Intro

Hi, I am Heather - After some 30 years of having no horse in my life I found my beautiful black varnish roan appaloosa mare in October of 2009 and began my Parelli journey at the same time.  Belle is a 12 year old LBE and we are working on Lvl 2 stuff.  The riding part has been a challenge - learning 'Western' techniques when I rode lazy English style as a teenager.  It was just a get on and do it learning that I had in the first place - I had no pony club or formal riding instruction - so much of the Parelli philosophy and methods felt so very right to me right from the start.

Also, in regard to riding - the challenge has been an unbalanced seat as I worked out that my adjustment to Western style riding posture meant that  I actually needed a way bigger saddle than was initially thought - so my balance point was all wrong - and as I always rode by balance in the past and I was now getting knee pain and felt insecure in the saddle, I started to ask questions about what was going on with saddle fit for me.  I now have an awesome, black 18" Western saddle that is SO very much better to ride in - and my balance and security now feels right.

Playing with and riding Belle in the last month came to a sudden end for a time when she picked up a nail that pierced the sole of her left front hoof.  I hadn't got to doing any desensitization to needles work  - so getting her tetanus and antiinflammatory shots in was so dangerous that the vet elected to give her the weaker option of food-based antibiotics.  I have never seen Belle so right-brained!!  It took me about half an hour of continuous friendly game and approach retreat after the vet left for Belle to let me touch her neck again!  But it was worth it.  Fortunately the infection was nipped in the bud and we should be able to get back to playing again as soon as we get some more fine weather.  I am so looking forward to winter being over - caring for a hoof sole puncture in soggy, muddy paddocks is not fun!

Belle is grazed on a track system with large hay nets strung up between trees.  They also get access to a bit of fresh grazing each day in addition to the hay.  Belle grazes with three other horses - a quarter horse mare R/LBE, a Kaimanawa pony gelding LBI and a 27 year old RBI pony mare.  All the horses except the old girl are not covered even though it is winter and they all get a small amount of hard feed each day that is supplemented with kelp, garlic and linseed.  Every 6 - 8 weeks we also add pumpkin seeds and selected herbs that have anthelmintic qualities to assist in worm control.

The Parelli journey is an awesome journey and I am looking forward to continuing it as time proceeds.  I am hoping to eventually get to a course with a 'human' Parelli instructor rather than only relying on DVD's and magazine articles :-)

Good horsing around folks

Heather

from Awesome Taranaki, NZ