We recently held a Play Day at the Australia Parelli Campus where our newest employee, Sarah Pitcher, volunteered for the day and assisted us in ensuring it was a fantastic day. She was so excited after the event that she wrote about her experience.

In 2012, I have already been lucky enough to take part in the Australia Parelli Campus’ first Australia Day Play Day, held Thursday, the 26th of January. The national holiday commemorates the arrival of the first fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788. This holiday is normally celebrated by community BBQs, sporting events, concerts and fireworks.

In Wilton NSW , Australia Day was celebrated in a true community style with over 40 people coming along to watch and participate in our Parelli games.

For me, it was another great follow-up from EQUITANA 2011 and the free information events we have run so far. We got together as a group, slightly different than the previous one, and worked as a team to make sure the day would be stress-free and go smoothly. The team consisted of Megan McAuliffe, Shannon Davies, Carmen Smith, Rob McAuliffe, Wendy Goodburn and myself.

Each participant received a goody bag that included a halter in red or blue fleck ( Australia’s flag colours) and a “Game On!” tee to get into the spirit. I loved seeing people standing together with big PNH letters on the back of their tees; it really emphasized that we are all a team, challenging ourselves, and supporting others.

Happy Australia Day from Parelli!

Everyone had a great day and received a ribbon for each Savvy they participated in. It was great to see the high level of horsemanship, with the partnership of horse and human being put first and the task and points second.

After On Line, Liberty and Freestyle Savvys finished, we all headed up for a sausage sizzle. This was a great opportunity for me to meet students from all over NSW, some having been with the program for 10 years, others just starting. Many people were surprised that there were other students so close to them they had never met.

After lunch, we took a group photo and allowed the kids, both big and small, to play a game of piñata cowboy boot. We all said our goodbyes and everyone loaded up and headed home – some only 15 minutes down the road, others a 5 hour drive.

A fun day was had by all and one student summed it up best when she noted that “the environment was so supportive and positive, which is rare to find these days at equine competitions and within horse groups.”

As I move through life and seek to become the human being I aspire to be, I find I gain clarity on things progressively. I’ve come to look at it as peeling back the layers. Like an onion. For example, last year I truly saw the importance of learning to control my thoughts. I understood and absorbed that our thoughts truly do create our reality. However, conceiving it and being able to do it are sometimes two very different things. But I’ve come to believe that’s maybe not the best way to look at it. Rather than thinking in a way that highlights how imperfect I am or the situation is, why not choose to see it as part of the process?

Today, I’ll get it at this level and that’s how it’s supposed to be. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I will process this lesson in this way today, and as I grow and have more experiences, I will continue to process each lesson at a different level and with more clarity. Peeling back the layers. Regarding the concept of thoughts create our reality, I’ve had some key lessons. We must choose to focus on the thoughts we want based on the life we want.

Such a positive, tranquil environment.

In setting my intentions for 2012 with a simple written plan, I gave myself permission to let go of the “noise”…meaning the worries about what I SHOULD be doing or guilt about what others might expect…or I might expect of myself. Almost on a daily basis, I consciously give myself permission to put the things that speak to my heart and make up who I am as priority. Two mantras I have for 2012 are MY THOUGHTS CREATE MY REALITY and I AM WILLING TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE TO BECOME THE HUMAN I WANT TO BE.

I find many moments where those come in handy and allow me to keep moving forward. With an Externship scheduled this year, I expect to have lots of opportunities for both mantras to come in handy. The key difference in years past is that I don’t have any resolutions and I don’t expect to “get somewhere” by the end of the year. I have intentions based on being more clear on who I am, authentically. I have a clear vision of following my heart and an understanding and willingness to allow life to unfold as it should…without expectations of what the result will look like.

Playing the Friendly Game.

I know I will be uncomfortable at times, but with the clarity of who I am beginning to truly unfold for me, I welcome those moments and have strategies on how to get through them. I am willing to be gentle with myself in the moments I don’t get through the discomfort so gracefully and expect that to be part of the peeling back of the layers of my growth. I am letting go of preconceived notions of “issues” I think I have so I can move forward and not hold myself back with these thoughts.

Through my first year as a Parelli Professional and the Culture Sync courses based on the book Tribal Leadership (an offer facilitated through Parelli), I have gained some tools that validate my beliefs in positive thinking, but added strategies to actively create the life that is waiting for me. I am clear on my commitments, I am clear on my purpose (called a Leadership Declaration in the courses), I start my day with gratitude and a plan based on my values and learning needs, I end my day with gratitude and rating my ability to find balance in all areas throughout the day. Things like attitude and rejuvenating are on the list we learned to rate ourselves on and let me tell you, those were not things I had really considered and couldn’t recognize, originally.

I discovered there were rejuvenating moments in each day, but I didn’t allow them to rejuvenate. All the noise in my head kept me from being rejuvenated. Interesting, isn’t it? As I move forward into what I expect to be a life-changing year, I am committed to reminding myself that each lesson is another layer and, just as in horsemanship, our life lessons will continue to unfold and we will be better for each experience. There is a gift in each one and I am finally ready to accept each one as exactly what it’s supposed to be, with the knowledge that the process of my learning and growth will continue to progress.

I have discovered my desire is to help others find authentic growth and hope this blog has inspired you in some way to listen to your heart and be gentle with yourself. As Linda Parelli teaches us, learners are fragile. Just as our horses are, so are we. Finding Parelli is such a huge gift and opportunity for all of us to grow in amazing ways and be surrounded by others who share core values, passion, and genuine beliefs that support is a key ingredient we all need.

Well, the countdown is on – only 8 days until our first event in Lexington, VA! Yesterday I listened to much of the music we are planning to use over the two days. Isn’t the world full of amazingly creative and expressive people? Not being a singer or songwriter myself, I LOVE how songs help me express (or even understand) how I feel at various stages in my life! Guess what Humanality™ I am?

We're ready for Horse & Soul '12 to kick off!

From Adele to Jason Aldean, from OneRepublic to Johnny Cash, from Katy Perry to George Strait, we have it all! What is exciting for me is that I get to suggest & pick songs for Linda, Pat, Kalley & our Instructor Team to ride to! Such fun!

When it comes to talent, we have a very talented singer-songwriter in our midst: Katie Drake, who will be joining us at each event to sing LIVE! What a bonus! Goose bump material, I promise. If you have ever been young and in a relationship, raising a family, her song “Speak Your Heart” (from her new album) will move you and take you back in time & space! Enjoy!

Looking forward to seeing you on the road – Lexington, here we come! Make sure you come up and say hi! Looking forward to your feedback; in the meantime, have fun and special times with your family, friends and horses.

Have you recently taken a Leap of Faith? My life has been filled with those leaps lately, and I feel a little like a frog happily hopping around.

So, I was excited to hear about Paula Rosch’s idea to create a Leap of Faith Day. Paula is a friend of one of my students, and I heard about her idea via an email from Kim (Isn’t the internet a wonderful thing?!).

I’d like to encourage you to participate in Paula’s idea by sharing below what she sent to me.

Before you read on, don’t forget to share your latest “Leap of Faith” as a comment to my blog, and also check back soon for another one of Petra’s Picks!**

Leap of Faith Day

Leap Year always brings us a gift of an extra day. Why not gift it back? Instead of Leap Year, why not Leap of Faith Year? A year to make a leap of faith into one’s family and friends, community, planet…

So we are suggesting that February 29, 2012 be designated as Leap of Faith Day, and we encourage you to give that day back to a cause of your choice, through time, talent, donations, whatever you can offer.

There are no requirements; nothing is too little or too much. It doesn’t matter to whom or to what you give back. Just make the Leap of Faith, and then post your Leap on the Leap of Faith Day page wall. Tell us about your experience and include photos and videos if you’d like. We all want to hear all about your Leap!

Most of you already have specific causes to which you are attached, so you may want to give back to them on February 29. But for those of you who are looking for a cause, or for a new cause, we’ve asked our friends to suggest their favorite volunteer activities to help you out. You can follow up on their suggestions, or use them as springboards for your own giving-back ideas.

If you like this Leap of Faith Day idea, and we really hope you do, please “Like” our page on Facebook and share it with all your friends so they can get involved too. Talk it up, pass it on. Let’s all have an opportunity to say “I made a Leap of Faith today!”

You only need to do 3 things to make a Leap of Faith:

1st: Like the page.

2nd: Commit to a giving-back activity

3rd: Post your activity on the Leap of Faith Day Wall (be sure to include photos, videos, quotes – we all want to hear about your Leap of Faith!)

Oh, one last thing: Be sure to put February 28, 2013 on your calendar as next year’s Leap of Faith Day!

**PS: My chosen cause is the Parelli Horsemanship Fund. Through my Parelli Connect Benefactor account, I make monthly donations to a great cause and I will also commit my time on February 29th of this year to raise the aware for this great cause that helps the following causes: Parelli education for kids, scholarships for future professionals, education for horse rescues, and therapeutic riders.

When Petra Christensen, 2-Star Junior Parelli Instructor, invited me to be a part of a pilot project working with rescue horses using Parelli methods and the Core Values, I jumped at the opportunity to not only support my instructor and friend, but also the opportunity to develop my horsemanship beyond just playing with my own horse.

Petra had been contacted by a woman who had taken two mares with foals from a killer pen seven months ago. However, unforeseen circumstances forced her to re-home the horses. After a clinic she held down in New Mexico, Petra stopped to look the horses over. Three were paints and one paint breeding stock, all very good-looking horses. Petra decided that with the aid of Pagosa Springs’ local horse rescue, LASSO, these horses could be taken on. Petra’s plan was that, with the help of local Parelli students and instructors, the horses could be trained and forever homes could be found because the horses would have a Parelli foundation.

On January 5, 2012, Petra and I headed down to Albuquerque with my trailer in tow. It was our goal to safely load the mares and foals and bring them back to Pagosa with no trauma. The first thing the next morning, Petra went out and spent about an hour getting acquainted with the horses and seeing how they all got along.

While Petra played some with the horses, I set the trailer up with panels at the open door as a chute so the horses could be herded into the trailer in a kind manner and without any incidents. It only took about 20 minutes from the time Petra started gently herding the horses to the funnel to the time they were all loaded. It was beautiful, kind and no one – horses or humans – went right-brain.

The new horses getting used to the Pagosa weather.

For the next two weeks, Steffy Hodge, Josie Sifft, Pat Kochheiser, Petra and I interacted with the horses every day out in Petra’s pasture. Our goal was to get them prepared for the farrier and veterinarian who were to see them on Friday, January 20th. The mares had very little regard for humans; the foals, however, were pretty friendly because they had been handled since they were less than a month old. Our main concerns were the mares, who needed their hooves trimmed and didn’t want to be touched on the legs. Petra was sure they would need to be sedated. She had contacted Brittany Harris, DVM and farrier Trevor Packard to work with us.

Friday morning came. Petra and I set up a catch pen with panels off of the back porch. It was time to water the horses, so Steffy filled some buckets, and Mayday (the paint mare) and her foal Snorkel came into the pen. Petra casually closed the gateway. Then she came in with halter, 12-foot Line, Carrot Stick and Savvy String. Mayday had not been haltered at all as far as we knew. Petra played some Friendly Game with the stick and string and before she knew it, Mayday was pretty okay with the string around her neck. Soon Mayday slipped her head into the halter and we were ready for the vet to sedate her and get the hooves trimmed.

It was so great to watch how Trevor and Dr. Harris talked to and petted the horses, taking time to get acquainted before setting to the tasks at hand. Within an hour, Mayday’s hooves were trimmed.

Next was my turn to get Rosie who was out in the pasture. I had haltered her once, but for the most part she walked away if I got too close. This time I stayed aware of her feelings, and when she turned to me, I turned my energy away. She came over, got a treat and sniffed the Savvy String I had in my hand. I called to Petra that possibly we would need a grain pan. Rosie moved off to the other side of the large hay bale and I slowly followed. Within a matter of minutes, she was haltered and I was leading her to the catch pen.

Rosie was very unsure of everything and the people, but I kept reassuring her and then gave her the pan of grain giving her time to relax. Dr. Harris wasn’t sure that Rosie would accept the needle prick, but interestingly enough, after taking time for the mare to know her touch, Dr. Harris was able to slip the needle in and administer the sedative.

Even with Rosie sedated, Trevor was only able to trim the front hooves because she lacked so much confidence in Zones 4 and 5 that we all agreed that it wasn’t crucial or safe to pursue trimming the hind hooves this go around.

Later Steffy asked Dr. Harris what she thought about the morning’s event. Dr. Harris said that she initially thought it was going to be a rodeo when told that the mares were hardly handled, and she was delightfully impressed with how smooth it went. Trevor said he thought it would have taken longer.

So here were two Equine Health Professionals and five Parelli people who all agreed that the mission that day was to not just get the task done, but to do it in a kind and friendly manner and do it for the horses.

2 Star Junior Parelli Professional Lillan Roquet offered to have this blog, detailing her experience riding with Linda Parelli in Florida, posted here on Parelli Central.  We hope you enjoy it!

The last few days have been all about filming! Upcoming Savvy Club DVDs and a few other exciting things are in the pipeline. I was lucky enough to be a part of it on many different levels, and as always, it’s a journey of self-development, isn’t it?! So, those of you Right-Brain Extroverts who want to commiserate with my ramblings, please continue reading. Everyone else… continue at your own risk!

My grey mare Damo and I were invited to be a part of some of the Savvy Club filming, which was really really exciting! I knew that I would learn a ton! Plus, whatever mistakes I made would only lead to bettering the world for horses anyway, as it gives more opportunities for learning. Not to mention being in the super capable hands of Parelli’s amazing film crew, director Neil Pye and Sue Shoemark, and being taught by none other than Linda Parelli herself! Most of the world would think this would be enough people telling me “you’re okay!”

The Parelli Media Crew, filming our Savvy Club Lesson.

The first day went fabulously, and I was playing in the Savvys I was less confident in. Damo was a rock star, acting like such a partner and hanging around all day. The second day we did a Liberty section. This is where my emotional fitness started to let me down. The first thing I noticed was that when Linda started asking me to do specific things or tasks, my focus caused me to lose my draw. What a surprise! One of the human’s mutual responsibilities in the partnership is “understand the natural power of focus.” So as my focus was divided, Damo began to not act like such a partner. Now, with hindsight I can analyze this with a clear head and realize that my liberty used to consist of me seeing lots of hind legs and tail straight in the air and a horse galloping away – AFTER she had busted through the round pen! So when I say that I lost our mental connection, I mean to say I had to use a lot of disengagements to keep her with me, because I lacked draw, because my focus was off, and I wasn’t being a good leader!

This was all well and good, and we kept it together and finished the filming. But I was pretty bummed and trying to kick myself in the pants and get back into an emotionally fit state! Not to much avail. Here was my Parelli Connect update after that session:

Lillan Roquet with Andiamo, (Liberty, 45 mins) Today we played with the weave at Liberty. Damo was AWESOME … My focus was really off . She did really well as long as I gave her my total attention … but when Linda started tasking us, I lost mental connection with Damo and then I had to use a bunch of disengagements to force the draw back to me! YUCK!

I spent most of the rest of the morning stewing, feeling like I didn’t do right by my horse because I wasn’t upholding my responsibilities. I felt like I kinda got myself together after lunch so I thought that I would go out and have a ride with Linda and all of the senior instructors here studying with her. And here’s what happened next:

Lillan Roquet with Andiamo, (Freestyle, 45 mins) Played with getting a forward canter today. She did better than she Has EVER done … so of course I pushed it . Too far. Lost her mind and she started spooking, and getting way impulsive … at one point I weighted my inside stirrup and my saddle slid almost completely off … I did an emergency dismount … but also had to pull on her face too much to stop and broke a bunch of her confidence in GOC.

Linda says I need to play with maintaining gait first (which should have been obvious to me: “maintain gait … then direction”). She suggested using the round pen, where she can go fast and I don’t have to steer. Then take her up for a lap or two, then bring her back to a trot, etc,  until she gets more confidence and stays connected with the speed I want.

Damo, my wonderful horse.

As you can see, it was not my most successful ride! Again… into that terrible spiral of being disappointed with myself for not having more savvy and being a better partner, and then being disappointed for being disappointed!

So then came the realizations. I got home and just blurted it all out onto Parelli Connect. I almost deleted it, then thought, “No one will read it anyway,” so I left it up there. Then my brain came back to me. Writing all those emotions down, processing the disappointment at not being the partner I want to be to a horse that has given me SO much, caused me to start looking for theory. So of course in Parelli I could find so much to bring me back. That is where my realizations about focus, responsibilities (maintain gait, THEN direction) clarity of leadership, etc came from. And of course the realization: discomfort is learning!

So… I learned that knowledge can help us to find our way back into our comfort zone. “Frustration begins where knowledge ends.” And luckily we have this AMAZING program to help us out of our comfort zone … and then the theory to help us find our way back in.

Antoinette Archer wrote this excellent blog describing her journey and experience at the Parelli Campus in Pagosa Springs, Colorado last summer.

It all started with a phone call at 4:00 in the morning, as I was rubbing my eyes trying to comprehend what I was hearing. “This is Ryan Rose from Parelli, do you know who I am?” I thought I was dreaming! I wasn’t… I was one lucky girl, to be given the opportunity of a lifetime, to go to Pat and Linda Parelli’s ranch in Pagosa Springs to attend a Fast Track. It all happened so fast, without warning, but of course I embraced it. As I approached the ranch, I saw the symbol that we have learned to love; how unbelievable… I was really there. People call this the Gateway to Horsemanship.

I arrived!

The ranch was everything I expected and more. Check-in was full of many excited people and horses coming from afar. In the August Fast Track, there were about 35 people. I am very lucky to have met many new Parelli friends from all over the globe.

Our head instructor was Ryan Rose, who was assisted by Australia’s own Tanya Bennett and Bonnie McIntyre. Each had their own style and experiences but each one of them made us all feel so welcome and helped and challenged us during our savvy stay.

I had a wonderful lease horse, Caballero, a nine-year-old Arab – I have added him to Parelli Connect if you want to see our journey together. He was such a wonderful, super athletic horse who tried his heart out for me. He was pretty confident and offered me a lot. He loved the Touch It Game and offered his foot on everything and anything. He was very good at putting his feet on things and was able to get all four feet on a railway sleeper and inside a tractor tire!

Caballero, demonstrating his talent!

I don’t think I realized what I learned at the ranch just until recently. The course was about doing things excellently – what we should all strive for. How good is your Phase 1? It should be a whisper (unseen to the untrained eye). And do you really mean it? I truly believe my knowledge has been embedded at an entirely new, deeper level. One thing that really resonates with me was “Get in harmony with them, so they can get in harmony with us.” That was Ryan’s mantra, and I now feel it is the fundamental of natural horsemanship. This way your horse has the opportunity and the choice to stay connected. If you are interesting and provocative enough, your horse won’t want to lose that connection. If you get the mind, you will get the feet; this works for everything (On Line, Liberty, Freestyle and Finesse).

While in Pagosa, I was lucky enough to watch Ryan and the savvy team give a demonstration at the local show and also a demonstration that the Externs had prepared for us. Pat and Caton also competed in a cutting competition not far away; we got to hear about the Wild Horse Taming event in Reno and got to see Linda and her magnificent horses.

I was also able to compete in the Parelli games and we got Level 4 ribbons for On Line, Liberty and Freestyle – boy was I surprised! We got a few other ribbons for the times games, which was great fun.

There was so much to see and do, from the Mighty Bronc seat builder and riding past Scooch Mountain to having a BBQ and singing along with Pat and Linda at the campfire, as well as playing volleyball in the arena and soaking in the hot springs. A big thanks to Pat and Linda for creating such an amazing program, and to all the instructors that have assisted me in my journey towards being the best me – and horse person – I can be, and showing me the pathway of never-ending self-improvement.

Have you noticed most of the people on Parelli Connect are women? So where are all the men?

Jamie: My husband is not a rider. I started to say “not a horse lover,” but that is not quiet true. While he is not comfortable around them himself, he totally supports my horse addiction, even enabling it.

I broke my arm a few years ago when Cici was stung by a bee on her belly and leapt in the air. I fell to the ground. As I was waiting for the bones to heal, Robert drove me to the barn every day. “Take as long as you need,” he’d tell me, and he’d sit in the car reading a book. I would sit in the paddock with Cici and Casey.

“Why are you doing this? I know how upset you are about the accident and how you blame Cici,” I’d say. His response? “You need horse time to completely heal.”

Jo said: What a heartwarming story, Jamie. A few years ago I was in the running for first place in State in my Hunter-Jumper division. Every competition counted. The week of our biggest competition, I got a call from my son, saying their second child was on the way. I wrote off the competition and hopped on a plane, arriving into town before the baby. I was privileged to spend the week with them, helping out.

Mentally I had given up the competition, but as my plane landed back in Salt Lake City, my trainer called. “The competition is running late,” she said, “and if you hurry, you can make it.” I started to tell her I was just getting off the plane when my husband buzzed thru saying, “Honey, I have been watching this competition and it’s running late. I got your clothes (out of the dirty clothes), I’ve warmed up your horse, and I think we can make it if you drive straight there.” I told my trainer, drove straight to the competition, changed in the back of the trailer, and got to the ring 30 seconds before my turn in the arena.

I think what we’re both trying to say is that whether they ride or not, whether they practice Parelli or not, it’s hard to do horses without support, and husbands can be a remarkable support.

Jamie said: I’ve noticed posts on Parelli Connect regarding husbands. How they have given their wives the opportunity to reconnect with their dream of horses. How they build things such as barns and slow feeders. Dig post holes and put up fencing. Even go ranch shopping! And how they are there for their horse-crazy women.

Jo said: My husband calls himself “A Desperate Horse Husband,” but it’s always with a smile on his face.

We have different styles. He’s an old cowboy type who was riding bareback from childhood. I think it’s important to support each other respectfully, no matter what our styles. While my husband doesn’t “practice Parelli,” I did notice him saying “Well, Parelli says . . .” when a friend mentioned a problem with his horse the other day. He had it right, so I just walked away quietly with a smile on my face.

Jamie said: I think my husband would agree with “Desperate Horse Husband!” While he is not involved with horses, he often tells me to “go to the barn.” I pause and thank him for his willingness to share me with my horses.

I have to admit, I love Facebook!

Spending about half an hour on Facebook every day, I talk to all kinds of people from all over the world. I post things that I find valuable and want to share, and I check in with friends and students all the time.

One of my shares a couple weeks ago was this video featuring Jack Leroy Tueller, a 90-year-old man recounting an event during World War II.

Jack played his trumpet during a cold night, despite the fact that one German sniper was somewhere out there. Jack figured “that this German soldier is just as scared and as lonely as I am.” Hmmm….

Being from Germany, my grandparents and my mom and dad lived through the war. I still have my grandma’s tea pot that fell off the table during a bomb attack and it still has a broken spout because of it….

This video caused me to think. There was no right and no wrong in this moment. Just two human beings in the same miserable, life-threatening situation… and they found a common ground.

As always, I very much appreciate your comments and thoughts and hope you’ll check in with me again for another one of Petra’s Pick.

Erin Fowle, 2-Star Junior Instructor, sent us this inspiring write-up about an organization that is truly changing the world for horses and humans – right in her own backyard! We hope you enjoy it.

I live in the 3rd largest California county, near the Oregon border, with the 4th smallest population. Our unemployment rates are the 2nd highest in the state at 26.7%, drug use and manufacturing are in an upward swing, and we are seeing a larger number of kids in the foster care system. With that said, I am still proud of our county in many ways; neighbors still stretch out a helping hand, communities come together to support kids in sports, FFA, and 4-H, and non-profit and service organizations such CattleWomen, Farm Bureau, Rotary, and Lion’s Club do what they can to support their communities. Among these incredible organizations is one called Stable Hands, a group dedicated to bringing patient horses and people of varying physical and mental challenges together. I am fortunate to know several of the tireless volunteers through their own love of horses and Parelli Natural Horsemanship. We have been students together and now I am proud to be a part of their journeys in an instructor role. But, today, I want to share another program that Stable Hands oversees, Horses for Heroes.

Horses for Heroes is specific to connecting horses with our military veterans who have come home with mental, physical, and emotional challenges. Through Parelli and Horses for Heroes, I met one of our veterans, Craig, whose drive and determination exceeds most people I know. We met at one of our monthly Parelli Playdays, which take place at the facility that houses Horses for Heroes. Craig was helping with the facility and was there to make sure we had everything we needed, including an incredibly groomed arena! We chatted a bit and that is when I found out he was fairly new to the Parelli program and wanted to learn as much as he could. I offered to bring my equine partner, Dan, to the next playday and to let the two play.

Bringing horses and humans together.

The next month rolled around and the two were an instant hit together….Dan was patient while his human fumbled a bit with his rope and Carrot Stick, and our veteran persisted when Dan went into true Left-Brain Introvert form. Dan’s ears were constantly asking questions and a huge smile was fixated on Craig’s face. As I watched them that day, it was re-affirmed to me how special horses are and how great of a fit Parelli is with people with special needs.

After that day, time went by and Craig’s physical pain was getting in the way of Parelli playtime, but he was still participating in the Horses for Heroes program (incidentally, their foundation for horses and humans is Parelli). It was not until last month that I was able to see Craig again.

He is in better shape physically and is now getting things in order for this year’s Heroes group. He has also established his goals for the next stage of his life, to become a licensed Parelli Professional and infuse it into teaching other veterans. We are planning Craig’s Level 1 audition for next month and he is doing all he can to attend a course in Colorado this Spring.

Craig knows he has hard work ahead, both physically and financially, but I know his drive will get him to achieving his goals.

If you are interested in supporting our hero, whether it be through lodging, a lease horse, travel, or a monetary donation, please email me at efowle96027@gmail.com.