NANCY ON FACEBOOK >
Continued on PG 48 >
As Licensed Parelli Professionals, we are expected to keep close to the source, to keep current, move forward, stay connected, better our Teachermanship, and of course, our Horsemanship abilities.
pushed ourselves and our horses outside comfort zones. We got them moving freely forward, then bending and relaxing at all speeds to leg pressure all over the pasture. Instead of pulling or kicking we would lift or push to get the horses calm, connected, and responsive. Some of the Instructors rode rescue horses, young horses, like myself, and borrowed horses. That first day was a bit of an emotional stretch, to say the least, as horses and humans searched for harmony.
One afternoon, Pat had each of us pick a cow to follow. As the herd moved away from all us riders, it began to get a little hairy keeping up with our cow! We followed them all over the pasture until, one by one, they made their way into a thick oak hammock. Having a job and something to focus on, helped the horses relax and feel successful. They all looked proud of themselves!
We had the opportunity to audit a Master Horseman from the Spanish School of Riding giving lessons, then watched Linda Parelli receive personal coaching from him with her horse! She came in with the mindset of being a good student, and came away with new awareness, strategies, and performance! Inspiring to watch; Linda and Hot Jazz looked beautiful!
Pat encouraged us all to go out and seek Professional coaching from Master Horsemen who share the same philosophy as we do. He wants us as Parelli Instructors to excel in the horse discipline of our choice, to go out and become better Horsemen and women in some horse sport. The foundation we give horses leads to specialization, to purpose. I know I want to be the best
me I can be, and I have chased excellence in Obstacle Trail Competition. He pointed at my National Champion belt buckle and said, “You know how hard you had to work for that!”
The Parelli International Instructors Conference & Horsemanship Gallery
The Conference at the Parelli Campus in Ocala, Florida