PETRA CHRISTENSEN

Contact: 970-403-4844 info@petrachristensen.com

                                              

My Story

2Star Junior Instructor

I grew up in Germany as a horse crazy kid in a non-horsey family. My parents answered my pleas when I was 10 years old and enrolled me in a very traditional riding school. 3 years later my riding instructor lifted me on blind folded, young horse for a first ride. My arm ended up in a cast and I still have a scar on my thigh from being trampled in the process. This was obviously not what I had dreamed about!

I discovered Natural Horsemanship and turned theory into practice as I volunteered at a horse rescue. I eventually started a small boarding facility and was certified as an instructor by the German Trail Riding Academy.

In 1995 I moved with my family to Colorado to manage the guest part of a working cattle ranch. Following my passion to teach I became a certified riding instructor in 1998. After experiencing a frightening riding accident a couple years later, I was on the verge of giving up my dream. While I did not get hurt physically, I was now petrified to ride, felt utterly helpless and out of control. I was also extremely frustrated with myself for not being able to act rationally and just “get over it”.

After attending a fear management clinic, I understood what my loss of confidence was all about: My body went into flight mode at the thought of being on a horse! Now that I knew the “why”, I had to find out “how” to overwrite my survival instincts. Needing inspiration I attended a Parelli tour stop and signed up for a clinic at the Pagosa Springs Campus in 2003. For the first time in a long time, I enjoyed riding my horse!

It felt like somebody had lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. The fact that I was able to overcome my fear to ride encouraged me to tackle other areas in my life. My horses were my teachers and I learned through them how to be smart about protecting my new found confidence, how to speak up for myself and set healthy boundaries.

Knowing what Parelli had done for me, I took a leap of faith and signed up for the 6 week course in the summer of 2008. I earned my first instructor star in 2009. The following summer I spent a total of sixteen weeks as a student at the Colorado Campus of which I assisted in courses under the tutelage of Kathy Baar, 4Star Senior Instructor, for seven weeks. I earned my second star in the fall of 2010 and I continued my education for an additional 6 weeks as an assisting instructor under 4 Star Senior Instructors Kristi Smith and Tina Giordano in 2011.

I am now a Parelli 2Star Junior Instructor, and was invited to work part time at Parelli Central, loving every minute of it! After almost giving up, Parelli empowered me to live my dream, and I found true happiness in the process.

Testimonial from Denise Hosea: Petra is very encouraging and positive!  All of the Parelli women I have met have a real gift with horses and people and I am so glad they are sharing it with me.  I have been having a great time -learning, playing, and having fun!