Check out this clip from my Finesse lesson with Pat during my Externship 2013!
Licensed 2-Star Parelli Professional based in the Pacific Northwest | SamanthaThorning.com
Showing posts with label externship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label externship. Show all posts
Friday, February 27, 2015
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Finishing the Externship & Putting the Relationship First
Hello! I've been posting videos to my YouTube account and trying to keep up on Parelli Connect as well but haven't had much time to sit down and properly write anything. A lot of people have been asking me about the Externship - my experience, how it turned out, and what they could expect if they were to attend one. Definitely leave me a comment if I can answer anything for you
Let's see where to begin? I met so many amazing people and made some lasting friendships here. Yes my horsemanship improved and yes I learned a lot about Parelli Professional conduct but when you think of putting the relationship first, you can think of being at the Parelli campus. There is nothing competitive about people all striving for a common goal of good horsemanship and good teammanship. I had some things crop up in my personal life about half way through the course and without the support of our instructors and the entire Extern group I couldn't have finished out the class. For that I am so grateful - I have really come to appreciate the good hearts of nearly everyone in the Parelli community... Can you be a part of something bigger than yourself? Sometimes that's simply being there no matter what for someone else in need. So if anyone from my Externship experience is reading this, thank you for everything. You'll never know how much you all have meant to me in this part of my journey.
Now, on to the course! First exciting bit I should share is that I passed my Level 4 Liberty while there! I decided to film a trial run for an audition just to see where we were at and it turned out to be really great. Aspen was connected, playful, and full of try so I sent it in and passed with marks about half in L4 and half in L4+! Totally awesome! We also got our first Freestyle (pushing) and Finesse (light seat) flying lead changes. I was also introduced to Finesse which we spent quite a bit of time on throughout the course. I have a totally new respect for lateral maneuvers!! I was lucky enough to be chosen for a Finesse lesson with Pat Parelli which was filmed for a DVD series. I'm not sure if it will be used or not but it was a really unique experience to see all the behind the scenes filming process and naturally it was really fun to ride with Pat. That's a whole other blog post in itself! I can tell you that while Aspen was a total Right-Brain fruitcake up there with all the people and cameras, I learned a lot and am still processing all the information I received! A theme for me in the course which also came up in my lesson with Pat is that the horse should take you in the direction you have requested - it shouldn't be you pushing, pulling, dragging, or begging the horse to go forward, backward, or sideways. At one point Pat fairly chased me down on Slider and really got Aspen moving sideways to show me the feeling that I'm looking for. At first it was chaotic and bracy but all of a sudden I felt like she weighed 10 pounds not 1000 pounds, she got light on her feet and fairly hovered sideways. It was a really neat and eye opening experience to realize how ineffective I've been for so long and how much I have to look forward to in lightness in the Porcupine Game. I believe I mentioned it before, either here or on my Parelli Connect, but Porcupine Game is the second game for a reason. It's so important - you really win the horse's mind this way. We also got the pleasure of having Linda come and ride with our class and teach a handful of times. She's really such an amazing horsewoman and teacher - what an eye for picking out the one thing that will make the biggest difference for both the horse and the human! She introduced us to advancing concepts in Finesse including the very beginning ideas of Game of Contact. I will also have to write a post on our Linda visits :) Aspen and I went on our first trail rides, open area riding, and galloping - all exhilarating experiences that pushed me out of my comfort zone and really helped me grow in my horsemanship and leadership! As a class we were invited to participate in the first few days of the Colt Start course with Rob McAuliffe - it's amazing that it's all about relationship and doing the simple things really well. There were a couple extra colts and I had the opportunity to play with one for an afternoon with the Colt Starters - really showed me where I'm strong and where I'm weak in my horsemanship. Rob is truly a horseman and it's always a privilege to be around people like him.... Try to soak up some talent! The Externs also got to sit in on a few days of Pat's Western Performance class - again such a learning experience. Simple things done well. Own the hindquarters. Win the Porcupine Game. For some fun weekend activities we put on a Parelli Games weekend and an Open House in which I was asked to do a Liberty Spotlight! We did a cool 4-Savvy closing Spotlight - everyone did awesome and it was such a fun time visiting with the community and other horse lovers! Our last weekend of the course we went and did a demo at the county fair - I did On-Line and Liberty with Aspen. She was a total rock star and everyone loved her! The Externs also raised just over $1,400 for the Parelli Education Institute! Super awesome!
To wrap it up testing went well, I got a 100% on all written exams and was recommended for 2* instructorship pending the successful submission of my Level 4 Freestyle audition! I promise to write in more detail on some of the things I mentioned above - if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask! Also - I have too many pictures to post on the blog but friend me on Facebook and check out all the photos from the Externship!
Let's see where to begin? I met so many amazing people and made some lasting friendships here. Yes my horsemanship improved and yes I learned a lot about Parelli Professional conduct but when you think of putting the relationship first, you can think of being at the Parelli campus. There is nothing competitive about people all striving for a common goal of good horsemanship and good teammanship. I had some things crop up in my personal life about half way through the course and without the support of our instructors and the entire Extern group I couldn't have finished out the class. For that I am so grateful - I have really come to appreciate the good hearts of nearly everyone in the Parelli community... Can you be a part of something bigger than yourself? Sometimes that's simply being there no matter what for someone else in need. So if anyone from my Externship experience is reading this, thank you for everything. You'll never know how much you all have meant to me in this part of my journey.
Now, on to the course! First exciting bit I should share is that I passed my Level 4 Liberty while there! I decided to film a trial run for an audition just to see where we were at and it turned out to be really great. Aspen was connected, playful, and full of try so I sent it in and passed with marks about half in L4 and half in L4+! Totally awesome! We also got our first Freestyle (pushing) and Finesse (light seat) flying lead changes. I was also introduced to Finesse which we spent quite a bit of time on throughout the course. I have a totally new respect for lateral maneuvers!! I was lucky enough to be chosen for a Finesse lesson with Pat Parelli which was filmed for a DVD series. I'm not sure if it will be used or not but it was a really unique experience to see all the behind the scenes filming process and naturally it was really fun to ride with Pat. That's a whole other blog post in itself! I can tell you that while Aspen was a total Right-Brain fruitcake up there with all the people and cameras, I learned a lot and am still processing all the information I received! A theme for me in the course which also came up in my lesson with Pat is that the horse should take you in the direction you have requested - it shouldn't be you pushing, pulling, dragging, or begging the horse to go forward, backward, or sideways. At one point Pat fairly chased me down on Slider and really got Aspen moving sideways to show me the feeling that I'm looking for. At first it was chaotic and bracy but all of a sudden I felt like she weighed 10 pounds not 1000 pounds, she got light on her feet and fairly hovered sideways. It was a really neat and eye opening experience to realize how ineffective I've been for so long and how much I have to look forward to in lightness in the Porcupine Game. I believe I mentioned it before, either here or on my Parelli Connect, but Porcupine Game is the second game for a reason. It's so important - you really win the horse's mind this way. We also got the pleasure of having Linda come and ride with our class and teach a handful of times. She's really such an amazing horsewoman and teacher - what an eye for picking out the one thing that will make the biggest difference for both the horse and the human! She introduced us to advancing concepts in Finesse including the very beginning ideas of Game of Contact. I will also have to write a post on our Linda visits :) Aspen and I went on our first trail rides, open area riding, and galloping - all exhilarating experiences that pushed me out of my comfort zone and really helped me grow in my horsemanship and leadership! As a class we were invited to participate in the first few days of the Colt Start course with Rob McAuliffe - it's amazing that it's all about relationship and doing the simple things really well. There were a couple extra colts and I had the opportunity to play with one for an afternoon with the Colt Starters - really showed me where I'm strong and where I'm weak in my horsemanship. Rob is truly a horseman and it's always a privilege to be around people like him.... Try to soak up some talent! The Externs also got to sit in on a few days of Pat's Western Performance class - again such a learning experience. Simple things done well. Own the hindquarters. Win the Porcupine Game. For some fun weekend activities we put on a Parelli Games weekend and an Open House in which I was asked to do a Liberty Spotlight! We did a cool 4-Savvy closing Spotlight - everyone did awesome and it was such a fun time visiting with the community and other horse lovers! Our last weekend of the course we went and did a demo at the county fair - I did On-Line and Liberty with Aspen. She was a total rock star and everyone loved her! The Externs also raised just over $1,400 for the Parelli Education Institute! Super awesome!
To wrap it up testing went well, I got a 100% on all written exams and was recommended for 2* instructorship pending the successful submission of my Level 4 Freestyle audition! I promise to write in more detail on some of the things I mentioned above - if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask! Also - I have too many pictures to post on the blog but friend me on Facebook and check out all the photos from the Externship!
Friday, July 12, 2013
Level 4 Liberty Videos!
Lots of new videos up on my YouTube channel but here are two from today! This is my trial run Level 4 Liberty Audition - what do you think? :)
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Extern videos!
Trailer loading fun in the playground!
Big log jump in the playground! Go Aspen!
Single down barrel jumps in the playground!
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Lesson with Linda!
Wow - what a day! This morning started off cool and beautiful and I got a lovely greeting from one lovely Thoroughbred mare this morning waiting for her few minutes of morning turnout. Boy, do I love my sweet horse! :)
After our morning meeting we had a brief chat with Pat where he told us about his expectations for us as Parelli Professionals and how to be optimistic and realistic at the same time to achieve our goals. Pat talked to us outside the lodge while astride one of his horses, even just sitting on his horse everything he did was with the utmost quality and his horse was so responsive and connected. He makes it seem so easy and so simple to be that good, to have a horse that light and ready - and I suppose it really is simple... but not always easy. That's where earning it comes to play - earning it from the horse and earning it from yourself.
Pat bid us farewell and we headed back to the Extern barn for our morning with Linda! I was surprised that I wasn't really nervous at all - I felt excited and anxious this morning but when it came time to actually ride in front of her I just found calmness. I can only do my best and trying to mask any issues I have when riding Aspen or hide at the far corner of the arena would only be counter productive to being positive and progressive. Who better than Linda to get help from? She instructed us to go ride and demonstrate where we're at and to show Soft Touch in preparation for Game of Contact in her planned future sessions with us.
She helped show us how Soft Touch should feel with a simulation holding the reins and then sent us off again with the instruction to keep our fingers closed but soft, shoulders loose, and elbows elastic. It's surprising how much contact (for lack of a better word) that you can have with a horse's mouth during Soft Touch - it actually feels better to the horse to have a steady or firm feel in the mouth than a light, wispy, fly-like feeling that is just annoying or confusing. She also explained that in Level 1 and 2 people tend to reduce the speed of their horses for control but in Level 3 and 4 we need that speed and momentum again for higher level maneuvers and advancing techniques. We asked our horses to trot out a bit until they found a good rhythm and stretch while working on the Soft Touch. Toward the end of the session as I went by Linda she called out - "Samantha! That's looking great!" I about rode right into the fence I was so excited and flattered. So awesome and so inspiring and so motivating and validating and everything wonderful that happens to you when Linda Parelli pays you a compliment.
After Linda left I got a little clarification on weighting stirrups from Susan to help in shaping my circles - push down with your toe, not out and you won't lean off the side of your horse!
We wrapped up the day with a game of catch to wake us up after lunch and half the class did their breed presentations - I closed the day out with some awesome liberty trailer loading with Aspen then cleaned up for the evening and went home.
I can't believe I am living this life right now! So amazing!
After our morning meeting we had a brief chat with Pat where he told us about his expectations for us as Parelli Professionals and how to be optimistic and realistic at the same time to achieve our goals. Pat talked to us outside the lodge while astride one of his horses, even just sitting on his horse everything he did was with the utmost quality and his horse was so responsive and connected. He makes it seem so easy and so simple to be that good, to have a horse that light and ready - and I suppose it really is simple... but not always easy. That's where earning it comes to play - earning it from the horse and earning it from yourself.
Pat bid us farewell and we headed back to the Extern barn for our morning with Linda! I was surprised that I wasn't really nervous at all - I felt excited and anxious this morning but when it came time to actually ride in front of her I just found calmness. I can only do my best and trying to mask any issues I have when riding Aspen or hide at the far corner of the arena would only be counter productive to being positive and progressive. Who better than Linda to get help from? She instructed us to go ride and demonstrate where we're at and to show Soft Touch in preparation for Game of Contact in her planned future sessions with us.
She helped show us how Soft Touch should feel with a simulation holding the reins and then sent us off again with the instruction to keep our fingers closed but soft, shoulders loose, and elbows elastic. It's surprising how much contact (for lack of a better word) that you can have with a horse's mouth during Soft Touch - it actually feels better to the horse to have a steady or firm feel in the mouth than a light, wispy, fly-like feeling that is just annoying or confusing. She also explained that in Level 1 and 2 people tend to reduce the speed of their horses for control but in Level 3 and 4 we need that speed and momentum again for higher level maneuvers and advancing techniques. We asked our horses to trot out a bit until they found a good rhythm and stretch while working on the Soft Touch. Toward the end of the session as I went by Linda she called out - "Samantha! That's looking great!" I about rode right into the fence I was so excited and flattered. So awesome and so inspiring and so motivating and validating and everything wonderful that happens to you when Linda Parelli pays you a compliment.
After Linda left I got a little clarification on weighting stirrups from Susan to help in shaping my circles - push down with your toe, not out and you won't lean off the side of your horse!
We wrapped up the day with a game of catch to wake us up after lunch and half the class did their breed presentations - I closed the day out with some awesome liberty trailer loading with Aspen then cleaned up for the evening and went home.
I can't believe I am living this life right now! So amazing!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Externship!
So my big, exciting news is that I am GOING to the EXTERNSHIP in May!!!! Parelli was generous enough to offer me a partial scholarship which allowed me to be able to attend this course! If you're interested in donating to the scholarship fund so others may achieve their dreams at the Parelli ranch visit the Parelli Institute website for information! This year is all about BIG things, BIG plans, BIG dreams!!
One of the main components in my ability to dream big and go for it is the support I've received from my family and friends, and my Parelli instructor Jenny Trainor. Support is such a huge key to success and I am so thankful that I've got bundles of it!
By the end of this year I will be a Parelli instructor! Wow! I can't wait to start helping others have more fun and more success with their horses!
Also, here are my quick notes from day 1 of the first 7 day challenge for Aspen's truer understanding of the weave and Z4/5 driving. I wanted to do the riding part as well today but I washed my pad and it wasn't dry in time! :( To begin the weave I set out 4 barrels about 5.5 strides apart and used the feather line. I did my best to look ahead and focus where I wanted her to go and send my energy forward. I tried to do less weaving of my own feet while being more particular about where Aspen put her own feet. We continued the pattern until it became a little easier and she blew out and licked and chewed. It was mostly at the walk today but I think that with the focus on the quality of her understanding it really helped make small steps toward more calmness, connection, and responsiveness. My focus and intent combined with less micromanagement really allowed Aspen the opportunity to figure out the pattern without me robbing her of the learning experience.
I also did some of the driving and we're really doing well with transitions and yielding away from me but turning toward me requires a lot of feel on the rope and her drifting away from me... Increasing the speed a little as I turn away from her helps her stick with me a little but we'll have to keep playing with it.
One of the main components in my ability to dream big and go for it is the support I've received from my family and friends, and my Parelli instructor Jenny Trainor. Support is such a huge key to success and I am so thankful that I've got bundles of it!
By the end of this year I will be a Parelli instructor! Wow! I can't wait to start helping others have more fun and more success with their horses!
Also, here are my quick notes from day 1 of the first 7 day challenge for Aspen's truer understanding of the weave and Z4/5 driving. I wanted to do the riding part as well today but I washed my pad and it wasn't dry in time! :( To begin the weave I set out 4 barrels about 5.5 strides apart and used the feather line. I did my best to look ahead and focus where I wanted her to go and send my energy forward. I tried to do less weaving of my own feet while being more particular about where Aspen put her own feet. We continued the pattern until it became a little easier and she blew out and licked and chewed. It was mostly at the walk today but I think that with the focus on the quality of her understanding it really helped make small steps toward more calmness, connection, and responsiveness. My focus and intent combined with less micromanagement really allowed Aspen the opportunity to figure out the pattern without me robbing her of the learning experience.
I also did some of the driving and we're really doing well with transitions and yielding away from me but turning toward me requires a lot of feel on the rope and her drifting away from me... Increasing the speed a little as I turn away from her helps her stick with me a little but we'll have to keep playing with it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)