NEWS ARCHIVES
Septembre 2010
The September newsletter is available. In this newsletter
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August 2010
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July 2010
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November 2009
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September 2009
First half of October, I will be heading back East towards Quebec after a great summer spent in BC. I will be once again travelling on the Transcanada Highway which crosses BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. I have several stops planned en route and I will be teaching in the various provinces as I make my way back. Please visit my Schedule page for the latest updates on my travels and my availability in the different areas. You will find more details, stories and pictures on my blog. As soon as I arrive to Quebec, I will be leaving again for Gaspésie for a workshop series in New Richmond October 24 and 25. Have a great and savvy summer and fall!
July 2009
15
days on the road, over 5000 km, I have finally arrived and I am setting up for
the summer at Day Spring Ranch, a 600 acre piece of paradise hidden amongst
the Cascade mountains of Princeton, BC. This place reminds me a lot of
Colorado - same abrupt terrain, same rocky ground, intense sun and heat during
the day and cold nights, big spaces, wildlife and very beautiful. The
days are very long and very hot, and I have at my disposal a vast play area
consisting of trails that meander across meadows and bush, climb up mountain
faces, natural obstacles (steep hills, creeks, logs, bridgesd) and large hilly
pastures. My horses are in heaven with no less than 300 acres to
themselves with running water, shady shelters and unlimited grass. They
will both have a job for the summer - I am using them to bring in the herd in
the morning, to check fences and water across the property and to take the
young horses on the trails. They will be good ranch horses once we are
done. I have already started to train the 12 horses that belong to the
ranch owner and I am in the process of setting up a schedule of workshops and
clinics. This site is perfect to host students - we have very
comfortable on site accommodation in the guest house with bedrooms, bathrooms,
kitchen and living room, electricity, and running water everywhere, luxurious
barn and pastures for the horses, wash rack, round pens, arena, lots of space
for trailers and lots of room to play. I leave you with a few
pictures.
June 2009
Starting the third week of June, I will be travelling across Canada heading towards Princeton, BC, where I will be teaching and developing Parelli horses for the summer. I am planning several stops en route to teach lessons in various locations in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Once in Princeton, I will be based at Day Spring Ranch from July to September, a beautiful 600 acre facility belonging to a Parelli student. The ranch has plenty of room to take in outside students, horses, including on site accommodations and training facilities. Please check my schedule for an update on my travels and availability across Canada and in BC, and there will more details on my blog. I am currently taking bookings in Princeton! I will be returning to Quebec in October, with a first set of workshops already booked in New Richmond on the 24th and 25th. I look forward to meeting you on the road!
April 2009
My winter in Florida
Spring is heading back this way, bringing the geese, the warm days and I am heading north as well after over two months spent at the Parelli ranch in Florida. It's been a roller coaster winter, filled with extraordinary moments, unique opportunities, massive obstacles and deep emotion. I am bringing back a wealth of new knowledge, new ideas for teaching and lots of concepts and techniques to help my students progress. I started my stay by attending the Masterclass, the Level 3/4 course now being offered at the centres. I really enjoyed the teaching of the advanced concepts in Finesse, such as flying lead changes in collection, and the focus on Horsenality. I was then able to hone my teaching skills by instructing those same courses as faculty support. I truly loved teaching the higher levels, they are demanding and fascinating at the same time... With a great curriculum developed by Pat, Linda and faculty, we've been able to translate even the most advanced concepts into simple steps and progression ladders that can be learned by anyone studying Parelli.
I learned alot during our Saturday sessions with Linda Parelli. She helped me improve my leadership with my young horse Menina, who she quickly compared to her challenging horse Allure! I had to develop strategies to avoid confrontation while still channeling all of her energy and talent. Linda is a wonderful teacher and what a priviledge to be able to take my own lessons from a Parelli master.
We were also blessed with a visit with Walter Zettl, dressage master, who spent a week at the ranch teaching high level dressage to Pat, Linda, Caton and their best students. I was able to attend most of the week's lessons, and must have taken almost 50 pages of notes! What a fascinating man and great teacher. Walter took time to answer all of our questions and we even took part in a simulation session to help us feel the more advanced maneuvers that Pat and Linda has been doing in the morning. We talked about the significance of the terms travers and renvers and of the lack of respect for the horse exhibited in the modern approach to dressage.
Last, but not least, I started my Mastery Program internship with Pat Parelli. This program is now the only way for Parelli Professionals to advance their star rating and if you are chosen, this is where Pat teaches Levels 5 and up. First invited to prove myself, then to participate, I had the priviledge of spending 2 weeks being coached directly by Pat. I played with and rode a few of his best horses and he also helped me with my training of Menina. My 'list' included Savvy (4 year old Atwood Ranch filly), Little Scamper (yearling featured in Savvy Times), Ready (3 year old son of Liberty Major) and I even got to ride Mango! We did alot of cattle work, a great way to develop the horse's confidence and focus, the rider's leadership and of using the games and principles to a purpose. Menina did great and we really got to a whole new level in our relationship during those intensive two weeks. I was in good company with Emily and Amy, Pat's protégés who achieved Level 4 at 20, Kalley Krickerberg, Level 4 Horse Specialist in charge of the Atwood Ranch Naturally development program, Lauren Barwick, olympic medallist in para equestrian dressage in Hong Kong and Jesse Peters, winner of the 2008 Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge competition. I plan to continue in the Mastery Program next winter.
My clinic season will be starting end of May, with 4 days in New Richmond in Chaleur Bay (Beginning and Advanced Level 1), and 4 days in St-Lazare (Advanced Level 1 and Beginning Level 2). There are still rider spots available, so hurry! Registration info is listed on the Schedule section. Also check out my new video coaching option for students who cannot make it to a clinic! It's the best way to keep advancing on a regular basis without having to leave home.
Savvylicious (Savvy), one of Pat's favorite mares
Maile, the horse ridden by Lauren to olympic gold and silver at the Para Equestrian Games in Hong Kong
A True Love Story
Around 3:30 pm on April 13th, I said a final goodbye to my beautiful Jolie who went to sleep forever. She would have been 22 years old in a month. She was accompanied by her two herd mates Easter and Menina, and I spoke to her and petted her softly while she went to sleep for the last time. She spent her last winter with me in Florida, living in a beautiful pasture, enjoying the warm sun and good company. Her spirit was still strong, but her body was weakening quickly and could no longer carry her. She had been suffering for several years from a degenerative disease called DSLD or ESPA and was retired since 2004. I came to understand that her days would certainly end here in Florida.
She was my partner and my teacher for over 13 years, and she changed my life. Thanks to her, I found Parelli and I am where I am today. She could read my thoughts and sense my meaning, and our communication was unique. On Easter Monday, Menina and Easter also understood that she was leaving this earth and that her spirit had been released.
An oak tree will be planted in her memory where she was laid to rest. Jolie left with dignity and surrounded by love and compassion. I could not have wanted anything better for this wonderful and very special friend who taught me so much. She will never be forgotten.
Jolie Demoiselle 1987-2009
January 2009
First of all, a Happy New Year to all!
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