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The Begining of an Adventure and BACK TO BASICS

02/14/2013 20:39:00

LESSONS FROM MY CORNER OF THE ROUNDPEN

The Beginning of an Adventure and BACK TO BASICS...

~Mattie

I have enjoyed my first two weeks here at Atwood Ranch Naturally as the Head Horse Development Specialist. The weather has been much warmer than at our new Starr House in Pagosa Springs, CO, and the 6,000 acres of the Red Bluff, CA, Atwood Ranch are beautiful - the rolling grasslands are surrounded by the mountains here in northern California.

The young horses here - my projects are weanlings, yearlings, and two-year-olds along with a few older riding horses - are fantastic. The other famous Atwood Ranch HDS horseman have included Kalley Krickberg, Jake Shoemark, and Berin McFarland. The babies have had a wonderful foundation so far and I am honored to be continuing their eduction. If you are looking for a fantastic new partner, these horses have some of the best foundations I have ever handled, with all of them looking to be wonderful partners and have been used to handling for vets, farriers, and basic online and liberty skills.

Coming to the Atwood Ranch Naturally team, I have been reminded of just how important it is to use Level 4 Level 1 skills - these horses are great examples of what happens when you have the final goals (whether they be performance, companion, or recreational) in mind ever time you play with a horse. These horses are light, responsive, and are always looking for the answer.

Thinking about developing horses, I am now more than ever struck with the need to focus on developing a level 4 skill in even the most basic of things these young horses are being asked. Can they stay soft and relaxed when you pick up and trim their hooves? Can they be relaxed and accepting of basic veterinary tasks such as worming, vaccinations, and doctoring? How responsive and part of the job can every horse be when you halter, unhalter, and lead? Do they look forward to your visit every day? How about their response when the trailer arrives?

I love that my little bunch is so enthusiastic to be back in school. They often line up for their turn to be played with and come to meet me in the field if I come to pick up a few of them. I love their curiosity, responsiveness, and confidence. This is going to be a fun adventure!

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Playday with Mattie Feb2013

Mattie Cowherd-Evans, Atwood Ranches' new Head of Horse Development gets to know the coming two-year-olds. For additional information contact Atwood Ranch at 530-528-0504 or visit our website at Atwo...

"Is Causing Making?"

12/09/2012 20:57:00

Lessons from Behind the Team:

Article 5 "Is Causing Making?"

Hello everyone! I'm hoping today to give you a mental puzzle and something that I want you all to debate about with all your friends.

First I'd like to use one of Pat's sayings: "cause your idea to become you horse’s idea". I told this to a student the other day and she seemed confused, so I continued to try and explain it further. And finally she said, “I understand what your saying but at the end of the day isn't your job to get the horse to do it?” This completely stumped me. She was right. All at once hundreds of different counter arguments came to my head, each one being contradicted by a different mental response. But the one that struck me as a possible answer, the thing that Mattie said right away (how did I get such a clever wife) is "it's not about the..." in this case, water crossing.

So why didn't I say that to my student?

I came out with a few weak answers that only really left more questions. I didn't say it because even though it wasn't about the water crossing, it was about trust and respect (can't have one without the other). It was still my job or task to over come. Meaning that if I don't succeed today, I'll try tomorrow. Also, I'll have my horse try doing other things to gain trust or more respect then come back. So is it really the horse’s choice or am I just manipulating his/her emotions and behavioral patterns to encourage the horse to discover that what is happening is not as scary as they first believed? Is it fair for me to expect that horse’s trust? It is fair of me to use my partnership with my horse to use it to get various different results, when really the horse’s desire is to be free? Is a wild horse any more free than a domestic horse?

I think that last question is an easier one to answer. A wild horse is freer because if he/she doesn’t like his/her herd leader, the horse could always find a new herd or become the leader himself or herself.

Most often in domestic cases the horse can't change its herd of two, so it takes command (normally in subtle ways) in order to cope with our inadequacies. So it's our job as horsemen/women to improve ourselves so that the horse doesn't feel that it needs to take control.

But this still leaves a question: The perfect relationship is 51-49%, so that means when I play with my horse, should 49% of the time be spent letting him do as he/she wants? Right? Is this always possible? I know with my schedule I find it very hard to get enough time to play with my horses. So is your relationship with your horse really fair? Only your horse can answer that one.

What does this have to do with driving? I always feel ambivalent about this when I'm driving a team for 10/12 hours a day; is it really their choice? To work for me all day long and get less feed than other horses simply because they can't eat more because of the schedule? And yet the driving horses seem so willing, so reliable, which makes me wonder: are they happy or just too tired to argue?

Of course a lot of these questions will never be answered fully, because for all the wrong or right we do to our wonderful horses, they can't ever completely tell us. We are a lot more understanding of animals that have a voice: a dog will yelp, a bird will sing, but horses only make noise to help call the herd together – rarely or never a noise of suffering.

As humans we value animals that have a voice. The proof is in the fact that we know so little about fish... Is that simply because they don't have a voice? I know many vegetarians that still eat fish; is this because fish are worth less? I don't believe so, I believe it's because they don't have a voice.

So is it fair what we ask our horses to do for us? I'm still unsure but I know I will continue to try to be worthy of my horse’s trust and respect. Because no matter how good or bad a leader I am, I cannot give up. I know that in the future we will be good enough we will understand horses, and to understand how to be great horsemen and women. This is my dream; this is why I don't quit, because I know that the next generation will be better than me. Imagine six generations from now! What I'm doing today will be common knowledge! One day Pat Parelli's level of horsemanship will be normal!!!!!!

Well I hope this has given you a few things to think about and some insight into your horsemanship. Please comment --- your ideas might help tip the scales on my own decision.

Keep it natural!

Lessons from Behind the Team Article 6 - Part 2

09/25/2012 23:24:00

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Lessons from Behind the Team Article 6

Things to Keep in Mind - Part 2

“Believe in your horse so your horse can believe in you"
Ray Hunt*

I have a special place in my mind for this saying, because there is also a Pat story attached to it. I’ll give you guys the short version. I’d like you to rewind your clocks to 2009, summer season Colorado: simply breathtaking. The ranch crew was cutting hay; some Externs and Interns were helping too (I was an Intern). I was driving the team 3/4 of the day and the last 1/4 I was driving the tractor; cutting, turning, and baling. We’d finished cutting on the ranch and Pat was now cutting and baling a neighbor’s field which he had agreed we could use at low cost. The neighbor’s field was 1/2 a mile away from the ranch home base and got us somewhere in the range of 600 bales! So everyone helped pick up the hay one night. We had 3 trucks and trailers and one team of beautiful drafts driven by me. The horses were very tired and had about 4 tons of hay on the trailer that would fit under the tarp.

“Hhhmmm ... well, just drive them home.” Pat said

“.... Urrhh, well, Pat, they’ve been struggling with this load on the flat and well....”

“Want ME to do it?” I’m not sure if you can feel the tone in Pat’s voice, but as he said it I realized this was a test and a lesson.

“Okay, I’ll try.” I wasn’t too worried but on the way home there was a very, very steep hill and I had a feeling we were not going to make it up. Anyway, we headed back, the team sweating hard in the evening sun. I paused at the bottom of the hill and looked at Rhett. He nodded and was holding on tight as I set them off at a fast trot (as fast as they could go). They hit the hill and the new added weight of the hill hit them. They fell to a walk and started to slide on the soft ground. I drove them hard, pushing the saying that we couldn’t back down now!! Lightning (little mare on the left) was really struggling to get grip and Thunder (Big guy on the right) was doing better ... But not a lot better. We were finally near the top and finally we shoved them over. Now we were all sweating. Rhett lets me know we lost 10ish bales on the bumps. I hadn’t noticed. I was little dizzy and my heart was still racing. We then drove home slowly, letting the team set the pace. There was only one thing I could think of: “believe in your horse(s) so your horse(s) can believe in you.”

"Rapport, Respect, Impulsion, Flexion"
Pat Parelli*

"Set it up and let him find it"
Ray Hunt*

"Cause your idea to become your horses idea"
Pat Parelli*

"It's a 51-49% relationship. Use your 51% leadership to cause your horse to do what you want, with his 49% time "
(I’m afraid I don't remember where I heard this, Parelli though)

"Cause the right thing to be easy, and the wrong to be difficult"
Pat Parelli*

All of these saying and concepts are simple on one level, but can be taken to a much higher understanding and then become confusing. This is no exception. On a basic level if you have an introvert that doesn't move fast enough with your 51% time, ask him to move really slowly; when you let him go he will want to move forward. With an extrovert use your 51% to move his feet a lot then when the farrier gets there say stand still; he will be very happy to just because he doesn't have to run around anymore. And really there's no need to take it further ... Until you are in that situation where it's needed.

Catwalk, a horse used for a demo in the UK, was a great example of an extreme "Fix it up and let him find it". For those of you that don't know, Catwalk was an extreme bridling case ... Even for Pat!! His challenge was that he would attack you if you had a bridle. So Pat tried up one of his legs using the theory that you can have your leg back if you CONSIDER the bridle. Catwalk galloped on three legs as if to say "I'd rather live on three legs". In the end Pat used a blindfold saying I'll give you back your sight if you consider the bridle, not take the bridle CONSIDER it. Of course after 2 days Pat had the bridle on without trouble but that's what it took to set that horse up to find the answer.

This kind of falls back on a saying I’ve already talked a little on: "Be effective to be understood, and understood in order to be effective" How effective do you have to be with an extreme horse to get them to CONSIDER changing! We’re not FORCING the change - don’t forget that! We wait until there’s a try, a thought, a concept in the horse’s mind that might help him think of being our partner. And we won’t quit on them ever! That’s what makes us horse lovers; we push them to change; we help them understand the human world but to be honest, if they never changed, if they never Improved, and were always wild, we would still love them and feed them and look after them until their dying days.

This kind of dedication often changes even the toughest of horses... So for those of you out there with tough horses, stick with it. Keep pushing through, and your horse will love you for it! This brings me to one of my mum’s sayings that I love:

“You can’t change anyone! Only they can change.”
Sue Evans

Meaning you can’t change them, but you can help.

And last but not least!

"Watch your thoughts, they become your words, watch your words, they become your actions, watch your actions, because they become your character. You and I are one of life's characters, so watch your thoughts"
Pat Parelli*

I think this one needs no explanation --- just watch your thoughts!

Thanks again for taking the time to read my ideas on the world and for your future comments. Please let me know if there's anything you'd like me to write about. I look forward to seeing you all down the trail!

Lessons from Behind the Team Article 6: Things to Keep in Mind - Part 1

09/25/2012 21:02:00

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Lessons from Behind the Team Article 6:

Things to Keep in Mind - Part 1
~Jamie

Hello everyone!

These are some of my favorite quotes. These things often fly into my head right at the correct moment to save the day! And often I'll be struggling to find an answer and unconsciously one of these quotes will appear and 9 times out of 10 it's right for that situation and that horse. (The * after people’s names is just saying that it's not just that person who said it --- most of their mentors and students will have said it to.) To talk more about these quotes, I have added some of my thoughts after each group.

"It's not about what you do it's about when you stop doing what your doing." Pat Parelli*

"Be effective to be understood, and understood in order to be effective"
Pat Parelli*

"Pressure motivates but it's the Release that teaches"
Pat Parelli*

"NEVER knock the try out of a horse"
Tom Dorrance

First: the release that teaches In other words, be careful what you teach your horse! So first of all... What counts as an appropriate amount of release? Does it really matter what pressure you put on a horse? How effective is effective? And when does it become knocking the try out of a horse? Whenever I play with a horse that I am "teaching" something (e.g. hunt the jump, driving prep, etc.) this is running through my head.

I was watching Pat at the most recent Savvy Celebration in the UK putting a lot of pressure on the LBE horse that James Roberts was riding. I was sitting there thinking, “this is crazy - Pat is teaching James something important but can the horse take the pressure?” And after a few minutes, the horse was considerably better with pressure as if by magic!?! James's riding had really improved: his hands were more still and his legs more active, and the pressure wasn't blowing the horse up. Now I know that I couldn't ride that horse or teach anything even close to what Pat did, but thinking back I have started to realize how many releases Pat gave that horse... (Extrovert releases --- for those if you reading this that were at the UK Savvy Celebration. Think back and see if you understand what I'm beginning to understand. It is also on the Horsenality DVD.)

"Never ask a trying horse to try"
Pat Parelli*

"You've got a 50-50 chance"
Linda Parelli*

"Take the time it takes and it will take less time"
Pat Parelli*

This time I'm thinking of trust vs. respect. You can't have one without the other. Trust without Respect is a horse that loves you but the horse leads and you follow. And Respect without trust is fear. I think we all know how to get more respect using fair phases and driving game with porcupine game in the right combinations. Trust can be a lot harder.

The Horses I'm thinking of now are Horses that have a bad past and therefore anytime I played with them I have to be forgiven for other people’s sins. These horses often have trouble being around humans. And because they have had a bad history, you want to protect them, but this is the worst thing you could do. These horses need you to help them get through the basic lack of trust issue first. These horses sometimes need you to be really firm with them sometimes, while also being EXTREMELY patient with your horse while he or she learns how to be a completely new horse. Often the behaviors that these horses show are deeply ingrained and have saved your horse its entire life (in its mind). Now you are asking it to change and in his/her mind it seems almost impossible to change without death. This is why you can’t be completely placid in your approach. If you don’t really demand it, why change? And yet as all these sayings say in one way or another, there is always a delicate balance. Never ask a trying horse to try.

CLICK HERE FOR PART 2!!!

Rebecca's ISP Block Weeks 1 and 2 Blog

05/02/2012 23:21:00

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This blog is by one of our ISP students for April/May 2012. Enjoy her thoughts about weeks 1 and 2!

Week 1

What an amazing week! This is totally what I needed for the stage I’m in in my journey (working in level 3/4, getting ready for a fast track, in hopes of qualifying for the instructor program). It’s the missing bridge between home study and delving into actual ‘training’ Parelli style.

Mattie and Jamie are the best - two totally different personalities that give you the opportunity to learn from and understand different ways to approach your journey and horse development. The program is pretty kicked back- you don’t really know what you are going to work on from day to day… so if having every second of your day planned is your modus operandi, it may be a bit unsettling

I was a bit skeptical and stressy in the beginning, but I’ve learned so much and both of them know my goals and know what they are doing, so I trust them to help me fill the holes in my foundation in preparation for my future. I may not get everything perfect at their place, but that’s not as importation as knowing where I’m headed afterwards.

They throw a lot of information at you, and they don’t tell you what to do every moment of the day. But in the stage I’m at it doesn’t bother me that much, as I’ve been working a long time on my own, and have a pretty good idea of what I’m looking for. They are most always around and always ready to answer questions or help you out with problems. They are very giving of their time and knowledge and I’m so grateful to be able to participate in this program.

Week 2

Welcome to horsie bootcamp, and I’m lovin’ it! I’m tired and sore, but who cares…

Being in this environment has helped me see how I’ve limited my horses. How much more particular I need to be, and how much they are actually capable of - mentally and physically. When you home study you really don’t have anyone to push you into taking your horsemanship to the next level, and many times that’s why things so south - you horse is sick and tired of playing in kindergarten. I had a down day this week in that I felt lost in what I was trying to accomplish with my horse, and was tired of working so hard to get so little. Kinda took the day easy and today I watched both Mattie and Jamie work with some horses that really helped me understand what and where I needed to go. I’m excited to see what I can do with this new knowledge.

Last week Mattie and Jamie also helped me deal with an issue I’ve been dealing with for over a year with my horse - not trailering because he wasn’t accepting being locked in the trailer. I had done all I knew to do with approach and retreat, in, out, and around the trailer, extreme friendly - you name it. But my horse would still blow up when locked inside. Mattie and Jamie took time out to help me several times with him, showing me the missing piece - namely allowing the horse to learn to think his way through the situation on his own. This week I can see that’s exactly what was missing and it’s transferring to other areas of his development as well. Exciting!

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It's What You Know After You Know It...

02/20/2012 20:25:00

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FROM MY CORNER OF THE ROUNDPEN

"It's what you learn after you know it that means the most." I have heard Pat say it thousands of times before. He has said that the first horse you have is your sacrificial learning lamb --- and the next 300 are also your sacrificial lambs.

Yes, that is true, but I also have found that each of my long term partners, Kami - Sterling - older horses such as Reddy and Dancer, where there as some of my best teachers - and they came to me when I needed to learn new or different lessons. For example, Kami has been one of my best teachers for everything from understanding introverts, to making it to Level 4, to making sure I sat on her properly. And I tell you, when your teacher bucks when you are out of position, you start to listen!

Now, being partner to Kami, I wasn't looking for another horse, and yet, when I met Sterling, I felt a connection far beyond that of any horse before. I am glad I had the teachers before him, but it has been him, of all my horses that has been the one to take everything I've learned before and challenge it. If I think I have to be soft, he'll need me to be firm. When I expect to be firm and big, he'll be so subtle and want only the very lightest of cues. One day he can be a wild hooligan and the next I'll take him to a demo and he'll be LAZY!

For those of you who have not taken the Horsenality and Humanality Reports from Parelli - I highly encourage you to do so. No, I am not trying to sell this to you; I was the same way. However, when I found myself being a little stumped about how to approach Sterling's most recent shift of unconfidence (from his usual LBE self to a very scared, rearing and tense horse, RBE for game of contact) I finally broke down and filled out the forms.

And I was very glad I did. The reports brought back perspective for our relationship and where Sterling is in this most vulnerable savvy - his finesse has always been challenging and even Linda Parelli has reminded me that the challenging horses with a history need time. As I reviewed the report on Sterling and on our Match report, I realized that Sterling was more on the RBE side of the line (he is a LBE/RBE cusp score with a high spirit level) whenever he was in finesse, especially when pressure came into zone 1 --- he was afraid that he couldn't go forward and the results were pretty spectacular at times. I am a LBI axis point personality, so though I can make the jump easily to other quadrants, I tend to be a little slower and patient, and rarely go RBE.

I just needed to be more sympathetic to what Sterling was feeling and actually GET FIRMER IN ZONE 1!!! I would never have expected that, but the more leadership I gave Sterling when he got upset, the calmer he became!

I am so glad that I made the jump to reviewing and gaining more knowledge for myself. I am also glad for my teacher, Sterling. It has been a joke of Jamie's when I say that this horse is like Sterling because.... He says that every horse is like Sterling because Sterling is able to be so many things and all at once!!!

I hope that you too, find your partner that will teach you and show you the newest things you are to learn. Live it Natural, ~Mattie

Cherokee Saying:

"LISTEN! Or your tongue will make you deaf."

"Falling Slowly"

from "ONCE"

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INTENSIVE STUDY Matylda's thrid week

11/24/2011 14:25:00

Yesterday we had an incredible day of lessons with Mattie.
In the morning we packed our lunches and headed up to
a near by Arabian farm, called Mountain Magic Arabians,
owned by Helga Etscheidt. The farm is located on top
of a mountain, off the grid in the middle of nowhere. We
actually got a little lost trying to find the place, but the
views we saw along the way were breathtaking. There
were aspen meadows, turning golden and fiery red. There
were herds of deer and a beautiful double rainbow coming
up from behind the mountains.

When we finally got there, Helga had the first “project
horse” waiting in the roundpen. WS Majeszty is a 10 year-
old Arabian stallion, a multi-champion in halter and never
been started under saddle. Mattie almost immediately
pegged him as a RBI and then proceeded to play with him
online. Within 30 minutes the horse has accepted her to
sit on his back and move his feet. They she had me come
in to the roundpen and had Majeszty follow me around as
she guided him and cued him to move his feet. It was so
beautiful watching a master at work. Everyone was
impressed and learned a lot, including the horse!
The next horse in line was HK Tohfa, a 12 year-old
Arabian mare. As we approached her pen, you could hear
Tohfa snorting and and looking very skeptical. Mattie went
inside and Tohfa came up with what looked like
confidence to say hello. As soon as Mattie touched her,
however, the mare snorted and ran away, hiding herself
behind her corral-mate. Mattie spent the next 30
minutes “taming and gentling” this mare. Helga explained

to us that the only exposure she’s had to other people has
been vets and farriers and she’s very skeptical and fearful
of anyone but Helga. It was incredible watching Mattie
take this horse, who looked like she was scared for her life
and for the first time proving to her that she is okay
and “other people” are not going to harm her. Every time
Mattie tried to touch her or even come close, she would
snort and run away. By the end of the session the mare
has accepted all of us climbing over the fence and petting
and rubbing all over her. Then Mattie sent her over to all
of us as we sat on the fence, above her head and rubbed
on her face and body. It was nice seeing the change in
her mind, expressed in her soft eye and relaxed body.
She seemed to have been living in the prison of her mind
and for the first time she experienced the freedom from
the fears the held on to all these years!

The third and fourth horses we, the students got to
play with. They were young, four and five year-old
stallions, who haven’t had much exposure to other people
and were VERY full of themselves. Mattie talked us
through playing with each one at liberty and what
techniques to use for their Horsenalities. The first one was
an extreme LBE and the other an extreme RBE, both on
adrenaline and lots of testosterone. I got to play with them
first and it was almost beyond my skill and confidence
level. It was the first time I was exposed to a fire-breathing
stallion at liberty, but under Mattie’s watchful eye, I was
able to get over my fear, manage my energy and
eventually manage the horses’ energy and get them to
think and to “face up” and follow me around. Wow! What a
lesson! Then Manuel got to play with one of them and

teach him some driving and circling games. Then we got
to watch Mattie teach the LBE the sideways game and
use his fabulous exuberance and energy for some fancy
maneuvers. Thank you Mattie for allowing us an entire
day of watching you play with horses and for gaining
understanding of what goes on inside your head as you
approach each horse. Thank you, Jamie, for staying home
and taking care of our horse chores.

Matylda Smith

INTENSIVE STUDY Manual's final thoughts and feelings

11/24/2011 13:45:00

My ISP time, is over. The last two weeks have been pretty intense, we worked on so many different areas of horsemanship.

One day we went to another facility to learn about first contact with a horse and evaluation, reading diferent horses and play with no parelli horses....it was just amazing. Mattie was leading us through it....we could see what "savvy" means and change mi mind about reading/horsenalities from somethig I need to improve my horsemanship to my favorite topic. We saw a lot of things....first ride of a 10 year old stallion, a not truly tamed 12 year old mare....

We also had liberty, group liberty, back up and riding lessons, I enjoyed each lesson but everytime I was thinking, How could I be around horses without Knowing this? ...and look at that!!

We say here something like the world´s colour depends on the colour of the glasses of who is looking and now I´m back in Spain and the funny thing is my perception of my horse is completly diferent, we were looking at each other and thinking what "in the world" are you doing?

Now the expectations are much higher; I can feel a big diference in me and my horse has improved more in the first twenty minutes than in one month before going into the ISP so,

THANK YOU!!!

INTENSIVE STUDY September 2011 - Beginning Overview

09/23/2011 12:34:00

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INTENSIVE STUDY September 2011 - Beginning Overview

~Jamie

This month we have had a pretty exciting start to our Intensive Study. Our group has a higher understanding of horsemanship than I expected we would attract when we started this program. Because of this, we have had a lot of fun taking their higher understanding of principles into purpose and in doing so, I believe they have gained an even higher understanding of the Parelli Principles and their importance in Horsemanship.

This group has been riding from their house (1 mile away), using horses as transportation, dragging logs, etc. I have noticed lots of little improvements over these last few weeks in all of them. These changes have ranged from: understanding relationship better and being softer to being more creative and more goal driven.

It is great to see all four (Manuel, Maria, Matylda, and Doray) of them progress into a level closer to mine. I love this program we have created because normally as an instructor we do clinics and only see people maybe once or twice a year. To have students for this length of time, really allows me to watch them progress and I hope that all four decide to become instructors (or follow their Parelli dreams) because all four have an enormous amount of potential to make the world a better place for horses and humans.

Keep it Natural,

Jamie

WANT TO HEAR FROM EACH STUDENT ABOUT THEIR FIRST WEEKS IN THIS INTENSIVE STUDY?

Check out the Blog Category "INTENSIVE STUDY" or click on the links below to read about their journeys:

MANUEL'S BLOG - No Longer Stuck!

DORAY'S BLOG - ISP #2 - Not for Wimps

MARIA'S BLOG - The Possible Impossible

MATYLDA'S BLOG - Where Did Week 1 Go???

INTENSIVE STUDY September 2011 - Blog Post 4

09/23/2011 12:18:00

These are our Intensive Study Students for September 2011... we have asked each of them to give us comments, and we are not editing the comments in any way so that you can get the full feel of the Intensive Study experience through them. This blog is by Manuel. Enjoy! ~Mattie

ISP BLOG - Week 1

I have been at the ISP one week today and the the education I’ve received in five days (two days off) thoroughly surpasses the numerous classes and courses I’ve attended in the past. Mattie and Jamie are the most talented, young instructors I’ve ever met. Their knowledge and experience combined add up to what you may expect to see in three or four of instructors, twice their age! They are also really good people, who make it obvious that they care about you as a person and have made it their personal goal to see you succeed and reach your goals and expectations for the program.

The day starts with horse chores, like feeding and cleaning. We brush all the horses and get ready for the morning lessons. Those have so far included; roping and dragging logs for several hundred feet, though gates and past cattle, leaning how to harness and ground drive a set of draft horses to the house and back in the mornings and evenings, watching Jamie play with special project horses, playing a liberty game called Territories, which stepped my liberty up to the next level, learning how to get on bareback using four different methods, bareback and bridleless riding- emphasizing on indirect to direct rein on a follow the rail pattern, natural hoof care and natural dentistry demos, which made such a difference in my horse’s balance and movement.

I also learned a valuable lesson in sticking to something long enough to teach the horse and myself and make a positive change. Mattie challenged me to play the circling game in the pasture with my horse, Tristan everyday for one week until he gave me rhythm, relaxation and contact. This took two hours the first day, 1.5 hours the second, 45 minutes the third, 20 minutes the fourth and almost immediately the fifth, sixth and seventh. Tristan got to experience all four of the Horses’s Responsibilities as I got to experience all of mine. The pasture is the perfect Parelli playground. It has hills and flat areas, lush grass, dry and soggy terrain, ponds and creeks, cattle on one side, deer on another and jumps and logs as well as trees and fences. For the first time my horse and I din’t get bored at the circling game, and this is by far the most we’ve ever circled at one time. During this time, Tristan, who has never learned how to use his body with power and balance, learned that trotting and cantering up and down a hill for an hour is much easier when he puts his head down, rounds his back and powers up his hindquarters. I learned that my horse is designed to go for a long time and he actually enjoys it. I had to admit to Mattie that she was right, because, I was skeptical and had a hard time when I first received the challenge.

After the morning horsemanship time, we do our mid-day chores, which include cleaning manure and feeding lunch. Then we have a “siesta” and meet back up in the afternoon. Afternoons have been broken up into sometimes demos, sometimes personal time with our horses and sometimes “special projects” such as moving and stacking 300 bales of hay, trimming horses, organizing the tack room, fixing fences etc. Although these projects are physically demanding at times, they are done as a team, with great attitude and a fun environment. They also all relate to ranch work and are a good leaning experience on how to get things done the right way, with excellence and putting principles to purpose.

We do our evening chores between 5 and 6 pm and then we have time to play with our horses, take them out to graze or drag out butts home to digest all that we’ve learned that day and put our feet up after a long but good day. I’m staying in a house, a mile down the road with two other ISP students. They came from Spain and are teaching me Spanish and I help them with their English. In the evening we frequently discuss the day’s lessons and fall asleep on the couches watching something “Parelli” on DVD. My only complaint is that the days are going by so fast and I only have three weeks left before going home!

Matylda Smith

Santa Fe, NM