Triumph and Tears

The mastery program that Parelli has developed is really an incredibly life changing thing. The time that I have spent there I have treasured, and although it is hard work, trying, and an immense amount of personal growth, it is also SO enjoyable. Picking each other up from the airport, joining instructors to teach, stopovers with horses and humans, etc etc etc truly shows the camaraderie of the students of this program.

The bond really does go deeper than just the physical time and space of the ranch. People bond, and life long relationships are always formed. When everyone is on a journey to become not only a better horseman, but also a better person; you can't help but become friends as well!

The picture below is of Lyndsey, Amy, Emily, Jenna and I during my FIRST stint in the "mastery program"... haha which was of course before there was one! The five of us girls had the challenge and privlige of riding with and care-taking all of Pat's super horses; WOWZA. It was intense, but definitely one of the most memorable three months of my life! And we were all as thick as thieves :) Becuase WE were it, WE had to rely on eachother through triumph and hardship, smiles and tears, frustrations and successes... and trying to get through 35 horses a day !

This picture was taken at the Prescott, AZ tour stop in 2008. It was after a VERY long weekend involving Pat breaking down in downtown Flagstaff, AZ with the gold bus, a chevy breaking down on the way there, and a million and one other little hiccups in the road. The five of us were the barn team, the savvy team, and helped out everywhere else we could, again, AS you do in Parelli. And even after three days of 5AM horse washings, and 10PM bed checks we were all still smiling. Cuase that's what Parelli means.

Im so excited to be out in the field teaching now, and am constantly remembering amazing times I had being part of the mastery program.  BUT always remembering to live every moment (4 in a second).