This page is summarizing 2010, my first year of Parelli Play. What a year it has been! It is difficult to figure out how to write this post, but will give it a try.
1. After reviewing all the posts at first I felt disappointed, because they did not seem to capture the momentous changes that I know have happened, and that I feel. Thinking it over, have concluded that it isn't that they are not recorded, it is that laid out in text they lose some of their vitality. So the record is a record, but the memory is much more.
2. Now compared to Back Then:
Started 2010 with a glimmer of hope, but with a very frightened, unreliable, physically stressed horse, and an owner who had no confidence, or skills. Ended 2010 with a reliable, quite confident, quiet, physically and emotionally healthy horse; and an owner who smiles all the time when thinking about her and what we are doing, has a bunch of skills (quiver full of savvy arrows) on which to draw, and is able to slowly figure things out.
3. Major Achievements:
a. don't have fights and arguments anymore.
b. I know how to get her to calm down and focus on me, most times, but especially when she is RBE. RBI still needs work, but maybe today's breakthrough will lead the way.
c. Oh - I can ride her (walk; trot), indoors and out. Inside in a halter.
d. Began 2010, looking at the levels tasks, thinking "no", "never" "maybe".
Midway through was able to say "yep" "getting there" "we'll see".
e. About May, realized that it was not about achieving the tasks, but about how they were achieved. This changed everything (again).
f. Auditing the game of contact, in Florida, with Linda Parelli teaching. OMG. Such an experience. I haven't properly blogged it on its page. But the blog posts since then are a testament to the Parelli approach, and to LP. I did it, I actually signed up, and WENT. On my own. - an achievement in itself.
g. December, 2010 - understanding what it means to say that Parelli is way more than riding; and becoming addicted to what I am learning from Z by playing on-line.
h. December, 2010- understanding that the 8 principles are not just there as a list, but really are guiding principles. Still have a long way to go to fully understanding their meaning, but it is happening.
i. Except for a bit of a bump, have maintained this blog!
As we head into 2011, Major goals to work toward:
1. cantering.
2. jumping over obstacles, confidently on-line.
3. Level 3 on-line well under way.
4. Stick to me at liberty.
