The Reason the Routine went out the window…

Every day, the horses are fed in the same place. Each horse has their specific bucket; and every day they eat from their own bucket. Every day, two times a day. Day after day after day.

Which is why I found it confusing when they would ‘forget’ the routine. How could they forget, when it’s the same routine every day?! If I’m really honest, I would even get annoyed with the horses, that they would forget the routine. I thought they were supposed to be smart?

The most recent time the horses were ‘acting stupid’ and forgetting the routine, I examined what was different. The same horses were in the same enclosures. The buckets were in the same place. Etcera, etcera. Hmmm… what has changed, if any thing?

OMG… the *only* thing that changed… was ME.  {that sound you hear is me being humbled}

*I* changed *my* routine. I didn’t walk to the barn the way I always do, and *that change* confused the horses.

Can it be?  *I AM THE ROUTINE*?! Not the bucket, not the location, but me?

I am the leader, whether I’m conscious of it or not.

How Divinely humbling.

My teachers continue to amaze me. And I am truly Blessed to be have such beautiful, sensitive, compassionate teachers!

Naturally,

Lauren

He *Asked Me* to Touch His Face

I couldn’t believe it! I was playing the friendly game with Romeo, scratching him on the back, over the pasture fence. I moved from his back to his shoulder - ahhh, his face said. Then he moved closer to me and put his head over the fence.

That move, in and of itself, was a big deal. Romeo, my almost 18 year old gelding, was seized by law enforcement 3 years ago,  as he and his pasture mates were almost starved to death. (You can see his before/after pictures here) His life had been full of abuse and neglect; and not surprisingly, he didn’t trust humans. I adopted him 2 years ago; he is my Parelli project horse. 

Classic behavior for Romeo (RBE/I) when someone approached was to put his ears back and move away. Classic human predator behavior is to not back off, but reach forward and try to touch his face - his most delicate area. Romeo would always turn his head away.

Now that I’m learning how to not be a predator through Parelli, I’ve learned that Romeo turning his head away is his way of saying “I don’t feel comfortable letting you touch my face”. So I scratch and rub his neck.  I’ve also learned that Romeo putting his ears back when someone approaches is his way of saying “you’re getting to close”. Now I know to back off a little. Then he’ll put his ears forward, giving me permission to approach.

Back to scratching and rubbing over the pasture fence… so Romeo had moved forward and put his head over the fence. I rubbed his neck. Then as I brought my hand down and rested it on the fence, he put his nose under my hand and pushed it up on his nose! I couldn’t believe it! Is this real? Is he asking me to pet his face?

I pet his nose, then dropped my hand. This time he lowered his head, offering his forehead to my hand. He is! He’s ASKING me to touch his face! So I rubbed lovingly, as the tears of joy and understanding fell freely.

After 12 years of abuse and neglect, this one gesture on Romeo’s part was a breakthrough - that he is finally ready and willing to begin to trust a human again, well, me.  And thanks to Parelli, I’ve been able to give him safety and comfort and go slow and be trust-worthy.

 He ASKED ME to touch his face!!!

Naturally Blessed,

Lauren
Level 1 and Loving it!

A Fabulous Session!

My intention in playing with Amigo yesterday was to accelerate our learning. Not to artificially go too fast, but to speed-up learning the basics of our communication - Parelli Games 2-4 - Porcupine, Driving and Yo-Yo Games.

I had read in one of the Parelli Level 1 PocketGuides that Level 1 can take 3 weeks to 3 months with the assumption of spending 6 hours a week playing with your horse. I found this to be astonishing!

First, that Level 1 could be completed in 3 short weeks (3 months seems reasonable). And second, the idea of spending 6 hours a week playing with my horse. An hour a day for 6 days - that seems doable (although implementing it is more difficult). But I was confused about to spend that hour.

Since we’re learning the basics, wouldn’t I bore my horse to death, playing Porcupine for an hour? I mean, how many times can you do the same thing? I’d read elsewhere that you don’t keep repeating the same ‘task’ once the horse gets it, you move on. So I was confused. Up until now, I’d played with Amigo for 30 minutes at a time - at most. Usually 15 minutes at a time. And guess what? It’s taking forever to move through Level 1.

Yesterday, it occurred to me that instead of asking for exactly the same thing every time, I could mix it up; and ask for more. So that’s what we did.

Amigo and I played Friendly Game, Porcupine Game, Driving Game and Yo-Yo Game for 40 minutes. Mixing it up, playing around, keeping it interesting. Amigo is highly food motivated, so a treat after a Phase 2 response kept him interested in our play-work. And a good scratch on his most favorite spot - under his belly - had him feeling really good.

Lots of effective communication . Lots of licking and chewing. Lots of smiles.

By the end of the 40 minutes, Amigo was responding to every request with only Phase 2. Smart horse!  Next time, we’ll practice on yielding FQ and HQ in a circle…  

Naturally,

Lauren

P.S. - One challenge is that Amigo will back up (do the Yo), stop and then wants to come forward to me. We’ll have to work on that.

Log Entry: Level 1: Lessons 6-7: Games 1-4

You Are Invited

I read this paragraph on a Parelli email list and I was envious (Pasadena is a horse, BTW):

“I found out today from a friend of mine who lives down the street from the
new {owners} that they were having a Welcome Pasadena party on Sunday and friends and family were invited to see their new family member. This gesture says a lot about these folks and the way they care about their animals. They treat her like she was jackpot won. They talk about her with so much pride, as if she was a 60,000 dollar horse. They are fascinated by how well behaved, easy going and kind this horse is (honestly, this is truly a wonder created by PNH {Parelli Natural Horsemanship}). “

I’ve loved animals my whole life; and yet, I’ve never been able to ‘own it’ like these people. It says  A LOT to me that these people would throw a party to welcome their new - horse - family member. And that their friends and family would come and support them and celebrate with them. 

In a way, I’ve felt a bit ashamed to love animals so much - most of my life. It was seen by some family and friends as an obsession, an addiction, as something wrong with me. (And they still do).  But it’s WHO I AM. I’ve cared deeply about animals since I was a child and as an adult in my 40s, I now volunteer my time to help rescue and heal animals in need. I foster elderly horses for our local rescue - True Blue Animal Rescue. It’s what I can’t help but do; and I don’t get paid for it - in dollars. I get paid in the reward seeing a horse that is all skin and bones, get healthy and find their forever home.

This may seem like a departure from my Parelli Journey, but it’s not. Part of finding Parelli has been owning my *life-long* passion that’s been relegated to ‘hobby status’ until now. Going after my dreams that include horses. Making it my full-time passion, not my part-time after thought

Be forewarned: if you’re part of my family and/or friends, you will be getting an invitation to meet my next family member!

Naturally,

Lauren

P.S. - Interested in joining the ParelliNaturally email list? Go here and request to Join: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Parellinaturally/

Growing Up With Horses - A Waste of Money?

This wonderfully written piece talks about growing up with horses and the teachings gleamed from the experience. The author, Tracy Meisenbach,
www.trinityapp.com,  has summed  up my experience and sentiments BEAUTIFULLY! (not to mention some family discussions on whether it was a waste of money :D)

Read her moving piece here: http://www.geocities.com/trinityapp/sweetsixteen.html

Naturally, Lauren

Amigo and Romeo

Meet Romeo

My Romeo is my project horse and my love. He is a soon-to-be 18 year old chestnut Arabian gelding. True Blue Animal Rescue (TBAR) took in Romeo after he was seized by law enforcement for neglect. He was skin and bones and almost dead. At 15 years old, he was still a stallion; and didn’t look at all like an Arabian. You can see pictures of him after he’d been at the rescue a while here - he still looked skinny and pretty pathethic, actually.

I fell in-love the moment I saw him, but knew I couldn’t handle a stallion. So I waited and watched. TBAR has the policy of gelding all stallions and months later, Romeo was calming down. More time passed, several people showed interest in adopting Romeo, but none followed through. In December, the founders of TBAR, Melanie and Dale DeAeth won a makeover from Extreme Makeover Home Edition and received a new house, barn and kennels for all the rescue animals. While helping with the animals, I visited with Romeo. I looked in his eyes and saw his Spirit. In February of the next year, my dear husband gifted me Romeo for Valentine’s Day. It was the best present *EVER*.

According to Parelli Horsenalities, Romeo is a Right-Brained Extravert/Introvert. He’s come a long way since I got him 2 years ago, but still needs me to build his confidence and honor how incredibly sensitive and smart he is. I’m looking forward to being a leader he can trust.

Romeo is not broke to ride (he had 3 rides as a 3 yr old, that’s it); and I don’t aspire to ride him. Yes, I would love to partner with him in that way, but if it never happens, I’m OK with that.

Romeo led me to Parelli. I wanted to reach this horse, help him heal; and not let the years of abuse and neglect he experienced be the last chapter in his life book. I didn’t want the abuser/neglector to win. I want to show Romeo that there are good humans that he can trust.

I’m sooo thankful for Romeo; and we have a soul connection. I can feel it.

Naturally,

Lauren

P.S. - Read more about Parelli’s Horsenalities Right-Brain Extravert and Right-Brain Introvert

P.P.S. - In most of Romeo’s pictures, he’s wearing a halter while being turned out in the pasture. That was back in the day when he wouldn’t let me catch him. I’ve sinced learned (thank you Parelli) to let him catch me and to make it worth his while to be caught! No more halter when he’s turned out!

Meet Amigo

Amigo is a beautiful, 17 year old, Paint gelding. Amigo means “friend” in the Spanish language and defines Amigo perfectly. He gets along with everyone - people, horses, dogs, chickens, cats, etc. He’s just an easy-going horse. I can turn him out with any horses because he doesn’t try to be top-horse. He’s a follower.

(I know, you’re probably wondering about the orange paint. This picture was taken just prior to Hurricane Rita blowing through TX. We had to prepare the house and the horses. It was scary. Each of the horses were marked with a phone number and a heart, so they could be reunited with us if the worst happened… On a funny note, I suppose this could make a great personal ad. Except I’m married :D)

Amigo is an all-around horse - trail rides, western, english, cow-horse, whatever. He’s a big, chunky quarter-horse type build so an english saddle looks pretty funny on him; and you won’t see me taking him over any jumps!

In Parelli Horsenality, Amigo is a Left-Brained Introvert. He’s definitely more Whoa than Go. And when you’re riding, he’ll buck if you push him too far. He’s *highly* food-motivated :D  He’s easy to work with, doesn’t spook or get disturbed easily and wants to get along.

Amigo has been in our family for 10 years or so now; and I’ve been caring for him the last seven years. He’s an easy-keeper.

He’s my Parelli ‘Levels’ horse. I can learn Parelli with him. He’s forgiving, so it’s OK that I’m clumsy and awkard in the beginning. He doesn’t care.

Once I know what I’m doing, I can work with Romeo, my project horse.

Naturally,

Lauren

P.S. - Read more about a Left-Brain Introvert

It’s MY Food

I had an AHA moment when I read this on CJ’s Blog (CJ is taking a 6 week course at the Parelli Center in Ocala, FL; and is sharing her learnings and experience here)

For some time, I’ve been working with my adopted rescue horse, Romeo, on his food issues. He was starved almost to death; and has understandably been concerned about his food going away. This manifests as ears back when I approach with a feed bucket. . I’d tried various techniques, mildly successfully, prior to finding Parelli. 

Recently, I’d read in the Parelli E-News (I’m a Savvy Club member) about using my carrot stick to make him move away from me (move his feet) and not give him his food until he put his ears forward. That has been working; and to be honest, I’ve had to make him move away *every day*. His default mode is not pretty face. (I’m learning leadership and Romeo mirrors beautifully that he doesn’t consider me his leader yet)

Reading CJ’s comment about the leadership attitude of “It’s *MY* food; and if you’re nice, I’ll share” changed everything for me. It is no longer Romeo’s food; it’s mine. It has made all the difference. Now I get a pretty face with ears pointed forward from Romeo. And only on occasion do I have to remind him to be nice.

What a wonderful AHA!

Thank you CJ and thank you Parelli!

Naturally,

Lauren

Welcome to My Parelli Journey

Hello! I started this Blog to document my Parelli Journey with my 2 horses - Amigo and Romeo. The Parelli Level 1 log book doesn’t have enough space for me to share my learnings, my AHAs, the subtle changes and BIG changes I see in the horses daily. So what better place to write it all down than here? Plus, I love sharing!

I share more about how I ‘found’ Parelli in my About page, but for now, you should know that I purchased my Level 1 Partnership pack in December 2007. I started watching the DVDs prior to the holidays and then got side-tracked (more like side-swiped) by the holidays and a 3-week long illness. Finally, in late January, I got to start my Parelli journey!

I hope you and your horses will benefit from my experiences; and I know you’ll benefit from Parelli!

Naturally Yours,

Lauren

P.S. - You can read more about me and my passion for horses in the About page