Linda Parelli, you make me sick.

[Hero]

The "trainer" is Linda Parelli.

This is a quote from "Your Horse" magazine from their "5 minutes" section. This month it was Linda Parelli....

Q= What's your biggest bug bear

A=People who abuse horses and know it. Even worse, those who abuse them and don't know they are, because they're ignorant of a horse's needs.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyF2QqP29DU

 

[joeanne]

you are about a week too late. Done. Dusted. And yes we all agree!!!

 

[cloudandmatrix]

ooh how blind you are linda talk about pot calling kettle black

 

[PucciNPoni]

Must admit, I'd never seen that quote before. Makes the video that much worse.

 

[sleepingdragon10]

I'd not seen that before, and am not surprised. Poor horse.............

 

[cariadssogreat]

I'd not seen that before, and am not surprised. Poor horse.............

I have to hope she was having an off day! The only bit I can fathom is that she is trying to teach the horse to yo-yo. I had a fairly "hot" youngster that was trained with parelli methods - by a professional who did it superbly - and he was fab at it.

Just thinking - maybe the other bit was an early attempt at the circling game? Hmmm

 

[perfect11s]

Not the best advert for the parelli circus however Im sure that if you took bits of any trainers total job out of context it could be made to look bad , and I think people should be carefull before thowing stones so to speak as a lot of conventional english riding and training of horses both young and old is crap and not in tune with the horse its about making the horse do something rather than want to do something and it shows...

 

[SirenaXVI]

Not the best advert for the parelli circus however Im sure that if you took bits of any trainers total job out of context it could be made to look bad , and I think people should be carefull before thowing stones so to speak as a lot of conventional english riding and training of horses both young and old is crap and not in tune with the horse its about making the horse do something rather than want to do something and it shows...

I agree that there is an awful lot of crap conventional training, I think the point is that Parelli set themselves up as the only way and that those who do not practice it are wrong. I have watched this video over and over, all I can see is a confused, worried and upset horse, it all looks rather ugly and it appears LP also lost her temper.

 

[flossy_123]

omg, i cant beleive that..!!! iv never seen that video before.. and she calls her self profesional!!!! i dont think so. how about i go and slap her round the face to make her stop looking at something. if she was to bully my horse like she is shed have two hoof print marks on her!!! that is total bullying!!!

 

[greenlivery]

No doube Linda's DVD sales will fall pretty quick

 

[Gucci_b]

What the hell is she doing with the poor horse....

 

[charlie13]

poor horse gone down in my books am still sticking o the old ways of good bonding throught work and brushing

 

[Cupcake_Fairy]

Hmmm...
I've been away, so have not seen the earlier threads regarding this video, but poor horse! I've always been slightly sceptical of Parelli due to the fact that it seems to me like a rather large money making gimick. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against NH, but from what I've read they like to make it seem as though it's their way or nothing. I have used Richard Maxwell in the past, who although not cheap, seems open to new ideas and has said himself that if he sees someone use something that works then he'll adopt it in his own practises. He has admited that sometimes he's done something and then a few years down the line has found a far more effective way of getting the same result. This to me is what true horsemanship is about - it's a constant learning curve and someone else will always be able to bring new ideas to the table. The difficult bit is working out which bits you use and when.
From my own experience of RM, it seems like she is trying to get the poor thing to back up. However, it seems wholly confused and clearly hasn't understood what has gone before it. It is clear that she has lost her temper and this is yet another nail in the Parelli coffin as far as I am concerned. All she seems to be achieving is making the poor creature head shy - why would anyone whack a horse about the head?!

 

[alfiesmum]

feel kinda sick after watching only half of that vid! if we saw anyone doing that we would report them!!

 

[apes_mum]

I have to hope she was having an off day! The only bit I can fathom is that she is trying to teach the horse to yo-yo. I had a fairly "hot" youngster that was trained with parelli methods - by a professional who did it superbly - and he was fab at it.

Just thinking - maybe the other bit was an early attempt at the circling game? Hmmm

I agree. Definaltly looks like she's trying to teach the yo-yo game. Maybe the horse is particularly bolshy, but I can't see any of their principals being used here.
What about asking the horse as quietly as you can first, then escalating up through levels of 'pressure'?
Also most of the time she seems to be standing so close that with his head in the air, I doubt the horse can see what she's asking him to do.
She looks like she's trying to get him to back away, without moving her feet, but she doesn't appear to be positioning herself to give the horse the best chance of responding to her requests!
And yes, she does appear to be losing her temper.
I'm certainly no expert on Parelli, I've read about it, seen video's and done a tiny bit with my horse (7 games, which worked well) but stopped as I didn't want to take it further without proper access to an instructor.
This video certainly doesn't do Linda any favours

 

[sykokat]

Don't like parelli, never have. Like it even less after seeing that. All I see is a fantastic way to making a horse confused and head shy. There are much better ways to work and succeed with horses than this. I personally think Mr M R has got it right. In ways the Parelli's will never have. If you look at what he does, you will see that alot of people already do it without even realising it.

 

[Tinypony]

She's not trying to teach the Yo Yo game, although she's sort of using some of the movements. She's trying to get the horse's attention on her, and to have it stay on her long enough so that it will stay out of her space and stand still. She can't teach it anything until she has it's attention.
That's not me saying it was the best or right way to do this, I'm just explaining!
This is her remedy for a horse that is away with the fairies, attention away from it's trainer, and prepared to rush over the top of people.

 

[Leg_end]

Anyone who's interested this is her statement 'defending' that video..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q22qTDud2CQ&feature=related

As far as shes concerned it was what she had to do...er ok!

 

[LindyLulu]

only managed to watch 2 mins of the video before it made me feel ill. It's just proved what a vile person she really is.

 

[Fairynuff]

A Statement from Linda Parelli
Jump to Comments



If I was seeing this clip with no knowledge of what exactly was going on, I think I would get upset too! It invites a lot of questions if one doesn’t know what the situation or the outcome was.

This horse, Barney, was presenting a lot of challenges to his owner. He was at the Parelli Center in Ocala for a five day Level 1 course over five years ago that we filmed for educational purposes and published in our Level 1 Pack.

On this particular day, it was windy and Barney was terribly spooked. He could not focus on his owner and in fact his behavior was becoming dangerous because he had no awareness for personal space and would run right over you. He also was not fond of humans, and his past ownership experiences had been tough.

In the clip that was posted, Barney was starting to have a lot of trouble with the wind in the trees and bushes. We needed to teach him to move away from the human when asked using the “Driving Game” to move his front end over, but he was so upset he could not yield. All he could think about was running away but this was our chance to change his dangerous habits and give him the confidence in the leadership of a human. We had to get through to him so he could successfully and safely interact with other horses and humans, and I had to increase the intensity until it matched the intensity of his fear, which was dangerously high. The moment he responded, we stopped the stimulus but it required several repetitions before he could do it and finally calmed down.

I have heard accusations that this will make a horse head shy, but the opposite is true. Horses are head shy because they fear the human or because people hit them to punish them. This horse was not afraid of humans, but he didn’t believe in them either. He was respectful in very limited circumstances but as soon as he got worried, he was a force to be reckoned with. Barney was very spooky and dangerous to ride, his history with humans was not positive.

Finally fear subsided and he began to trust the leadership of his human. In fact the next day, he was a very different horse, more confident, more relaxed and more connected to his owner. Together, they completed the course with great results and have gone on to do amazing things.

I have dedicated my life to making the world a better place for horses and humans; to bringing them together in harmony and understanding and solving terrible problems that some horses are sedated or euthanized for, which is not an option for Parelli. This horse was on his way out and finding us was one last piece of hope his owner had. Barney has become so successful that he now HELPS his owner help other people with emotional problems.

When we were producing the Level 1 pack, we debated as to whether or not this footage should be included (the entire piece of course), but decided it should be because some people will be faced with an extreme situation and need to know what to do to solve it for good. Some people use love, love and love on their horses. Others use leadership, leadership, leadership. Neither of them are effective…you need love, language and leadership, in equal measures. When we did all that, this horse finally found understanding and began to trust us, looking to us for safety instead of just running away.

I am glad that some people have asked for an explanation. I appreciate your care and concern, and being interested in learning the facts. I reached out to Paul H., Barney’s owner, and asked how their relationship has grown since spending time at our Center in Ocala and studying Parelli on their own. He sent me the following feedback that I would like to share with you.

Linda P

“I took the time to read one of the threads (Chronicle of the Horse Forum) that sprung up as a result of someone posting footage of Linda and my horse Barney from the Level 1 DVD on the web. I first have to say that I was profoundly saddened by the angry and vicious tone of many of the posts and astounded by the assumptions and judgments that people had about Linda, Barney, and myself as an owner.

Barney spent the first 11 years of his life in a prominent traditional foxhunting barn. He received a corneal scratch in the hunt field that subsequently got infected. When it was determined that the eye couldn’t be saved, his owner requested that he be euthanized. It was only through the actions of a veterinary intern and my search for a local horse to adopt that Barney is even alive today. I met Barney the day after his eye was removed. From the day I met him it was clear that humans were not his preferred company. He avoided people preferring to keep a safe distance. After two years out in a pasture, being fed and handled every day I started to ride him. He was an extraordinarily spirited horse that, while often responsive, always seemed to act out of fear rather than trust or partnership. This was the legacy I inherited and the one that Barney learned and experienced in early life.

My time at the Parelli Center in Ocala during which the DVD was filmed was a challenging and profoundly rewarding time for both Barney and myself. I am grateful for the assistance I received in dealing with a very difficult and potentially dangerous situation captured, in part, on the video and for the subsequent mentorship I receive from Linda and the Parelli team in transforming both my relationship with Barney and Barney’s relationship with the human race. We weren’t on the fast track and I’ve taken lots of missteps but we have continued to grow and learn. We completed our Level 2 some years back. He is semi-retired now but he is my rock steady mount in sport psychology clinics I conduct with other riders, as well as my trusted partner on trail rides both alone and ponying my two young sons.

Barney is still a horse of tremendous spirit. I guess a good way to described the difference now is that his spirit is now shared with me rather than channeled into his fear of me and others. Barney’s relationships with humans has also been transformed. He is now one of the main horses who partner with me in my work in equine assisted psychotherapy. It is amazing to watch as he reaches out to clients time after time, helping to transform their lives. I know I am grateful for what I learned from the Parelli program, and I think anyone who knows Barney will say that he is grateful as well.

All the best from a grateful friend of Parelli.”

- Paul H., Barney’s Owner

 

[Firewell]

God, ive never seen that before

That looks like the perfect way to teach a horse to be headshy. If ANYONE treated my horse like that, I would wack them around the head with a rope and tell them to f*** off away from my horse. She demonstrates the headshy lesson perfectly at the end when she goes to pat him (wack him on the neck..) and he tries to shy away from her. Awful, made me sick watching it.

I had an intelligent horsemanship rep help me with loading my tricky old tb mare and it was all about the most subtle of signals. It was actually pretty much common sense, stuff that a lot of conventional horse people who are tuned in to horse do naturally anyway. There was nothing agressive about it at all.

She looks very dominating, rough and agressive in that clip.

 

[scribble]

I am sorry but i cant even watch that after forst minute. Too distressing. why does the horse not boot her and runaway. I know mine would. They dont stand for treatment like that and whay should they. If you loose your temper with a horse put it back for the day. there is alwasy tomorrrow

 

[Lippyx]

Sorry if I'm late, but I cannot believe what I have just seen!!!
That poor horse!!
How do you make a horse head shy in one day... PARELLI the Linda Parelli way!

I'm sorry, but its natural for a horse to look around when you don't require their ful attention! How many people lunge on here, and when they stop they horse and move towards them to turn them around, I bet most horses have a look about to see whats going on.... They are a fight or flight animal its in their instinct to keep a look out!!! Not sure WHAT she was trying to achieve in the video??

If that was my horse, I would be snatching that long rein from her and telling her to **** off.... without ANY payment!!!!!

I am disgusted!! I have never been 100% on the Parelli, and that has just confirmed my feelings!!

 

[Cedars]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q22qTDud2CQ&feature=related

 

[Janah]

I cannot understand why anyone would try to teach a horse to back up in an open space with so much going on.

As an owner of dogs and horses I practise in a calm and relaxed atmosphere, ie with dogs in the kitchen and then in the yard and then in the open, so they know what is expected. That horse looked so confused and unhappy and didn't seem to have a clue what Linda was asking. If what you are asking does'nt work, CHANGE the scenario. Go back to basics. Not a good advert for Parelli. I have a friend who does a lot of Parelli and look forward to seeing her work her ponies (we are waiting for good weather so any day now).

Jane

Jane

 

[EmmaJaneWilliams]

I am not a fan of Parelli, personally feel that it is a way to make money from people who are desparate to see the best in their horse, however I always remain open minded to new concepts BUT how on earth is the horse suppose to understand what she is asking of it. From the few moments I did watch I could see her smack it in the head and whip it behind - what is the poor thing suppose to do other then defend the only eye sight he has got from raising his head out of the way of harm. Natural reaction!!

This clearly is not a method I would use and sadly I am glad that people can now see that Parelli may not be the saviour it has hailed to be. Good old fashion time and hard work build a much better relationship then smacking and submission!

 

[Natch]

Interesting to see her reply to the outrage.

The video was on the forum a few weeks ago, and we heard a mishmash of stories which may or may not have been true for this situation. linda's feedback confirms that the situation was indeed this:

Horse blind in one eye
Horse had no faith in humans
Lots of other stuff going on around it
It wasn't very far into training the parelli way.

The above reinforce my feeling from last time around, that she lost her temper with this horse and should have put it away and come back to it another day when she wasn't so high on adrenaline.

 

[foo]

What amazes me is the opening statement from Linda.

Surely 1st imperssions count, if people think it looks uncomfortable for the horse (by what she is trying achieve) surely it is.

 

[foo]

impressions sorry !!