Here we go....Let's get started!

This is my Parelli L4 Diary. And all I can say is......It is about time I officially passed L1. I have been studying the Parelli system for 8+ years now. When I started it was with the Original levels program. I wanted to tape it with TigerLily since she was my first pure natural horse that I started myself, naturally, from halter breaking on up. At that time, L1 not only included trailer loading....which I didn't own one at the time, but also cantering in the saddle. I taped everything except cantering, then Tigerlily began to become lame (DSLD). So I started taping it with Snookie, but I couldn't get her in the trailer unless I lead her in. Took her to a parelli clinic with Ann Kiser, and the problem was solved in 5min. My 30hrs....Ann's 5min. But then, with only a couple tasks left to tape, they changed the levels. So I taped it again, and couldn't get it from video to digital. Hmmmm. So then I bought Rose back from the woman I sold her to, decided to tape it with her. All well and good, but before I could get all the tasks edited together, my hard drive crashed. I lost my assesment and about 4000 pics. Learned a hard lesson about backing up your stuff. So I started to tape it all again, almost done, and they changed to the Patterns. At this point...I said "screw it". But then a friend of mine saw that they were accepting auditions for free....did you read that?......FREE! To get the system kinks worked out I suppose. The deadline was less than a week away....and I hadn't touched my horses for close to 9mos, due to my car accident, surgery, winter, and then life. But the friend made me do it anyways. We didn't own the Patterns yet, and were not sure exactly what they were looking for, "wing it" was the motto. My audition was not up to my standard, and I was frustrated and paranoid, that a now L4 student might not pass this easier than ever L1 test. That was 3 mos ago. They recieved so many, that they are still reviewing them. I settled for "just" level 1, as I didn't think it was fair to Rose to put pressure on her like that, and my new place wasn't yet set up for longer ropes. I now have a very small ranch, and space is a bit "cramped" to say the least. Well, I spoke to someone on the phone at Parelli, and she confirmed I passed....woooo hoooo! I would have to kill myself if I didn't pass this very easy auditions process for level 1. My friends and I pooled our $$ and purchased the entire Patterns program and I have decided to go for my L4 in all four savvy's. First stop......Online. With a little tweaking, I should be able to get this done by the end of Aug'09. Hopefully I will get Liberty L4 taped on the same day. I am doing the ground work with Rose as she is the athletic super horse. My goal is to complete Finesse L4 with Snookie before Halloween. She is a senior citizen, and we are both out of shape, but she knows this stuff like the back of her hoof, we just need to get in shape and in tune. Then that just leave the hardest of all. Freestyle L4....hmmm...that is gonna be the toughy. While I can pass L2 with my eyes closed on either Rose or Snookie right now.... in the intrest of $$ I would like to only submit that savvy one time. Rose we have not played bridless yet and we still have some bucking and confidence issues in the cantering department. Snookie being a RBE and sooo out of shape, I am not confident yet about bridless with her, and we also have the flying lead change issues there as well. That will be the last savvy I tackle for auditions, as Rose is still in her prime, age wise, and that will be the direction we need to continue on for years to come. Snookie is a senior at 25yrs old, she is really starting to show her age, and starting to have some senior moments in the health department. I will worry about that one after I have passed L4 in the other 3 savvies. I am hoping that this blog will keep me on track, so I want to say thank you to any and all who follow along with me and my girls.
Savvy On
Michelle