There have been a lot of changes in my life recently, both physical and psychological. I have a new job, with brand new responsibilities at a new company. It has allowed me to make a dream come true: purchase Gwen. With it came some changes in routine and schedule. Until recently I was unable to go visit Gwen after work, because it was simply too dark. Now that it is lighter later, I am able (on occasion) to make it out to the barn after work. But there are still days when I am unable to do so, either because I lack the desire/energy, or I end up working into the dark hours of the evening. It is worth it, though, because I have Friday off. So my riding schedule has changed from Mon-Fri with weekends off, to Fri-Sunday, with occasional rides during the week.
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| Cute Gwen Face. |
There have also been some changes in my riding style. I won't say my goals have changed because they really haven't, but my philosophy and training style have definitely evolved and changed over the past few months.
Which leads me to a major topic of today's post. Parelli. I no longer consider myself a Parelli student. While I still believe in the core values of the Parelli training method, I no longer call myself a student of Parelli, and I no longer train using Parelli-only techniques. I say "Parelli-only" because to say I don't use Parelli at all would be a lie. The fundamentals of the training program will always be a part of my interaction with horses, but those fundamentals are not exclusive to the Parelli program.
This turn away from the program happened very gradually. It wasn't as though I woke up one day and decided to no longer be a Parelli student. It's not as though I have a problem with the training method or come to some sort of epiphany about it. Nothing like that at all, really. Simply put, I realized that it was not the program for me any longer, because I wasn't seeing the results I wanted.
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| Nom nom nom. Old picture |
I won't say that I am at fault, and I won't say that I'm not at fault for this. There are a combination of factors working toward this conclusion that it's just "not working" for Gwen and me. Chief among them would be my lack of support. I do not know a single person in San Antonio who practices Parelli. I can look for Parelli trainers through the website, but it does me little good when they don't make house calls, and I don't own a truck, or trailer, and therefore have no way of getting myself or my horse there. But lack of support wasn't my only reason for moving away.
I am finding this post hard to write because I feel as though any reason I give for why I don't practice Parelli is going to be met with criticism from the Parelli-crowd. As though all my reasons for not being a Parelli student somehow means I am putting myself before my horse, or that I'm being selfish, or wanting "instant" results. I'm not, and I don't. I have my reasons for not practicing Parelli anymore, and they all boil down to this: it just isn't for me.
I think the Parelli method is an amazing training program that connects thousands of people to their horses in ways they never thought possible. I believe amazing things can be done using the Parelli training method, and that the lessons and products are all of great quality. I have seen incredible things done with horses using Parelli. But I have also seen incredible things done with horses, by people NOT using Parelli.
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| Gwen with looooong mane |
Just because I am no longer a student of Parelli does not mean that I will suddenly put my needs above Gwen's. I will always keep her needs and feelings at the forethought. I will conduct my training and riding in such a way as to keep Gwen's confidence and dignity. I will continue to use body language, and to read her body language to decide whether or not I can push her, when I can wait, and when we need to back up. I will always put the good of my horse above my personal goals. Those things won't change.
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| Braided tail. Cause I could. |
I will still utilize ground work to help strengthen my relationship with my horse, and to establish trust and respect. I may utilize some of the patterns and games that Parelli has taught me. But I will deviate as well. I won't progress through the Parelli levels, and I will not be using the title of "parelli student" when I describe myself to others.
I don't know what else there is to say about it. This was such a gradual change that I don't know how to feel about it, either. I'm not really sad. Not exactly happy. It's just became a natural part of my life. It is what it is.
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| Gwen with "even'ed up" mane. I didn't like it. |
That's about it for now. I want to continue to blog (not that I've been so great about it before now...) and one of the things I would like to change in the future is the frequency of my blog updates. If nothing else, I would like to keep a chronicle of my journey with Gwen. That was the point of this blog in the first place.
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| Sleepy Gwen with "pulled" mane. Much better! |
For now, enjoy some pictures of my first braiding attempt after "pulling" Gwen's mane. (I actually shortened it very carefully with scissors, as I don't really like pulling her hair out).
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| First attempt at braids with "pulled" mane. |
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| There's something over there! |
J
