Changes

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

First attempt at braids with "pulled" mane. 

There's something over there!

J