Linda

While I may study natural horsemanship, being around horses does not come naturally to me. As a child, the closest I came to a horse was passing a farm along the highway. I guess I fall into the category of someone who takes her first riding lesson as an adult, gets into Parelli, and retrains a frightened, unrideable mare. I’m okay with that.

With Couch, a lesson horse at Barn #2
July 2006    

I took up riding in February 2006 because I had hopes of one day riding on a beach. It was on my list of 10 Things to Do Before I Die, and I naively thought it would be an easy one to cross off. I had no idea what I was getting into.

Learning to ride wasn’t easy for me. Being a cautious adult rider, I couldn’t help but gauge the ability of my instructors by how much they valued my safety. Within the first year I’d had 4 coaches, fallen off twice, been run-away with, kicked, stepped on and shoved around by too many horses.

Every few weeks I’d ask myself, “Why are you still riding? You’re going to get hurt!”. I was at the point of giving up, but at the same time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a reason I had to put myself through this, I just didn’t know why. It would be 2 more years before I found the answer.

Trail Riding in Alberta - June 2008

I volunteered for a year at a therapuetic riding school, because I thought spending more time on the ground would help my riding. To some extent being a side-walker did improve my confidence with horses, but mostly it was just rewarding to see the joy on the children’s faces.

By then I was with coach #6, who’d learned to ride as an adult. My lessons now included riders closer to my age, with a coach I trusted, so finally I was actually having some fun. My coach had also studied the John Lyons‘ natural horsemanship method, which opened my eyes to DVD-based learning. Within a few months I’d discovered Parelli, and it became the missing link in my understanding of horses.

I began the Parelli Level 1 program in September 2008, working with my coach’s gelding, Cole. Cole was safe and reliable; he was also blind in his right eye, which presented its own challenges. I learned a great deal from Cole and will always be grateful to Paulette for her generosity.

A Rainy Day with Cole — Barn #6, November 2008    

Six months later, in February 2009, I finally discovered what I’d unknowingly been searching for all along. I found Xena and soon realized this is where I was meant to be. My interest is no longer just about riding; it’s been transformed into a love of learning, with a mare I adore. For the next 14 months Xena and I did groundwork training (Parelli, Online Levels 1 & 2), until she finally became mine in May 2010. We’re now training at Online Levels 2/3, and while we’re not yet horse and rider, it is on my Top 10 list.

Xena & I — Barn #8, June 2010    

By strange coincidence, three years earlier when I was taking lessons at Barn #2, Xena lived nearby at what would become Barn #7. It was a long road for both of us.

I love you, Sweet Pea