Despite being widowed at 30, Carrie Tindell, now 34, reckons horses can teach us more about ourselves than we can ever teach them. Carrie is brainchild behind the newly opened Desert Ranch on the outskirts of Dubai.
Before… "I met my first husband Jarrod in London in 2004. He was a professional rugby player from New Zealand and I was modelling. We fell in love and were engaged within the year. Six months later we got the diagnosis that Jarrod had a form of Motor Neuron disease. For a man in his physical prime the terminal diagnosis was crushing. But being a sportsman, he was determined to beat it. He retired from professional rugby and together we set up a trust and campaigned to provide hope to fellow sufferers.
"Jarrod deteriorated quickly. The harder he battled to live, the more he encouraged me to find my passion. As it became more difficult for him to speak, he would type thoughts and motivational quotes and leave them for me to find. Some have dropped out of books long after his death. They've been a great source of inspiration to me."
It all changed when… "Just two years into our marriage, Jarrod left for New Zealand; to be with family and to spare me from the final stages of the disease. This was a time of great searching for me. Alone, I asked my modelling agency to send me away. I came to Dubai where I was first introduced to the Arabian horse. I have ridden horses since I was five years old. I owned my first pony at 13. But it was in Dubai that I first experienced the true spirit, grace and power of the Arabian horse. It was a calling I was compelled to follow.
"I discovered a holistic approach to horse training called Parelli Natural Horsemanship. The programme uses a unique approach to communicate with horses based on natural Equine behaviours. The aim is to achieve a relationship with the horse based on mutual trust and respect. It uses methods similar to the ways horses behave within their herd. I decided to train to become a Parelli instructor."
As a result… "My training took me all over the world, including to New Zealand where I saw Jarrod for what was to be the last time. Six months later, in 2007, during an intensive Parelli training programme in Colorado, I learned that Jarrod had died in his sleep, aged 38. Distraught, I returned to Dubai.
Since then… "A year later I was at a boot camp in the Dubai Marina when I met Cliff Tindell, a South African fitness instructor. At the time he was training performers of the Jumana Secret Of The Desert show that ran nightly at Al Sahra Desert Resort. He proposed on a surfing trip to Sri Lanka and we were married in 2008.
"At the end of 2009 I was looking for somewhere to set up a centre using my Parelli training. I was introduced to the owners of Al Sahra Desert Resort who welcomed my plans to assign part of their land to what is now the Desert Ranch. Opened just four months ago, we run educational field trips for schools to raise awareness for the local heritage and environment. Using our camels, goats, donkeys and our traditionally irrigated date plantation we demonstrate the many facets of farming. The children learn about Arabian mythology, Bedouin traditions and, of course, all about horses.
We also use Parelli horsemanship in corporate and management training sessions. Working with horses teaches us so much about how to function effectively as a team. Through our work with horses we teach self-awareness, leadership, and ultimately personal and corporate development.
Moving on… "Last October when I gave birth to our precious daughter, Summer. I feel my journey is just beginning, into motherhood and into my work at the Desert Ranch. While Jarrod encouraged me to follow my passion, it was Cliff who nurtured my ambition and helped me turn my dreams into reality.
For more about the corporate events and educational field trips available at the Desert Ranch visit their website: www.desert-ranch.com or phone 04 832 7171.
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