July 2008

Congratulations to Denyse Rousselet of Dollard-des-Ormeaux and Lynda Constant of St-Lazare who have passed Level 1!

June 2008

Congratulations to Danny Whittom and Liette Poirier of New Richmond who have achieved Level 1!

May 2008

April 2008

For all of you who will be travelling to Massachussetts this weekend to see Pat and Linda Parelli live, I wish you an excellent trip and a wonderful stay filled with inspiration, education et great encounters.  It's with great regret that I have to announce that I must cancel my participation in the tour stop, due to the sudden onset of illness.  I was looking forward to seeing some of you again and to say hi, and to meet everyone else, and I'm sure some of you were looking forward to seeing me perform with my horses.  This is one of those times when life just gets in the way.  I am fighting a severe viral infection of the liver that leaves me very weak and unable to function normally for the moment.  I had to make a last minute decision and prioritize my recovery since my clinic season is starting and will be very busy.  I'll see you next time, and have a lot of fun down there!  Say hi to Pat and Linda for me!

February 2008

The first qualities of a horseman (and horsewoman) are heart and desire.  As a result, nothing stands in the way of a motivated student.  The record snow fall and bitter colds are not preventing people from the Saguenay from continuing to advance their Savvy.  I maneuvered around two snow storms to join them for three days of instruction in the Chicoutimi region.  Thank goodness, we had the indoor arena to shelter us from the winds!  First of all, I was extremely pleased to see that everyone there had really improved since my last trip in October.  Which really demonstrates that everyone can succeed by using the tools and staying positive, natural and progressive!  This last adjective is often misunderstood by Parelli students.  Horses learn 7 times faster than humans.  It is really important that we keep getting better and improve with each play session!  Otherwise, your horse will lose respect and incentive.  Imagine that you are rowing upstream in a canoe - what happens if you stop rowing?  You end up travelling backwards!  Same thing with horses.  Always think about being a little bit better than last time, use your imagination, and do a little bit more each day.  Your horse will thank you!

Here are a few pictures of a great weekend.

Doria's challenge - his Arab mare Azur, Left Brain Extrovert.  Doria is studying Level 2.  Here is a horse that has a huge play drive, lots of ideas and tons of energy.  Not always easy for a senior man because things can start moving really fast.  Thanks to the strategies learned in the program, Doria was able to transform a very (!) active play session into a productive one with an obedient and connected horse.  Under saddle, the patterns and transitions games allowed Doria to cause his horse to understand his energy and synchronize with it.  The day ended with smiles all around.  Good work!

Play, dominance, defiance and energy - defining characteristics of the LB Extrovert!!!

Practicing transitions on the ground, then using an obstacle to put principle to purpose

Two happy partners finding harmony!

Bernard and his Thoroughbred Tuxedo have just made the transition from normal to natural.  They have only been here a few months, and already a more natural way of life (living in a herd and outside) and the Parelli Level 1 ground games have transformed this horse.  Bernard swears he is 'really discovering his horse'.  Bernard has made great progress in Level 1 and has already passed his ground tasks.  He only needs to complete the ridden portion of Level 1 to earn his red string.  Tuxedo, who had become a scared horse, was agressive in the stall and very tense under saddle, is quickly becoming quite Left Brain and is showing his true Horsenality - he is a quick learner with a heart of gold.  He seems very happy in his new environment, even though his is no longer shiny clean and is missing a few pieces of hide!

Going Right Brain - he really needs to move his feet at the moment, but with a bit of leadership, he calms down quickly!

Reviewing the lateral flexion technique - already I can see a lovely partnership developing

Judith is always saying that her mare Dédé is perfect!  How can we improve a little bit on perfect?  Dédé's nature is to be Right Brain Introvert.  Under an apparently calm and slow demeanor, she is a very sensitive mare, alert to the slightest potential of danger and she explodes under pressure.  Judith, who is studying Level 2, is really succeeding on the ground but had a new challenge in mind:  learning to canter.  We started by helping Dédé get more confident and trusting, then we we explored transitions and cantering on line.  'Does this horse look rideable?'  If the answer is no, stay on the ground!  Thanks to a solid preparation using lots of patience and retreat, Judith achieved her objective, and to boot, managed a little jump without losing her rhythm and smile!  What a lovely ending to the lesson!

Dédé is always perceptive to the potential of danger - she needs little steps to build her confidence

Does this horse look rideable?  Finally we're getting there.  Ending with a little jump.  So much fun!

Christine, the owner of Ferme Harmonie and a student of Level 3, understands the importance of providing a great natural start to her 20 month old Appaloosa filly, Zig.  I took advantage of my stay to progress her foundation on the ground, preparing for her first ride.  Levels 1, 2 and 3 on the ground, confidence, respect, focus, accepting the human and his tools.  I had my first introduction to Zig this fall.  She had then explored and accepted handling of the feet, the 7 games and trailer loading.  Christine did an excellent job of following up in between.  I checked that the foundation was still solid, then we moved on - prepping for the vet, the 7 games at Level 2 and 3, preparing for her first cinching experience.  With young horses, we must preserve their confidence, curiosity, sensitivity and dignity at all cost.  It is important to always play for and with the horse, never to dictate our ideas and do things to him.  Colts and fillies are perfect at birth.  They need a lot of feel, understanding and savvy because they learn so fast and are so easy to spoil with bad hands.  This is why Pat recommends waiting until you have Level 3 before attempting to teach a young horse.  Only then do you start to acquire a mastery of  the formula Love, Language and Leadership in equal doses!

Love - Squeeze game, Friendly game.  Accepting the human in all the zones.

Language - respect, understanding, communication

Leadership - being able to direct the feet and the energy, lightness, progressing to new heights of knowledge

Photos courtesy of N. Tremblay

January 2008

December 2007

Congratulations to Marsha Thomas of New Richmond QC, who just passed her Level 1.  Marsha had to overcome significant physical and emotional issues to learn to trot with her horse Willy - proof that with a positive attitude, hard work, heart and desire, everyone can do it.  Well done!

November 2007

October 2007

Congratulations to our most recent Level 1 graduate:  Christian Lamontagne of Jonquière, Québec.  Christian worked very hard with a challenging horse to achieve his red string.  Well done Christian!

News from Gaspésie

Rain or shine, the Gaspésie crowd was present, able and willing for the Level 1 clinic held in New Richmond September 29-30.  They came with a great attitude, minds open to learning and demonstrated the true spirit of sharing and hospitality.  Featured below, founding members of the new Parelliens Gaspésiens club!  Thanks to all for a great weekend in this beautiful part of the country.

Danny, Liette, Patrick, Julie and Marsha enjoying Parelli trail ride and picnic.

New Richmond Beginning Level 1 Clinic

Rain is not a problem!  Level 2 students ready for a wet day of learning!

September 2007

• The Parelli Savvy Conference in Colorado
• How do you Parelli?
• Reminder :  Parelli equipment purchases
• Looking for stories and pictures from Quebec for Parelli E-News
• Lessons, clinics, assessments and video coaching
• Did you know…