The owner of VifArgent, Geneviève Benoit, has been active in horses for over 30 years.  She officially worked at the 1976 Summer Olympics supporting the Pentathlon equestrian teams.  Certified as a Coach (Classical Riding) by the Canadian Equestrian Federation since 1996, she was in 2003 the first Quebec rider to achieve her Level 3 in Parelli Natural Horsemanship, and is currently the only licensed Parelli  instructor in Quebec.  She spent over a year in training at the Parelli ranches in Florida and Colorado to obtain her instructor's degree.  Now a member of Pat's Mastery Program, she returns to the ranch on a yearly basis to upgrade her horsemanship and teaching skills.  During her stay at the Parelli ranches, Geneviève was able to audit clinics by Craig Johnson (Reining World Champion), Luis Lucio (Olympic medallist in dressage) and Walter Zettl (dressage master).  She has also been a student of Jack Brainard, who was a personal friend of late Tom Dorrance, mentor to D. Wayne Lucas and a legendary horseman in the Western performance world.  More recently, she started studying with Karen Rohlf (Dressage Naturally) and Lauren Barwick (Silver and Gold Medallist in Beijing 2008, Para Olympics).  Geneviève is now a Licensed Parelli 3-Star Instructor and Parelli Saddle Specialist.  She travels to barns across the country to teach Parelli to horse lovers.  Here is her story:

I have been passionate about horses since I was a child. Growing up in the city and in a family that had absolutely no horse interest, I had to wait until I could earn a bit of money before I could start to learn to ride at the age of 12. Before that, I seized every possible opportunity to be near a horse and to learn about them. In 1976, I had the opportunity to work with horses at the Montreal Olympic Games, and my trainer Michel Vaillancourt won a Silver medal in show jumping. Show jumping and some dressage is what I did for close to 30 years, as a rider, competitor, groom, breeder, trainer, and certified Canadian coach.  During most of that time, in order to earn a living, I pursued a successful career in business and technology, which lasted 20 years.

On the cross-country course in Bromont, Quebec (courtesy photo)

 

I got involved in Parelli Natural Horse.Man.Ship in 1999, because I was looking for a way to 'fix' my show horse.  At the time, I had no idea there could be a natural vs. a normal way with horses!  It was the start of a life changing journey.  In 2003, I had my first opportunity to study directly with Pat Parelli and he awarded me my green string.  I was the first Quebec rider to officially achieve Level 3!  Followed 9 months of intensive study of Level 4 with Pat and Linda in Florida and Colorado, and I became the first Parelli instructor in Quebec. 

Since my initial trip to the Parelli ranch, I have spent over 85 weeks training at the Parelli ranch, of which 38 weeks were with Pat himself.  Since becoming a Licensed Parelli Professional in March 2005, I have returned annually to the ranch to upgrade my skills and to keep up with the growth of the program.  In 2009, I was invited to ride with Pat for three weeks.  I received personal coaching from Pat and Linda on my own horse, got to play and ride some of Pat’s best horses and spent several days learning about cowmanship with the master himself.  Pat invited me to join his Mastery Program.  This is where Pat teaches his top professionals and protégés Levels 5 and above and it is now the only way to progress to the level of Master Instructor.  Instructors with higher horsemanship and instructing goals are being inducted in the Mastery Program if they can demonstrate the skills required to be on Pat’s special team.  I’m proud to be a part of it!  I spent 12 weeks studying in the program in 2010.

I travel to teach clinics and workshops all over Canada.  Along with instructing, I am pursuing a specialization in the natural training of foals and young horses.   I go to Florida during the winter months to advance my horsemanship and teachmanship.

Graduation ceremony with Pat Parelli, fall 2003

My first Parelli equine partner to Level 3 was my wonderful Thoroughbred mare Jolie, first bred and trained as a race horse, who, after I bought her, went on to have a successful jumping career before I got involved in Parelli.  Jolie left us in April 2009 after battling a long and painful disease for many years (DSLD/ESPA).  She would have been 22 years old and had been retired for several years.  My new equine partners are Easter,  Appendix QH mare, direct line to Three Bars, a mare that I have been riding since late 2004 and who is now my new Level 4 saddle horse; and Menina, my Half-Lusitano.   Menina is Jolie's daughter, I have her since birth and she has been entirely raised using Parelli methods.  I started her under saddle naturally during the summer of 2005 at the Parelli ranch in Colorado; she is incredibly smart and talented and demontrates great tractability.  Menina is a complex horse who constantly motivates me to push ahead into the higher levels of horsemanship.

I now know that most successful life endeavors involve the Parelli principles and Pat's 7 keys to success. Parelli is helping me become a true horsewoman.  More importantly, it is guiding me in my journey to becoming a better human.

How good do you want to be with horses?  Contact me info@vifargent.com and get started on your journey.  I look forward to getting to know you and your horse!

Geneviève Benoit

 

With Jolie at the Parelli ranch in Ocala, 2003 - RIP

Easter and Menina