Page 48 - ST November 2013

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BY MANDY SANCIC

On Giving Up:

Retreat and

Approach

I

have to admit something. I gave up. I gave up
on overcoming my fear of horses. I gave up

on horses. I gave up on Parelli. I gave up on

myself. “I cannot do this” had been my mantra
for far too long, and it was just easier to give

up than to continue this never-ending battle.

Heck, I even tried to return my brand new and natu-
rally trained horse that my husband had so kindly

just bought for me! Fear was my middle name, and

I was quite alright with that. “Spontaneous,” “free-
spirited” and “wild” are not words that have ever

been used in describing me, and they never will be.

I gave up.
Better yet, I retreated, but then I re-approached this

situation with a diferent set of eyes. Horsenality eyes.

I have to admit that, initially, I had thought that family and never would be. There is just so much to
the “Horsenality” program was more marketing than learn! (For example: you horse people have so many

anything else and avoided it at all costs, but exactly at “things” that go with your horses, and to be honest,

the moment I was going to give up, the reports went I have no clue what most of them are for! And what
on sale. As my last ditch efort to continue on with is a “piafe”?)

my horsemanship journey, I answered the questions I have had a long history with fear and the need for

thoughtfully and diligently for the Horsenality and
control in every aspect of my life. As a Right-Brain
Humanality Match Report and awaited my results. Introvert, I am very emotionally tense pretty much at

The Match Report has literally been my instruction all times, and at any second I may just have an emo-
manual for my new horse, as well as an instruction tional meltdown, which does not go over very well

manual for me. Understanding why we are the way with my very “mister smarty-pants” Left-Brain Intro-

we are and why we do the things we do has been vert horse. So starting our journey together with the
instrumental in my having a change of heart about knowledge that I have gained from the Match Report

my horsemanship. Not growing up in a horse barn, I gives me more conidence than I ever thought I could

was convinced that this “horse world” was not for my
have with him!

46 | Savvy Times November 2013