User Profile

Let's see. Horses...yes. I own 4 horses (Wow! They really are like potato chips! Always thought I would only have 1.). Cal, my first horse, is a 17 year old, pinto, American Saddlebred. Buttons came next, a breeding stock paint, now 9, I think. I acquired my third horse, Furi, a bay QH in his late teens fall 2007. And Summer 2008 I got a Polish Arabian mare, Lyssi.

For a quick (hopefully) summary, I started Parelli back in April 2005. Not because I had problems with my horse, but simply because I was bored and looking for something interesting. In December '05, I officially passed the Level 1 assessment. Sometime in between, I found a dream...I wanted to ride my horse bridleless more than anything else. I followed the Parelli program, playing in the old level 2, then the new level 2. In April '06, Trevor Carter (a 3* instructor at the time), gave a clinic at our barn. I continued playing in level 2 over that summer, mainly held back by the tasks of cantering on the 22' and leading by the front leg. In September, I took Cal to an advancing level 2 clinic with Nita Jo Rush. We had a super time on the ground, and ran into all the impulsive issues Cal had while riding. In January '07, I made a decision to follow the impulsion programs in the old level 1. I rode my horse 6 days a week for almost 2 months as I followed the program. A short time later, I fulfilled my dream of the last 2 years. I rode Cal bridleless...and it was anything but anticlimactic. It was a delight to find my horse right there with me, a true partner, and that he gave me a better ride with nothing on his head then I ever had with a bridle or hackamore.

Since that wonderous day, it's been hard to find such inspiration...Another goal that will give as amazing results as riding bridleless. I'm still searching....EDIT: I want to ride Lyssi across America. How's that for a goal? =D

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