MizElz
Well-Known Member
BEWARE *RANT*
Ive seen one or two 'Parelli Puzzles' programmes, and although I've not found anything to directly complain about, I cant say they enamoured me too much. But the other day, i turned it on just as they were trying to load a little piebald horse into a trailer. This particular 'puzzle' was not overly disturbing; he was a little reticent, they shook the rope at him (i dont get that, but hey) whilst tapping his quarters with a stick, and eventually, he walked in. But then Parelli woman asked the handler what other problems she had with the horse, and it turned out he didnt like walking in between big oil drums. So they put two oil drums near one another, and asked him to walk through....he did so, again, a little timidly, but he didnt really baulk or say no. Parelli woman, however, decided that his lack of eagerness in walking through them meant he was 'poking fun at the handler,' sticking his tongue out, so to speak. so, next time the handler asked him to walk through, Parelli woman jumped forward and whipped him round the front legs! he then leaped through the gap, before whipping round on the other side and trembling, as she stepped forward once more and brought the whip down on his quarters. the horse was then absolutely petrified of her; the next time she stepped in to hit him, he wheeled away and dragged the owner round the ring.
They didnt, on camera, put him through again; the programme ended with her going up and patting his neck. I just dont think this can be called 'natural horsemanship' - if i remember rightly, a few weeks ago during the discussions about use of whip, nobody on here who is in full favour of the natural approach would condone the use of a whip as punishment or as an 'aid.' Now, as a 'normal' rider, if this was my horse, the fact that he walked through first of all without fuss would have been enough; yes. he was a little shaky, but he trusted his owner enough to do it, and surely practice would eventually make perfect??? a whip wouldnt even figure in the equation for me.
i can safely say i will NEVER be watching again.
Ive seen one or two 'Parelli Puzzles' programmes, and although I've not found anything to directly complain about, I cant say they enamoured me too much. But the other day, i turned it on just as they were trying to load a little piebald horse into a trailer. This particular 'puzzle' was not overly disturbing; he was a little reticent, they shook the rope at him (i dont get that, but hey) whilst tapping his quarters with a stick, and eventually, he walked in. But then Parelli woman asked the handler what other problems she had with the horse, and it turned out he didnt like walking in between big oil drums. So they put two oil drums near one another, and asked him to walk through....he did so, again, a little timidly, but he didnt really baulk or say no. Parelli woman, however, decided that his lack of eagerness in walking through them meant he was 'poking fun at the handler,' sticking his tongue out, so to speak. so, next time the handler asked him to walk through, Parelli woman jumped forward and whipped him round the front legs! he then leaped through the gap, before whipping round on the other side and trembling, as she stepped forward once more and brought the whip down on his quarters. the horse was then absolutely petrified of her; the next time she stepped in to hit him, he wheeled away and dragged the owner round the ring.
They didnt, on camera, put him through again; the programme ended with her going up and patting his neck. I just dont think this can be called 'natural horsemanship' - if i remember rightly, a few weeks ago during the discussions about use of whip, nobody on here who is in full favour of the natural approach would condone the use of a whip as punishment or as an 'aid.' Now, as a 'normal' rider, if this was my horse, the fact that he walked through first of all without fuss would have been enough; yes. he was a little shaky, but he trusted his owner enough to do it, and surely practice would eventually make perfect??? a whip wouldnt even figure in the equation for me.
i can safely say i will NEVER be watching again.
