Hi everyone,
I just got an email from Fran to tell me of her recent great success as a result of what she learned and uncovered in her lesson with me in Ohio.
When you make a breakthrough, the next time you approach that same spot it’s not the same because there’s been a fundamental shift at the psychological and emotional level. What was there has been cleared. I just love hearing from students when they experience it because sometimes the hardest things for us humans to do is forgive our horses; we keep thinking they’re not going to change. But our horses are different… I think they keep believing we can change. Fran, you’ve made a great step forward in getting Crest to believe in you and I commend you for your commitment as a learner because even when it gets tough you never stop looking for solutions.
Read and enjoy… oh! And try to watch Tony Robbins on NBC Tuesday nights at 8/7pm CST. He has a six episode, special series called “Breakthrough” that he told us he was thinking about doing when he came to the Florida Parelli Campus last year. I know that all us avid students of behavior and change will learn a lot.
The email from Fran:
Subject: YES!!! HAPPY Crest update!
Date: July 22, 2010 9:03:01 PM MDT
Hiya,
Just wanted to shoot you a Crest update that I think you’ll really, really, REALLY like 
I got inspired to ride for real today (first time I’ve ridden him for over 15 minutes since the lesson). Main reason I haven’t been is because I haven’t had a rail to follow, but right now we’ve got a section of pasture about the size of Arena Grande fenced off because it’s been grazed down, so I can use that.
Anyway, I warmed him up pretty strong On Line–he’s always got few hops and bucks in him–usually these days it’s playful, but I always get them out anyway–better playful On Line than with me on him! I went ahead and got on, and pretty much went through the same things as in the lesson–walked him until he was in a good learning frame of mind, then started playing with walk-trot transitions with partial disengagement. It took him a while to settle into transitioning downward–the first few minutes it was taking at least a side of the “arena”. This went on for about 45 minutes, getting gradually better.
Then, just like in my lesson, he started to lose impulsion, but unlike the lesson (hindsight is a handy concept!) I didn’t ask him to keep going when he slowed down. I actually asked him to stop in the corner where he started to slow down, and I let him sit. He took a deep breath and licked his lips. We went through a couple minutes of one. step. at. a. time, but it didn’t seem full out right-brain so much as just hesitant, and then he seemed to snap himself out of it, he let out a big sigh and turned and looked at me like “…why were we doing this, again?” and walked off down the rail on his own. This repeated a couple of times at the same spot on the rail (nearest the gate), but it got gradually less dramatic, to the point where I felt like I could resume asking him to do things.
His movement took on a really different feel after that–much more through in his back, he started to actually stretch into the trot (By far the NICEST trot I’ve ever ridden out of him). As I came around a corner enjoying this awesome trot, I thought to myself “I wonder what would happen if I asked him to…” and without hesitation (or being asked!), he jumped into the most balanced, calm, centered canter I have EVER ridden on him in my life. I think I let him go for 8-10 strides before realizing I’d better stop him while it was going well 
After that, I of course, got off and ended the ride. And yes, I did burst into tears The best part was that he was totally calm afterward. He had a leg cocked, and his breathing was normal as I untacked him, and he followed me like a puppy to put my saddle up.
Needless to say, I’m elated. After last week being so on-and-off with him, it was wonderful to have such a great ride, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I actually can’t wait to ride him again! Woohoo!
Just had to share!! Thank you, thank you, and thank you again for everything you’ve shared with me to help us get here!!
Hope you’re doing well!
F
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Steph,
Unlike previous tours, we’re not filming everything “professionally” at the moment, but we have been video taping nonetheless. We’ve been talking about making these available in the Savvy Club vault, but please be patient – we’ve got a lot on our plates at the moment… all good stuff as you will see come September
L
Fran,
I enjoyed watching you and Crest in Ohio and admired your courage, spirit, and willingness while working in the arena with Linda. It was so nice to hear this update. Well done!
I’m a little more than casually aquatinted with Fran & Crest. I wanted to share how much I see Crest has changed since returning from Ohio. I handle him a lot when Fran is not around. He has always been a friendly horse but He’s been pushy & needed frequent reminding to respect my personal space. Since his return he has been a perfect gentleman. He will follow me in the pasture like a puppy but never even nudge me with his nose.
Thanks for letting us know Richard. That’s what I love about this approach, you’re not working on the “thing”, it’s really not about what you think it’s about… it’s about the relationship, the confidence, the partnership. That’s why a change affects everything because there’s a fundamental shift in the way horses trust and respect humans.
L
amazing – the 2 main mentors / masters i follow in my life Parelli & Tony Robbins – mentor each other !!!! loving it. Ive spotted positive “Robbins” influences in your expressions many times Linda. I was up till 2am last night circulating Breakthrough to lots of friends and doing the first of Tonys online modules then watching a bunch of Savvy club vault material – then this morning I log onto your blog and read your recommendation to watch Breakthrough – classic….Ive been a PNH student since 96 and have been in Tonys mastery prog for 3 yrs…. beautiful !!
So glad you’re sharing Tony’s message. For sure he’s on a huge mission to make the world a better place by influencing the people within it. I’ve learned a lot from him and look forward to learning more. I bought his new DVD series – now just need the time to get to it!!
L
Okay, how did Linda and Fran know that this would be so significant to so many of us? Fran’s story helped me figure out that, at least a part of the reason that my LBI has trouble at the canter has to do with him not trusting me as a rider. Yes, a LBI — he thinks that canter means “go really fast”, which is probably connected a bit to his roping and quarterhorse racing background. We do great on the ground, and I am very confident there, and I feel that Sammy has alot of trust in me from that perspective, but I am still a beginning rider (four years) and cantering was always the hardest for me – it didn’t help that my traditional riding teacher called me a wimp when we started working on cantering. Anyway, Fran’s story helped me understand that, although Sammy trusts me on the ground, he still thinks that he has to look after himself when we ride. I am not emotionally collected or trustworthy in that forum. I want Sammy, my partner, to have total confidence and faith in me, no matter what our situation, whether on the ground, riding, trailering, etc., and I resolve to BE WHAT MY HORSE NEEDS – and I will do what it takes to get there. Thanks again, Linda, and Fran, mostly, for being brave enough to take the risk and expose yourself to the extra stress and situational embarrassment — you did the right thing and helped all of us! You are truly to be commended.
Thank you so much, Rhonda, for your comment. I feel and think exactly as you wrote it. It is so good to know, that there are Parelli-Friends all over the world, who would never call us a wimp. I whish you all the best together with Sammy!
Thank you Rhonda. And what you might be experiencing with your horse taking off when you canter, is a kind of ‘tantrum’. It’s a LB reaction rather than a RB reaction (such as Crest had), but they feel very similar. Sometimes LBI’s who have been forced into going end up getting mad about it. Interestingly, the solution is very similar because it’s about not pushing an unwilling horse, but figuring out what it will take to get his trust and confidence. I’m so warmed to read comments like yours (not to mention hear them constantly from students all over the world) because it’s just this kind of attitude that helps make life better for horses.
L
Fantastic!
Thank you both for sharing this success. I love these little things that make such a big difference. Your story is quite an inspiration.
Thanks Linda and Fran for keeping us updated on Crest’s progress. It is wonderful to hear your success moving forward. Linda, it seems a lot of people have a “Crest” of there own, any way this lesson that occured in Ohio might make a Savvy Club DVD in the next month or so for those of us that would love to see the details of the lesson but didn’t have the opportunity to be there live?
Again CONGRATS Fran and Crest! Fran if you have happy feet, just imagine how full Crest’s heart is, and how elated his little happy feet are!
If you are looking forward to your next ride, so is he – and as Linda and Pat say, ” let the horse be the judge” – you really have accomplished a ton!!! Well Done!
Nicely said Cynthia. In the end it’s the horse that tells you if it was the right thing or not, that’s why experience is so valuable… you learn by watching the results, and sometimes those results are hard to see at first but become more visible in the days that follow. Fran wrote me another note saying she actually cantered him bareback the other day!
L
I have been following your journey as have so many, and just reading this update had me crying (with joy) of course. So glad to hear the progress that you two are making, and I look forward to future updates. So inspiring!
Sharon
Linda…Thanks for sharing this email. Means a lot to all of us, especially when we’re dealing with some of the same issues. Inspiring!
And, Fran… I’m guessing you have a major case of happy feet! CONGRATULATIONS! Loved your email.
Nancy, smiling
Great job Fran! Loved seeing you on OH and love to hear the progess!!! It made me cry as well!!!!!!! Love it!!! Savvy up!
Linda & Fran, having been at that Ohio event (still sweating!) I am SO happy that your are sharing your side of the happenings. For me, that lesson was one of the most important I have ever watched. It has changed how I am with my boys. I thought I was soft and patient-probably was compared to the average-but now I am even more so. WOW.
Thank you so much for the updates. I will continue to follow your progress with Crest.
That is wonderful news. I got teary with you while I read this. I know what it is like to have a break through since Freedom is a RBE/I and we have had many. You see a new level confidence happeneing before your eyes. That’s when you confirm with no doubt you are doing the best thing you can do for your horse. I cheer for you Fran! Thanks Pat and Linda one more huge sucess story.
Thank you so much this was so inspiring to read. I have a challenging horse to ride and he gave me the nicest canter the other day and after a couple of steps I just jumped off and stood there and thought, oh my good… I love when this things happens.
/Sofie
Congratulatins Fran! Things are really clicking for you! I just started dressage last year and it really challenges me. So many things to think about at once and do. I could feel the fun of your canter as I read the story! Thanks for sharing it!
MarVeena Meek
And that’s the dream! Thanks so much for sharing her letter, was very moving and inspirational.
Fran, what an inspiring letter that is, thank you so much. I can picture myself there with my Ginger, RBI, and my timid riding. Thank you for sharing this letter, Linda. You guys are the greatest!
Awesome!!!
Wow – riding in an arena area for an hour…can’t imagine that but one day hopefully….I think all of these things will help me and my LBI – thanks
Linda, thank you for sharing Fran’s letter. Fran, I welled up when I read it. Following your progress is inspiring. Well done.
Boy that’s what it’s all about! That’s so cool.
Thanks for sharing this, Linda and THANK YOU, Fran! I’m trying harder to pay attention to what my horse is offering when I’m on the ground and in the saddle. A couple of days ago, he was really in a playful mood, playing with a Jolly Ball on the ground before I got on, so he’d play for a bit, I’d ask him to do something and when he did it, we’d go back to the Jolly Ball. We probably did this for 45 minutes or so. When I saddled him, he was great and when I got on it was the best ride we’d had in at least a month! And, I also got off when things were going well. YEE HAW! Ya gotta love Parelli!