Fiona Darling

BY ENTERING THE PARELLI WEB SHOP WITH THE ABOVE LINK YOU ARE ABLE TO SHOW YOUR REFERRAL FROM FIONA WITH ANY PURCHASES YOU SHOULD DECIDE TO MAKE.

I live at Illabo, 40 mins north of Wagga Wagga, NSW with my husband Rob and 12 year old son Stuart.
Horses in my life: Annie an Anglo Arab X QH, Kes, Maddie and Rudi all Warmbloods, Stuart's Welsh Mountain pony Buzz and also my future to be rising star Taci now a 4 year old bay first cross Andalusian (X TB/QH).                                                          I would like to report that the Manna gum eucalyptus tree planted in memory of my Thoroughbred gelding Tim where he was buried 3 years ago after passing away at the age of 24 is growing well with a real surge after all the rain over 2010.

For those new to Parelli who are researching my role as a Parelli Professional here is the story of my journey as both a student and Instructor through the Parelli levels program to date, along with some of the wonderful experiences it has opened up to me along the way.

Disillusioned with my horse Kes's responses to traditional methods of dressage training as we progressed through the ranks to Medium competion level I had ceased competition and lost direction and motivation.
My first taste of all that the Parelli program has to offer came when I attended my first Partnership course in September 1995 organised locally in Pakenham to my home at the time in Nar Nar Goon North on the outskirts of Melbourne with my young newly started mare, Maddie who I had bred from my retired dressage competition warmblood mare, Kes with the thoroughbred stallion Chandra Mahal son of Hawah Mahal.
Wow! So much to learn about my horses and organised in such a way that I felt empowered in the process.

I was so excited by the possibilities that lay ahead.

With a Science Degree majoring in Zoology and a Diploma of Education from Monash University Clayton Vic my career had taken me down the pathway of secondary school teaching for many years.
It was upon reflection soon after this my first Parelli course that I could see a way to incorporate my love of being involved with people in a learning environment, the study of animal behaviour and my childhood dream of having a career with horses.
At this course it was advised to me by the Course Instructor that the best way to make progress through the Parelli levels program was to start with your easiest horse. With this in mind over the months that followed I decided it would be best to bring Kes out of the paddock, after 5 years as a brood mare, to be my first horse to take to Level 3.

In July 1997 I studied at the Colorado ISC and headed back to Australia as a student Instructor. I began to live the dream!

Gaining teaching experience and making return trips to both the Colorado and Florida ISCs with Linda and Pat Parelli as well as teaching and assisiting at courses with Neil Pye at the Australian Savvy Centre resulted in my achievement of 3*Star Instructor status in Feb 2003.                                                                                                                                                                              I have now returned to the USA 7 times to study with Pat and Linda Parelli in my committment to never ending self imporvement and to keep up to date with the latest innovations and developments in the Parelli Program.

As a Parelli Professional for 15 years now I have had many wonderful opportunities to travel around our beautiful country Australia as far north as Darwin and Pine Creek with nearby Kakadu in NT, Kununurra by the absolutely huge Lake Argyle and gateway to the Kimberleys in WA, Cairns by the Great Barrier Reef in Qld and all the way south to Riddells Creek and the Mornington Peninsula around Melbourne Vic, to name a few with many fabulous places and people inbetween!

I have been very fortunate to spend time teaching courses in places not visited by many Australians but deeply embedded in our Australian psyche such as Monkira Station a cattle station just under 1 million acres on the Diamantina River in outback Qld.
It is always wonderful to meet so many students all with their own inspiring stories of their life journeys to tell and enthusiastic to learn and progress in their horsemanship by following the Parelli levels program.

With a now 12 year old son, Stuart, just about to enter secondary school I understand well the challenges faced by many students I meet of juggling family life, career and horsemanship.
It is important to me that students can strive for their horsemanship dreams and goals by having accessibility to courses.
I am dedicated to creating opportunities for both children and adults to learn more about their horses and themselves in their journey through the Parelli levels program.

Having moved onto our 70 acre property Seven Keys in Illabo NSW with the completion of our new home Dec 2010 I am now offering what I have call ed Intensive Study Modules each levels specific and designed for 2 to 4 students to attend with their horses in a small group setting with more individualised attention. The layout of the facilities at Seven Keys is designed to enable a smooth transition for horse and human in their progress through the levels in all four savvies. Visiting horses have well fenced spacious grassed yards with human accomodation available close by.

In closing I would like to thank all the students it has been my privilege to teach so far. Your enthusiasm and dedication is my inspiration to be the best Instructor I can be!
I look forward to meeting up with you and your horse at future courses btoh around Australai and at home at Seven Keys.

To educate, challenge and inspire is what I offer as a Parelli Instructor.                                                                                    Good, better, best, never let it rest, get your good better and your better best! My pledge to Pat and Linda Parelli who have made this wonderful opprortunity all possible!                                                                         
Fiona Darling