off after his sister to check out the playground - everything right in his world again.
This scene hit home with me. At events with horses, how often do we ourselves witness others or say the words, "he never does this at home" or "why won't he just behave?". How often do we roll our eyes at each other in sympathy over our horse's behaviour? How often do we turn our back on a horse who is in distress over the situation or new environment with an attitude of "he'll get over it"?
Sometimes our horses need a hug. They need us to slow down and give them some time to gain strength and confidence from us. They need us to set aside the goal of participating in the event and put our principle of love, language and leadership first. They need us to not make excuses for them and just "be" in the moment with them to help them through it. Hugs can be defined in many ways - from simply removing them from the situation to a quieter location to soothing friendly game in all forms. After a pre-Parelli lifetime of growing up being told that hugs would spoil my horse, it is a relief to have the freedom to give my horse a hug when he needs it. And I do. Every so often it is a full out arms around his neck human hug. But every time, we walk away with my horse's expression just like that of the little boy at the swimming pool - calm and confident and running ahead looking for the next adventure! So the question remains - have you hugged your horse today??
This scene hit home with me. At events with horses, how often do we ourselves witness others or say the words, "he never does this at home" or "why won't he just behave?". How often do we roll our eyes at each other in sympathy over our horse's behaviour? How often do we turn our back on a horse who is in distress over the situation or new environment with an attitude of "he'll get over it"?
Sometimes our horses need a hug. They need us to slow down and give them some time to gain strength and confidence from us. They need us to set aside the goal of participating in the event and put our principle of love, language and leadership first. They need us to not make excuses for them and just "be" in the moment with them to help them through it. Hugs can be defined in many ways - from simply removing them from the situation to a quieter location to soothing friendly game in all forms. After a pre-Parelli lifetime of growing up being told that hugs would spoil my horse, it is a relief to have the freedom to give my horse a hug when he needs it. And I do. Every so often it is a full out arms around his neck human hug. But every time, we walk away with my horse's expression just like that of the little boy at the swimming pool - calm and confident and running ahead looking for the next adventure! So the question remains - have you hugged your horse today??
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Step off the Path into Silly
How did I get here? I don't know the exact moment I arrived ... here. Three years ago, the thought of just walking into the barn would cause me to vomit. Yep, I was that scared. Fast forward three years through starting with Parelli, finding my dream horse and taking-the-time-it-takes. I am now surprised to find I am riding bridleless, taking the first few tentative tries at Liberty spins and getting Tido measured up for his new cradle bridle as we venture into Finesse ! We are loading up and travelling out, considering clinics and seminars I never dreamed of being able to participate in, meeting the most amazing and wonderful people (and their horsey partners). But the biggest and most prized accomplishment - we are having fun. Everyday. Lots and lots of fun.
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Living in a time that is fast paced and high-tech, it is so easy to lose the fun - in working life and recreational pursuits. It is easier to postpone fun to another day when you have more time, and less laundry. But what if everyone decided to have fun everyday? Even for just 5 minutes? Just this morning, as I did my morning ritual of watering the plants, the dogs, the horses ... I suddenly dropped the hose and ran to the kid's trampoline for a 10 minute jump-fest! You can imagine how surpised my 3 kids were, but they recovered quickly, picked up their jaws, and quickly came running to join in. So we jumped and laughed and laughed. And its funny how later (when my post-kids bladder started to stage a revolt to the jumping) picking dirty socks off my son's floor didn't seem quite so mundane.
It is amazing what we can accomplish when we open the door and invite fun into our lives. In my younger days - my time spent with horses was always fun. As I venture further down the natural horsemanship path, it becomes easier and easier to recapture some of that silly fun with horses.
~ its steamy hot out, fill some barn buckets and launch a full out water gun war.
~ you are sitting on your horse bareback, relaxed and enjoying the day - lay back and put your head on his hindquarter and appreciate at the beautiful blue sky above you.
~ practice dismounting off the right side, a clumsy landing will have you giggling for sure.
~ take your horse swimming. Or canter through the snow bareback!
~ spectate a clinic, workshop or competition that you have never heard of before.
~ maybe you have a secret wish to ride with cows - find a way to do it!!
Whether a big fun goal or just a little bit of silly, how can you add fun into your horse time? For most of us, horses are a hobby. Any hobby that you devote time, effort and money to - should be fun. Sometimes all it takes is to step off the path and just have some plain, old fashioned silly!
The sister to silly fun is the "fun" of acheiving your goals and realizing your dreams! Having goals is necessary to keeping us focused and progressing, but the journey and the acheivement should still be fun!! The other day, I slipped Tido's bridle off for our third official bridle-less ride. I have gotten over the "holy crap" novelty of seeing my horse's naked face from a mounted perspective but this is still so new to us - I am constantly amazed! After a short ride that included a considerable amount of trot segments - we headed to the big ball for Tido's favourite playtime. For the next few minutes we trotted around playing ball - digging it out of corners, swinging his hindquarters around to line up behind it .... and forgot everything else in the exhuberance and enthusiasm of our game. Like a lightening bolt, that tingly realization hit me - "he doesn't have a bridle on!!!!" Wow. wow. And I started to laugh. How fun was that?!!!
I wish everyone the joy of finding your "fun" in your life and most especially, with your horses! With it comes a deep satisfaction and a quiet peace that could only be defined as ... happiness.
Road to Walter Update: I have been making positive steps towards my future ride with Walter Zettl. Since arriving home from Parelli Experience camp on May 15th - I have lost 10 lb and am starting to see improvement in my fitness level. I have been focused on acheiving balance in the 4 savvys by improving our Freestyle riding and have tackled some of the early Finesse tasks taught to me by Don Halladay, with regular consistency. In early August, I will have the opportunity to sit with Walter for one of his teaching days to become accustomed to his teaching style and learn to "hear" his instructions (mental preparedness).
It is amazing what we can accomplish when we open the door and invite fun into our lives. In my younger days - my time spent with horses was always fun. As I venture further down the natural horsemanship path, it becomes easier and easier to recapture some of that silly fun with horses.
~ its steamy hot out, fill some barn buckets and launch a full out water gun war.
~ you are sitting on your horse bareback, relaxed and enjoying the day - lay back and put your head on his hindquarter and appreciate at the beautiful blue sky above you.
~ practice dismounting off the right side, a clumsy landing will have you giggling for sure.
~ take your horse swimming. Or canter through the snow bareback!
~ spectate a clinic, workshop or competition that you have never heard of before.
~ maybe you have a secret wish to ride with cows - find a way to do it!!
Whether a big fun goal or just a little bit of silly, how can you add fun into your horse time? For most of us, horses are a hobby. Any hobby that you devote time, effort and money to - should be fun. Sometimes all it takes is to step off the path and just have some plain, old fashioned silly!
The sister to silly fun is the "fun" of acheiving your goals and realizing your dreams! Having goals is necessary to keeping us focused and progressing, but the journey and the acheivement should still be fun!! The other day, I slipped Tido's bridle off for our third official bridle-less ride. I have gotten over the "holy crap" novelty of seeing my horse's naked face from a mounted perspective but this is still so new to us - I am constantly amazed! After a short ride that included a considerable amount of trot segments - we headed to the big ball for Tido's favourite playtime. For the next few minutes we trotted around playing ball - digging it out of corners, swinging his hindquarters around to line up behind it .... and forgot everything else in the exhuberance and enthusiasm of our game. Like a lightening bolt, that tingly realization hit me - "he doesn't have a bridle on!!!!" Wow. wow. And I started to laugh. How fun was that?!!!
I wish everyone the joy of finding your "fun" in your life and most especially, with your horses! With it comes a deep satisfaction and a quiet peace that could only be defined as ... happiness.
Road to Walter Update: I have been making positive steps towards my future ride with Walter Zettl. Since arriving home from Parelli Experience camp on May 15th - I have lost 10 lb and am starting to see improvement in my fitness level. I have been focused on acheiving balance in the 4 savvys by improving our Freestyle riding and have tackled some of the early Finesse tasks taught to me by Don Halladay, with regular consistency. In early August, I will have the opportunity to sit with Walter for one of his teaching days to become accustomed to his teaching style and learn to "hear" his instructions (mental preparedness).
Friday, June 10, 2011
When An Accident Happens .... are You Ready??
So live and learn, this situation caused me to think about all the tasks that are important for responsible horse owners to do with EVERY horse in their care (the pasture potatoes have emergencies too!). The more prepared you are, the more successful you will be when illness or injury adds that extra element to a situation ... pain.
Physical Preparedness
Think about all the horses in your care and then honestly consider the following questions ....
Can your horse stand still and calm during needling? What about repeated needling? Often during illness or injury, horses require more than one needling session!
Can you hose down your horses legs, chest and belly with cold water? Often necessary for reducing swelling and keeping wounds clean.
Can you calmly and confidently load your horse in the trailer in the dark, wind, rain, snow or other common weather conditions for your area? If you had to evacuate or transport an injured or sick horse to a remote equine clinic - your horses need to be able to load in any weather or time of day, not just when the sun is shining!
Can you put your horse in a stall and have them be relaxed and calm for a length of time? Confinement is often necessary during injury. Do you have a stall or small area to confine an injured/ill horse? Is there a "buddy" to stay with the patient to help them stay calm and quiet?
Can you spray aerosols on all parts of your horse's body? Some injuries require antiseptic sprays to keep them clean and help them heal.
Can you operate the clippers over all of your horse's body including legs, head, neck, ears and muzzle? Some surgical procedures require the effected areas to be shaved.
Can you pick up all four of your horse's feet and confidently handle all four legs?
Are you physically fit enough to handle an injured or sick horse? These situations can sometimes require lengths of time without sleep and assisting veterinarians with medical procedures can be physically taxing.
Emotional Preparedness
Be very honest with yourself and think about how you handle emergency situations. It's normal to find these challenging, but understanding yourself and taking steps to cover your shortcomings will help both you and your horses!
Can you act calmly, think logically and make well informed decisions in an emergency situation?
Can you call in some support to help you through especially trying times?
Can you keep safety as a priority in order to help your horse without putting yourself in danger?
Mental Preparedness
There is no doubt we love our horses. Anyone who has owned horses knows that sometime you will have to deal with the natural situations that arise during a horse's life. While not pleasant, these trying times are a reality and deserve some advanced consideration. Sometimes planning for the unexpected means thinking of potential emergency situations and thinking through how you would handle them. Kind of like preparing your will and buying insurance for ourselves!
Have you analyzed your finances and have a realistic price you are willing, and able to pay, should illness or injury arise?
Are you able to make the decision to humanely end your horse's life if the situation warrants?
If you were to lose your horse suddenly, have you thought about how you would dispose of his/her body?
If you live in an area where natural forces can require evacuation - do you have a plan in place?
My goal for young Jess was to have her come through this injury without any lasting negative responses that will affect her future. So even though an injury isn't the best time, I was focused on taking the time it takes and putting our relationship first throughout the whole ordeal. Today at her follow up 5-day veterinary appointment, Jess let me know that she appreciated my efforts by standing perfectly still for her fourth round of needles. You couldn't erase the smile from my face! Jess is on the road to a full recover and hopefully only a minor scar as a reminder.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
P.I.T.'s and Rattle Snakes
What a week!! Lots of horse activity going on and lots of positives. First I wanted to comment on the Humanality/Match report. Mine arrived on a rare day when I was down and out with the flu and ironically, it was one of the best afternoons I have ever spent!! Having a sick day (rare, I can assure you), gave me some undemanding time with myself to really read and absorb the reports. I was floored ... no... astonished to find out I am a RBI! But not just any old RBI - a RBI Axis Point! What this means is that although RBI is my main quadrant, it is very, very mild and my dot is very close to the centre. The result is that I can easily shift into LBI and RBE and occasionally LBE (possible but only occasionally). So, speaking in positive terms, I have the potential to be very adaptable to the horse I am playing with. The reports are very, very interesting and very reflective of what I have been facing with myself and my horse. Since reading them, I feel I have a real understanding of the positives and the challenges that Tido and I face as a partnership. What also hit home, again, was John Baar's discussion regarding labelling. He advised that we not think of LB and RB as "good" and "bad" and certainly now that I find myself an RBI, this is never more true!!
As things finally started drying up here in south western Ontario in the last week, I got a chance to start playing with my filly. I currently have her identified as a P.I.T. (partner-in-training) because she flip-flops so easily between acting like a partner and behaving very instinctively. Since passing her second birthday on April 9th, I am starting to see more consistent partner-like behaviour as she gains in size and maturity. But she is still very young, and those prey behaviours surface regularly.
Throughout the winter I took advantage of every opportunity to play with any of the games that I could - in the confines of the barn. But as the good weather has moved in, I have begun advancing those games outside! In one of our first official plays of the year, I was busy placing barrels, flipping cavaletti, setting cones and generally getting things arranged in the outdoor arena. I was casually dragging the 22' behind me and allowing Jess to trail around after me at Liberty (she's great at that - I call her my pocket horse). Using my periferal vision to keep a close eye on her whereabouts, her sudden movement caught my eye. The leather popper on the end of the 22' suddenly came up out of the grass and caught her attention. After following it with concern for a few moments, she made a small hop into the air with both front feet and came down on the ends - finishing her display with a short tap dance. Then in a brisk walk with a look of concern on her face she came within 3 feet of me and turned crosswise so her zone 3 was between me and the end of the 22. She looked back at me over her shoulder with a confident expression that said, "it's okay, I've got this under control." How can you not laugh??!! While initially I thought this behaviour was quite instinctual, with some "hhmm .. how interesting" pondering, I have concluded that in many regards, she was actually behaving very much like a partner. I know in her mind, the leather popper was a rattle snake (which is quite instinctual). But instead of taking flight, she took as much calm confidence as a two year old can muster, and "killed' the snake to protect her herd of two. While in the future I will need to watch carefully that she doesn't become dominantly protective of our herd, it was deeply reaffirming that our playtime has some very real meaning for her. And if we ever ride through the wilderness, I'll be safe from rattle snakes!
I leave you with two recent photos of Jess. The first in her new designer, gold mesh with lynx trim, fly mask. If you can't have fun dressing up your little girl - who can you have fun with?? The second shot was taken at sundown last night. While I rarely consider her "angelic" - doesn't this photo give her a certain glow??
As things finally started drying up here in south western Ontario in the last week, I got a chance to start playing with my filly. I currently have her identified as a P.I.T. (partner-in-training) because she flip-flops so easily between acting like a partner and behaving very instinctively. Since passing her second birthday on April 9th, I am starting to see more consistent partner-like behaviour as she gains in size and maturity. But she is still very young, and those prey behaviours surface regularly.
I leave you with two recent photos of Jess. The first in her new designer, gold mesh with lynx trim, fly mask. If you can't have fun dressing up your little girl - who can you have fun with?? The second shot was taken at sundown last night. While I rarely consider her "angelic" - doesn't this photo give her a certain glow??
 |
| New designer flywear! |
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| I always knew she was an angel! |
Thursday, May 19, 2011
5 day Parelli Experience
I arrived home just a mere four days ago from the 5-Day Parelli Experience course held at the 17 Ranch in Thamesford last week. Honestly, it has taken me just this long to soak and process the experience ... and what an experience it was! Where do I even begin to blog about it?? I am going to attempt to answer the much dreaded, nerve wracking question asked in Parelli-land - what did you learn?
1. I learned that I really, really love my horse. This experience reconfirmed that he and I are indeed a perfect match. When he is unconfident (like when he got off the trailer and was face to face with a very big, and very scary rock!!) I am there to help him through and when I am unconfident - he is my support. The right horse is better than winning the lottery in my books.
2. I need to be more confident in myself. I have alot of savvy and am solidly in Level 3 and moving into Level 4 (not Level 1 like I sometimes tell myself). Instead of being so focused on the proper sequence of the program and frozen with worry that I am not ready - I need to trust that if I think I am ready to progress into something new, I probably am. Trying to summarize this concept, I need to remember that I don't need permission from an instructor in order to progress - my horse will tell me when the timing is right. Never was this more evident when I nervously attempted my first ever official Liberty session. I laughed outloud at Tido - he did everything I asked with an expression of "well its about time!".
3. I am responsible for my journey. Period. If I have a question - no one is going to knock on the door to answer it. If I want to acheive something - it is my responsibility to get out there and put together a plan to do so. And people are there to help. I was a little bit intimidated to ask John Baar a question - but am I ever glad I did!! He is a very approachable instructor with a relaxed yet knowledgable teaching style. And it is comforting to know that Linda has faced some of the issues I face with Tido.
4. Grab a hold of opportunities and just DO IT! My favourite saying (which could very well be a Parelli-ism) echoes this: Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right! So I learned .... I can, I did and I will.
So I am home, older, wiser and changed. I find it amazing what 5 days can do to someone. I came home with a clear path to where I want to go and what I want to do with my horses. But I do want to thank a few people before signing off on this blog episode:
John Baar - thank you for coming all the way from Kentucky. Thank you for being approachable and knowledgable and for telling all sorts of wonderful stories about Pat, Linda and your time spent at the Parelli Centres.
Don Halladay - I truly think you are one of the kindest people I have ever met. Thank you for keeping safety as the cornerstone of all your teaching. One day I will be at a level where you will ask me to ride your cutting horse - and I'll be ready and answer YES!
Randee Halladay - it was a pleasure to meet you and I love your "tell-it-like-it-is" style. I look forward to seeing you in Mt. Forest in July.
Maureen Owens - witness of my first official Liberty session!! Thank you for your one on one time and for supporting my journey. I look forward to working with you to put together some teaching sessions for children in our area.
Todd Owens - I don't even know what to say. Thank you for putting together such a wonderful event, supporting my goals and modelling how to be positive, progressive and natural. I look forward to learning from you again in the near future.
So I finish this blog post and am looking through the door to the rest of 2011. People to meet, tasks to accomplish and ever closer to the highlight - my ride with Walter Zettl. Keeping it natural!!
1. I learned that I really, really love my horse. This experience reconfirmed that he and I are indeed a perfect match. When he is unconfident (like when he got off the trailer and was face to face with a very big, and very scary rock!!) I am there to help him through and when I am unconfident - he is my support. The right horse is better than winning the lottery in my books.
2. I need to be more confident in myself. I have alot of savvy and am solidly in Level 3 and moving into Level 4 (not Level 1 like I sometimes tell myself). Instead of being so focused on the proper sequence of the program and frozen with worry that I am not ready - I need to trust that if I think I am ready to progress into something new, I probably am. Trying to summarize this concept, I need to remember that I don't need permission from an instructor in order to progress - my horse will tell me when the timing is right. Never was this more evident when I nervously attempted my first ever official Liberty session. I laughed outloud at Tido - he did everything I asked with an expression of "well its about time!".
3. I am responsible for my journey. Period. If I have a question - no one is going to knock on the door to answer it. If I want to acheive something - it is my responsibility to get out there and put together a plan to do so. And people are there to help. I was a little bit intimidated to ask John Baar a question - but am I ever glad I did!! He is a very approachable instructor with a relaxed yet knowledgable teaching style. And it is comforting to know that Linda has faced some of the issues I face with Tido.
4. Grab a hold of opportunities and just DO IT! My favourite saying (which could very well be a Parelli-ism) echoes this: Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right! So I learned .... I can, I did and I will.
So I am home, older, wiser and changed. I find it amazing what 5 days can do to someone. I came home with a clear path to where I want to go and what I want to do with my horses. But I do want to thank a few people before signing off on this blog episode:
John Baar - thank you for coming all the way from Kentucky. Thank you for being approachable and knowledgable and for telling all sorts of wonderful stories about Pat, Linda and your time spent at the Parelli Centres.
Don Halladay - I truly think you are one of the kindest people I have ever met. Thank you for keeping safety as the cornerstone of all your teaching. One day I will be at a level where you will ask me to ride your cutting horse - and I'll be ready and answer YES!
Randee Halladay - it was a pleasure to meet you and I love your "tell-it-like-it-is" style. I look forward to seeing you in Mt. Forest in July.
Maureen Owens - witness of my first official Liberty session!! Thank you for your one on one time and for supporting my journey. I look forward to working with you to put together some teaching sessions for children in our area.
Todd Owens - I don't even know what to say. Thank you for putting together such a wonderful event, supporting my goals and modelling how to be positive, progressive and natural. I look forward to learning from you again in the near future.
So I finish this blog post and am looking through the door to the rest of 2011. People to meet, tasks to accomplish and ever closer to the highlight - my ride with Walter Zettl. Keeping it natural!!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The Road to Walter
I originally dubbed 2011 as my own “Year of a Million Dreams” (thanks to Disney for coining the title back in 2008). Since my Parelli life began, I have a lot of horse-related dreams. A LOT!! So many so, that I get overwhelmed and burdened by the shear volume of things I want to accomplish with my horses. So in an effort to ease the dream burden, I have renamed 2011 as my “Year of 7 Dreams”. I have broken my dreams into two groups: short term and long term (I know this is pretty high-tech stuff but stay with me ..). Here they are:
Short-Term Dreams (able to be accomplished by Dec 31, 2011)
1. Learn and execute a ½ barrel jump online.
2. Ride a flying lead change.
3. Go on a half day trail ride – relaxed and confident.
4. Formally audition for the first time.
Long Term Dreams (accomplish sometime between today and someday)
1. Ride bridleless.
2. Load Tido while sitting on roof of trailer.
3. Ride with Walter Zettl.
Simple enough, right? As 2011 has moved along, logically, I was putting more focus on the short term goals (after all: the deadline for meeting those is much closer!!) and spending very little time on my long term goals. UNTIL ……. I realized that my opportunity to ride with Walter is much closer than expected!! I knew that Todd and Maureen Owens had Walter coming into Ontario several times in 2011. On a whim, I decided to ask for more information about what level Walter expect his students to be at. “Solidly in Level 3” was the answer. My stomach did a flip as I realized – I am in Level 3! So my nerves kicked into overdrive as I put together my Road(map) to Walter:
Physically Fit
This is my weakest of the 3 “fits”. So I head to a Weight Watchers meeting on Thursday and have immediately added an ambitious (but do-able) physical fitness plan to my schedule (thanks to Michele at www.naturalhorselover.blogspot.com for inspiring me).
Mentally Fit
This is where I think confidence resides. I am planning to spectate Walter giving a lesson this weekend – to begin preparation for my future ride. I have asked Todd and Maureen to give me an assessment at the Parelli Experience Camp next week to see where my horse and I are in Level 3 and to help me put together a plan to prepare for my ride with Walter. I need to become “solid” in Level 3 and confident in my horse and myself.
Emotionally Fit
This "fitness" is going to be tough. I have had a dream to ride with Walter for a very long time – even before Parelli came into my life. Taking dressage lessons in my early twenties, his name coupled with the title “Dressage Master” was prominent in dressage circles. My dream to ride with him is on par with dining with the Queen and meeting Tom Cruise. A dream, but not likely to happen. So as the reality that my Walter dream is now an actual possibility, I quickly realized that I need to remove the stars from my eyes and learn to get my sweaty palms under control. I need to not be overwhelmed by his Master-ness in order to make use of every minute of his teaching! The answer is prior and proper preparation – … gulp!!
So my Road to Walter begins with the estimated accomplishment date moved from “someday” to October 2011 – May 2012!! I know that as I work on my 3 Fitnesses the lingering doubts of “Can I really do this?” will disappear and my dream will be reality. Watch for my Road to Walter updates ….
Short-Term Dreams (able to be accomplished by Dec 31, 2011)
1. Learn and execute a ½ barrel jump online.
2. Ride a flying lead change.
3. Go on a half day trail ride – relaxed and confident.
4. Formally audition for the first time.
Long Term Dreams (accomplish sometime between today and someday)
1. Ride bridleless.
2. Load Tido while sitting on roof of trailer.
3. Ride with Walter Zettl.
Simple enough, right? As 2011 has moved along, logically, I was putting more focus on the short term goals (after all: the deadline for meeting those is much closer!!) and spending very little time on my long term goals. UNTIL ……. I realized that my opportunity to ride with Walter is much closer than expected!! I knew that Todd and Maureen Owens had Walter coming into Ontario several times in 2011. On a whim, I decided to ask for more information about what level Walter expect his students to be at. “Solidly in Level 3” was the answer. My stomach did a flip as I realized – I am in Level 3! So my nerves kicked into overdrive as I put together my Road(map) to Walter:
Physically Fit
This is my weakest of the 3 “fits”. So I head to a Weight Watchers meeting on Thursday and have immediately added an ambitious (but do-able) physical fitness plan to my schedule (thanks to Michele at www.naturalhorselover.blogspot.com for inspiring me).
Mentally Fit
This is where I think confidence resides. I am planning to spectate Walter giving a lesson this weekend – to begin preparation for my future ride. I have asked Todd and Maureen to give me an assessment at the Parelli Experience Camp next week to see where my horse and I are in Level 3 and to help me put together a plan to prepare for my ride with Walter. I need to become “solid” in Level 3 and confident in my horse and myself.
Emotionally Fit
This "fitness" is going to be tough. I have had a dream to ride with Walter for a very long time – even before Parelli came into my life. Taking dressage lessons in my early twenties, his name coupled with the title “Dressage Master” was prominent in dressage circles. My dream to ride with him is on par with dining with the Queen and meeting Tom Cruise. A dream, but not likely to happen. So as the reality that my Walter dream is now an actual possibility, I quickly realized that I need to remove the stars from my eyes and learn to get my sweaty palms under control. I need to not be overwhelmed by his Master-ness in order to make use of every minute of his teaching! The answer is prior and proper preparation – … gulp!!
So my Road to Walter begins with the estimated accomplishment date moved from “someday” to October 2011 – May 2012!! I know that as I work on my 3 Fitnesses the lingering doubts of “Can I really do this?” will disappear and my dream will be reality. Watch for my Road to Walter updates ….
Friday, April 8, 2011
A Start to a Better World for Horses
It was with interest today that I read Parelli's E-news outlining their plans for stepping up on a charitable level to make the world a better place for horses through the Parelli Horsemanship Fund (read the entire white paper found at: www.parellihorsemanshipfund.org). As a Parelli student and avid horse enthusiast, I read with interest. The fund is to be aimed in 4 main streams:
1. Youth Programs
2. Educational Scholarships
3. Horse Rescue Centres
4. Therapeutic Riding & ParaEquestrian Riding
There is no doubt, and I am sure that everyone will agree, that these are very worthy choices to focus the funds and time necessary to invoke change. However, immediately I have several important questions that arise:
~Will the Fund be aimed at the above four areas worldwide or just in the countries that contain Parelli Centres?
~ How will they administer their fund to Youth programs when so little has been directed specifically to youth in the past? It would be fair to say that only the Youth of Parelli parents have access to the program and currently none of the 5 Parelli Professionals I know of make any effort to have youth involved on any level. Will some of the Educational Scholarship funds be directed to people who seek to become a Parelli Professional specifically to teach children??
After reading through the aim of the Fund, the second section gives some steps on how I can help. It seems simple, in order to be more effective, the number of Parelli students needs to increase. However, this where I think things get a little off track. Think about it for a minute, "You spread the word. We Donate. Horses and Humans Win." Seems simple right?? Until we realize that the majority of Parelliers are already spreading the word. Alot. To anyone who shows an interest.
And this is where I have trouble with the Parelli model. People seeking information about Parelli are directed to the website and the current free Level 1 program. All good. But to really get a feel for Parelli, the best option is to take a Level 1 Clinic. The snag - we are being told that Parelli Professionals are only able to teach to Savvy Club members. The reality is that joining the Savvy Club is too much financial commitment when you are just getting started.
To get more people trying Parelli and seeing for themselves what a great program it is for horses and humans, I feel more needs to be done at the Professional and Corporate Level. There should be a reduced rate for all Level 1 clinics. I am not saying they should be free but more attractive for first time participants. This would in turn bring more people into Parelli. Professionals would be busier than ever with a larger number of active students! And demos. There should be Parelli representation at all major horse events and festivals in countries where there are active Parelli Professionals and students. Here in Ontario, Canada, Parelli is almost an underground movement. There are no advertisements in our horse publications. There are no Parelli booths or demonstrations at our large horse events and festivals. To find Parelli - you have to know someone or be really motivated to find out where to start. Parelli students are already spreading the word but more needs to come from higher up.
It is a start and certainly more than most other horse organizations are doing. And while I consider myself generally optimistic - I sincerely hope that what I have read doesn't benefit an elite few and we feel and see the benefits close to our own Parelli homes.
Keeping it Natural!
1. Youth Programs
2. Educational Scholarships
3. Horse Rescue Centres
4. Therapeutic Riding & ParaEquestrian Riding
There is no doubt, and I am sure that everyone will agree, that these are very worthy choices to focus the funds and time necessary to invoke change. However, immediately I have several important questions that arise:
~Will the Fund be aimed at the above four areas worldwide or just in the countries that contain Parelli Centres?
~ How will they administer their fund to Youth programs when so little has been directed specifically to youth in the past? It would be fair to say that only the Youth of Parelli parents have access to the program and currently none of the 5 Parelli Professionals I know of make any effort to have youth involved on any level. Will some of the Educational Scholarship funds be directed to people who seek to become a Parelli Professional specifically to teach children??
After reading through the aim of the Fund, the second section gives some steps on how I can help. It seems simple, in order to be more effective, the number of Parelli students needs to increase. However, this where I think things get a little off track. Think about it for a minute, "You spread the word. We Donate. Horses and Humans Win." Seems simple right?? Until we realize that the majority of Parelliers are already spreading the word. Alot. To anyone who shows an interest.
And this is where I have trouble with the Parelli model. People seeking information about Parelli are directed to the website and the current free Level 1 program. All good. But to really get a feel for Parelli, the best option is to take a Level 1 Clinic. The snag - we are being told that Parelli Professionals are only able to teach to Savvy Club members. The reality is that joining the Savvy Club is too much financial commitment when you are just getting started.
To get more people trying Parelli and seeing for themselves what a great program it is for horses and humans, I feel more needs to be done at the Professional and Corporate Level. There should be a reduced rate for all Level 1 clinics. I am not saying they should be free but more attractive for first time participants. This would in turn bring more people into Parelli. Professionals would be busier than ever with a larger number of active students! And demos. There should be Parelli representation at all major horse events and festivals in countries where there are active Parelli Professionals and students. Here in Ontario, Canada, Parelli is almost an underground movement. There are no advertisements in our horse publications. There are no Parelli booths or demonstrations at our large horse events and festivals. To find Parelli - you have to know someone or be really motivated to find out where to start. Parelli students are already spreading the word but more needs to come from higher up.
It is a start and certainly more than most other horse organizations are doing. And while I consider myself generally optimistic - I sincerely hope that what I have read doesn't benefit an elite few and we feel and see the benefits close to our own Parelli homes.
Keeping it Natural!
Monday, March 21, 2011
It isn't Easy Being Green .. er ... a Parelli Student!
There should be a disclaimer on all Parelli home study products and clinic forms that states, "Warning: becoming a Parelli student will cause you to look at all horses and their handlers differently from this point forward!" Parelli makes you more sensitive to instances of horses that are in distress and in situations where they no longer have their dignity. While there are some horse events that I now consciously avoid simply for my peace of mind, every so often a situation will catch me off guard. This past weekend was one of those times. It bothered me so much, that this afternoon I sent a letter to the event organizers in an effort to invoke change for the future. While a letter may not be a very outspoken way to make the world better for horses, it is a start and more than I would have ever dared to do in my pre-Parelli days. To the buckskin gelding that was in Auditorium 1 on Saturday March 19th at 6pm - this letter is dedicated to you. I hope you find your perfect partner and are never scared again .....
An Open Letter to the Organizers of
Can-Am All Breeds Emporium 2011
March 18 - 20, 2011
London, Ontario, Canada
I have attended Can-Am All Breeds Emporium several times in the last few years and enjoy it immensely. It is a wonderful event with lots of seminars and presentations by a wide variety of presenters from all disciplines. And of course the shopping is always enjoyable!! Having been involved with horses most of my life, I take pride that I actively seek opportunities to continue my learning. Can-Am makes learning easy and I often attend seminars I know little, if anything, about to continue expanding my horse knowledge.
Such was the case on Saturday March 19th at 6:00pm. At the last minute, I decided to attend Rick Wheat – Noavell Headset Bitless Training (Auditorium 1). Having no prior knowledge of this piece of equipment, I was curious and thought the seminar would be interesting. The introduction of Rick Wheat made at the beginning of the session sounded promising as well.
However, once the introduction was finished, the seminar took a bad turn. The horse brought in for the demo was obviously quite stressed about the situation. Rick Wheat claimed that the horse had been pulled out of the field and brought to the event (confirmed by the horse’s muddy and unkempt state) and eluded to the fact that the horse had not been ridden in many years, possibly due to some behavioural issues. Rick and his assistant then proceeded to saddle the horse (right over the mud and dirt). The horse continued to appear stressed and as they asked him to move about the space – he became quite panicked and began hopping. They then proceeded to ask him to put his head down and after standing so for a few minutes – the assistant mounted up! The rider was in a braced position – as one would see in a rodeo – waiting for the horse to explode. The entire situation was quickly becoming dangerous, not only by the horse’s panicked state but by the fact that the auditorium only had rubber matting on a portion of the concrete floor. It was at this point that I left the seminar, unable to watch this horse in his distressed state.
I was very upset by this seminar. I am deeply disturbed that a presenter at Can-Am would a) subject an obviously ill prepared horse to this “training” and b) imply to audience members that it is fun and okay to get on a horse that is so obviously not ready to ride!! Rick and his assistant joked throughout the 25 minutes I watched about the possible harm that may come when riding this particular horse during the session. What message is that sending to attendees??
This seminar presented by Rick Wheat was not of the quality that I have come to expect from Can-Am. I hope by stepping forward and voicing my concerns regarding this seminar, you, the organizers, will reconsider this presenter for future Can-Am events.
Sincerely, Shannon South
An Open Letter to the Organizers of
Can-Am All Breeds Emporium 2011
March 18 - 20, 2011
London, Ontario, Canada
I have attended Can-Am All Breeds Emporium several times in the last few years and enjoy it immensely. It is a wonderful event with lots of seminars and presentations by a wide variety of presenters from all disciplines. And of course the shopping is always enjoyable!! Having been involved with horses most of my life, I take pride that I actively seek opportunities to continue my learning. Can-Am makes learning easy and I often attend seminars I know little, if anything, about to continue expanding my horse knowledge.
Such was the case on Saturday March 19th at 6:00pm. At the last minute, I decided to attend Rick Wheat – Noavell Headset Bitless Training (Auditorium 1). Having no prior knowledge of this piece of equipment, I was curious and thought the seminar would be interesting. The introduction of Rick Wheat made at the beginning of the session sounded promising as well.
However, once the introduction was finished, the seminar took a bad turn. The horse brought in for the demo was obviously quite stressed about the situation. Rick Wheat claimed that the horse had been pulled out of the field and brought to the event (confirmed by the horse’s muddy and unkempt state) and eluded to the fact that the horse had not been ridden in many years, possibly due to some behavioural issues. Rick and his assistant then proceeded to saddle the horse (right over the mud and dirt). The horse continued to appear stressed and as they asked him to move about the space – he became quite panicked and began hopping. They then proceeded to ask him to put his head down and after standing so for a few minutes – the assistant mounted up! The rider was in a braced position – as one would see in a rodeo – waiting for the horse to explode. The entire situation was quickly becoming dangerous, not only by the horse’s panicked state but by the fact that the auditorium only had rubber matting on a portion of the concrete floor. It was at this point that I left the seminar, unable to watch this horse in his distressed state.
I was very upset by this seminar. I am deeply disturbed that a presenter at Can-Am would a) subject an obviously ill prepared horse to this “training” and b) imply to audience members that it is fun and okay to get on a horse that is so obviously not ready to ride!! Rick and his assistant joked throughout the 25 minutes I watched about the possible harm that may come when riding this particular horse during the session. What message is that sending to attendees??
This seminar presented by Rick Wheat was not of the quality that I have come to expect from Can-Am. I hope by stepping forward and voicing my concerns regarding this seminar, you, the organizers, will reconsider this presenter for future Can-Am events.
Sincerely, Shannon South
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
More Lightbulbs Than a Hardware Store
This week was a turning point. Two turning points actually. And the really amazing part - both of my light bulb moments came from knowledge I already knew - sparked by information that has been in front of my nose for ... well .... ashamed to actually admit ... years!!
Breakthrough #1
I watched the January 2011 Savvy Club DVD - Performance Summit Highlights. And then I watched it again. And again. Because the first time I watched it - a light bulb went on. And then I watched it two more times just to be sure it really was a lightbulb and not some other flash of light pretending to be a lightbulb.
So what was this brilliant, flashing, lightbulb moment? Watching Pat and his students riding during their demo I ... wait for it ...I got IT. I mean I really GOT IT. I understood for the first time the importance of all this "stuff" we have been doing on the ground and how it prepares us for riding. I really understood the importance of the patterns and their design. I really, really got the message loud and clear how important the human and horse responsibilities are to riding. I felt like Pat reached out through my TV screen and smacked me upside the head and said, "pay attention - this stuff is important!" When he saw the surprise in my face, I am sure he shook his head and thought, "what do you think I have been telling you via video for the last 2 years??" Okay Pat - I get it. So with the lightbulb illuminated, my poor horse will finally get the leader he needs in the saddle, instead of one that has been floundering around in the dark. I guess the only question now is, if this information has been presented to me in countless videos and clinics - why did it take me so long to get it??
Breakthrough #2
I have come to the conclusion that I am really, really good at collecting and learning new materials. I am great at making plans - on paper. But I am truly mediocre at putting those plans into action. There, my secret is out. Too often I feel that I have "fake it 'til you make it" tattooed across my forehead. In a few aspects of my life, I know deep down that I haven't done the time - I haven't paid the piper - I haven't given the concentrated, consistent effort required to achieve a particular goal. And I am not just talking my horsey life ... I don't admit to too many people that I have wanted to lose weight for just over 10 years now.
So just as I started feeling slightly blue as I reflected on goals not yet accomplished, an email arrived from Drew Harvey and his blog Diet Tired . Suddenly, as before, the lightbulb went on ...
"What is the trick? Five proven steps to bridge the gap between good intentions and action:
Record Keeping
Goal Setting
Scheduling
Overcoming Barriers
Evaluation and Feedback"
And there it is. I am awesome at Goal Setting. I give myself a C+ in Record Keeping. Scheduling of my horse time or my diet & exercise requirements doesn't exist. Overcoming Barriers is low on the list. And could my lackadaisical attitude regarding submitting an official Parelli audition mean that I actually avoid Evaluation and Feedback??? As a certain Mrs. Parelli would say ... hmm, how interesting. So applying the above 5 steps to my Parelli goals and my weight loss/fitness goals, I am suddenly feeling much more positive (and illuminated). Stay tuned!! 2011 is looking bright!
Breakthrough #1
I watched the January 2011 Savvy Club DVD - Performance Summit Highlights. And then I watched it again. And again. Because the first time I watched it - a light bulb went on. And then I watched it two more times just to be sure it really was a lightbulb and not some other flash of light pretending to be a lightbulb.
So what was this brilliant, flashing, lightbulb moment? Watching Pat and his students riding during their demo I ... wait for it ...I got IT. I mean I really GOT IT. I understood for the first time the importance of all this "stuff" we have been doing on the ground and how it prepares us for riding. I really understood the importance of the patterns and their design. I really, really got the message loud and clear how important the human and horse responsibilities are to riding. I felt like Pat reached out through my TV screen and smacked me upside the head and said, "pay attention - this stuff is important!" When he saw the surprise in my face, I am sure he shook his head and thought, "what do you think I have been telling you via video for the last 2 years??" Okay Pat - I get it. So with the lightbulb illuminated, my poor horse will finally get the leader he needs in the saddle, instead of one that has been floundering around in the dark. I guess the only question now is, if this information has been presented to me in countless videos and clinics - why did it take me so long to get it??
Breakthrough #2
I have come to the conclusion that I am really, really good at collecting and learning new materials. I am great at making plans - on paper. But I am truly mediocre at putting those plans into action. There, my secret is out. Too often I feel that I have "fake it 'til you make it" tattooed across my forehead. In a few aspects of my life, I know deep down that I haven't done the time - I haven't paid the piper - I haven't given the concentrated, consistent effort required to achieve a particular goal. And I am not just talking my horsey life ... I don't admit to too many people that I have wanted to lose weight for just over 10 years now.
So just as I started feeling slightly blue as I reflected on goals not yet accomplished, an email arrived from Drew Harvey and his blog Diet Tired . Suddenly, as before, the lightbulb went on ...
"What is the trick? Five proven steps to bridge the gap between good intentions and action:
Record Keeping
Goal Setting
Scheduling
Overcoming Barriers
Evaluation and Feedback"
And there it is. I am awesome at Goal Setting. I give myself a C+ in Record Keeping. Scheduling of my horse time or my diet & exercise requirements doesn't exist. Overcoming Barriers is low on the list. And could my lackadaisical attitude regarding submitting an official Parelli audition mean that I actually avoid Evaluation and Feedback??? As a certain Mrs. Parelli would say ... hmm, how interesting. So applying the above 5 steps to my Parelli goals and my weight loss/fitness goals, I am suddenly feeling much more positive (and illuminated). Stay tuned!! 2011 is looking bright!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Winter Blahs
Last week I was reminded of several things that I had temporarily forgotten:
1. I hate winter - specifically January. It is the month after Christmas and appears exceptionally dark and dreary without the glitter and sparkle of the holiday season. It is smack in the middle of winter - too close to the beginning to say that spring is coming. It is cold - very cold. Yesterday's low of -28 degrees Celsius is cold no matter how hard you imagine yourself on a tropical beach somewhere. Even more than I hate winter - I hate looking at photos of people playing with their horses at the Parelli campus in Florida. Or worse, looking at photos of people playing with their horses at the Parelli campus in Florida and then going to play with your horse in the cold arctic -28 wind and snow of Canada. Darn. I hate winter.
2. I am the first one to tell you that my horse is brilliant. Tido's super ultra high play drive and LBE horsenality makes me proudly boast how brilliant he is. But he can't read. Nor can he watch DVD's. And he doesn't have a wireless connection between his brain and mine. So, when the weather outside is frightful, and I curl up to watch, read and generally absorb my vast supply of Parelli materials from a nice warm spot in the house - get this - HE ISN'T LEARNING ANYTHING!!!! Darn. I hate winter.
3. No matter how creative and progressive I am - 5 minutes isn't enough playtime for 21 month old girls with - get this - super ultra high play drives and LBE horsenality (see a trend here?). Heading to the house with frozen fingers, toes and snow frosted eye lashes, so proud of playing with Jess for a full 5 minutes - I hear .. "thunk". That, my friends, is the sound of the heated float hitting the barn wall as it is removed from the outside water trough. Yep, she can't talk but that sound very clearly says, "how dare you tease me with five minutes of playtime!! What am I supposed to do for the other 23 hours and 55 minutes left in this day??" Darn. I hate winter.
I can't change winter. Positives? Let's see, there must be some:
1. My Parelli saddle arrives in less than 28 days!! Now that might inspire some winter riding!!
2. Laughing keeps you warm. Simulations with the Parelli playgroup are best done in the winter - the moving around and inevitable laughter (and of course the fresh baked cookies that find their way to the gathering) make you temporarily forget how cold it is. For a few minutes anyhow ...
3. Time - to watch, listen and read all those materials that you don't have time for during the "good" weather. And while I try to figure out how to hook up the wireless brain connection between Tido and I, he does benefit, eventually, from my learning. I have a better plan which makes me more positive and progressive.
4. If I stand by the kitchen window - there is enough room to "throw" my 45' line down between the fridge and the island, and coil it up again ... over and over ... and over. Ron said to get good with it before I use it on my horse. I don't recall a requirement that I had to get good with it OUTSIDE!
5. Marked on the calendar is "May 11 - 15 - Parelli Experience with Don Halladay & John Barr". Only a mere 105 days (or 15 weeks) away. Before I know it - it will be here! While it may not be Florida in January - I can settle for London in May.
So I finish this with the resignation, I may not like it, but January doesn't last forever. And before we know it, the horses will be shedding and the mosquitoes will be biting and the humidity will make us cranky and we'll be thinking of January ... fondly.
1. I hate winter - specifically January. It is the month after Christmas and appears exceptionally dark and dreary without the glitter and sparkle of the holiday season. It is smack in the middle of winter - too close to the beginning to say that spring is coming. It is cold - very cold. Yesterday's low of -28 degrees Celsius is cold no matter how hard you imagine yourself on a tropical beach somewhere. Even more than I hate winter - I hate looking at photos of people playing with their horses at the Parelli campus in Florida. Or worse, looking at photos of people playing with their horses at the Parelli campus in Florida and then going to play with your horse in the cold arctic -28 wind and snow of Canada. Darn. I hate winter.
2. I am the first one to tell you that my horse is brilliant. Tido's super ultra high play drive and LBE horsenality makes me proudly boast how brilliant he is. But he can't read. Nor can he watch DVD's. And he doesn't have a wireless connection between his brain and mine. So, when the weather outside is frightful, and I curl up to watch, read and generally absorb my vast supply of Parelli materials from a nice warm spot in the house - get this - HE ISN'T LEARNING ANYTHING!!!! Darn. I hate winter.
3. No matter how creative and progressive I am - 5 minutes isn't enough playtime for 21 month old girls with - get this - super ultra high play drives and LBE horsenality (see a trend here?). Heading to the house with frozen fingers, toes and snow frosted eye lashes, so proud of playing with Jess for a full 5 minutes - I hear .. "thunk". That, my friends, is the sound of the heated float hitting the barn wall as it is removed from the outside water trough. Yep, she can't talk but that sound very clearly says, "how dare you tease me with five minutes of playtime!! What am I supposed to do for the other 23 hours and 55 minutes left in this day??" Darn. I hate winter.
I can't change winter. Positives? Let's see, there must be some:
1. My Parelli saddle arrives in less than 28 days!! Now that might inspire some winter riding!!
2. Laughing keeps you warm. Simulations with the Parelli playgroup are best done in the winter - the moving around and inevitable laughter (and of course the fresh baked cookies that find their way to the gathering) make you temporarily forget how cold it is. For a few minutes anyhow ...
3. Time - to watch, listen and read all those materials that you don't have time for during the "good" weather. And while I try to figure out how to hook up the wireless brain connection between Tido and I, he does benefit, eventually, from my learning. I have a better plan which makes me more positive and progressive.
4. If I stand by the kitchen window - there is enough room to "throw" my 45' line down between the fridge and the island, and coil it up again ... over and over ... and over. Ron said to get good with it before I use it on my horse. I don't recall a requirement that I had to get good with it OUTSIDE!
5. Marked on the calendar is "May 11 - 15 - Parelli Experience with Don Halladay & John Barr". Only a mere 105 days (or 15 weeks) away. Before I know it - it will be here! While it may not be Florida in January - I can settle for London in May.
So I finish this with the resignation, I may not like it, but January doesn't last forever. And before we know it, the horses will be shedding and the mosquitoes will be biting and the humidity will make us cranky and we'll be thinking of January ... fondly.
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