Finding The Perfect Partner at the Cardinal Ranch

Denyse Rousselet sent us this account of finding her Left-Brain Extrovert mare, Sweet Indiana, at the Cardinal Ranch in Canada.  Sometimes the perfect horse/human partnerships just fall into place! We hope you enjoy this blog.

Having owned two horses, my first an Appaloosa mare and later on a Dutch Warmblood gelding who was retired at 25, I was debating on getting another one for a few reasons. It was partly a financial issue, as my retired horse was still there, and at 63 years of age, I figured I might not be able to care for a young horse for all of its life. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to buy an older horse, as I could end up with two retired horses in a few short years. However, I knew that I surely would not get another horse if I waited any longer; it seemed that it was NOW OR NEVER. So I had to think “young safe horse.” Quite the challenge!

In January 2010, while searching for a safe place to ride in the Canadian Rockies, I fell upon the Cardinal Ranch and read the info on their website quite carefully. Top rated 4-Star Parelli instructor Don Halladay was giving an 8-day clinic in June. I called the ranch, talked to the owner, and registered for that clinic. What a clinic. What a ranch! I was totally amazed at their horses, 4- and 5-year-olds that were like seasoned horses and very calm, confident and emotionally collected. I have been convinced for many years that natural horsemanship was the way to go but how rewarding when one sees the effects of this training when it is done from the start and not as corrective means of re-training. I had the privilege to have two different horses in that clinic, as the first was sold during that time. The two horses were both impressive and although I was not in the buying “mode,” I did not forget about that wonderful feeling and experience and planned to attend another clinic in 2011. What impressed me the most was how respectful the Cardinals were with their horses, all the while being very effective and respected; there was a spiritual connection between them and their horses: very inspiring!

Last winter, a good friend lost her 21-year-old horse, her first horse; she was very upset and somewhat reluctant to start with another horse at the age of 58; confidence at this time in our life is not as good as it was in previous years. 9 months later, she made the decision not to buy again and gave all her horse blankets to friends. Being of similar age and circumstance, I decided that it was time for me to make the move and not wait for my retired horse to go; by then, I would most certainly never get another horse. The time was now.

I remembered 2-Star Parelli Professional Devanee Cardinal making me feel good about buying a horse at my age, reminding me: “You must realize, Denyse, that you are not the only good home for a horse.” Of course, I knew that, but felt that once you establish a relationship with a horse, as a matter of fact, with any animal, you should be responsible to pursue it for the animal’s life . I know that disease, family or financial considerations may change during the years, but as one grows older, the chances of not going all the way in the partnership is greater and I had to take that into account.

So I looked at the ranch’s website and from the descriptions, narrowed it down to three horses, including a 5-year-old buckskin Quarter horse named Sweet Indiana (or Indy).

Sweet Indiana and I enjoying the autumn weather.

The next day I called Devanee about the June 2011 clinic that I had registered for, as well as to tell her that I was now in the “buying” mode and would like to look at horses in June when I would go to the ranch for another 10 days. She spontaneously said to me, “Today I played and rode a horse and thought of you, saying to myself that if that horse is still at the ranch in June, that will be the horse for Denyse.”

I replied, “Would that by any chance be Sweet Indiana?”

“Yes,” she replied.

“Wow!”

“How did you know?”

“Well, I looked at your website and from the descriptions it seemed to me that we were cut from the same cloth,” I said. “I felt good when I read the Horsenality™, the experience of this horse, and somehow I had the feeling that we would fit well together. She’s by far my first choice; the others, I have questions to ask but I did not put much time into them as Indy seemed the one. I have a real good feeling about her.”

So we discussed Indy’s Horsenality, characteristics and experience. I also asked about the other horses I had looked at on the website and a few questions about their other horses, but we very rapidly agreed that Indy was on top of the list. I could, of course, look and try other horses once on the ranch, but I had to consider that it was only February, and Indy could be sold by June.

When I hung up the phone, I looked at last year’s pictures taken at the ranch, and I was surprised to to notice that many pictures of me taken by participants in the clinic had been interrupted by one particular horse that came to “plant” herself right in front of me. It was Indy!

I sent an e-mail to Devanee the next day just before calling her again about my possible purchase. She received the e-mail during our discussion and answered spontaneously, “Denyse, Indy already chose you last year. It’s quite evident, since there are so many pictures of her interfering with your play or rides, making sure that she did not go unnoticed.”

And without me even realizing it, Sweet Indiana sure had picked me out last year.

Sweet Indiana, making sure she didn't go unnoticed.

Tagged as: Denyse Rousselet, Parelli Media