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74 SIDELINES JUNE 2011 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE

goals, teamwork and overcoming adversity.  “When it comes to dealing with difficulties, I tell people don’t just think outside the box, because in my mind there isn’t even a box.  You need to understand that it takes time and you can’t rush that. I have days where I think I should be able to do everything everyone else is doing and I get frustrated. Looking back, I am now doing all those things I wanted to, I just had to trust the process and keep practicing with great instructors and mentors.  Instead of asking ‘Why me?’ you should say ‘Why not me?’ That’s how all the good things will come to you.”

Training With Pat and Linda Parelli

Lauren considers meeting Pat and Linda Parelli, founders of the Parelli Natural Horsemanship Program, as one of those good things that came her way. Lauren met the Parelli’s in 2005 and they began sponsoring her, helping her to achieve her goals of riding in Hong Kong and at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

Lauren moved from Canada to join the Parelli Natural Horsemanship ranch, and alternates between living in Florida and Colorado. She is a Senior Protégé in the Mastery program with the goal of being a five-star instructor. “I am a

long-term student but look forward to the potential of being employed internally – after I win another medal in London in 2012 that is!”

Working with the Parelli’s once again changed Lauren’s life. “Meeting Pat and learning his method transformed me. I became more emotionally and mentally fit,” Lauren said. “I realized there was so much to learn, about myself and my relationship with my horses. When I started studying Parelli everything just clicked. Pat and Linda helped me develop the partnership I wanted with my horses.”

Pat said he believes Lauren can accomplish anything she puts her mind to. “She truly embodies what the Parelli method stands for; inspiration, empowerment and making the world a better place for horses and humans,” he said. Lauren has also worked with Dressage Master Walter Zettl, and said his patience and his understanding of horses, has helped build her confidence and has given her the technique and polish she needed.

While Lauren had high hopes for the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, life took another unexpected turn prior to the Games. “I had a bad car accident in June of 2010 and broke six bones in my leg so I couldn’t ride for three months. Then Maile slipped and hurt her hock and was in a soft cast while being shipped to WEG. Both my coach, Andrea Taylor, and I rode her five days before the show and she was deemed sound.  Maile was not very fit but did her best and in the freestyle we missed a medal by only decimal points.” Pat and Linda, as well as scores of Parelli fans, were at WEG to cheer Lauren on and she said that experience strengthened her desire for a strong showing, and a medal, at the 2012 Paralympics in London. “I had three other horses

at WEG as part of the Parelli demo team. Before the Para Equestrian Canadian team went into team training camp, I was able to participate in demos with Parelli, showing their principles and the kind of foundation I believe helps a performance horse achieve their optimum potential.”



Back In the Movies and Getting Married!

Lauren said not a day goes by that she isn’t thankful for the opportunities she has been given. In March of 2011, she appeared in an episode of the CBC’s television show

Heartland and said she loved being back on a movie set. “It would have been so easy for Heartland to hire an actor to ride a horse and pretend to be paralyzed, but they didn’t and that made it very special for me,” she said.

Speaking of special, Lauren is thrilled to report that she not only has two new horses but that she will be getting married in September. “Both of my new horses are wonderful partners. They have a lot of icing but still need work in the cake! I am developing a solid Parelli foundation on both and it will make them so much better.”

Lauren said that one thing that keeps her life positive is surrounding herself with a wonderful group of people, including her father Ray Smith, who has consistently given her unconditional support. “I love to surround myself with people who make me laugh even when I’m trying to be grumpy. My fiancé is the type of person that, even when he is being ridiculous, he makes me smile.”

While life didn’t turn out exactly as Lauren had hoped, she said she has found what she loves to do and that’s what keeps her going on the difficult days. “There’s no guarantee in life, you just have to make the best of whatever comes your way.”

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Lauren and Maile, her Paralympic partner, compete

Photo courtesy of Lauren Barwick