This year’s Parelli Celebration at the NEC was AWESOME!Last year my gorgeous husband bought me a summer holiday to Colorado (with him of course! Who’d want to be without the man who buys such great presents?) and a ticket to the Loveland, Colorado, Parelli conference. Wahoo! And so began my love affair with Parelli and natural horsemanship began, and before I knew it …… Twelve of us were converging on the NEC for this year’s Parelli UK conference. The Coventry Novotel was our home “pad” for a couple of nights with Pizza Hut just round the corner.We were excited! Not only for the Parelli conference, but also for the www.adnag.co.uk launch date. I’d been dreaming of setting up a natural horse advertising website for years, and the Parelli Celebration was the best time to launch it.  www.adnag.co.uk – a cute acronym for Advertising Horses Naturally and Gorgeously was designed and ready. But was it online yet? Had I pointed my Domain to the server in time? Could we actually see it on the web? Nothing was visible on my mobile internet as we were walking towards the NEC from the car parks. U-oh! What was the point of twelve women all smartly parading www.adnag.co.uk T-shirts when there was no www.adnag.co.uk on line? Disaster! It was time to take action! With no regard for my web designer’s morning beauty sleep I forced him out of bed with an early call. A few quick keystrokes on the computer at his end and suddenly www.adnag.co.uk became a presence on the web and the bells of Heaven sounded. Wahoo! Just in time!Parelli officials, instructors and tour team members handed out schedules and welcomed us with big smiles. Anticipation was mounting. I was jabbering with excitement – a caffeinated gibbon would have been proud of me! We found our seats. Great seats: Third row from the floor at the far end of the arena. Hey, any seat at a Parelli conference, wearing an www.adnag.co.uk T-shirt is a great seat!The instructors and Parelli team circled the arena, the music changed, the lights changed and we were ready. We got to our feet and started to clap. It was all very electric and then Pat, Linda, Remmer and Aspen made their big entrance. If you love horses, if you want to learn, if you want to be entertained, if you want to be inspired, if you want to live and have any sense of purpose or meaning, why would you want to be anywhere else?? It’s amazing that Parelli have come to England. Even more amazing is they’ve flown over three of their precious horses. Risky or what? After the horses have zoomed around the arena, Pat and Linda introduce the event. I’m really pleased …there’s going to be a ‘make over’ on a right brained horse. AT LAST! I can’t wait to learn about a psychopathic horse like mine at home. My pen twitches in anticipation.  Pat introduces the concepts that underpin Parelli, about how we need to become better humans for our horses (Aspen, his horse, is moving beautifully). Pat is chatting naturally. The audience enthralled. We learn the importance of using patterns to help horses be intelligent. So much to take in. My head is hurting. I can’t write fast enough. I hope it’s on Horse and country TV later!Then it’s time for the ‘make-over’. Yes! I feel sorry for her, the volunteer! I’m sure she had no idea what she was letting herself in for. You could say that the volunteer and her horse, epitomise the British competition rider and the British horse/human relationship. She told Pat her frustrations with her horse: kicking other horses, not being able to stand still and being pushy! The first challenge for her was to trust her horse enough to let go of the reins and let him move by himself. Wow! It was interesting to watch the struggle. Then it got even more interesting! Pat introduced her to a carrot stick. It really gave me great insight at how hard it is for us humans to change patterns of behaviour. Pat explained that Left Brain Dominant horses respect the ‘driving game’ most, whereas right brain horses respect the light steady pressure of the ‘porcupine game’ more. It was interesting to see it so clearly. Understanding and respect were growing right before our very eyes. Halfway through the demo I wondered what she may have been thinking. Was she mad to volunteer for this? She was light years from her comfort zone. But this demo was exactly what the British Horse Public need to see – Our need for more savvy! Pat finished the session by riding her horse and it was great to see him (her horse!) respond to polite and passive persistence. Wow! It was time for a break. The toilets were busy (you needed to know that!) but we found some out back and then we collected our packed lunches from the car (you didn’t need to know that, but since you’re still reading, I guess you wanna know the details!). The www.adnag.co.uk T-Shirt girls re-grouped. We’d already been asked a lot about the www.adnag.co.uk site. Great!  And now it was time to shop! Horses, Parelli and now shopping? Oh yes, there is a God in Heaven! What to buy? Hmm… Decisions, decisions…. The Parelli equipment and resources were all good, beautifully designed, excellent quality and educational AND if I bought I wouldn’t be paying postage or import tax. I could already feel my husband’s, I mean MY, credit card beginning to flex. First I bought a cinche (no really, the nice gentleman said I needed it!). Next I bought the saddling DVD (bargain! Got to have it!), but already it was time to stop shopping as Neil Pye’s voice called us to our seats. Chance to win prizes! More excitement. Now Linda Parelli introduces Remmer, her stunning warmblood. He is a left brain introvert. Linda talks us through the seven games. Pat then rounds off the day riding his beautiful mare – previously labelled the “Tasmanian Devil” – Magic, who had been through several professional predators (I mean trainers!) before she found Pat. Pat and Magic show us how foals learn using the left side of their brain to synchronise with their moms and that this is what we are aiming at – a partnership with our horses using love language and leadership!Here are some of the snippets that I learnt:1. The friendly game is all about touching the horse with your hand, or anything within your hand.  2. The friendly game at every zone needs to be established.  3. Teach horses to yield from pressure.  4. You don’t want dominant horses to draw to you too much until they are less dominant, as they usually just want to push right through you.  5. Give them responsibility then give them accountability.  6. Do less with lazy horses. Make it interesting then stop and change it before they want to.  7. Squeezes teach horses to have more self control. We’re aiming for willingness with communication – no robots.  8. Learning patterns helps my horse become intelligent. We want our horses to put their hearts and heads into it.  9. Right brain introverts need soft and subtle leadership and to be able to move their feet a little.  10. Everyone seeks leadership.11. Patterns help horses know where you are leading and develop a stronger bond.  12. Catch verses attract.And all too soon the first day was over, only the car park to negotiate but actually it wasn’t that bad. What a fantastic first day!Day 2 started with a decisive plan of action to hit the shops early in the morning. A most excellent plan! Team 1’s target was the clothing stand to buy Katie Drake’s great CD “In Your Shoes”. Team 2’s target was the equipment stand. Thankfully there was a well organised ‘shop and drop’ to take care of our lorry-full of merchandise.  Back to our seats to say hello to all those sitting beside us who we could call our new friends. The Parelli instructors and their horses were first in the arena – all so different in style and character: Rachael Moorland (2* Parelli instructor from the UK), Wally Gegenschatz (and his cheeky Andalusian stallion), Eddy Murray (3* Parelli instructor with his dappled grey gaited horse) who was very interested in watching himself on the big plasma screens (the horse I mean!); Silke Vallentin, Carmen Zulauf, Berni Zambail and Adrian Heinen with his lovely Appallousa. Rachel was riding bareback and bridleless. Berni’s lovely mule was jumping cow flavoured barrels, Wali’s horses were being cheeky. I wonder where they get it from? So much fun! Wali’s stallion starts playing with Bernie’s mule. Is this the Moscow Circus? Anyone’s for a carrot! It was great to see how Eddy helped his high spirited dappled grey horse regain composure when the energy in the arena just got too much for his sensitive nature. And how wonderful to see mules! I’d never see them in real life. A rare treat.  Pat explained about patterns, starting with the ‘clover leaf’ pattern. The pattern helps the horse to ask questions: When? Where? What? Can I have a carrot now? (I made the last question up!) Patterns enable a dialogue to start between us and our horse much like children asking can we stop for an ice-cream. It’s a bit like ‘Simon Says’ for the horse, which is make no assumptions. Pat explained why he uses little sayings – because repetition and consistency are great teachers, because repetition and consistency are great teachers, because repetition and consistency are great teachers. Got it?  Pat explained how horses hate lunging. Don’t waste the cream, ask them for attention when it’s the most difficult for them to give it at the beginning. Pat said he is president of the ‘too much fun club’! Yeh, too right! Next up was Dennis. This was my favourite session. (Only because I have a ‘Dennis’ back home who thankfully, because of my increasing savvy, is a lot less like Dennis now!) Dennis was the extremely terrified horse. Sweating, head high and wide staring eyes. Andy, his owner, explained how he kept dumping his riders unpredictably. In my humble opinion no one should have been getting on his back in the first place! Pat quickly took over and allowed Dennis to circle using the big green ball as an obstacle to get in his way on a 12ft line attached to his webbing halter. Pat started to play a game with Dennis using an imaginary line that Dennis was encouraged not to cross. Pat made it easy for Dennis to stand still, and difficult when he was moving across the imaginary line. Dennis starts to lick his lips. When we understand how horses feel it’s amazing they tolerate us! When you do touch a Dennis horse, make sure it’s really gentle, like on the withers and nose as they are intimate places. Early on in the makeover Dennis exhibited terrified behaviour; fast shallow breaths; sweating and being tense all over. Circling was the wrong thing for this horse. Prey animal’s flight distance is to go 10% farther than their typical predator can run then they look back. Dennis was an extreme right brain extrovert. Pat backed him through barrels and sideways along the fencing until Dennis was finally able to think. Horses are sceptics, claustrophobics and cowards by nature. Pat’s progress with Dennis was by polite and passive persistence in the proper position – and it was working!  The Parelli technical guys were brilliant in their choice of songs: “Have a little patience!” (“Patience” by Take That) Dennis got closer to the big green ball. Pat played the friendly game, skipping with the rope. “I’m finally understanding, you are really on my side” said the music (Katie Drake’s “Meet in the Middle).) Dennis was visibly starting to use the left side of his brain. What a different horse he would have been if he had had a natural foundation.  Wow! What an inspiring session. Linda and Pat’s 14 year old niece Amy then brought Remmer in to do a lovely fluidity session, showing how through the Parelli programme you can advance to higher levels by building the correct foundation. Being a left brain introvert Remmer needed little warm up. It’s amazing how horses focus on their human partners and ignore all their surroundings once you have a great relationship.  Different ‘horsenalities’ give different responses that you look for to know they are in the right frame of mind. Right brain introverts need to play until they are trusting. Right brain extroverts until they are calm. Left brain introverts until they are motivated and left brain extroverts until they are obedient.  Linda explained balance through the horse’s body. By combing your reins the horse senses a slight tickling sensation on his mouth which is a friendly pleasant feeling. The cradle bridle is a neat invention which shares the contact between the nose, cheeks, poll and mouth giving it the functionality somewhere between a halter and a traditional bridle. When working on more advanced skills don’t try to be too perfect. Pet and rub your horse and never punish him. Horses are nearly always doing their best under the circumstances. After a success give them a break, then they will try their heart out for you!Pat’s final session laid out plans for the future he sees, including new self-assessments, Savvy U-Tube, new Parelli games (e.g. Funssage not Dressage.) Then the Savvy team came in one last time and played to Celine Dion’s, “Have you ever been in love”.And so came to an end a superb event. I am so grateful to be able to learn from Pat and Linda. They leave home to travel the world, work incredibly long hours, smile and then be gracious to thousands of horse lovers at all the tour stops, striving to be better and better, with big generous hearts, making the world a better place for horses and you and me! God bless them abundantly!! And God Bless www.adnag.co.uk.  This year’s Parelli Celebration at the NEC was AWESOME!

Last year my gorgeous husband bought me a summer holiday to Colorado (with him of course! Who’d want to be without the man who buys such great presents?) and a ticket to the Loveland, Colorado, Parelli conference. Wahoo! And so began my love affair with Parelli and natural horsemanship began, and before I knew it …

… Twelve of us were converging on the NEC for this year’s Parelli UK conference. The Coventry Novotel was our home “pad” for a couple of nights with Pizza Hut just round the corner.

We were excited! Not only for the Parelli conference, but also for the www.adnag.co.uk launch date. I’d been dreaming of setting up a natural horse advertising website for years, and the Parelli Celebration was the best time to launch it.

www.adnag.co.uk – a cute acronym for Advertising Horses Naturally and Gorgeously was designed and ready. But was it online yet? Had I pointed my Domain to the server in time? Could we actually see it on the web? Nothing was visible on my mobile internet as we were walking towards the NEC from the car parks. U-oh! What was the point of twelve women all smartly parading www.adnag.co.uk T-shirts when there was no www.adnag.co.uk on line? Disaster! It was time to take action! With no regard for my web designer’s morning beauty sleep I forced him out of bed with an early call. A few quick keystrokes on the computer at his end and suddenly www.adnag.co.uk became a presence on the web and the bells of Heaven sounded. Wahoo! Just in time!

Parelli officials, instructors and tour team members handed out schedules and welcomed us with big smiles. Anticipation was mounting. I was jabbering with excitement – a caffeinated gibbon would have been proud of me! We found our seats. Great seats: Third row from the floor at the far end of the arena. Hey, any seat at a Parelli conference, wearing an www.adnag.co.uk T-shirt is a great seat!

The instructors and Parelli team circled the arena, the music changed, the lights changed and we were ready. We got to our feet and started to clap. It was all very electric and then Pat, Linda, Remmer and Aspen made their big entrance. If you love horses, if you want to learn, if you want to be entertained, if you want to be inspired, if you want to live and have any sense of purpose or meaning, why would you want to be anywhere else??

It’s amazing that Parelli have come to England. Even more amazing is they’ve flown over three of their precious horses. Risky or what? After the horses have zoomed around the arena, Pat and Linda introduce the event. I’m really pleased …there’s going to be a ‘make over’ on a right brained horse. AT LAST! I can’t wait to learn about a psychopathic horse like mine at home. My pen twitches in anticipation.

Pat introduces the concepts that underpin Parelli, about how we need to become better humans for our horses (Aspen, his horse, is moving beautifully). Pat is chatting naturally. The audience enthralled. We learn the importance of using patterns to help horses be intelligent. So much to take in. My head is hurting. I can’t write fast enough. I hope it’s on Horse and country TV later!

Then it’s time for the ‘make-over’. Yes! I feel sorry for her, the volunteer! I’m sure she had no idea what she was letting herself in for. You could say that the volunteer and her horse, epitomise the British competition rider and the British horse/human relationship. She told Pat her frustrations with her horse: kicking other horses, not being able to stand still and being pushy! The first challenge for her was to trust her horse enough to let go of the reins and let him move by himself. Wow! It was interesting to watch the struggle. Then it got even more interesting! Pat introduced her to a carrot stick. It really gave me great insight at how hard it is for us humans to change patterns of behaviour. Pat explained that Left Brain Dominant horses respect the ‘driving game’ most, whereas right brain horses respect the light steady pressure of the ‘porcupine game’ more. It was interesting to see it so clearly. Understanding and respect were growing right before our very eyes. Halfway through the demo I wondered what she may have been thinking. Was she mad to volunteer for this? She was light years from her comfort zone. But this demo was exactly what the British Horse Public need to see – Our need for more savvy!

Pat finished the session by riding her horse and it was great to see him (her horse!) respond to polite and passive persistence. Wow! It was time for a break.

The toilets were busy (you needed to know that!) but we found some out back and then we collected our packed lunches from the car (you didn’t need to know that, but since you’re still reading, I guess you wanna know the details!). The www.adnag.co.uk T-Shirt girls re-grouped. We’d already been asked a lot about the www.adnag.co.uk site. Great!

And now it was time to shop! Horses, Parelli and now shopping? Oh yes, there is a God in Heaven! What to buy? Hmm… Decisions, decisions…. The Parelli equipment and resources were all good, beautifully designed, excellent quality and educational AND if I bought I wouldn’t be paying postage or import tax. I could already feel my husband’s, I mean MY, credit card beginning to flex. First I bought a cinche (no really, the nice gentleman said I needed it!). Next I bought the saddling DVD (bargain! Got to have it!), but already it was time to stop shopping as Neil Pye’s voice called us to our seats. Chance to win prizes! More excitement.

Now Linda Parelli introduces Remmer, her stunning warmblood. He is a left brain introvert. Linda talks us through the seven games. Pat then rounds off the day riding his beautiful mare – previously labelled the “Tasmanian Devil” – Magic, who had been through several professional predators (I mean trainers!) before she found Pat. Pat and Magic show us how foals learn using the left side of their brain to synchronise with their moms and that this is what we are aiming at – a partnership with our horses using love language and leadership!

Here are some of the snippets that I learnt:1. The friendly game is all about touching the horse with your hand, or anything within your hand. 2. The friendly game at every zone needs to be established. 3. Teach horses to yield from pressure. 4. You don’t want dominant horses to draw to you too much until they are less dominant, as they usually just want to push right through you. 5. Give them responsibility then give them accountability. 6. Do less with lazy horses. Make it interesting then stop and change it before they want to. 7. Squeezes teach horses to have more self control. We’re aiming for willingness with communication – no robots. 8. Learning patterns helps my horse become intelligent. We want our horses to put their hearts and heads into it. 9. Right brain introverts need soft and subtle leadership and to be able to move their feet a little. 10. Everyone seeks leadership.11. Patterns help horses know where you are leading and develop a stronger bond. 12. Catch verses attract.

And all too soon the first day was over, only the car park to negotiate but actually it wasn’t that bad. What a fantastic first day!Day 2 started with a decisive plan of action to hit the shops early in the morning. A most excellent plan! Team 1’s target was the clothing stand to buy Katie Drake’s great CD “In Your Shoes”. Team 2’s target was the equipment stand. Thankfully there was a well organised ‘shop and drop’ to take care of our lorry-full of merchandise.

Back to our seats to say hello to all those sitting beside us who we could call our new friends. The Parelli instructors and their horses were first in the arena – all so different in style and character: Rachael Moorland (2* Parelli instructor from the UK), Wally Gegenschatz (and his cheeky Andalusian stallion), Eddy Murray (3* Parelli instructor with his dappled grey gaited horse) who was very interested in watching himself on the big plasma screens (the horse I mean!); Silke Vallentin, Carmen Zulauf, Berni Zambail and Adrian Heinen with his lovely Appallousa.

Rachel was riding bareback and bridleless. Berni’s lovely mule was jumping cow flavoured barrels, Wali’s horses were being cheeky. I wonder where they get it from? So much fun! Wali’s stallion starts playing with Bernie’s mule. Is this the Moscow Circus? Anyone’s for a carrot! It was great to see how Eddy helped his high spirited dappled grey horse regain composure when the energy in the arena just got too much for his sensitive nature. And how wonderful to see mules! I’d never see them in real life. A rare treat.

Pat explained about patterns, starting with the ‘clover leaf’ pattern. The pattern helps the horse to ask questions: When? Where? What? Can I have a carrot now? (I made the last question up!) Patterns enable a dialogue to start between us and our horse much like children asking can we stop for an ice-cream. It’s a bit like ‘Simon Says’ for the horse, which is make no assumptions. Pat explained why he uses little sayings – because repetition and consistency are great teachers, because repetition and consistency are great teachers, because repetition and consistency are great teachers. Got it?

Pat explained how horses hate lunging. Don’t waste the cream, ask them for attention when it’s the most difficult for them to give it at the beginning. Pat said he is president of the ‘too much fun club’! Yeh, too right!

Next up was Dennis. This was my favourite session. (Only because I have a ‘Dennis’ back home who thankfully, because of my increasing savvy, is a lot less like Dennis now!) Dennis was the extremely terrified horse. Sweating, head high and wide staring eyes. Andy, his owner, explained how he kept dumping his riders unpredictably. In my humble opinion no one should have been getting on his back in the first place! Pat quickly took over and allowed Dennis to circle using the big green ball as an obstacle to get in his way on a 12ft line attached to his webbing halter. Pat started to play a game with Dennis using an imaginary line that Dennis was encouraged not to cross. Pat made it easy for Dennis to stand still, and difficult when he was moving across the imaginary line. Dennis starts to lick his lips. When we understand how horses feel it’s amazing they tolerate us! When you do touch a Dennis horse, make sure it’s really gentle, like on the withers and nose as they are intimate places. Early on in the makeover Dennis exhibited terrified behaviour; fast shallow breaths; sweating and being tense all over. Circling was the wrong thing for this horse. Prey animal’s flight distance is to go 10% farther than their typical predator can run then they look back. Dennis was an extreme right brain extrovert. Pat backed him through barrels and sideways along the fencing until Dennis was finally able to think. Horses are sceptics, claustrophobics and cowards by nature. Pat’s progress with Dennis was by polite and passive persistence in the proper position – and it was working!

The Parelli technical guys were brilliant in their choice of songs: “Have a little patience!” (“Patience” by Take That) Dennis got closer to the big green ball. Pat played the friendly game, skipping with the rope. “I’m finally understanding, you are really on my side” said the music (Katie Drake’s “Meet in the Middle).) Dennis was visibly starting to use the left side of his brain. What a different horse he would have been if he had had a natural foundation.

Wow! What an inspiring session. Linda and Pat’s 14 year old niece Amy then brought Remmer in to do a lovely fluidity session, showing how through the Parelli programme you can advance to higher levels by building the correct foundation. Being a left brain introvert Remmer needed little warm up. It’s amazing how horses focus on their human partners and ignore all their surroundings once you have a great relationship.

Different ‘horsenalities’ give different responses that you look for to know they are in the right frame of mind. Right brain introverts need to play until they are trusting. Right brain extroverts until they are calm. Left brain introverts until they are motivated and left brain extroverts until they are obedient.

Linda explained balance through the horse’s body. By combing your reins the horse senses a slight tickling sensation on his mouth which is a friendly pleasant feeling. The cradle bridle is a neat invention which shares the contact between the nose, cheeks, poll and mouth giving it the functionality somewhere between a halter and a traditional bridle. When working on more advanced skills don’t try to be too perfect. Pet and rub your horse and never punish him. Horses are nearly always doing their best under the circumstances. After a success give them a break, then they will try their heart out for you!

Pat’s final session laid out plans for the future he sees, including new self-assessments, Savvy U-Tube, new Parelli games (e.g. Funssage not Dressage.) Then the Savvy team came in one last time and played to Celine Dion’s, “Have you ever been in love”.

And so came to an end a superb event. I am so grateful to be able to learn from Pat and Linda. They leave home to travel the world, work incredibly long hours, smile and then be gracious to thousands of horse lovers at all the tour stops, striving to be better and better, with big generous hearts, making the world a better place for horses and you and me! God bless them abundantly!! And God Bless www.adnag.co.uk.