Mariah's Goals and Dreams

    This webpage is created so you can know more about me on a personal level. Here you will be able to see my dreams, who I am, where I want to be, who I want to become, and information on my stables and the horses I own and train. I personally love to teach and meet new people, please do not hesitate to email me and get to know me. Take a look at my schedule and see where I am, where I've been and where I am going.

Mariah's Goals

    My goals can change at anytime, my life changes everyday and God opens up more doors. I am very blessed to be where I am now, it can only get better. I am only just now able to unlock a small door that reveals my future.

    Then the LORD replied:” Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation waits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." -Habakkuk 2:2-3

Let all of this be done according to God’s will…

- Graduate Level 2 by June 2008. CHECK
- Go to all tour stops closest to North Carolina, stay in touch with Pat. CHECK
- My website will be a wonderful success and many will see it and remember. CHECK                                                                      - Perform at Lakeland, FL Parelli Celebration
- Complete Level 3 by Summer 2010, graduate high school with flying colors. CHECK Graduated L3 on April 1, 2009
- Complete LEVEL 4  before the end of the year or before going to courses next summer.
- Purchase and receive Parelli saddle before heading to Florida. CHECK
- Take the Fast Track #4 at 18 years old in Ocala, Florida with Sundance or Bebe. REGISTERED AND PAID
- Join Extern Program in 2011, February, 3 months and leave with 2 star Parelli Professional rating... go to Intern Program.
- Build a "Home away from Home" Parelli Instructor Facility - Family purchases the Pressley’s 48 acres and builds a perfect Parelli Professional Boarding Facility and Riding Center.( 50+ Stalls, Barn with living quarters etc. , large covered arena with seating, 1 large uncovered arena, 3+ honeycomb liberty corrals etc. whatever else is required, what is the Lords will.)
- Spend time with Pat and Linda and be a big part in the Parelli Program Development.
- Become a 3 star Professional in 2012
- Be very successful as a Parelli Professional, and be invited to become a 5 star instructor.

    As you can tell I have high goals, and I believe they are reachable with my family behind me and a whole lot of determination and hard work on my part. I am very excited about my future and am glad you get to be a small part of it!

What's Dancing Have to Do With It?

    Parelli is more than riding. In the same way, life is more than horses! I love my horses, my life revolves around it, but to become better with horses and people, I strive to make every other aspect of my life savvy. I strive for improvement in every area of  my life, life is richer and fuller as I strive for excellence.

    I enjoy singing, I feel horses and music have a strong connection, so being in tune to each  of them separately helps my understanding of both. I am a part of a 80+ choir group that is dedicated to learning and ministering. 

    I also enjoy computers and website design, it gives me a challenge in many different  areas. Patience, puzzle solving and dedication are all characteristics you have to possess to become successful in this area. I find computers and horses the same, they only do what you ask them to do or what they have been programmed to do! They are both a  challenge, in both similar and different ways.

    Dancing is a second passion for me. I was never very graceful, being that I am a long legged 5 foot 11 inches. I started getting into some advanced maneuvers with my horses, much like what I saw in a dance. I thought it ridiculous that I ask  my  horses to dance, and do it gracefully, when I myself, cannot. So I went to a local dance studio, Dancesport Carolina, and started lessons. They teach a mixture of Ballroom, Latin and Swing, they pretty much cover the whole nine yards. They started me  off much like the levels program, with patterns! Which was very easy for me to catch onto. The Parelli Patterns Program took on a whole new meaning to me! This dancing was very similar to what I do with horses. Two partners, working together toward a similar goal, with patterns, levels, and the same similar hurdles. Body language took on a whole new meaning for me also, it is very strong in all species and can send so many different messages. I learned more about becoming a better  teacher, the teachers there are exceptional and are dedicated to never-ending self-improvement, much like the Parelli Professionals. I thoroughly enjoy my dancing, and got to test my skills at one of the Parelli Celebrations, which was a blast. I found that a lot of the Parelli's Mastery students and Pat and Linda themselves, are talented  in this area. I had so much fun dancing with them,  I felt at home. I am currently readying myself for competition in Latin dance with my partner, and can't wait for every upcoming lesson, as I improve myself more and more.

    I'd like to encourage you to find other things, outside of the horse realm, that you could start and improve on. In return, it will make your horsemanship better and your life fuller. Start dedicating some time to things you find enjoyment in, even if it is  just reading, grab a horse book! Learn more about your partners, so you can be a better partner. Be a better partner for your horse, mentally, physically and spiritually. Remember, our goal in life is to have FUN! Breathe deeply, and often.

Little Patch of Heaven Stables

Private Boarding and Riding Facility

    I am blessed with my own riding facility here in spacious North Carolina. My facility is on 40 acres and includes our home, a stable, large outdoor arena, 30 acres of trails, 7 acre lake and a parent observation center. In a few years we will be building a new facility much larger and more convenient beside us, so we will be growing! Besides finishing high school at home, the horses are my job and my life. They keep me busy, there is never a dull moment with 6 equines of differing ages and breeds to care for.

    I have 2 main horses that I play with everyday, they are currently in Levels 4 and 5. Bebe is a bay AQHA gelding born in 2003, now catching up with Sundance a sorrel tobiano APHA gelding born in 2000 and playing in Level 4 and 5, these horses will travel with me to various states as I study to become an instructor. Then we have our 4 other equines, Timely Breeze born in 1981, a lesson horse. Starsky a 20 year old rescue, Doc born in 1990. an 18hh Percheron from the Amish country and then we have Taco born in 2000, our mischievous standard donkey. Most of our horses were taken from neglected or abusive situations, and plan to always adopt rather than breed or buy horses if we ever need to purchase.

    I currently offer 1-6 hour lessons at $35 dollars an hour and up to 2 students, my teaching experience age wise ranges from 3 years to 60 years with success. I teach beginners and horsemanship classes, if you follow under Parelli I can help you over the internet or here at my place with no charge by offering personal experiences but cannot help any further because I am not yet certified. I am limited because I am not yet certified to teach. I am excited about becoming a professional so I can help you and many others live their dreams! Please contact a certified Parelli Professional by clicking here if you need any help in your journey and if you are interested in a lesson you can email me and we can get you a visit scheduled. I look forward to hearing from you even if it is just a friendly hello!

What are the Parelli Levels?

Level One – Safety

    Level one is the foundation of your horsemanship house, a lot of people build their horsemanship house on an unstable foundation. If you build a house for your family and do not create a safe and sound foundation, there will undoubtedly be problems in the future that often damages the house itself,  the people in it and creates dangerous situations. Through completing level one, you will have an immovable foundation for your horsemanship that will hold up to what ever discipline you want to achieve. Everyone’s horsemanship house is different, because we all have different goals we want to reach, we all need a foundation nonetheless and Parelli provides a safe foundation for any discipline you wish to excel in.

Level Two – Harmony

    Level Two takes the foundation, and creates something more out of it. We build the first floor. You will take all the skills you learned in level one and start to get creative with it, you and your horse will start to communicate and do things in harmony. Harmony creates a partnership,  partnership is defined as two or more individuals working together willingly to reach a similar goal. How would a partnership sound to you? Is your horse acting like a partner when you have to go catch him in a field? Raise your hand if you are married. If you had to corner your husband in order to talk to him, wouldn’t you think there would be a relationship problem? How about having your horse run to you, and welcome you with a warm hello when you come to the barn? When things like that happen, is when a partnership is forming.

Level 3 – Refinement

    Level 3 takes Level 1 and Level 2, and refines it. Flexion, finesse and collection starts to naturally come into play at this level. This is where your horse starts to willingly offer more and ask questions. Your partnership truly starts to become a thing of beauty at this level. You will find that your horse will start to have the same amount of try and exuberance you do, both of you will willingly work together at the task that is ahead. Just think, of your horse actually wanting to do what you ask, because he knows you are doing this for him. Every time I put my horse back in the pasture, I put my arm over his neck and I ask him, ‘Was it as good for you, as it was for me?’ and he answers ‘Yes’. This is where the horse honestly trusts you as a leader, but first you have to prove to them that you are a leader worth following.