About Julia:

As a little child I can remember sitting in the back seat of our Volvo station wagon, fingers and nose pressed up against the window gazing at the four legged creatures in every field we passed. I was mesmerized with horses from the first time I heard the word “horse”.

I didn’t grow up in a family of farmers or ranchers but rather was born in the heart of wine country: Santa Rosa, California. When I was seven, my mom gave into my begging and started me in horseback riding lessons. Weekly one-hour lessons quickly turned into all summer long visits to the barn. We would mount up on anything with four legs, sometimes piling three or four of us onto one pony and racing up and down the long rows of grapes. We went to play days, gymkha-nas, cross country jumping courses and 3-day-events. It was everything a childhood dream should be. I even participated in my very first PARELLI™ clinic when I was ten years old - with David Lichman in Sebastopol, California. Back then, all the rope halters were white, and the only educational material was Pat’s paperback Western Horseman book, Natural Horsemanship.

I got my first pony when I was 12, the year we moved from California to Idaho. I joined 4-H and showed English, Western, showmanship and trail. In my last couple years of 4-H, I got really competitive and won the Senior Grand Champion Showman Award as well as the Sr. Round Robin Champion, which involved the top two showman of every large animal species (dairy, beef, goat, sheep, swine and horse) competing against each other for style and knowledge of the species. I also participated in 4-H horse judging competitions, FFA livestock judging and held several offices in both clubs.

Shortly after I graduated from school, I began showing in AQHA shows in Idaho. In my first year showing, I was awarded Rookie of the Year for the most points accumulated, but, at the same time, I began to lose my passion. It became all about the win, about the competitiveness and about who had the most “bling”. That’s when I turned back to Parelli™.

In 2001, I visited my best friend in California and watched her play with her horse at Liberty. I was amazed at how, with no ropes or strings attached, she could canter from one end of an arena to the other and have her horse stay with her! She could ask it to rear up or lie down and go sideways left and right; the communication between them was magical! I asked her: HOW do you do that? And she proceeded to explain the Seven Games to me. I went back to Idaho with a whole new plan for being with my horses, and it didn’t involve gag bits, draw reins or mindless circles. I pulled out that old Natural Horsemanship book and got started!

In 2002, I went to Pagosa Springs for the Savvy Conference. While there, I inquired with Neil Pye as to how I could come and study long term, with the goal of someday being a Parelli Professional. His reply was brief: “Only the truly dedicated and talented come to spend time with us.” So I set out to earn the money I’d need to come back and show my dedication!

I had raised pigs in 4-H for a couple years, selling one at each county fair auction and making a bit of money. So, if I multiplied those numbers and raised 30 pigs a year instead of two, I could go to Parelli™! I did indeed raise 30 pigs, and I sold them to our neighbors, our friends, our church family, and our extended family…basically, I sold pork to everyone with a freezer. It was not exactly fun farming! The pigs stunk, they lived in two feet of mud, they got out and tore up our neighbor’s nicely manicured lawn, they ate clothing, they were a mess...and they got me to PARELLI™.

In 2004, I returned to Pagosa Springs for a 10-week school module. I earned my Level 2 and begged to stay on and continue my education. I was offered the opportunity to be on the USA Tour Team and spent the next 18 months traveling the country with Pat and Linda Parelli helping to organize volunteers and set up the retail area for each event.

In 2006, I passed Level 3 and participated in a 10-week University module. I also spent time in the marketing and advertising department at the Parelli™ Headquarters Office, and worked as Customer Coordinator for the Parelli™ Center courses. I developed my horsemanship skills through several colt starts as well.

In 2007, I joined the Parelli™ Faculty and, I have spent the last two years teaching and leading courses at both the Colorado and Florida Parelli Centers. I have enjoyed learning directly from Pat Parelli about refinement and getting my better best at every level. From Linda Parelli, I learned about fluidity, finesse, horse health, Horsenalities™, personality and more. I've been a member of the Mastery Program since it began in January 2009, and have spent time developing skills in all four business savvys: Teaching, Horsemanship, Administration and Facility Maintenance.

I will always cherish the time I spent at the Parelli™ Centers, and I am also excited to begin teaching in the field as a full time Parelli™ Instructor. Being a part of assisting other students to live their dreams and accomplish their goals is extremely rewarding. So, I can’t wait to meet you and begin sharing my knowledge!

Check out my Schedule for a clinic near you, or email me if you would like to organize an event.

 

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