Testimonials - Licensed Parelli Professional™ and 3 Star Instructor Kristi Smith
I know mine and Twilights horsemanship will improve due to the knowledge, skills and experience you shared with me. You are remarkable. I have been to many courses, clinics, training sessions (both horsey and non-horsey) and I have never encountered anyone who displayed the combination of professionalism and passion that you did.
You’re personal stories resonated with me as I believe we have walked a similar path.
-Peter & Twilight/ Western Australia
I have just returned from an awesome 4 day clinic with Kristi Smith from the US. It was the best 4 days of my life and my amazing horse. I also had a private lesson with Kristi which was fantastic. Kristi we look forward to having you return to Western Australia real soon. You are a fantastic instructor and the course was full of knowledge, understanding and fun.
-Kylie/ Western Australia
Oh also about your clinic, I felt as if I had been away for a weeks retreat, both Shaam and I were so relaxed, resulting in heaps of information assimilated without any mental blockages, that was wonderful, and even days after, I am still benefitting from that. A great confidence builder and really one of the vital requirements for horsemanship is ...confidence. Thanks for that you'r a great teacher. I'll send a couple of pics of Harry in a separate email, so I dont loose this again! Thanks again.
-Melissa/ Western Australia
Thank you so much Kristi for coming to WA and sharing your passion, knowledge and enthusiasm for Parelli with us. Its clear you are prepared to travel to the furtherest ends of the earth to make the world a better place for horses. You are a credit the Parelli program. Cheers!
Jane/ Western Australia
What an opportunity... to meet Parelli Professional Kristi Smith from the USA. Her style of teaching is knowledgable, interesting and from the heart. She not only enriched my understanding of how to develop my horse, but also expanded my own personal growth. I will never look back after this clinic and I can't wait to meet up with Kristi again next year. To describe the clinic in one word - "POWERFUL"!
-Karina/ Western Australia
The Kristi Smith clinic was just wonderful- full of fun and laughter. Christi fitted weeks worth of information and instruction into 4 intense days of theory and instruction. But she presented it so clearly, carefully and painstakingly that we never felt overwhelmed and were able to take it all in. She gave every question and query its full attention. So we left having learnt lots that we can take home and play with with confidence. I think Karoo went home the happiest horse because, thanks to Christi, I learnt how important creativity, a smile and laugh are for a Left Brain Introvert. At last playing will be interesting and heaps of fun for him. It is amazing how powerful a smile is!
We can’t wait for Kristi’s next visit to Terrabulla.
-Doll and Karoo/ Western Australia
After driving five hours to a clinic, one always hopes that the journey, time off and cost are going to be worth the while. Kristi did not disappoint. Her theory lessons were enlightening and fun and the practical demos showed us so much about how to be the kind of leader that each different horse needs us to be. It was not long before Kristi was riding a sensitive horse she had only just met, with no saddle or bridle. What an inspration to us all! But it did not matter what level of skill we had, Kristi gave everyone of us exactly the right help that we needed at that time. My dream of becoming a young horse specialist and competent stallion handler has certainly become much closer to being realised. Thank you for a wonderful four days Kristi.
-Anna/ Western Australia
A fellow horseman helped me recall just what a special person and leader you were/are, Kristi. They told me how inspired they too had been by you, by your journey and the huge personal developments you have not only made but have been willing to openly share with us. "She really, REALLY does care you know, Steve", said this person. and I remembered how open you were with us about your attitude; that you would approach each and everyone of us like you loved us. Then this PP said, "It's just like with the horse's, Steve - students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
Wow! How many times have we heard that? But this rendition of it really hit home. A real BFO. Again!
And that's the bit I wanted to share with you, Kristi because if I take nothing more from this year at Stoneleigh then the revelation of the precious secrets hidden within this simple phrase - and how it can apply over and again in our lives - then this alone made the experience worthwhile.
-Steve/UK
Anyway, I wanted to take a chance and say thank you. Thanks for being a great friend and mentor. Thanks for taking the time it takes, for going out of your way to get to know me, and for being patient with me as I learn. Thank you for opening your life up to me, sharing your experiences (both horse-related and not) with me, and having faith in my ability to succeed--even if I seemingly don't believe you sometimes, it means a lot and I do take it to heart. Thank you for your honest feedback, even if it is a little hard for me to take sometimes. It helps me grow as a person and as a learner. Thanks for caring enough about me to let me aggravate the hell out of you sometimes--it's not always easy dealing with my antics-I know firsthand ;)
I really really appreciate you, Kristi. Probably more than I let on sometimes. Thanks so much for being my friend.
-Fran/Wisconsin
At the end of the class, you told a story that ended with you saying that you always think when you lose a horses mind, "I just got bucked off". I have to tell you that it totally changed my thinking and put me back in control of my fear. (I am a left extrovert.) It completely changed my leadership and my relationship with my horse.
As the universe would have it, you were the instructor that assessed my level 3 freestyle audition - just today. I hope if you do remember us you can see the huge change that you are very largely responsible for.
Thanks for being a great teacher!
-Pat/Colorado
I have to admit I get anxious when I work with someone new and each instructor has strengths, but I felt very “at home” and comfortable with you and you made me feel good about what I was doing without making me feel wrong. I know I can be overly sensitive, so it’s hard to balance, but you have a knack for reading your students and their horses and responding appropriately.
-Brandie/ Iowa
