It’s a cold Sunday morning, three days after I first contacted Barb about teaching her timid horse the Parelli™ seven games. Xena is turned out with three other horses; two elderly mares and her 3 year-old daughter — the last foal she carried as a PMU mare.

Within moments of Barb and I entering the pasture, three of the horses come over to greet us. But just as Barb predicted, Xena remains well out of reach on the perimeter of her little herd. On the walk from the barn, Barb described Xena as uncatchable, even by people she knows. Seeing her now, I know that moving towards her would only drive her away.

Instead, I stand beside the round bale and extend my hand as far as possible in Xena’s direction. She gingerly takes a step forward and gives my knuckles a fleeting sniff.

Xena is such a forlorn creature, that I find myself immediately drawn to her. As she turns away, my heart breaks at seeing the number 26 branded on her butt; a chilling reminder of her many years in the PMU industry.

I would return in the afternoon for our first play session.

Parelli™ is a trademark of Parelli Natural Horsemanship, Inc.

I found Xena when I came across Barb’s ad to free lease her.

I was cruising the online ads, looking for a horse that was either retired, lame or unrideable; a horse who could be a groundwork partner for my budding Parelli Natural Horsemanship™ skills. I was thinking of this as a volunteer opportunity, where the horse would benefit from a little exercise and I would gain some valuable experience – free of charge. Seemed like an ideal trade-off to me.

I found Xena’s ad on Horsetopia simply by chance, and even though she was being offered as a free lease, I sent Barb an email to see if she “…might be interested in someone playing the Parelli™ seven games with your mare, until she is leased out…”. Barb responded the next day, “I would really appreciate it if you would find the time to do that. She is basically a gentle horse but very timid and fearful.”

Xena and I met three days later, for what I thought would be the first of 3 or 4 play sessions. I never dreamed that 14 months later, I’d re-prioritize my life and sell my house, just so I could own her.

Parelli™ and Parelli Natural Horsemanship™ are trademarks of Parelli Natural Horsemanship, Inc.