RC's Journey Day 3 & 4

RC's Journey day 3:
As I drove into the Wangler ranch I could see RC watching my truck from his pen. I pulled up along side his pen he was whinnying at me and as I got out he followed me around to his gate and nickered as I came in. RC has never really been one to whinny at people. I was happy to see him excited about me being there. I held his halter up and he politely put his nose in and when we went towards the round pen, his trainer Matt Coats was standing by the gate and RC greeted him with enthusiasm, ready to start the day.

RC had a lot of play in him and so Matt took the time to play some games with him, letting him stretch his legs and get a bit goofy. When RC had had enough he politely joined up with Matt and class began. RC quickly signed on and Matt had him saddled and ready to go out into a new surrounding to further his education and experience. Today's focus would be about learning what it feels like to make some transitions and change in directions with Matt on his back with a bit more guidance. Encouraging RC to follow a feel.

I watched Matt work with RC with a lot of body language and increased levels of energy and when RC did the right thing then Matt would release the pressure and RC would soon be licking and chewing and settling into the new activity. At one point some questions were asked about doing more with the reins. Matt explained to do more with the reins would be to much information. It became very clear to me how important it is for youngsters to have things taught to them in phases. Giving them enough to keep them engaged and learning however not so much that we send them into overload and confusion.

RC had a great third day of training learning to carry his rider and leader around on him with confidence and coordination. Being given guidance and encouragement when he made the right choices and the opportunity to search for the correct answers with patients and respect from his trainer. He ended his day on a very positive note when he gave Matt his body and mind with softness. In return Matt gave him the rewards of feeling good about himself and lots of self-confidence.

When Matt left,RC and I took some time together in the round pen to let him have a good roll in the sand and a body massage. I realized today why it is so important to have a good positive solid foundation put on these youngster. What Matt has given RC and I today has begun to set us up for a lifetime of success. Now all I need to do is be sure that I can be the person he needs me to be; a leader who teaches with equal doses of love, language and leadership.

Day 4: Today was a cold and cloudy day. RC seems to be much more relaxed in his surroundings today and again met me at the gate ready to get out and play. We had some time before Matt got there to enjoy a some green grass grazing. Matt spent a little time with him in the round pen and then brought him out to saddle him. Giving him a bit of a change to what they had done in the previous days with saddling. Allowing RC to experience as many new things as possible to learn that "its all good"!

This morning his pre-ride check took place in the big open sand arena and there were lots of new things to check out and explore. RC was pretty sure that the side of the arena closest to his pen was his favorite spot. Matt helped RC discover that the other side of the arena was actually a much better place to be and in no time at all RC was in agreement.

RC thought today was a great day to test Matt and see what he could get away with. RC was asking alot of questions today and his trainer would allow him to see for himself if he thought his suggestions were better then Matt's. Of course being the smart horse that he is, in no time at all he realized that Matt was actually the wiser of the pair and relaxed into allowing Matt to show him the way. They did lots of patterns and transitions, helping RC to find the correct leads with the help of Matt. Giving RC the opportunity to feel how much more comfortable it is when you are leading with your correct leg. At the same time teaching me how to assist this young horse to search for the correct answer and when to reward the efforts at the appropriate time.

They did some very nice patterns around the arena, came to a stop in front of us and then gave Matt a beautiful backup. Matt hopped off and called it a day!

The gold nuggets that I came away with today:
1) Attitude is everything, can I respond to his actions, rather then reacting to him with emotions driving my behavior (predatory behavior)?

2) It is so important to make the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy.

3) When he is testing his boundaries,match his energy and then some, showing him that we can do what he wants, but its not as much fun as what my idea can be.

When RC's lesson was over, we gave him some roll in the sand time and then loaded him up in the trailer. He walked right in and stood very calm with confidence. He and his herd brothers were very happy to reunited and will enjoy the weekend with some rest and relaxation. Monday we will be back at the Wangler Ranch for day 5 of RC's Journey.

Happy Memorial day weekend to you all!
Cindy and RC

RC's journey day 2

Today was RC"s second day of training. It was a very windy day and on my way to Heidi Wangler's ranch I wondered if Matt would cancel the lesson.When I arrived RC was pretty high spirited and I caught myself thinking about the fact that wind is a common contributor to horse back riding accidents and was sure the lesson would be cancelled.

Matt arrived and he took RC in the round pen and played with him on the 12' line to see what horse was showing up this morning. RC wanted to play and so they did online and at liberty. After RC let go of some extra energy and was signed on with Matt the schooling began.

Matt explained to me that many people choose to not do much with their horses in the wind and by doing so actually deprive them of a opportunity to learn something new. To discover new noises and sensations and to gain the confidence in themselves that everything is okay. Then he and RC showed me what he meant. RC got to experience playing with Matt in the same round pen as he did yesterday however there was things blowing around in the distance and an occasional new nosie and when he spooked, Matt took the time to encourage him to go check it out. Giving RC the time and the guidance to face the unknown and get comfortable with it all.

Next came time to saddle and ride in the wind. Not only did he ride in the wind, he trotted, cantered and changed directions many many times. Learning how to stop, back up. Standing calmly checking out everything very relaxed and confident.

Matt explained as long as his hat stayed on his head it wasn't too windy to work with RC. Then about a hour and half into the lesson Matt's hat blew off and over the top of RC's head and out into the pasture. RC flinched a little as this big black hat came flying over his head from behind, then stood quietly with Matt on top of his back, watching it fly away as if to say: WOW look at it go, isn't that interesting?!

A few more times around the pen and Matt called it a day, after all his hat flew off, RC stayed calm and collected, what more could anyone want from a colt on his second day of school?!

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The Road Less Traveled

The Road Less Traveled
This is why I have choosen the Parelli program to learn how to be a true horseman.
I am very proud of Pat for what he did and does. I admire Linda for her ability to share her wisdom and insights of events in a way that honors everyone.

Equine Intuitve Experiential Workshop in Las Vegas

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Touched by a horse

Gino and I have been home for a week now and have settled back into our routine. He was very happy to set his hooves back onto his own dirt and his herd was happy to see him. Although big black Magic did struggle a little to relinquish his temporary leadership position of the herd .

While I had hoped to be able to return to Parelli Natural Horsemanship University to begin the Fast Track 8 course that is starting tomorrow, I am accepting for now that this is not the right time. I do have plans to attend in 2011. Being back in the incredible learning environment that is found at Parelli Natural Horsemanship University helped me to reconnect with the part of me inside that longs to be all that I can be for my horse, other horses and humans who long to have the deep natural connection that can be shared between the two species.

The Parelli team is a group of amazing individuals who have devoted their lives to horses and their well-being. Pat and Linda together as the unique pair that they are have created a learning environment like no other. The entire ranch is so carefully thought out and nothing, I mean nothing is done or created without a purpose. Allowing yourself to be open to learning you are able to discover things that you would never begin to imagine. Participating in a course at the Parelli Natural Horsemanship University is filled with so many opportunities to develop your horsemanship and animal husbandry to new and higher levels of ability.

I suppose I could take a moment and share some of the things I have learned about myself and my horse and horses in general. One of the things I learned about myself was that I had a deeper fear of getting back on Gino then I knew. Through our confidence course and learning to discover the different signals my body gives me when I am entering a state of fear. I learned that I was afraid to even think about getting back on him. Thank you Parelli instructors for helping me to discover this while sitting on a simulator horse instead of being on Gino's back and having a repeat of what has already happened! I learned how to be a better leader for my unconfident horse. I did not realize how much I walked on eggshells to protect him/us from any scary situations. I learned how much I was contributing to his insecurities instead of helping him.

I learned how to look at new situations with a attitude of "OH BOY" instead of "OH NO"! I learned the skill and tools I needed to be able to help this horse be all that he can be. My horse now looks to me for leadership instead of turning tail and moving to the far side of his pen. Which by the way is exactly what he did for the first 4 days of being in Pagosa. I learned to put our relationship first.

While all the other students were able to go right into their pens and halter their horses, I had to take the time it takes for my horse to want to come up to me and put his halter on. This was hard for me, I found myself worrying about what everyone else was doing. What they may be thinking about me and Gino, what the instructors may be thinking about me! Then there was the frustration of what I was thinking about ME and GINO!!! Of course the latter was by far the worse of them all.

The first day we took our horses out onto the playground to practice some of what we had learned, Gino did his famous freak out, turn tail and head for the hills,not taking even a minute to see if I was still there or not, leaving me standing empty handed with nothing but a rope burn on the palm of my hand. I am hoping to be the last of many rope burns given to me by this horse. I was then instructed to take him into a round pen and work with him in there under the supervision of one of our instructors. By now we are both emotional wrecks, he not trusting humans and me not trusting him. So angry and frustrated about having to deal with him and the burning throbbing rope burns on my hand at the same time. I was telling my instructors that I was willing to leave the ranch without that horse!

Thankfully they did not take me serious, they did however take the situation and the relationship between my horse and I very serious. With they guidance and help from all of them and the skills and compassion of our lead instructor, Gino and I had our first break through on the 4th day of our course.

Kathy, our instructor, took Gino and spent about 2 hours working with him in a round pen while I observed from a safe distance. Watching what she did with him and how calm and confident she was while working with him is something that I believe I will never forget. She helped this frightened horse move beyond his comfort zone into his learning zone and never allowed him to cross over into his panic zone. I watched this woman skillfully help my horse to overcome things that made him literally fear for his life, all the while staying very grounded in herself and light hearted enough to let him know everything is alright. She taught him how to look for the answers instead of looking for the emergency exit. She taught me how to help him stay out of his adrenaline state of mind and seek his endorphine state while looking for the answers. Our two lives were forever changed in those two hours.

I learned how to observe horses from a more horse like perspective. I learned so much about the power of body language and what we are really saying when we think we are saying something else. I learned how to handle my tools with confidence away from horse so that when i am with my horse I am not fumbling with and making things chaotic. I learned how to relax and enjoy the journey, no not THE journey, MY journey. I learned that I can be the human Gino needs me to be. I learned that it is so much more than riding. I learned that its not about the goals its about the relationship. I learned that if I never get on Gino's back it will not mean that we are not partners or that I have failed in anyway. It means that I have truly put my horse and our relationship first!!!

By the end of our time at Parelli Natural Horsemanship University and our Confidence Transformation course, my horse was standing at the entrance of his pen looking for me and whinnying when he finally spotted me. He would walk up to me and lower his nose into his halter.

While playing out on the playground one afternoon, I was up on a mound and he below me. He walked up to me with his head low and relaxed, he gently rested his chin in my lap and we put our foreheads together and I gazed into his eyes, our hearts deeply connected as I felt our hearts become one, I whispered "hello my gentle friend" as I silently shed tears of joy.

So here we are home again and I play with him every chance I get and he still looks to me when I come out to see them, only now he looks at me with confidence, confidence in himself and in me as his leader.

Thank you Linda, Pat and your Parelli team for giving me the chance to help this horse to be all that he can be and for changing our lives forever!

I will return to the Parelli Natural Horsemanship University to further my education and to become the horseman I have always desired to be and to become a instructor so that I too can help to change the world one horse and human at a time.

Honored to be taking this journey with the Parelli team!