Introduction to Parelli Natural Horsemanship

Our progress throughout 2008 came in leaps and bounds as Hummy put on some muscle and found his schooling easier. But he hated me riding in a bungee which my instructor had suggested I use until I could maintain a soft outline with him during our sessions. He was also getting bored with constant circling though any sideways movements he understood well and offered on the first ask. All in all I had a horse that was much more obedient when in an arena but seemed much less happy with me. Where to go from here?
It was after picking up a Parelli DVD in a charity shop and watching it that my Parelli journey began. I haven't foregone my dressage lessons completely as I feel I need them to keep me in tune. However in starting to play the Parelli games on line I seem to have a horse that is paying closer attention to me. A horse that is taking more interest when I go out to the field and who gives me his undivided attention whenever I can think of something new to do that satisfies his need to have fun. He is so playful at times that I am in stitches laughing at him especially when we speed things up he reads my body language like the expert he truly is. He is taking responsibility for where he puts his feet and asking me questions "is this what you want? no well what about this etc etc...." For myself this is a hard transition I seem to be trying to unlearn nearly 40 yrs of traditional habits although I am probably luckier than some in that my background has taught me horsemanship skills that Parelli is reminding me that I already know as well. Still there have been some huge emotional highs and lows since November 2008 and in starting out I really got a bit bogged down in the theory until the new Parelli Patterns came out.
The first megga low I experienced was the feeling of sheer inadequacy every time I stepped out of my comfort zone in front of others. I had never realised that this jorney would be such an emotional rollercoaster and would reduce me to tears one minute yet give me the most wonderful feeling of elation as we play at liberty with Hummy's every step mirroring what I do.