Linda Parelli working with Ellie at Pagosa Springs CO with Ellie passing her level 2
A bit about me&how I got started. I started out with Pat Parelli. I rode a month at his place when they very first opened the International Study Center in Pagosa Springs, Colorado in 1996 where I passed my level 2 test.... then after, I met Buck Brannaman with whom I have spent most of my time mentoring. In the meantime I asked John Harms (a student teacher of Parelli) to do his first clinic and continued to host him here as I needed to continue to learn. He took the time to drive to our area after my persistence- he had the time to do lessons/clinics when he unfortunately broke his leg. I used to drive my horses competitively in CDE’s but this new style of training was so “life changing” I invested all my time in learning and developing myself.I hope soon to get back into driving which I miss. I rode twice a year with Buck Brannaman when he came to our area in both his clinics each day.In time, I was invited to attend a 10 day clinic at his ranch.That was an experience to be at his ranch and spend all day riding with him - what I learned was irreplaceable. He now has shortened his home clinics to only 7 days and that will be missed as each day built on the other. Even on the 10th day - we wished we could be there longer.Although I understand why, what a loss Buck no longer rides any of our horses at his clinics. I was one of the lucky ones to have the privilege of Buck riding my stallion and I learned so much. I will never forget the lightness and how it felt to ride Opus Black Mikasa after Buck rode him those 4 days.Dave Seay was another I spent a majority of time riding my stallion with- I would also include him as a substantial part of my learning and now can easily do things that surprise people that I never would have had the confidence - had I not met him. To have rode with Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt was the absolute honor of my lifetime.What a privilege that I was able to have and hold dearly. I listen to the Rick Lamb show ricklamb@thehorseshow.comand he gave a tribute to Ray on his show-a Ray Hunt Clinic he was allowed to record. He gave a brief intro of Ray…“Ray Hunt Ray Hunt passed away March 12, 2009 – that marked the end of a era.If you’re not familiar with Ray Hunt, he was the keystone figure in the revolution in horsemanship.He took the work of his mentor Tom Dorrance to the public in a very new, very different kind of Horsemanship clinic in the mid 70’s. Taking the horse’s point of view in account is what started the revolution. Ray met Tom Dorrance in the mid 60’s and it changed his life and his entire approach to horsemanship.Ray also always mentions that you have to give respect to the horse to get respect back… and a horse is a mirror of what we offer to them. Ray’s clinics got the ball rolling and others came on after him and have taken this whole thing to new levels; but it could not have happened the way it did without Ray Hunt.” All of us who had the opportunity to have met Ray, along with the whole world - misses Ray Hunt and the Dorrance brothers.It is up to us to continue what they offered.A teacher who mentored with Ray and continues the closest teaching & same philosophy is Buck Brannaman. I rode with Leslie Desmon in 5-7 clinics - she is the one who rode with Tom for 2 years to have the privilege to write his book - True Horsemanship through Feel. Tom required that before the book was written - she had to experience and not just write words. Terry Church rode with the Dorrance brothers and Buck.Terry showed high level dressage and I was able to attend her clinics along with clinics with the dressage master Frank Grelo in 2002 to further my Dressage education. My “colt start friend” Sara Chaney and I both rode our 1st clinic with Frank in western saddles. From Frank, I received one of my greatest compliments.He pointed me out and said whomever I learned from- it was good and even though I had a western saddle; it still was dressage I was offering the horse. He also pointed out 2 things about our horses we took for granted; our horses came up & over to the mount block to be picked up- and stood still for mounting. He also noted they were soft when we picked up on the reins. I feel what I teach is perhaps “western dressage”, built on foundation foundation foundation. Applying what I learned with “Natural” to advance my dressage scores paid off at my 1stshow with my junior stallion Dreamer - His first Dressage show -and I also was just starting – We took a 1st!!!! My young apprentice, Nichole also placed 1st – each in each our own division - what a SUPER great day! My biggest compliment in my life that day - was the comment that “too bad he is not a stallion...”A lady walked up to us saying that as I was sitting on him next to mares at the show– her intent was to make note on his manners & quiet disposition and she was a bit surprised when I said he still is. I met Richard Thompson when he held a clinic on dominant horses in Illinois - drove to see what he had to say and from then on I hosted Richard Thompson here in our area for 5 years - organizing his clinics twice per year.He was the best to explain herd dominance and horse dynamics. I then started giving more of my own clinics after –that is when I feel I really started developing myself and learning from the horse.You have to be able to walk the talk on horses & riding; but also have to be able to explain… along with reading people when teaching. As you can see my social life in summers – had been a clinic junkie. Jeff Griffith I spend substantial time with in 2000 and did a 10 day with Lynn Palm in 2006.I use bits and pieces from others I audited. Cesar Millan (The dog whisperer) is my hero; I love how he explains use of energy and the owner’s responsibility. Exercise, discipline, affection – creates balance.My assistant trainer (Blue Heeler) dog, Kie Kie would not be alive today without me reading/watching Cesar –THANKS Cesar! www.cesarsway.com More about Cesar on another link.
Watching my masters and watching the reining pros helped me advance to another level. It helped me develop my style of advanced groundwork when I saw the reining pros used no ground work and the masters, little - at all.Groundwork- like anything else is taught at an obvious level to help the horse understand and then I feel… advance to look like you are doing nothing to communicate with your horse, but no one was teaching this with depth. I developed a 3 second check-in to look for braces prior to getting on a horse. With the check-in, you can tell if the horse is ready to ride or to be safe; just needs more time spent on the ground. I start all my clinics with discussing my acronym“TAAR”- I believe all Thoughts lead to your attitude and your Attitude leads to your actions and your Actions yields you your Results… so careful with your “TAAR”. I have3 R’S OF LEARNING(Request - Require- Release) I feel being consistent and having a dedication to preciseness is what is fair to the horse and leads you closest to having an enjoyable partner. The ability to be clear in offering choices so the horse does not fail in what we ask is my goal. I truly enjoy working with horses and people who want to deepen their relationship with their horse.
Ellie Neerdaels Twin Artesian Stables
Twin Artesian Stables Green Bay WI 54313 920-865-5555 Email: twinartmik@aol.com
