Day #15 - “Putting It All Together Friday,” September 11

A little late posting the last four days - it’s Monday, but I haven’t had a chance to post since Thursday afternoon!  So, to start with:  Thursday night we went to Nello’s, a cute little joint in Pagosa, to see the Killens and Kiki Ebson joining them.  I wasn’t aware that Kiki is a recording artist in her own rite, as I mentioned in yesterday’s post, but here’s another fun fact:  she is, indeed, Buddy Ebson’s daughter! (that’s Jed Clampett, for those of you old enough to remember the Beverly Hillbillies).  Pat and Linda were there with Carlos Osario, the owner of the Horse First Farm in Oregon, Wisconsin.  Almost everyone else from our class was there as well.  We had a blast singing and dancing - Sam even graced the Australians with a couple of their own tunes - very fun!

So, Friday came early, but we were all there with bells on!  John started with us in the lodge telling us again that we need to go out into the world to change it for horses - it’s up to US, as Pat can’t do it by himself.  He joked with us about what we often here from “normals” in the horse world when they see us in action: “Why are you wiggling that rope?”  Aren’t you going to RIDE?” “What are you DOING?!”  (I heard at least one of these comments at a barn I teach at the week before I left - funny!)  He reminded us to be true to ourselves and what we know - our principles and foundation.  John then led a demo. up by the wash rack, talking about flying lead changes and how we can prepare for them in our own bodies.  He asked us to consider how ambidextrous we are in OUR bodies and if we can’t be even and balanced, how can the horses we are riding be?  He told us about how he walked crooked when he came to the ISC and always pushed off with his right (dominant) foot when he walked, and how it took Kathy to point it out to him.  He now has made great efforts to even himself out and his riding has improved dramatically - how interesting!  I KNOW I am still crooked and that I weight my right stirrup more when I ride in a saddle - but at least I’m working on it!  John left us with a couple of assignments:  pick up all four feet from both sides and rate it 1-10 as to how well our horse can do it - and do some one and two-line driving to prepare for our leads, etc.  Those of you scratching your heads, trust me - it’s ALL related!

Then Avery joined us and talked a little bit about finesse and the active and supporting reins.  Just then, Linda showed up and spent some time with us - great!  She told us that “We’re just about to re-launch Parelli to the world and that’s all I can tell you - if I told you more, I’d have to kill you!”  One of the cool things I love about PNH is the continuous growth and change - I can’t wait to see what’s around the corner!

We talked a bit about PNH being brought into the vet schools and I was envied by all when I said that my vet is a Parelli student (thanks, Molly - I sure appreciate you and realize how lucky I am!).

Then Linda talked a bit about the differences between freestyle and finesse riding.  She said that finesse riding is more “engaged” and you can’t really do that with freestyle.  She mentioned a woman named Janice Dulak, who has a book “Pilates for the Dressage Rider” and that she has been studying with her for some time.  Linda shared with us some of the exercises that Janice does to improve her fluidity riding - amazing stuff that is next to impossible to blog about, but I will be glad to show those of you who are interested upon my return.  Suffice it to say - you want to mirror in YOUR body what you want your horse’s body to look like - a very different picture than a “traditional” dressage seat/posture.

We then discussed phototonic therapy and I learned a lot about it - I would like to order a light for MYSELF, but they are rather expensive, so until my hands are completely arthritic, guess I’ll have to wait.  Linda and others gave amazing story examples they had witnessed of horses near death from colic who recovered upon being treated this way - amazing!

Then, we had our finale and certificates were handed out for Riding With Purpose.  We then went outside and walked around the courtyard, where a variety of word posters and pictures were placed around.  We were asked to ponder the words and what they meant to us after this week:

- thresholds

- principle and purpose

- It’s NOT about the . . .

- Reading your horse’s body/behavior

- leadership

- prey/predator relationship

- experimenting

- confidence

Friday night, Pat and Linda hosted a very nice reception at the new Springs Hotel downtown Pagosa for Gold Savvy Club members.  It was open bar, hors d’oeuvres, etc. - a class affair.  I was finally able to meet Ray Conkright and his daughter, Kime - so fun to be able to meet you, Ray, and put a face with your name! Ray - let me know if you decide on that Glock or not, OK?  Who needs a safety, anyway?!  (apologies to those of you who don’t do “gun-speak”).

So, that about wrapped up Friday - on to Saturday and the first-ever Gold Savvy Summit!

Edie

This entry was posted on 14. September 2009 at 16:24 and is filed under 2009 ISC. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.