Parelli-Good or bad???

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Samantha008

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Ive just been having a conversation with a girl who really loves Parelli, all their methods and theur carrot sticks etc. I just wondered what others thought on this?

Ive dabbled ill admit, but it didnt work for me, i felt like i was just annoying my poor horse wriggling a rope in her face!!!
 
Used to be good. Now bad. I joined years ago and the original low-tech "how to do it" pack (12 little booklets) was full of detailed information on common sense, patient, consistent working with your horse to achieve understanding and respect in both horse and owner. Sadly they don't give this sort of information any more - you can pay £200 for a set of dvds that, in my opinion, are worthless because they show plenty of WHAT you can achieve but NO "how to". Money spinning now I'm afraid and if you do a search on this forum you'll find huge threads on some of the public demos the Parelli's have held, using methods that were downright barbaric. PM Papafrita for her extensive and unbiased take on Parelli. She has her own set of equipment that you can buy - I'm thinking of buying my horse her "cucumber stick" (hope I've got that right PF?) for Christmas.
 
i read a little about it and the more i read the more i thought mmmmm its not for me its no more than b... s,,,, . and a good way for them to make easy money and it a cruel . id say from what i have read stay well clear spare your horse of it and save your money
 
I know the methods have changed considerably but using the basic respect methods, such as teaching a horse to back up, come to you, and respect your space has worked wonders with my boy, he doesnt respond to being smacked or shouted at, makes him even more on edge and just wants to kill everyone, but some firm parelli training he responds to straight away, and it has helped me so much.

An example... teaching him to go back with Parelli worked wonders for me because he HATES being stabled, he paces, tries to jump the door, weaves, and does a whole loads of silly things! Have his parelli leadrope and headcollar meant I had a good few feet to hang over the door, so when I shook it and told him back, he would back up enough for me to safely lead him out without him bolting past me. Which means tacking up in the stable is safe. Whereas without the parelli equipment and training he would just bolt, all tacked up, and ends up found down the road with reins round his legs!

It's an each to their own kinda thing, but I think if done ''properly'' (whatever that may be), all horses appreciate and respond better to the methods than some of the more harsh methods used to break youngsters these days!
 
I'd say neither good nor bad (can't belive I'm posting on yet another Parelli thread :rolleyes:). It's a waste of time and money.

You shouldn't be smacking or shouting at them anyway, but getting a horses respect was not invented by Pat Parelli.
 
Some of their philosophy is good, others are bad. I think it can wrk very well in teaching respect, though, as others have said, you don't need Parelli to teach a horse respect. But much of Parelli looks like domination to me. It also encourages people to procrastinate, giving them excuses not to just geton with things. I prefer to use my own methods that are a mixture of natural horsemanship and more traditional, and I adapt my responses to the horse. There is not 'one size fits all' with horses.

I also think Parlli is a complete rip off. My sister has probably spent in excess of £15k on their products and services. She still is not able to ride her horse without problems. I have been telling her for 2 years he has a physical problem. Now, at last she is having him investigated. Parelli concentrates too much on the psychology, when 9 times out of 10, the horse is in pain.
 
Omarkiam said:
I know the methods have changed considerably but using the basic respect methods, such as teaching a horse to back up, come to you, and respect your space has worked wonders with my boy, he doesnt respond to being smacked or shouted at, makes him even more on edge and just wants to kill everyone, but some firm parelli training he responds to straight away, and it has helped me so much.

An example... teaching him to go back with Parelli worked wonders for me because he HATES being stabled, he paces, tries to jump the door, weaves, and does a whole loads of silly things! Have his parelli leadrope and headcollar meant I had a good few feet to hang over the door, so when I shook it and told him back, he would back up enough for me to safely lead him out without him bolting past me. Which means tacking up in the stable is safe. Whereas without the parelli equipment and training he would just bolt, all tacked up, and ends up found down the road with reins round his legs!

It's an each to their own kinda thing, but I think if done ''properly'' (whatever that may be), all horses appreciate and respond better to the methods than some of the more harsh methods used to break youngsters these days!
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I'm certainly not a Parelli subscriber but strangely enough none of my horses have any problem with backing away from the door so I can enter for whatever reason, or with waiting until I have put their feed down before moving forward to eating it. They will stand to be groomed, untied, in their stables and wait, again untied, whilst I tack them up. I've had horses that behave like this for more than 40 years. It's called teaching them basic manners - most of us oldies manage it without buying branded equipment!

Still, if people need Pat Parelli to teach them that a horse should have basic manners I suppose he fulfils a purpose. Although I have to say I'd bear in mind the old saying "A fool and his money are soon parted".
 
Prat Parelli, Loopy Linda and their money making SCHEME - Eurgh no thanks! Now Monty Roberts I do have respect for.
 
Good or bad, no 'method' of horsemanship can replace good, old-fashioned time and energy invested in your horse and getting to know him or her. Just as you wouldn't buy the Manual of Horsemanship and then decide to break a youngster based solely on what you've read and no experience, so Parelli cannot be used as a 'magic wand' towards a perfectly behaved horse.

Successful horsemen and horsewomen are successful because they have been doing it for a long time, are sensitive and intuitive, learn from their and others' mistakes and genuinely want what is best for the horse (not what is convenient for them).

Any method based on respect and knowledge can be beneficial. Choose what approach works for your individual horse - most likely it will be a mixture of 'traditional' and 'natural' - and don't let fancy DVD's or marketing techniques persuade you to part with money or act in any way that doesn't feel 'right' for you and your horse.
 
Parelli is just another 'natural' horse training programme. Lots of people on here talk an unending stream of crap about horse training and Parelli in particular.

You can spend a fortune following the program or a little.

Its not a short cut to having a well trained horse.

If you don't have a feel for horses you won't be any good at Parelli or any other training method,

If you want the gear get it off ebay, from someone who cannot do it. There are thousands.

People have tried to say it's cruel and barbaric, which is grossly hypocritical, when you read some of the conventional posts on here.

The bottom line is, if your horse is trained properly and responds properly then you will succeed in whatever sphere you choose. If its not you will never be consistently successful.

The acid test is if you can compete with the mildest of bits with nothing to artificially confine or restrain your horse, then you have trained him well and correctly. Once you need any form of restraint, you have failed, and failed dismally at whatever level you think you are at.

Most people skimp on the basics and want to rush into working at levels they have not prepaired for.

Try not to get involved in the idiotic war which errupts on here between those for and those against, both camps are fairly ignorant and ill informed about the other, its not worth the effort.
 
parelli in my eyes is not what i would use to train any of my horses. Basic principles they refer to were not invented by them, most are simple comon sense and respect issues. Once these are established-usually through daily interaction with your horse/pony then the other methods are not really relevant.
It is not natural training. I watched an episode not long ago with pat teaching a horse to turn without the need of bridle/mouth contact. What does he do, use a whip and hit it repeatedly in the fact to turn it!-obviously a poor horse is going to move away from this-no training there simple cruelty. A well schooled horse happily working in its bridle is a far nicer way to ask a horse to turn in my opinion.

I am sorry i believe it is not at all natural training and as for the rope shaking to move horses back etc i would say exactly as the original poster-it just annoys the horse!

Monty roberts on the other hand is somone who KNOWS horses he lives and breathes them-he is amazing to watch at work..
 
*hic* said:
I'm certainly not a Parelli subscriber but strangely enough none of my horses have any problem with backing away from the door so I can enter for whatever reason, or with waiting until I have put their feed down before moving forward to eating it. They will stand to be groomed, untied, in their stables and wait, again untied, whilst I tack them up. I've had horses that behave like this for more than 40 years. It's called teaching them basic manners - most of us oldies manage it without buying branded equipment!
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it makes me laugh that people cant get there horse to do these basic things people pussy foot around and let there horses walk all over them far too much. just as with people manners cost nothing and i would definatly not pay for that set of prats to tell me to whip my horse and throw its lead rope in its face
 
Samantha008 said:
Ive just been having a conversation with a girl who really loves Parelli, all their methods and theur carrot sticks etc. I just wondered what others thought on this?

Ive dabbled ill admit, but it didnt work for me, i felt like i was just annoying my poor horse wriggling a rope in her face!!!
Click to expand...

i hever believed in it in the first place- i prefer the traditional ways!
 
Tried it. No feelings either way. Must suit some horses, mind don't like it.

Captain HATES it. Will put with a bit, then grabs the carrot stick and throws it :cool:
Captain was used for a demo, he made everyone quite aware of his feelings on Parelli, much to the amusement of the audience.:p:D

Fany, who is usually the most easy going horse in the world, refuses point blank to having anything to do with it.

FDC
 
There are countless threads on here discussing Parelli - most of them are witch hunts. If you want to read an informative thread, do a search for the 'ask a parelli student' one. Very interesting!

As it happens I am not a parelli follower, but am interested in natural horsemanship. Richard Maxwell in particular. I feel it has given me another dimension with my horse, especially as my current horse has been VERY challenging!

I am not new to horse ownership, I have owned for 19 years, but that doesn't mean that I am set in my ways. I mean, most of us have evolved beyond jute rugs and NZ canvas rugs, therefore we must be willing to accept change in some areas at least :p
 
Samantha008 said:
Ive just been having a conversation with a girl who really loves Parelli, all their methods and theur carrot sticks etc. I just wondered what others thought on this?

Ive dabbled ill admit, but it didnt work for me, i felt like i was just annoying my poor horse wriggling a rope in her face!!!
Click to expand...

I have yet to meet a Parelli horse who is sound of mind and has actually done something!
 
I should think you were annoying your horse by wriggling a rope in its face. Why do you judge the Parelli methods on your own pathetic and incompetent attempts at it??? Or others for that matter. People who are competent at the methods and fully understand the theory have got amazing horses that do amazing things, you only have to go to the N E C Parelli show to witness this first hand.

The same can be said for Monty Roberts, Clinton Anderson, Carl Hester, Kelly Marks, Pippa funnel etc etc. I am sure there are loads of people out there who try to train their horses using their methods and theory and completely c**K it up but we don't go on a b***h fest about them.
 
In the right hands, Parelli can do no harm and be an alternative activity for an owner and horse to do aside hacking and shows etc.

When done with feel, understanding and empathy, and most importantly, time and patience, Parelli can bring about great things for you and your horse.

However, I have watched many people doing Parelli, and just wanted to turn away to be honest!.

Some people just havent got the right personality for it (forget 'Horseanality'!!!) and these type of people just shouldnt touch the Parelli system with a barge pole (let alone a carrot stick!!!).

Eg, those naturally bossy types, quick fix wannabies and assuming types, and those with egos!!
 
Go Andy!
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Wot he said.

AndySpooner said:
Parelli is just another 'natural' horse training programme. Lots of people on here talk an unending stream of crap about horse training and Parelli in particular.

You can spend a fortune following the program or a little.

Its not a short cut to having a well trained horse.

If you don't have a feel for horses you won't be any good at Parelli or any other training method,

If you want the gear get it off ebay, from someone who cannot do it. There are thousands.

People have tried to say it's cruel and barbaric, which is grossly hypocritical, when you read some of the conventional posts on here.

The bottom line is, if your horse is trained properly and responds properly then you will succeed in whatever sphere you choose. If its not you will never be consistently successful.

The acid test is if you can compete with the mildest of bits with nothing to artificially confine or restrain your horse, then you have trained him well and correctly. Once you need any form of restraint, you have failed, and failed dismally at whatever level you think you are at.

Most people skimp on the basics and want to rush into working at levels they have not prepaired for.

Try not to get involved in the idiotic war which errupts on here between those for and those against, both camps are fairly ignorant and ill informed about the other, its not worth the effort.
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NH methods are classical, just spindoctored to make a bit of cash. however Parelli have gone a step too far.
 
i have done and still do, use parelli (among other 'NH' methods) and I have had some great results - but it is each to their own. i like to think i don't just 'blindly' follow a particular method, if something doesn't work for me and my horses then i won't use it, simples! :)

i must admit, i've never paid for any of the official parelli equipment, it is like anything - there are always cheaper versions about ;)
 
padderpaws said:
I should think you were annoying your horse by wriggling a rope in its face. Why do you judge the Parelli methods on your own pathetic and incompetent attempts at it??? Or others for that matter. People who are competent at the methods and fully understand the theory have got amazing horses that do amazing things, you only have to go to the N E C Parelli show to witness this first hand.

The same can be said for Monty Roberts, Clinton Anderson, Carl Hester, Kelly Marks, Pippa funnel etc etc. I am sure there are loads of people out there who try to train their horses using their methods and theory and completely c**K it up but we don't go on a b***h fest about them.
Click to expand...


^^^^^^^
that's exactly my opinion:)
 
Omarkiam said:
I know the methods have changed considerably but using the basic respect methods, such as teaching a horse to back up, come to you, and respect your space has worked wonders with my boy, he doesnt respond to being smacked or shouted at, makes him even more on edge and just wants to kill everyone, but some firm parelli training he responds to straight away, and it has helped me so much.

An example... teaching him to go back with Parelli worked wonders for me because he HATES being stabled, he paces, tries to jump the door, weaves, and does a whole loads of silly things! Have his parelli leadrope and headcollar meant I had a good few feet to hang over the door, so when I shook it and told him back, he would back up enough for me to safely lead him out without him bolting past me. Which means tacking up in the stable is safe. Whereas without the parelli equipment and training he would just bolt, all tacked up, and ends up found down the road with reins round his legs!

It's an each to their own kinda thing, but I think if done ''properly'' (whatever that may be), all horses appreciate and respond better to the methods than some of the more harsh methods used to break youngsters these days!
Click to expand...

In total agreement with all that you say. I have found Parelli methods fabulous with my big lump of horse. I have the old boxed set Level 1 that i am working on. Its made a huge difference to my level of confidence with him but also with him respecting my space. I too do not like shouting at him or smacking him - makes him more bolshy and aggressive. Parelli makes him soft and compliant and gentle.
 
YAWN...Here we go again.....

I have yet to meet a Parelli horse who is sound of mind and has actually done something!
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Well you're always welcome to come and meet mine.

The acid test is if you can compete with the mildest of bits with nothing to artificially confine or restrain your horse, then you have trained him well and correctly. Once you need any form of restraint, you have failed, and failed dismally at whatever level you think you are at.
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I don't compete any more - becuase they usually won't let me compete without a bit or bridle. :) Don't miss it really.

If you don't have a feel for horses you won't be any good at Parelli or any other training method,
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Spot on. But it's always easier to blame someone or something else than accept you have no talent or sensitivity and your horse knowledge amounts to what you've read in horsey magazines. :)
 
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