EXCITED!!! Pony going to Parelli guy next week!

nikCscott said:
So the kids pony that I probably shouldn't have bought, but couldn't have left him where he was with open welts and serious issues, is provisionally booked in to got to stay a few weeks with the Parelli guy.

I've pretty much left him be and just worked on gaining his trust which we have done (the 'uncatchable' pony now comes to the gate when he sees me), but I know my limits, so off he goes next week, with the girls and I going up to work with them both as much as possible.
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What a darling pony - I hope he does well when he goes away for training.

A word of caution though - if he's nervous and lacking in trust, I would expect the parelli technique to make this worse, not improve it unfortunately:o

What part of the country are you in??

Just read the rest of the post, and see that you are now working it quietly and successfully yourself - fantastic! What you need (probably) shortly is a good trainer to help you bring the pony on - and one that can supply you with a competent little jockey.

Good luck - and let us know how you get on.
 
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i have/had a small difficult pony to work with, i finally gained the trust and have managed to get him going nicely. however like you i am too big and he was too quirky (and totally unbacked) for my children to start him off so i advertised for a lightweight adult to come and help me. i made it clear i didn't want someone taking over from me but for that person to work with me.
i had a few answers but the one person was perfect, she's not able to come very often to work/play with my pony but when she does she gets lots out of him. he is now about 80% backed (needs to now go for a hack around the farm before i will say 100%)!

maybe you could advertise for someone like i did to come and help you with the backing. be completely honest in what you expect from that person.

if you still choose to go down the parelli route (your choice however i wouldn't) then make sure you've spoken to a few people that he's helped already, go and see their horses and find out how he worked with them. make it crystal clear to him about the pony's past.

good luck whichever you choose. sounds like you've done great things already with the pony.
 
jcwh said:
what a gorgeous pony!!
i think people are getting mixed up between Natural Horsemanship
and Parelli...
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A lot always do get mixed up, you can tell when they use the terms natural horsemanship and Parelli interchangeably. It just shows a lack of knowledge, frustrating, but not really worth getting bothered about I've decided.
 
Tinypony said:
A lot always do get mixed up, you can tell when they use the terms natural horsemanship and Parelli interchangeably. It just shows a lack of knowledge, frustrating, but not really worth getting bothered about I've decided.
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Actually I think that the majority of posters on here are very clear about what the differences are....
 
DEFINATELY not a fan of the Parelli faffing about with horses but (I know he's a Parelli chap) if you are sending your horse to James Roberts then youre on to a winner. He's a really nice guy and a horseman through and through. I've seen a couple of horses he has backed and have seen a few horses with serious issues sorted out in good way.

The only thing I dont like about him is his association with those two clowns Pat and Linda Parelli.
 
Depends what they will be doing, I always think the horses look head shy, I've seen and heard too many horror stories. I dont' like the circus tricks, not needed.

Only NH people I rate is Monty Roberts/Kelly Marks, but I know there are some who don't like them either, but I think they are the better of the 2 methods
 
I'm a fan of the likes of Michael Pearce and Richard Maxwell....to me, both seem to have a no-nonsense, firm but fair approach. I've used bits and pieces from both of them, along with good old common sense ( well, I think its common sense anyway) with really good results.

IMO.....kids, horses, dogs- they all need patience, rules, routine, clear instruction, rewards and repetition.

Not very exciting, but it works for me.

That will be £loads-a dosh.....aye thank-yew.:D
 
perfect11s said:
I would say more like getting mixed up between
good horsemanship and parelli...
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Agree! Parelli seems to be disliked in equal measures by both 'conventional' and 'natural' horse people!

A million flies cannot be wrong! If it looks like dung and smells like dung it must be dung!
 
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Usual suspects at it again. Though the anti Parelli lot are grinding their axes yet again, just let it run its course. More and more people leave the dark side for Natural Horsemanship and of course Parelli every week. The HH forum is also losing its reputation for rabid anti's.

Judging by the number of pro Parelli messages I get from members, there is a quiet sway away from the toxic views of the main rabble rousers.
 
Whereabouts are you based? I have no idea who you are thinking of using so I can't comment but I have used Michael Peace in the past and he was brilliant, also being a former jockey he is small and light so you wouldn't have a problem with your pony and a weight issue.

Michael also does not use any force or pressure headcollars, dually etc, just a headcollar when training.

If the pony has been abused then I would keep going with building truest between you both, sit in the field reading a book, spend time with him in there and everywhere, bring him into the yard just for a carrot and then back out again, next time for a groom. All these little things will just help you bond and get him used to you being there. Sounds like you are doing a fabulous job already, but I would honestly stay clear of any methods that will pressure him or scare him and confuse him.

I once went to a parelli demo and also a monty demo, parelli was not like it is now and monty has stayed the same, out of the 2 I would go for monty with regards to the way he handles the horses and treats them. But out of all of them I would use Michael Peace as I have had first hand experience with him.

Good luck as he looks a sweetie!
 
I would say the same whichever trainer you were going to, Parelli or otherwise.Make sure you know EXACTLY who is going to be doing the training, what is going to be done, how often, expected outcomes etc.Some schooling liveries (traditional) just take the money and run, others let you think its their wonderkind instructor when in fact its the girl sweeping up round the back.Just be careful.
 
amymay said:
Actually I think that the majority of posters on here are very clear about what the differences are....
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amen to that, I am very clear that walloping a horse in the face with a stick (even if it is a special carrot stick with magical properties) and using a gumline is NOT natural!

I laugh everytime I ask my mare to back up or move away from pressure, I taught her that with no sticks or threats involved! Of course if PP or LP were there to see they would probably say... 'My child, you are doing parelli but you didn't realise it, now buy this magical equipment, dvd's, and books and come to the training day and pay us lots of money and you too can teach your horse to do the can can, and when we tell you to beat and freak your horse out until she is a gibbering sweating wreck do not worry or question us because it is parelli, and your horse likes it!

I am not anti hunting, but I always remember the line 'next you'll be telling us that the fox likes it...!' which ofcourse clearly is absolute bullsheet and even the most pro-hunters could not argue that the fox actually LIKES it. Just as clearly we can see that horses may enjoy the bond with humans and playing games but they DO NOT LIKE the confusing and stupid methods used in parelli and it most often blows their brain to bits.
 
I don't know a huge amount about parelli (other than they make a huge amounts of money from it!) But have seen some very worrying parelli videos.
 
Agree with eahotson.

You may not be an expert but it sounds like you're already doing really well with this pony. Visit loads and you'll be able to see if that is being built on in a positive way. Don't leave it anywhere is doesn't look happy and confident.

Good luck with your pretty little beastie!
 
AndySpooner said:
Usual suspects at it again. Though the anti Parelli lot are grinding their axes yet again, just let it run its course. More and more people leave the dark side for Natural Horsemanship and of course Parelli every week. The HH forum is also losing its reputation for rabid anti's.

Judging by the number of pro Parelli messages I get from members, there is a quiet sway away from the toxic views of the main rabble rousers.
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Blah blah blah. Enough with the 'usual suspects' quote. Calling everyone else the 'dark side' is typical of the indoctrinisation that personifies Parelli and is just one of the things that people dislike!

I think you underestimate the massive swing away from PP after the Catwalk affair! There was nothing 'natural' about any of the abuse that poor animal suffered.

FYI I have the most enormous respect for NH, just not for PP!
 
Pat Parelli is a fantastic businessman.

The reason I don't like Parelli is that they have all sorts of 'scientific' made-up mumbo-jumbo ('right brain extrovert') to supposedly back up their techniques, when in reality they are very confused over what they are doing.
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The pseudoscience bit cracks me up, it really is mumbo-jumbo.

I wouldn't send my filly to a Parelli trainer but I would send her to Janet George.
 
AndySpooner said:
Usual suspects at it again. Though the anti Parelli lot are grinding their axes yet again, just let it run its course. More and more people leave the dark side for Natural Horsemanship and of course Parelli every week. The HH forum is also losing its reputation for rabid anti's.

Judging by the number of pro Parelli messages I get from members, there is a quiet sway away from the toxic views of the main rabble rousers.
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well aren't you just the shining beacon of light in the midst of a thats dark and nasty in the horse world, I bow down to you and your superiority, how much did it cost to become this high and mighty and did you get the carrot stick for free because you brought the dvd AND the books ;)

Just one question, because I am honestly curious, if I was a follower of NH techniques and practices other than parelli, would I still be all dark and orrible, would you still pity me for living out in that wastland of dispair because I was unenlightened to the big 'P' or would you see me as being as good, holy and as enlightened as you, for wanting to do it the 'Natural' way?
 
AndySpooner said:
Usual suspects at it again. Though the anti Parelli lot are grinding their axes yet again, just let it run its course. More and more people leave the dark side for Natural Horsemanship and of course Parelli every week. The HH forum is also losing its reputation for rabid anti's.

Judging by the number of pro Parelli messages I get from members, there is a quiet sway away from the toxic views of the main rabble rousers.
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So Andy, in your eyes this is an acceptable way of treating and encouraging a horse to load? Why didn't he make the trailer more inviting eg, moving the partition over to reduce the sense of claustrophobia etc? Or would the mare just have trotted up therefore ruining his limelight? Pat Parelli and company are experts at seperating fools from their money but in the long run, its the horse who suffers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwYAn4IH918&feature=related
 
mmel001 said:
Some people claim to have had great results with Parelli, it's all down to having the right attitude and the right hands.
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I'm sure that's right. It may sound a bit crazy, but I think some of Parelli practitioners actually have a better attitude and "hands" that Pat and Linda themselves.
 
I would keep the pony at home and find someone nearby that can help you work with the little chap in your own place.

Sending the pony away for someone else to do the work then having him back where does that leave you about handling him.

He needs to be in his own environment so that when you are shown what to do with him you can continue the lesson before moving on.

Being involved with undoing the damage that Parelli people have done with a horse, I would never ever have them deal with any of my horses.

If I was to choice a NH person I would trust a Recommended Associate (Monty Roberts / Kelly Marks)
 
To be quite honest with you, you sound like you are doing a fantastic job with him yourself if you are lungeing and long reining him already. I'd carry on with him as you are take it slowly - backing him isn't a race to see who can do in the quickest time and then when you're ready get a smaller person to do the backing with you being the one on the ground reassuring him and giving him confidence. Just take your time with him, have fun - if you have a rapport with a pony/horse breaking and backing is actually easier than people would like you to think because they seem to just accept the progression from one thing to another. (Well that's my experience anyway).

As for Parelli - good or bad I've no idea but your pony is lovely.
 
OP, you have earned the trust of your pony. To send him away, given his past, I think, would traumatise him. You're probably his world at the moment and he would miss you terribly, and be scared in another place. Just my opinion.
You've done so well with him up to now and I wish you all the best for your's and his future.
 
paulineh said:
I would keep the pony at home and find someone nearby that can help you work with the little chap in your own place.

Sending the pony away for someone else to do the work then having him back where does that leave you about handling him.

He needs to be in his own environment so that when you are shown what to do with him you can continue the lesson before moving on.

Being involved with undoing the damage that Parelli people have done with a horse, I would never ever have them deal with any of my horses.

If I was to choice a NH person I would trust a Recommended Associate (Monty Roberts / Kelly Marks)
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for once PaulineH , I agree with you. Lets try not to make it a habit..eh!
 
queenbee said:
amen to that, I am very clear that walloping a horse in the face with a stick (even if it is a special carrot stick with magical properties) and using a gumline is NOT natural!
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Some (not necessarily Parelli) would say that horses do far worse to each other... :o
 
fburton said:
Some (not necessarily Parelli) would say that horses do far worse to each other... :o
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The massive difference is a lead horse will not hold the horse she/he is telling of in position to be bitten/kicked. Parelli on the other hand makes their victims stand still to receive their punishment in the form of ropes, clips and sticks more often that not to the face.
 
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