Its been a long time since I wrote here, I get requests all the time, which is very nice, but I am sad to say, time is always a factor!! None the less now could not be a better time, specially since this is my first training with Linda with my own horse and to top it off for her Game of Contact which is timed perfectly since I have higher aspiration than ever to get my level 4 with Mia.

So where to start…….lets see!

The last month actually has been a whirl wind of emotions, experiences, doubts, highs, excitement, lows, confusion and stamina I never new I had, this is a right brain extrovert talking trying to discover and maintain her left brain, hence the positive v’s negative expressions. From the heart I can say right now, in this place and time, I have never been more happier than to be me. I think the answer to that is I found my place on this planet, have support of family, real friends and alike!!

The last weeks were tough, I did my first solo demo and then knew I had to travel home to the UK with Mia, self inflicted stress yes, to some that’s not considered stressful, normal perhaps, to me, if it did not go to plan, the world could cave in. So I had to make it work. Of course after the demo, I have my own critiques, didn’t get to say this, didn’t get to show that, but what was important was my Mia was LBE most of the time in what is one of the most scariest environments. I too channelled into my LBE tendency, which cooled my nerve the minute we entered the ring!! So I am very proud!

The last 2 weeks I did not get to sleep before 2am, tossing and turning, doing my thinking at night….last night I slept like a log and before 11pm….OF COURSE…..its all over I am here, on British soil at the Parelli Centre, everything how I imagined, I made it happen. Had some moments of course which made me feel like turning back, specially spending 4 hours longer towing Mia than planned, sitting in traffic in EU and UK, focusing, staring hard at the road, doing my best to not be tired…but I tell you I will do it all again in a heart beat because it was an amazing experience and one I hope will help me keep growing.

So back to my amazing Mia, my gosh she is more impressive than ever. I travelled 4.5 hours to Calais, waited 2.5 hours for the boat, 1.5 hour crossing, and 3.5 hours drive to Stoneleigh. The only thing that worried me was she would not drink, when we arrived her mouth and lips were so dry, she looked like she had a grey muzzle, but she drank as soon as we arrived so that was good. The boat was scary, driving in, then stepping out the car surrounded by a bunch of men dragging chains on the floor so loud I could not hear my self think, chaining the trailer to the walls, yet Mia did not bother with it, I walked to the back of the trailer, she just looked at me as if to say, what’s your problem as tears just blabbed out of my eyes and my legs would not walk away, well I did of course, no choice in fact and after I could hit my self and just laughed, when I came back down she was half a sleep and her leg cocked.

When we arrived at Stoneleigh she just kept calling and calling, but soon went quiet with water and hay. My evening ended with dinner and wine with Tasha and bed by 10:30pm.

Today was just awesome some 50 plus instructors, 40 auditors and 8 riders. Linda, who I have to say is one of the most passionate, positive people I know threw herself into her presentation, so exited of her developments of how to teach the GOC to people. FABULOUS!!!

I wont share details as to be honest I am not sure if its public yet, but what I can tell you is YOU WILL LOVE IT!! Simple but not easy, same principles, release that teaches, relationship first, horses timeline etc. but a different concept at a whole new level.

Tonight I rode Mia in the playground, lose rein, asking her to just go when she was extrovert knowing that 15 seconds later she would retreat and want to walk. For those who know me best riding was and became my last choice, fear and frustration ruined my appetite to even consider being near her back, the last 3 years I changed this, went out of my way to overcome the fear, so more than anything me actually wanting to ride Mia is BIG!!! Well I can tell you, we played with the first stage of Lindas plan tonight and of course I quit when it felt right, and I CANT WAIT, to get back on and pick up from there tomorrow. I will get some pictures made and post them here

So in a nutshell, am having a fab time, Mia is my oxygen, I have accomplished many things with the love of my family, friends and my bloodline, Jort…..thanks so much……….Zoe xx

Mia pre-boarding the boat parked with all the lorries in lane 213, totally chilaxed

We have had two tests, lots of learning with Pat, Linda, Carol and Ann. We have been to Pats barn, visited the life of the externs and interns they have at the mo. We have been to Linda’s lecture ‘The elements of Man’ . Eaten lots of food, smiled and laughed, watched good friends get their first stars. Met new and what I hope are life long friendships. Spent some precious time with Ellen Carol and also Sunday riding and playing with her horses. I also rode in the new Parelli Cruiser saddle

Heres some pics of yesterday afternoon…….for fun

Left to Right: Aniek and Rocky, Ellen and Flashy, me and Truffle

Hi everyone

Tomorrow I head back to the Florida ISC to attend the 2 star instructor training. WOW!! Cant believe this is me and its real!

At first I didn’t aspire to be a professional, I didn’t think it would be possible and of course I thought wow what a cool job that would be and as time passed and the opportunities opened up I started to climb that ladder towards my dream.

Last Feb, a year to this date, I set off to do the Fast Track course which enables you to then to become an instructor, I returned that summer in June to do a 3 month externship where not only did I get my star ranking I was also invited back to do an internship where you can then continue to earn your 2nd star and upwards. So here I am returning again to get my 2nd star. Just amazing a wonderful feeling. I have met so many wonderful people and not forgetting to mention horses, I think I could write a book about it for sure…lol!!!

So what have I been up to? Since my return in September I have been working 4 full days in my current employment and working almost a full 3 days a week teaching, also evenings after work and sometimes mornings too. Now some would say that’s crazy, yes I am tired sometimes so much so that I come home and have trouble getting upstairs to bed and other days it is easier. I eat well, look after myself as best possible and get as much sleep as I can. Working 7 days a week and doing something you love is indescribable. I see my students progress, the smiles on their faces alone gives me energy. All in all I am having a blast and could never have done it without the support of my husband, family and friends.

Mia of course is the apple of my eye, she is so important to me that I quite literally carry her heart in my hand every where I go. Her progression the last months has been slow, mainly due to my lack of time, however the time we do spend refining our partnership is nothing short of amazing. I ask, she answers, its clear, our phases are lower, we are so much happier, we were already doing great but now its even more.

I have to say that at first there is a lot of pressure on you when you become a Parelli Professional, at the end of the day, you can teach all this wonderful stuff, but just how good are you with your horse. I was doing ok, we have some fab stuff going, but in my mind and what I have seen other Professionals do I was way off the mark. So for the first 6-8 weeks I put a lot of pressure on us both. It worked two ways, she loved it because I was more provocative but on the other hand my goals were destroying our relationship and bond. So I remembered what I learned specially during my externship pretty fast and told myself STOP. Who cares about that stuff. If I get to a demo and its not perfect, great, its not supposed to be and besides that, it can be  boring, almost robotic. People want to see the real deal, they want to see how you can catch your horse after they have galloped off into the sunset. Once I changed my mind-set then yes you can absolutely believe we shot forwards like a rocket and she is offering things I never thought we were ready for yet. So another big wow there. Mia is a Left Brain Introvert innately, but the best part of 5 years she was Right Brain Extrovert due to the fact that I could not read this horse, thought that bigger bits and punishment would help slow here down and then of course I discovered Parelli and although our relationship bonded and our communication established, riding was still difficult since she just wanted to go, go and go. Finally I have her confidence, mind and will, all at the end of my finger tips. The Left Brain Introvert is back. She is who she  should have been all these years, now sometimes I really have to say to her come girl go a bit faster. HOW COOL IS THAT!! Her spirit is alive and not blunted by using force and mechanics, she is most of the time free (no halter and rope) she can chose to stay or leave (she has not left yet) My ability to understand her, read her, watch her, grow with her has revealed the deeper horse within.

I am so truly thankful and grateful to have her in my life.

The coming 2 weeks I will do my best to blog here, I am not sure of the time schedule yet, so if I cant write I will post pics here and on Facebook.

Keep smiling, keep dreaming and sometimes just know that no matter how bad some days can feel or get, there are better ones waiting for you just around the corner.

Savvy Wishes,

Zoe

So what exactly am I trying to say: I too received my certificate and string in the post today, just 10 minutes after reading the article in the Savvy times!!!

Its medicine

Its funny how things work, I am so convinced now of the law of attraction that my old tendencies to get frustrated or short tempered have quite literally vanished. Life is what you create. The natural ability to project positive energy to both humans and animals can only but return it, sometimes in double fold.

I am so fascinated how the human brain works, it remembers  information only when it is ready. I read a lot of articles and educate myself continuously. Sue Shoemaker recently shared a blog spot from another PNH student about a particular point in her journey with her horse and how quickly we forget they are not machines. We must not be greedy. I too read the article she referred too, just a few weeks a go and it did not stick, I then read her blog post and after writing this blog spot will read the article again. I know it will mean something now.

http://parellijourney.blogspot.com/2010/02/what-it-means-to-have-that-string.html

So what has changed since reading it a few weeks ago to present day. My thoughts were just my thoughts, planning, arranging, thinking about the things I want to prepare and get ready for my journey as a professional. My thoughts are now my actions, its happening, I am available for teaching, making plans with other PP’s and now the real concentration of being the best horse woman, teacher and coach I can be is physically happening.

But, and that word is not meant in the negative sense, to earn back my bond with my horse has taken nearly 2 weeks. To even know I am worthy of her herd is work enough. But I am there, now we need to become partners again, become a unit. I need to try so hard to not put what I think I need ahead of what I actually need to do. I think I am doing ok. Mia will tell me that. Her feedback is with out a doubt everything and anything.

Get the foundation solid and the fancy stuff will follow, the funny thing is, the fancy stuff is not important anymore, it is so very special and so very rewarding when your horse wants to be with you and offers their energy, time and mind, nothing else can touch it.

That’s my philosophy for today and I hope for the rest of my life, to do the best you can, appreciate the small things and know that a relationship with horses can only be built on Love, Language and Leadership in equal doses.

To give a quick re-cap of what’s been happening since I got home: I first had to get my VAT and permission form the Chamber of Commerce to start my independent business as a Professional. Then I needed to open a business account and arrange the finance side which also enabled me to then finally get insurance. So here I am a week or so later, ready to rock and roll!! The show is on the road. I have many exited students lined up for their free hours which is part of my traineeship all in the coming weeks.
It will be great fun

When I got home I was SOOOO happy to see my best friend Pascale and my darling husband waiting for me at the airport. It was so surreal and a nice moment since I had a 7 hour delay at Orlando.
We then drove straight to Mia whom I looked so happy and so great, I burst into tears.

Its funny since I back things of course are the same, but they are different. Its hard to explain. Its me, I am different, way more confident, happy and at peace with life.

I miss my dear Marie, she made it too with a 1 star and invite to the Mastery. So very proud for her.

The rest as they say is history, and now I can only and cant wait to focus on the future.

Watch this space,
Zoe xxxxxx

So its 8:28pm on my last night at the Parelli University in Florida.

But alas that will not be the last of this blog. I still have so much to share, both with my time here and the future as a professional.

Friday next week Michael Grohmann asked me to participate in a demo in Amsterdam and then that weekend I will be in Belgium helping the savvy team there.

So its all go. So exiting. Although I was off yesterday and today my time was not wasted, I have been collecting, arranging info, studying and preparing my social media.

I have many exiting things planned, specially for future students. Their time with me will be packed with fun and rewards.

So I will sign off until I am back home.

Stay natural and may the horse be with you,

Zoe xx

My new status:

Zoë van Kruiningen – Coade

1* Junior (Trainee) Parelli Professional & Instructor
Email: info@zoe-parelliprofessional.com

Dutch Parelli website: http://www.parelli.nl/news.php?filter=NL&id=29

Some videos:

WOW!! What a week, first I get my level 3, which as Pats says is your activation as a Horseman or woman! Then yesterday I was awarded my 1* star instructor status and an invitation as an intern which is the first steps of the Mastery program. As I write I cant believe that is me…WOOHOOOO!!! Words cannot describe how pleased I am. Its an absolute honour. It is the beginning of another journey, something I am going to cherish and take care of for as long as I am supposed to. I cant wait to learn and study even more and to help people change so they can have a relationship with their horses. As a trainee you are required to complete 50 hours of lessons for free. So if you interested in the UK and The Netherlands, drop me an email at zcoade@hotmail.com.

I also had my first mention on the Dutch Parelli website (thanks Irene)

The nicest thing just happened, I was driving back to the Shop where we live on the quad and the gate was open, I saw one of the mastery students leaving in his truck, so I waited for him to close it behind him, he jumped out of the truck and said “you don’t have to do that no more, your not an extern”and gave me a hug….again WOW!!

Well Monday is my last day, tonight we are going to the rodeo, will take lots of pics, specially of the team.

Tania, Ben and Buck arrived safely from Colorado with 8 new Attwood colts, they will be leaving to go back tomorrow I sure hope they join us tonight.

Living the dream and loving it, Zoe xx

Today was a hard days work, but the atmosphere and the team effort was just phenomenal! Each and every individual here has there own life, their won story and journey. Each is unique to them at this time in their life with particular timing, savvy and experience. I loved every minute of it!

Talent, skill, try and luck….this is how Pat best describes his students, which one are you? Maybe you have qualities of all of them, or just one of a bit of just two. Which do I have?

I am not naturally talented, but I do strive for it, I work for it the best I can when I can. Skill is a learned art form, I am learning skills everyday. Then there is Try, I think this is my strongest. Without try I would not be here becoming the person I am today and also surrounding myself around people who have the same try. And well luck I think is just all of those added up for me. I am not rich, I cant just take time off work at the whim of a hat, let the mortgage pay itself, nor was I raised on a ranch with 100 horses and live stock to take care of, but I am lucky enough to have my husband and family support me living my dream with horses at Pats centre in Florida enabling me to learn and live this.

Today I got just about the best news since my husband proposed. I got my Level 3+ Liberty with Mia. If you know me by now, this is SO important because of what we have been through, what she was trying to tell me the years before and how far we have come now. I can still see those peoples faces whom looked at US in disgust, what a horrible horse is what they would say, YOU don’t know what you are doing, she should be a MANS horse blah blah blah. Well actually I want to thank those people, because it was them who influenced me the most to take that horse that nobody liked or loved (except me) and show them that there is more to this, I don’t care what color, size, breed she is, she is just simply Mia. I was full of TRY!

I screamed when I read my email and ran around the RV like a loony. That is how important it is to me. I have been so fortunate during the fast track here in feb and the last almost 3 months here to have some wonderful horses. But that’s not what I wanted, I wanted it to be her. She deserves that credit. For me she is level 100. I just need to find the path to get there too. Now I have a few more tools to do so.

Marie, my friend, has been here every step of the way, seen, breathed, watched quite literally everything. A friend for life is what I have found. Your my rock.

Sweet Mia, see you in 2 weeks and 2 days. xx