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Hungey

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Hey guys,
So iv been on the forums for a bit now and I am wondering why are you guys so against Parelli? I think you do need to have a good relationship on the ground as well as ridden. So just wondering why a lot of you are so against him? Thanks
 
I don't need Parelli to give me a good relationshop but I have used one of his ideas and it worked so much for me and my little pony. We already had a fantastic bond but he took it further.
 
Parelli didn't invent groundwork..although there is some useful stuff hidden within the circus type goings on.. ;)

Have a look at the Dorrance brothers and Ray Hunt. Or anyone else for that matter! :D
 
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For me the problem is the way they sell their ideas. Pat Parelli is an amazing horseman but you can't reliably teach other people the same skills just by selling them a set of dvds. I think that is why the movement has got a bad name, because people have bought the dvds and interpreted things in a way he didn't predict, not because of the content itself.
 
jfdi said:
Parelli didn't invent groundwork..although there is some useful stuff hidden within the circus type goings on.. ;)

Have a look at the Dorrance brothers and Ray Hunt. Or anyone else for that matter! :D
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I do realize he isn't the inventor of ground work ;) It's just out of everyone he's the most disliked natural horseman on these forums.

DabDab said:
For me the problem is the way they sell their ideas. Pat Parelli is an amazing horseman but you can't reliably teach other people the same skills just by selling them a set of dvds. I think that is why the movement has got a bad name, because people have bought the dvds and interpreted things in a way he didn't predict, not because of the content itself.
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I do see where you are coming from I did think that too but the content itself is good.
 
Its not just HHOers that are against Parelli. A quick google search will show you that Pat and Linda have lost many many fans along the way.

As with everything horsey, there is no 'one size fits all' and this includes Parelli. Unfortunately, you will only find this out after you have paid around £200 for a boxset of DVDs and an extra £100 on some ropes and a stick.

Its the commercialism that has killed it for many people I think. Plus, there's a weirdy culty thing going on with some of their followers.

And then there was the Catwalk incident.

And I believe many people are now finding that they have to retrain Parelli-trained horses because they seem to have a lot of issues about 'ordinary' things.

But apart from that....:D
 
I don't like it because it seems to prey upon people who are scared- it uses their fear to make money, without offering enough support or reason.

In the end, NH/ parelli done well is just good horsemanship. It's about listening to your horse and responding accordingly. I just don't think you need a carrot stick and a DVD to be able to do that...
 
I think due to the way as others have said they tend to prey on people and do 'con' people out of money.

There have also been various public incidents and reports of the parelli's using their methods not particularly desirably, even to a point of abuse.

I like parelli and I think that a lot of their methods done well and sensitively are. great, it's a shame that they don't often take the same approach to their own methods.

At the end of the day it's not about liking or disliking different natural horsemanship practitioners, its about understanding just good basic horsemanship.
 
Yep, never had a good relationship with a horse on the ground that hasn't been parrelied. Mine or otherwise..........
 
My only experience is of a work colleague. She enjoys it and its a way of her working her horse when she can't ride (she has health issues). But what I don't like is the way she is so blinkered and can't accept that anything else will work. Her pony was started and trained traditionally and was a gem before Parrelli

When my daughter was having issues with a new horse she was banging on about how she should have run her hands down the rein and sighed - yes, I am sure that would have worked a treat as she was bolting down the road in a blind panic!
 
Lolo said:
I don't like it because it seems to prey upon people who are scared- it uses their fear to make money, without offering enough support or reason.

In the end, NH/ parelli done well is just good horsemanship. It's about listening to your horse and responding accordingly. I just don't think you need a carrot stick and a DVD to be able to do that...
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I agree it preys on people who are scared, but I think it does worse than that.
It tells people over and over that they should be scared.
That the horse needs to "respect' them, needs to be subdued, needs to be shown who is boss.

They attribute spurious mental reasons for a horses behaviour, making horses appear devious and sly. Out to get you if you turn your back on them.

Very American.
Very paranoid country.

I always feel like saying to anybody who exhibits the level of paranoia that sees a horse getting close to you as "disrespectful",
"why don't you just leave horses alone.
It's not compulsory you know."

One does wonder the kind of person who is fundamentally scared of something spending so much time trying to dominate that thing. When all they have to do is walk away.
 
Actually one of the good things about Parelli is their way of building the fearful riders confidence so they can do the things they want to. Approach and retreat.... I agree with the 'old' Parelli of the 1990s and use the 7 games as a basis for the way I do things. I also agree with the principles, responsibilities etc....but the cradle bridle and the catwalk incident were 2 things to put me off....also their belief in molasses and their dreadful farriery......
 
Alyth said:
Actually one of the good things about Parelli is their way of building the fearful riders confidence so they can do the things they want to. Approach and retreat.... I agree with the 'old' Parelli of the 1990s and use the 7 games as a basis for the way I do things. I also agree with the principles, responsibilities etc....but the cradle bridle and the catwalk incident were 2 things to put me off....also their belief in molasses and their dreadful farriery......
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You say that, but that only seems to work with the old-style Parelli, which is expensive and difficult compared to what is peddled now. The 7 stages is a programme that people can follow- the programme is just good marketing. The concept is just good horsemanship. Look at any rehab, it's all about stages that you complete and build upon that if you're not in a tough place seem very logical.

I'm quite interested in it, tbh, as I do feel that NH/ Parelli is something that we need to hold close when trying to become good owners. And I have been in quite a rubbish place with horses before, when I did a lot of research into the techniques used to try and help myself regain confidence.

People want a quick fix now, though, and the new Parelli flogs it to them...
 
Mostly because this is a UK site and very traditional english attitude, (which I grew up with and have nothing aginst), so if you want NH views you need to go to NH sites, and there are some good ones.

I have used NH /PNH and it works - absolutely brilliant if you get a good NH instructor they work hard to get there qualifications.

I think that it is just a lack of understanding about what NH/PNH is - there really is not a lot of difference between good traditional training and NH, it can look different, but the basic principles are the same.
 
I LOVE Parelli!!!!!

I loved the games best. The first one, friendly, well, didn't actually go so well tbh, I tried to touch my mare all over but when I got to her tits she booted me in the shin.

The second game I couldn't bloody find a porcupine. So stalked a hedgehog. Took weeks! Did you know they are rare? I didn't. Some do-gooder saw me poking my horse with it and called Mrs. Tiggywinkle and I got a right telling off.

The driving game was ok, but since I couldn't get her in the car, I had to lead her through the window. Got arrested.

I wasn't keen on the Yo-Yo game... she didn't seem to like Rap or beatbox so had to revert to the usual whistle. Plus, Mum thought I'd got in with the wrong crowd and sent me to rehab.

Tried the "circling" game and we got into a bit of a muddle when she ate the celery stick and ended up doing triangles.

Sideways game was brilliant! We did this one most of all until she tripped up and fell on the YO pony and squashed it. She wasn't looking where she was going. Anyway, we got evicted.

Hmmm... we didn't get far with the squeeze game. I got DH to go the other side and we both squeezed on the count of three. Mare decided enough was enough and ran away.

So, I'm looking for another Parelli Partner now seeing as she scarpered.

In hindsight, I think I could've done better if I had a better horse. What makes a good parelli horse? If you can let me know, it would be most useful as I am ready to go shopping again now :)

Cheers! :D
 
Successful training comes from understanding the nuts and bolts of what is involved in animal behaviour and what is going on in the animal's head, not applying a formula, as another poster hasso apply put it, on a "one size fits all" basis -- which I think is what the Parelli system is.

I've known someone for years who is "doing Parelli" and studying to be an instructor.:rolleyes: She knows all the tricks and formulae -- sorry, "the games" -- but not a lot about the basics of animal training! The previous fad she had was the use of crystals for treating sickness which says it all for me.

There always have been these commercial animal trainers who will maintain you can't teach without the authentic "carrot stick" when any sane sensible person would simply go to the nearest hedge and cut a hazel wand! The last thing they want people to do is understand the fundamentals as that would remove the mystery and the power they hold over their followers.

Sorry -- but I can recognise smoke and mirrors when I see it and it seems dishonest, to me, to mystify science.
 
Do not have an issue with NH. But I do have an issue with the 'parelli attitude'. The ' you obviously don't have a good relationship it understanding with your horse because you don't do it' and ' it's the Parelli way or no way'. Everybody is different and every 'good' horseman has a different way. Doesn't make it right or wrong.

I have seen some Parelli instructors that are a genius with a horse, but I didn't like the methods and I wouldn't have allowed my horse to be anywhere near it. Rope burns and hours of circles until the horses are lathered in sweat and just look broken.

It seems to encourage the scared Middle Aged ladies to do anything but ride.

Plus I don't want my competition horses to be able to stand on a box.
 
Dry Rot said:
Successful training comes from understanding the nuts and bolts of what is involved in animal behaviour and what is going on in the animal's head, not applying a formula, as another poster hasso apply put it, on a "one size fits all" basis -- which I think is what the Parelli system is.

I've known someone for years who is "doing Parelli" and studying to be an instructor.:rolleyes: She knows all the tricks and formulae -- sorry, "the games" -- but not a lot about the basics of animal training! The previous fad she had was the use of crystals for treating sickness which says it all for me.

There always have been these commercial animal trainers who will maintain you can't teach without the authentic "carrot stick" when any sane sensible person would simply go to the nearest hedge and cut a hazel wand! The last thing they want people to do is understand the fundamentals as that would remove the mystery and the power they hold over their followers.

Sorry -- but I can recognise smoke and mirrors when I see it and it seems dishonest, to me, to mystify science.
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100% agree with this and no two horses are the same and must be treated as such
 
be positive said:
Why do you need Parelli to give you a good relationship with your horse on the ground :confused:
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Exactly my thought. I dont need to go buy a carrot stick and waggle a rope about in my horses face (banging it in the eyes... oh wait, lets not going into that...!!) to get a good relationship with my horses. Common sense is all you need! I hate this idea Pat Parelli has suggested - if you dont do parelli, you cant understand your horse. RUBBISH! It an American money making scheme is all!
 
tallyho!, I really enjoy your humor.

I told myself I was going to stay out of this but........I obviously was wrong

On a serious note, as someone who has gently trained my share of horses, before all the gurus were on Television. If you want to play ground games with your horse for the rest of your life, go ahead. If you want to actually ride, in my opinion, don't use this method. It's funny, and not to insult anyone but very few things scream amateur horse person to me more loudly than this adopting this training method. If you have a problem horse, send it to a "real" trainer, it will probably cost you much less in the long run. You can build a good relationship with your horse without all the gimmicks, and you'll probably have a much happier horse.
 
I was 'on the fence' when it comes to training stuff like Parelli or otherwise. Then someone (I think on here, quite a while ago) posted that vid of Linda Parelli and the scared horse (I'll have a look on youtube now to find it) and since watching that, the name 'Parelli' makes me switch off.
 
I fully understand my horses nuts and bolts. One is nuts and the other one bolts!

My horses show signs of affection for me. They readily acknowledge my leadership and rely on me in scary situations. We do squabble occasionally but only once in a blue moon. I love them and tend to ask before l demand. They were backed and schooled traditionally mainly by me firmly but kindly. Only had 1 Parelli trained horse and a will never have another.

Seems to focus on reasons why you should fear your horse and how to make him accept a fear of you. Not my way of doing things at all.
 
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