Change of Seasons, Acceptance, Circumstances and Lives

Hello Friends,

The weather has blessed us with a cool breeze to temper down our stress and the heat that the wretched summer brought us these months past. I am watching the trees being caressed by the wind, as the water of our beautiful lake dances with the reflection of the equestrian partners above, grazing peacefully on the green foliage below. How wonderful the change of seasons are to the inhabitants of earth, the outsiders of the business world, the horse lovers... those who would rather endure the natural elements, instead of the comforts of artificial temperatures of the home. Change brings so many things to our life, such as joy, happiness, sadness, confusion, adaptability, learning, flexibility, chances, new beginnings or drawn-out ends. But change, is inevitable... "Change is the only constant factor in life." Thank goodness for it, it keeps life exciting, worth living. It grows us in character and makes us who we are, hopefully for the better.

Christian Helms and Doc, playing at Dan Thompson Clinic

Photographs courtesy of Aaron Tomblin

I love change because it causes me to become a stronger and better person. Through change I have grown, especially through these past few months. Having been teaching more, focusing on equine care and barn management, stuffing my brain with as much Parelli materials and basic to advanced horse knowledge, learning to manage and take care of a home, fulfilling responsibilities I don't want to fulfill... becoming a busier and more responsible person with these horses, is one of the most joyful responsibilities I have ever fulfilled. Mucking stalls, feeding, grooming, cleaning, sweeping, pulling weeds, coordinating clinics, doing paperwork, managing 10 horses hooves as a farrier, teaching lessons, teaching horses, watching miracles happen every day... what a WONDERFUL job.

At the moment I am doing this and much more as I prepare for my expedition to the Parelli Florida campus, my mind is doing flips! But the journey is the most fulfilling part, I am enjoying this time of preparation... it is causing me to grow. Sundance seems to be the healthiest and most beautiful he has been in years, his attitude towards me has been totally different since I have been working with Dan Thompson the past few months. I have been introduced to a different Sundance than I knew before, I do not have a punk at the end of my rope but instead I have another "Mariah" at the end of my rope. He seems confident, but if you push him around instead of asking he will get upset because he does not want to be "wrong". I do the same thing, I get angry or upset when I am wrong, because my intentions are nothing but for the best and I always strive for perfection. When I get something wrong, I get angry at myself. Sundance somewhat is coming from that same position too, he offers so much to me, I just need to learn to ask and pick up on what he is offering me.

Mariah Helms and Aamira listening to overview of the day at Dan Thompson Clinic.

The clinic was very exciting, amazing changes were made in horses and even MORE SO with people! The experience was one I will never forget, and changed MANY peoples lives for the better. Lives will not be the same, and I look forward to seeing the fruits of our labor in the future! I also look forward to seeing how the relationships with my horses change, I am starting to see a dramatic difference!

Photographs courtesy of Aaron Tomblin

Hopefully I will be able to enjoy one more lesson with Dan before I leave for Florida. Here is my current plan and schedule for my departure to Florida, this list includes my friend and traveling partner, Sarah, who is coming down from WAY up north in Massachusetts. She will be taking classes with me in Florida, which I am very excited about.

Oct. 28th - Sarah pulls in with horse and trailer to our home to rest.

Oct. 29th - Sarah and I leave early AM to head to house in Reddick, FL, 10. Will arrive later afternoon.

Oct. 30th - Open house at Parelli Campus, going to see the sights.

Oct. 31st - Settle more into house, get needed items, prepare horses and let them settle in.

Nov. 1st - Check in time between 9:00 am - 12:00 PM... Settle horses in on campus, unload tack and park trailers. Class starts at 1:00 PM.

Nov.1st - 26th - Fast Track class! Got to get my big girl pants on and get ready for some whip cracking!

Nov. 27 (28)th - Parents, Ed and Tonya, should be heading down to pick me up and break at Disney World for Thanksgiving.

Will be home and resting until take-off in January of 13 or 14, 2011. Externship should start on January 15 of 2011.

Without a doubt, I am very busy and excited about this upcoming trip and look forward to seeing how I will mature and the person I will become because of this rare opportunity. I am very much looking forward to seeing all the familiar faces at Pat's ranch and catching up with some of the people I love so dearly! I will feel right at home, as I did last February and cannot wait to show my appreciation by giving them all that I have. I am ecstatic to see where this takes me, and how many people and horses will be changed through it. I only pray I will get everything right!

RE. DAN THOMPSON 3* Parelli Professional coming to CHARLLOTE, NC

Hello Friends!

SEE ATTACHMENT FOR MORE INFORMATION!

Dan Thompson, 3 Star Parelli Professional, is coming to Mariah Helms' Facility "Patch of Heaven Stables".

Located in the south Charlotte area of North Carolina, town of Wingate, NC. Located on 40 acres of Parelli paradise, packed with play grounds, arenas, trails, peaceful pastures and serene open barn for your horses to enjoy, overnight pasture and stall boarding available. Nice hotels and restaurants located just 10 minutes away from our little equestrian paradise on earth.

Sept 11 - 12, 2010, two days full and packed with endless savvy and FUN for you and your horse! Playing with advanced Levels 2 and 3.

Register soon to save your spot for this education vacation get-away! Lunch will be provided and catered by a local family owned business, so bring a couple of bucks to enjoy a gourmet meal when you break from a blast-packed morning of savvy.

Please contact Mariah Helms at mariahhelms@hotmail.com or 704.499.1106 ASAP to reserve your spot! Please do not hesitate to ask any questions!

Yours Naturally,

Mariah Helms

http://www.mariahhelms.com/

Don't You Wonder Where We've Been? Around the World and Back Again!

Hello Savvy Family,

I have had absolute blast lately, as TONS of events have been tossed my way and I caught them with complete and utmost energy and enthusiasm.

I will start with Wednesday, of two weeks ago. I heard Dan and Gretchen Thompson, 3 Star Parelli Professionals, were MOVING to North Carolina, only about 3 hours away. That got this innate introvert moving, I was totally ecstatic to say the LEAST! As I had been needing help with the infamous fabulous Fabio (Sundance), for almost a year and a half now. (I just recently finished High School (SHEW!), you know how terribly torturous and tying-down that can be. So NOW that I am FREE, I can have as much time as available to Parelli and studying with professionals.) I called their coordinator ASAP, (about as fast as my hand could get to my cell phone in my wranglers!) and had Dan come to my place in two days. He came, and hit off straight away! I learned a boat load about focus, and teaching your horse to find YOUR focus... did you know that my focus was, well, NOT there?! I had none! No wonder why Sundance's middle finger was so ripped and buffed! DUH.

Time for a BFO...

Ha ha ha...

(Blinding Flash of the Obvious!)

Anyway, we played online creating somewhat of a focus on my part for an hour and a half. One of my favorite quotes of Dan... "There are two ways a horse can play: 1)With you OR 2) Without you!" The big question is, can you get him to play WITH you? Without forcing it on him, but by causing it to become HIS idea. Because of course! YOU think your idea is better! Is it not? Don't YOU have the best ideas ever? I don't think so, I think I do... well, so does your horse. He thinks his ideas are the best in the whole entire universe!... Darn IT!... Yeah, well I thought the same thing...

BUT

We can cause our ideas to become theirs, and sometimes their idea is just as good... because with the ugly comes the beautiful. We can take what they offer as feedback, and grow from it... and make something beautiful from it.

In other words, I had a blast.

As for my sessions afterwards, I can't say enough. The best I have had, in the LEAST, the last two years. I am jumping out of my shoes to say the least, Sundance has never been so sticky to me in forever... never been so attentive. My arrows are multiplying in my quiver during and after every session, and I have never been so thrilled in so long! Today was the first time in years that I had a lesson, and I wanted to go BACK outside and play again. I beg to God that this is not a momentary phase, but only the beautiful beginning to the end of our rut. The beginning of me becoming a more self-sufficient and savvy horsewoman.

We put Sundance up, and spent another hour and a half playing with Aamira. She is the model of a Left-Brained Extrovert, and you add some extra spunk of being a little yearling... she is a bundle of GO! PLAY! FREE! I have never had a lot of time with this specific horsenality, so I had a blast learning about how the horsenality works a little more and how to keep them occupied and obedient.

I also was blessed enough to audit a three day clinic with them, Friday through Sunday. Friday consisted of Advanced Liberty Skills and Young Horse Development. Saturday and Sunday consisted of Beginning Level 1 and Advanced Level 2/3. I learned quite a bit from the Liberty class, was very much entertained by the young horse class, loved watching the fist light bulbs of the beginners class and quite a few pages of notes from the advanced levels class! I always love meeting new Parelli people, and thoroughly enjoyed meeting new people and creating ties that will bind forever. The individuals at Parelli clinics, true Parelli students, have such an amazing and different feel to them... I love the atmosphere, I can't explain it. And to be a part of it, is also unexplainable.

Yesterday, Wednesday, I traveled to Stokesdale, North Carolina for a day at Camp Carefree trimming and shoeing horses with Brandon Crew and a couple more of the Healthy Stride farriers and enthusiasts. We had horses flying in an out of the barn like popcorn in a movie theater! I learned so much and absolutely loved being there trimming and helping, talking and growing with the fabulous group. Discoveries are made every day, and doing that with people you treasure is incomparable. Spending a lifetime with horses, totally engulfed and dedicated, is most definitely a life worth living... a battle worth fighting. Changing lives in the mean time, that is a total plus!

I am back home now, sore and tired from all the traveling, but so hopeful and excited about what is ahead. I feel like I don't have enough time left now between the time I have to leave for Florida in less than 3 months, for my career with Parelli. I have discovered so much, and I am so thankful to my Father above for that incredible blessing! Please stay tuned for more updates, pictures of the above happenings will be coming soon! I am trying to get a clinic coordinate for D&G Thompson here at my facility... even if that does not work out, I will have one of them here once a month working with me until I leave for Parelli University.

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers, as I have an extreme friendly game coming up. This time, the trick's on me. Let's just keep it safe and say that a nice oral surgeon is going to partner up and dance with my wisdom teeth this Monday morning, at 8:30 am. I will have all next week off, so I will be dozing on and off and relaxing... recouping, I am hoping, will go well and regenerate me for my next spurt of savvy!

Until next time...

Mariah Helms

Never Ending Self-Improvement - Just add 1 gallon of EFFORT, and watch it grow.

With the persistent practice of the Parelli Program, an uncontrollable urge grows inside you. An urge of passion and love, a fire that cannot be extinguished.



Let me explain further... ;-)



It is NOT the physical passion, love and fire that humans so well express... but I believe it may be just as exciting and rewarding or even more so.



This urge, is the need to improve ones-self. For the sake of ones-self, and the sake of the humans and horses surrounding yourself. When you begin to dip your toes into this program, it grows... starts externally, but like a cold chill, makes its way internally. That's when it starts! You realize that you, really don't know that much... contrary to your prior belief.



Are you familiar with this saying... "You don't know how much you don't know, until you know it?" Well, the more I know, the more I find I don't know, the more I do want to know. And I KNOW I will never know it all, and it will take more than a life-time to know it all... I don't think I'll have more than a life-time to learn all I want, but I'll sure darn try my hardest.



In effort to know everything... ;-) , I am attending Parelli University in the fall of 2010 and Winter of 2011. In preparation of my quest to know everything, I am reading a long list of books that Pat Parelli has recommended himself. Now, I do honestly truly love books, but I will not read it if it does not catch my fancy. Thank goodness, Mr. Parelli, has an eccentric yet marvelous taste when it comes to educating one's self via paper and ink. I have thoroughly enjoyed diving into these books, and soaking up all the information served on my plate. The feeling of knowing you are doing everything you can to better yourself, and therefore bettering other horses and humans, is very fulfilling. (Let alone helpful!)



I would like to share with you a couple of tid-bits, in effort to inspire you to take the challenging yet rewarding path of "Never Ending Self-Improvement". A book that I personally, and believe Pat would also HIGHLY recommend himself, is "Natural Horse.Man.Ship" by... Pat Parelli (of course!) This book blasts of Pat Parelli's own personality and his own beautiful thought patterns, his way of thinking will throw you off track at first if you do not know him. But through this unique way of putting things into perspective, he has changed the world. My friend and fellow Parelli student, picked up this book for the first time and randomly explained, "This man is crazy! If I knew nothing of him, I would deem him nuts!" Yes, he does have wonderful ways of explaining such a simple task, and can colorfully inject the importance of his point in a way that you will hardly ever find hard to forget.



This book contains so much information on the common sense and simplicity of the horse. He explains the complex, and molds it into something simple. Is this journey simple? By all means NO! Understanding the tasks, the concepts, then doing the tasks and applying the concept is what we are all striving to do, year after year. Yet he lays them out, simply. As simple as night and day, black and white. Do it, or don't do it. Apply, or do not apply. Strive for excellence, or do not.



Here are some of his simply complex teaching points, on the subject of "Natural Horse.Man.Ship". I encourage you to do more than just scan these few points, but to look at the true meanings and natural application of this knowledge. By knowing this, what can you achieve? I will add a couple of comments on the tid-bit in parenthesis.



The Dynamics of Horse Movement



The Walk


Beats: 4

Weight Distribution: 60% forequarters, 40% hindquarters

MPH: around 2 to 4

Foot Fall Pattern: left hind, left front, right hind, right front



The book gives this information for all gaits, including the back-up. Just to help you get adventurous in your thought pattern, I will ask you this... How, by knowing this, would help YOU improve as a horseman? How by knowing this, could YOU help your horse? Think about the problems you may be having in riding, or even on your ground work? At more than just a walk, what if you know these facts at the other gaits? Like the canter? Ponder a bit for me, I came up with quite a bit!



8 Principles of Natural Horsemanship

1.______________________________

2.______________________________

3.______________________________

4. Horses and Humans (each) have 4 responsibilities... (do you know what the responsibilities are, are YOU upholding your responsibilities, so your horse can uphold his?)

5.______________________________

6.______________________________

7. Horses teach Riders, and Riders teach Horses

8.______________________________



7 Keys to Success... I know you want to succeed. To you know the keys to success?


10 Qualities of a Horseman


(Did you know that there are 3 and 1/2 for the horse? And that you are responsible for supplying that 1/2?)



I hope I've given you enough to get the cogs in your head churning. The moment I opened his book, mine were operating in over-drive... I do believe they still are! If you would like to see a list of a handful of the books that Pat Parelli recommends, please email me at mariahhelms@hotmail.com. If you have any comments, leave one here or I would gladly love to strike up conversation with you at the given email address.



That's all for now, I'm off to read... just a little more!



Mariah Helms

The only consistant factor in life, is change...

Hello Friends!




Yes, thank goodness... Mariah FINALLY updated her blog! Most people would see the title and start to feel some negative vibes, but the vibes are quite the opposite of negative. Go ahead and strap yourselves down to your office chair, come take a little adventure with me.




Where to begin! Let's start with April, on Easter Sunday. Ryan Rose, Parelli Protege, and 3 star Instructor, gave us a visit from Florida. He spent half of the day with Sundance and I, preparing for our fast track and externship late 2010 and early 2011 (more surprises on that to come!). I had a blast, learning more, especially from someone I had already had time to spend with, it was much more relaxing! We went through three savvies, Online, Liberty, and Freestyle. Sundance and I were taught how to do the regular tasks, at Level 4 quality. Level 4 is Level 1 with excellence, all tasks at longer distances with a phase 1. Pat Parelli is looking for students that don't just do all the tricks, but do the SIMPLE THINGS WITH EXCELLENCE. My goal, until November, is to do all tasks with excellence. Whether it is studying at home, cleaning the barn, or riding bareback and bridle-less, it needs to be simply excellent.



Speaking of Ryan Rose, (besides his simple excellence as a Parelli Professional!), I would like to point out the fact that he is an introvert. I would also like to point out that naturally, I am an introvert. Who? Mariah? NO! I know, if you met me, there would be absolutely no guessing that, everyone thinks that I am an extrovert when they first meet me. But those that truly know me OR have seen me in an uncomfortable situation, know that I really am introverted. Becoming an extrovert, has become a learned behaviour. In order to be successful with people, I have had to learn to become extroverted, and I think I take on the roll well UNTIL, I meet another introvert! If I have a room that mostly consists of extroverts, I can feed off of their energy. If I have a room of introverts, I have no energy to feed from. If I am in a new situation, e.g. doing a simulation with someone important like Pat or Linda Parelli and the mastery students, or meeting new introverted people, I become a right brained introvert, VERY tense!!! As for my point, when I spent that time alone with Ryan, I found myself much more quiet than usual. If I have ever met you, or spent time with you, and you are an introvert (Bethanie Lewis!), it is not because I do not like you. It is because; I am imitating your energy, which is my natural energy! I find it so interesting how my energy and personality changes in different situations and people, and has given me a whole new outlook to how my horses change in their own ways in their own different situations. NOW you know a little more about who Mariah is! :-)




As between Easter Sunday and last Sunday, I do believe most of my time was spent finishing up high school, teaching, farriering, studying and playing with the ponies. There is not much to say for the ponies, they are all beautiful inside and out. Our little Aamira is growing up! She is stunningly beautiful, and her eternally flowing extroverted energy ever inspires me. She is a blast to play with, and has the personality that has the makings of a super horse. We are playing in Level 3, starting long line driving and doing more and more liberty. We have a little pony saddle and pad; she will carry it around with no problems. I do believe she is desensitized to every object possible, besides a space ship, and has put every object possibly known to man in her mouth. I am very much excited about her future, and enjoying her as much as possible while she is young, I know that time will fly very fast. Sundance is a booger, such a sweetheart. I don't know what I have done to deserve such an angel in disguise; he is such a gentleman and definitely a partner of my heart. We of course have our difficult days, but his heart is so deeply genuine, there is no frustration or anger, because we know both of us are trying just as hard as the other. He constantly proves to me that WE are excellent, but MARIAH has a lot to learn. I do believe Sundance is another Magic, Casper or Remmer, they are such exceptionally complex creations that you have to continually believe and prove to them that you are worthy to be a partner to something so magnificent. He truly is a gift, and I plan to earn more of him, as long as he lives.




Speaking of life... it reminds me of time, and how fast it goes by. Breeze turned 28 in April. Sundance turned 10 years old on Memorial Day. Bebe turned 7 years old on June 3. When Bebe turns another year older, I tear up, because of the remembrance of his entrance to our property at a tender 2 and 1/2 years of age. Bittersweet, because I am reminded that none of us are immortal, but that I have raised a horse of phenomenal manners, personality, capability and beauty. I am very proud of the creature Bebe has become, he is another partner that I am truly blessed to work with every day.




On a less equestrian note, I graduated from high school last Saturday afternoon. We held the ceremony at my home, 80 people attended and supported me in this next large step in life... now my life truly starts. It turned out fabulously, as all the people that are dear to my heart came and celebrated with me. I ended up presenting a speech to all of them, totally unrehearsed, successfully. I planned it that way, because I know I will be doing the same types of speeches, unrehearsed, in front of hundreds of horsemen, and to be very truthful... I loved it! I really enjoy speaking in front of people, and can't wait to have another opportunity to do so.




So now, I have graduated from high school! What is next? You already know! Parelli University. I am taking this summer to play with horses, teach, farrier and study books, books, BOOKS! From the list that Pat Parelli has recommended for his mastery students.



Here is a list that I have already read...


Natural Horsemanship - Pat Parelli

Frogs into Princes - Neuro Linguistic Programming - Richard Bandler and John Grinder

The Inner Game of Tennis - W. Timothy Gallway

Horse Gaits, Balance and Movement - Susan E. Harris

PROCESSING - Grooming to Win - Susan E. Harris

Raise Your Hand if you Love Horses - Pat Parelli

True Unity - Tom Dorrance

PROCESSING - The Revolution in Horsemanship - Robert Miller, Rick Lamb, Hugh Downs

Natural Horsemanship: Explained - Robert Miller

Understanding the Ancient Secrets of the Horses Mind - Robert Miller



(There are many more, but I am at the beach now, and don't have my library at home to go through!) If anyone has any more books that they would find helpful for me to know, please email me your recommendations to mariahhelms@hotmail.com.



I am trying my best to learn as much as I can before I make my way to Parelli University this November. Yes! Only four months to go. I will be attending Fast Track #4, with Sundance, which will last until November 26, 2010. Sundance and I will mosey our way back home to catch our breath, and celebrate my 19th birthday on December 15, 2010. Then we will celebrate Christmas and New Years, with family. Our plan is to start our externship together on January 15, 2011, and stay the full 3 months, working our hindquarters off. My goal, Lord willing, is to leave with honors, as a two star Parelli Professional. I hope I can work hard enough to be able to earn that title, and I plan to do what it takes, even if I almost lose my sanity in the process. Just kidding, I've already lost it, but who said sanity was any fun anyways? ;-) For more information on the Parelli Professionals Program, please visit http://www.parellinaturalhorsetraining.com/, About Parelli, click on Instructors.



I apologize for the lack of photographs in this post, as I am logged on to a foreign computer at the beach! But you should find a photograph of mine in the August Savvy Times as students of the program and I discuss the topic of sharing Parelli, confidently and correctly, to people of unnatural horsemanship backgrounds. Be looking for it soon! I am sure it will be of great help to all of you that are just as passionate about the program as I am.



Thank you all for listening to my gab, I hope it all made sense and maybe even inspired you! If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to email me at mariahhelms@hotmail.com.




Cheers! XOXO



Mariah Helms