George - Right Brained Extrovert
George is the horse that brought me to Parelli. About five years ago, I was teaching at a facility in central Texas, and we had a mini tornado- typical weather for Texas! This little tornado picked up the little shed that George was standing underneath and took it away to the other side of the pasture. George truly thought that he was going to die, and went running around the pasture like a maniac. Two hours later I went to retrieve him so that we could go to our jumping lesson. When I led him to the horse trailer, he stopped 20 feet in front of it and refused to go inside. Imagine that!
In my typical non-savvy fashion (I had no clue about natural horsemanship), I attempted to drag and then bribe George into the trailer. Within minutes, about 20 people suddenly appeared and tried to offer assistance and guidance. Now I had twenty predators around my prey animal and all trying to shove him into a small metal cave! Understandably, he would have no part of it!
George topped the charts in right brained behavior. He could not keep still and it was like flying a kite when I “led” him. He always ran over me and I thought that there would be NO way to lead him with him following respectfully behind me. I evented George through the Preliminary level, so he was very impulsive, high headed, and bracey. I just thought that it came with the territory. He was no different than my other eventing horses! This really frustrated me when we attempted to do our dressage test. He was never truly soft and supple…he always had that “edge” to him. Now I know that he was right brained the whole time!
After taking George through the program (he is my levels horse and my sacrificial lamb!), he showed a dramatic change. His right brained behaviors have drastically diminished if not disappeared altogether, and he began to show more positive left brained extroverted behaviors such as exuberance and playfulness! George was always clever, but now he is even a little devious!
George is now close to twenty and in semi-retirement after a serious case of EPM last Fall. He has completely recovered. I try to keep his work load light and not very stressful since this can send him into a relapse. He loves to play, and enjoys teaching my students the Parelli ropes!
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| George, pre-Parelli Horsenality profile- Click to enlarge |
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| George, current Horsenality profile - Click to enlarge |
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Maggie Left Brained Introvert
Maggie found me four years ago as a two year old at a sport horse auction. I had no business being at the auction- I already George. All of the horses were out of my price range, except for one…a beautiful 2 year old filly. She was very well bred and moved like a dream. I had always wanted a Warmblood but always ended up with horses that I could afford off the track. For some reason, nobody was bidding on Maggie. I felt extremely victorious when I picked her up for a couple of thousand dollars. I found out later the reason that I got such a great deal was because everyone else had had the foresight to visit the sale horses.
Maggie was a very EXTREME left brained introvert with some right brained tendencies. She was very aggressive and extremely dangerous. She would rear when unconfident, charge when asked to move away and it was impossible to stand behind her drive line or be kicked. This was her way of dealing with humans. She definitely knew how to intimidate people and I definitely had my work cut out for me!
Maggie was and still is especially challenging to me as she is the opposite of George and Buckley, who were very right brained. This was a whole new world to me. Without the Parelli program, I never would have gotten anywhere with her; especially into the trailer! Now she thinks she invented trailer loading. Her left brained extraverted behaviors are not nearly as extreme and she shows more positive behaviors in the extraverted left brain quadrant. Maggie is now friendlier, more exuberant, playful, and is a willing learner. Using the psychology of the program, I have been able to motivate her to do the most amazing things and she does them because she wants to. You cannot make a Left Brained Introvert do much! Psychology is the key. Maggie is an incredibly sensitive and talented horse that has taught me so much.
She is the most challenging horse that I have ever had. I look forward to our journey together!
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| Maggie, pre-Parelli Horsenality profile- Click to enlarge |
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| Maggie, Current Horsenality profile - click to enlarge |
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Buckley - Right Brained Introvert
Buckley galloped into my life (quite literally) four years ago at an eventing facility in South Texas. His owner came barreling at me on the cross country course in a full gallop. Of course, I was instantly attracted to him. How could I not be? He was tall, dark and handsome and such a beautiful mover! But his owner needed help…Buckley avoided all jumps (he was supposed to be a jumping horse) as well as avoided arenas (he was supposed to be a stadium jumping horse). So his owner decided to try eventing and give cross country a go. A year later, his owner lost interest, but I did not lose interest in Buckley…I ended up buying him.
Buckley was an extreme right brained introvert in every sense of that category! He also exhibited many right brained extroverted tendencies. His previous owner said that he looked for things to spook at; that she could not get on him because he would not stand still…he was scared to death about everything. I was lucky to go through the program with George first, so I knew how extreme, extreme could be!
After taking Buckley through the program, he changed dramatically. All of his right brained introverted tendencies are now mild if not completely gone, and he now exhibits many positive extroverted/ left brained behaviors. He’s playful, friendly and even a little mischievous! He loves to let himself out of his stall as well as Maggie- and loves to leave George (his competition) behind!
Buckley still shows right brained tendencies. He is not a very confident learner and is challenged in some environments such as covered arenas with lots of predators! This comes from his show background, and he has come a long way from the days that he would not enter a show arena at all! We play as much as we can everyday to build his confidence and trust in me.
Buckley is the horse that I normally take to tour stops and demos- so I am sure that you will meet him one day! |
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| Buckley, pre-Parelli Horsenality profile - Click to enlarge |
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| Buckley - Current Horsenality profile - click to enlarge |
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Milan - Left Brained Extrovert
Milan is Kelly's 1 1/2 year old Neapolitan Mastiff. Milan accompanies Kelly on tour stops and as many clinics as she can! She is great with horses and other dogs that have high play drives. Her best friend is Kesie who always plays with Milan when Kelly does a clinic at Broadview Ranch in Lexington, VA. Milan is still working on her Level 1-she is definitely a left brained extrovert! Milan is great at the squeeze game and loves to jump like Kelly's horses! |
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