12/24/2012-  I write to you from the couch at my parents in Michigan on Christmas Eve.  I have finished teaching and riding for the year and get to have a week to spend with my family for Christmas and my baby brothers birthday.  (He isn’t a baby he is going to be 26)  I spoke in my last update about awareness and how great of a year I have had.  Over this year I have been imparting the knowledge and experience that I gained from many hours next to Pat at the campuses and on the road.  A big part of that is the “why”.  Why are the things the Parelli Program teaches us important and why are the patterns and maneuvers important for us and our horses.  As you move into the new year I encourage you to look at the why.  Pat shares with us to do our thinking at night and FEEL during the day, especially when we are with our horses.  This thinking time at night is our theory study time, learning about the why.  And if you need help with the why well that is one of the reasons why I am here!

Over the next year I am excited to do more traveling and I will continue to split my time between horse development and teaching.  Horse Development allows me to help get a horse ready to help a human be able to focus on their learning versus having to learn and “train” their horse at the same time.  Teaching in which I focus on the human learning the habits and skills they need to have a successful relationship with their horse.

Seeing many horses and humans, at many different levels over the past few years, has been a great learning experience for me to continue my education and expand my experience.    It gives me more stories and more arrows in my quiver, more tools in the toolbox. As this year wraps up I am excited for the future and for the opportunity for continued growth as well as thankful for everything that I have because of may people that have helped me along my way.

Thanks to all of you that have helped me get here and I can not wait to see you and all my new friends I haven’t gotten to meet yet next year!

Hopefully sooner rather than later!  Happy Holidays!

Jake