Natural horsemanship, Parelli.... What else?

Lippyx

Lippyx

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I what try something like Parelli or Natural Horsemanship with Toby. With all the rain, I'm not riding as much as I would like, and hardly get out hacking, if at all, and I think he is getting bored with schooling, and a bored baby = a naughty baby!

I was watching Pat Parelli the other day on H&C TV, and although I don't like all of their ideas, some of what he was saying does make sense. I am a bit of a Monty Roberts fan myself.

So thought I would look into maybe doing something like this with Toby, as not only will it keep his VERY active mind busy, I think it will boost his self confidence.

Where do I start? Any books or DVDs I can buy as a starter?

Thanks guys
Lx
 
What about looking at Connected Riding? Lots of groundwork exercises as well and Peggy often does clinics in the UK which you can either go and watch or take your horse along too.
 
I don't think it has to be one or the other, you can take the bits you like from any source.
I'm a big MR and IH fan not keen on Parelli but MR always says you shouldn't feed your horse from your hand as they get bargy, he's probably right but mine don't barge and all are hand fed from time to time.
Kelly Marks has written some books with exercises in them and they're not dear, especially 2nd hand on Amazon, I ordered one the other day for 1p, ok p+p was £2.80 but I still thought that was good value.
 
I really like 101 Horsemanship Exercises by Rio Barrett, it's got exercises focused for horses with particular problems or you can just work through them from basic to more advanced. There's also 101 Show jumping, Dressage and Schooling so plenty to get through! My pony has a really active mind and they keep him well-entertained so I recommend them very highly.
 
There is a book which offers a taster of exercises from various different trainers. Lesley Bayley, "Groundwork Training for Your Horse: Develop a Deeper Bond with Your Horse Through a Range of Exercises and Games" (Newton Abbot: David and Charles, 2004).
If you got it from your public library, it would give you an idea of which trainer follows which approach and you could pick and choose and find one to your taste. I should add that reading a resumee e.g. of Rashid or Michael Peace is not as good as reading them in their own words, but this collection provides a useful anthology.
 
Do some desensitising stuff with tarps, walking on them, draping them over the horse, walking with them flapping etc, make a door to go through like a fly curtain on canes pushed into the ground, going through narrow spaces, backing up through an L shape of poles, loose liberty work etc:)
 
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