Our journey: Is it July already?

Friday, July 2, 2010

Is it July already?

On January 1st of this year I made a resolution. I'm not the type for new year's resolutions, but this time it felt right and I went with my gut. Well, July is here!

I said that I would be at Level 2 with Satin and Dancer by July. The good news is I am self-assessed Level 2 with Satin! I could be there with Dancer in a snap if I had a little more time.
Since January I have bought and watched all the old levels 1 and 2 and the new levels 1 & 2, Liberty and Horse Behavior and On-line and Liberty Patterns. I have watched everything in the vaults, which is a ton of videos, and have taken a lesson with a 2* Parelli trainer.

Looking back I can see that I am on the right track. I am attempting to do whatever it takes to better my relationship with horses, especially my two girls.

After my 3-hour session on July 18th with Karen Woodbury, 2*Parelli trainer, I am going to turn in my video to officially graduate Level 1.

I am saving every penny to go to a 4-week course next year.

Happy July!

2 comments:

Golden the Pony Girl said...: I hope you get to do the 4 week course! That always seemed like so much fun to me bit i could never afford it. Maybe someday Bodhi and I could go.; July 2, 2010 at 6:28 PM
Kerrin Koetsier said...: Great stuff! We look forward to receiving your audition, and hopefully seeing you at a course sometime in the not too distant future!

Kerrin~
Parelli Central; July 13, 2010 at 11:27 AM

Post a Comment

Satin, 1997 Snowflake Appaloosa mare

Satin, my best friend. Her stall name plate (well, one of her stall plates) says it all, "Satin, Mommy's Brat"
She's been with me since she was weaned (too early) as a 4 month-old. I was barely 14 and desperately wanted my very own horse. My family was not horse savvy, although I did get my mom into riding when I started taking lessons as a girl. I dragged my parents across Sarasota, Florida, classifieds in hand, trying to find a horse for me. I still remember the ad catching my attention for two reasons - "filly" and "$500". She was cheap and she was a baby! I had no idea what I was getting into. Never had any experience with foals (I was 14!) and had no experience with any sort of training. I taught her how to halter, tie, load, clip, lunge, started her under saddle, dressage, eventing.. you name it, Satin and I did it on our own. She has taught me how horses talk and how important it is to speak in a way they can understand. Here we are in 2010, starting our new journey to an even better friendship!

Dancer, 1996 Chestnut TB rescue

When I describe Dancer to anyone, the first thing I say about her is "She has such a big heart." She is so loving towards other horses and my hope is that this Parelli journey will allow her to love humans just as well.
Dancer was considered trash to the TB breeding industry. She had 4 foals, then didn't take one year, then didn't take another year. So they gave her away. She was useless to them, so they tossed her out. Someone with no experience picked her up. They held on to her for a short time before realizing that 'owning' a horse is expensive and hard work! So they offered her up for "free" in the classifieds. This was before US slaughterhouses has been shut down. She was picked up by a kill buyer and brought to their transport facility. Fate was shining down on Dancer when she was bought back from the owner who's friends told her the whole deal was odd. She had given Dancer away for free but the buyer made her pay money to take her back. She picked her up the day she was to be shipped to slaughter.
That's when I met Dancer! Abandoned at a boarding facility, nervous of humans but totally a doll to other horses. I knew she needed some love.