Parelli Question - really long sorry!

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suzi

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Ok - I have seen some of the debates on here before and know that many are not fans of Parelli (putting it mildly). I have no intention of starting this debate again and I share most of your feelings but I do have a question.

One of the girls who rides my horses occasionally also rides for someone else. This someone else does a lot of Parelli and has sent her on courses etc.

She wanted to try some bits with my horses and I said yes if I could watch what she was doing (ready to step in and stop her!!!!!).

The Connie and the New Forest she seemed to lunge but with the halter thing whereas I would use a lunge cavesson and she had their whip whereas I would hold a lunge whip. Apart from this she seemed to lunge in a similar manner to me but without really using her voice.

I also have a 2 year old and she just seemed to be messing about with him touching his side etc (good as he was barely handled until he was 18 months old) and that was about it.

She also played 'games' with them getting them to follow her.

I'm not that knowledgeable on the subject and I haven't held what I do know in very high regard.

My concern is that this girl (now it's winter) will be coming to ride before I finish work so I can't watch and I know that the other person she has been riding for wants her to go on another course.

What should I do? I trust her with looking after them / riding them etc but am concerned that the Parelli stuff might progress to something that I am not happy about.

She knows that I am skeptical to say the least but is adament that it works - we had a debate about the 'Catwalk' issue and she says that she has never seen anything like this on her courses etc.

How is it likely to progress, is there any 'damage' to be done by her continuing to do what she has been doing with my horses and where would your concerns lie??

Maybe I'm just being daft but I just have reservations about the whole thing!?!?!

Hot chocolate and cookies for everyone who has got this far.

Sensible replies please - I don't want to be responsible for another Parelli rant!!
 
Parelli aside....

If you are uncomfortable with someone doing something with YOUR horse, then you either tell them not to do it (at least when you're not present) or if you can't trust them not to, don't let them do your horse.

I would tell her that you didn't want her playing any "games" with your horsewhen you're not present. But she is welcome to handle/ride them in a more conventional way.
 
I personally would not allow it unless I was there (well not at all in my case!) But if you're happy with what she is doing then arrange a time when you're there. Not saying she will do anything wrong, but she may get a strong urge to try the more hardcore parelli stuff which looks like will lead to a head shy horse. Just my input but entirely up to you :)
 
Oh, don't get me wrong I will tell her if I'm not happy but was perhaps more wondering whether there were any 'unseen' differences between the way she in lunging and the way I would lunge etc.

I'm finding it hard as I know so little about it all . .

I don't think I'm making myself clear really :( maybe I should get sleep as I'm not making a huge amount on sense!
 
I would also properly look into anything that was being used on my horses, if you don't know why she is doing something or what the difference is, I would find out. :)
 
galaxy23 said:
Parelli aside....

If you are uncomfortable with someone doing something with YOUR horse, then you either tell them not to do it (at least when you're not present) or if you can't trust them not to, don't let them do your horse.

I would tell her that you didn't want her playing any "games" with your horsewhen you're not present. But she is welcome to handle/ride them in a more conventional way.[/QUOTE

^^^^^^ what she said :D
there are two types of nh people, the ones who are really good and use common sense and nh
and the other type who are so blinkered that their way is the only way and will do things in a certain way regardless if it suits the horse or not. we all know that what works for one horse might not work for another but they can't see that.
You have to decide which she is.
I would be saying not to be playing games though when you aren't there.
Click to expand...
 
Another Parelli aside...

I wouldn't be happy someone lunging either of my youngsters without using any voice aids - sounds very confusing for a horse still learning :(

I feel that day to day handling they benefit from more than one handling them but for actual learning consistency is the key and introducing another method for the same effect is just confusing :(
 
Inky_and_Sunny said:
Another Parelli aside...

I wouldn't be happy someone lunging either of my youngsters without using any voice aids - sounds very confusing for a horse still learning :(

I feel that day to day handling they benefit from more than one handling them but for actual learning consistency is the key and introducing another method for the same effect is just confusing :(
Click to expand...

Apologies for not making myself clear - she's not lunged my baby - just my 2 older ponies.

I think I'm going to have to learn a bit more about it and then see her where it goes from there but no riding / schooling while I'm not there for the moment. . .
 
There are varying degrees of horse people, those that are very good and learn from their mistakes all the way to those that blindly follow and don't learn. Natural horsemanship can be great in the right hands, as can classical training, but both can be darn awful in the wrong hands. It all depends on the person doing it.
 
If she "lunges" your horses the Parelli way, she will be "playing the circling game". The end of that game is to "chase the hind end" so that the horse turns to face her. A lot of people want their horses to stay facing forward when they are halted on the lunge, not turn to face.
Personally, and this is an ex Parelli person speaking, I would not allow anyone to use the 12ft lines with the big clips on my horse. I know how that clip can get used in Parelli training, particularly in the Yo Yo game, it's not necessary and maybe you wouldn't want it to happen to your horse.
I think the most important reason for you to not allow her to "do" Parelli with your horses is that you aren't planning to do the same. So she will be teaching your horses things, they will learn certain responses, and you will sometimes not understand what is happening. Take an example - I don't want people to pat my horses on the rump, because that is a cue to move away. Another example is leading, if anyone takes hold of my horses close up under the chin (ie leads them the BHS recommended way), my horses tend to start to back up. That's because that is what they think they are being asked to do.
Feel free to pm me if you want to discuss in more detail. I try to avoid saying much on Parelli threads because they all end up reading the same and I get this dizzy feeling, rather like being in a revolving door.
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Tiny Pony is right. The responses taught in Parelli are different from the responses taught conventionally. Even the interaction of horse and handler is slightly different. That can be confusing to both horse and owner.

A freind played some parelli games with my daughter and her pony who can be a bit strong if she is leading - he's a big cob type, she is a slight 11yr old. Sadly it ended in disaster with both horse and rider seriously frightened. It took a long time to re-build thier relationship.

There are good parelli people and bad ones. Just as there are good nh people, and good horse people etc. But it is a different style of training, teaching different responses. Personally I would say no.
 
The object of 'Parelli' is to build a bond between a horse and its human. It's about that specific partnership, and the mutual respect and trust between the two. For that reason alone, I would say no to anyone else 'trying out' Parelli on my horse.
 
9tails said:
There are varying degrees of horse people, those that are very good and learn from their mistakes all the way to those that blindly follow and don't learn. Natural horsemanship can be great in the right hands, as can classical training, but both can be darn awful in the wrong hands. It all depends on the person doing it.
Click to expand...

Exactly:D

Should add though that anything in the wrong hands is detrimental from bits to gadjets to rugs etc etc etc ...................... You have to trust the person handling your horses
 
They are your horses and should be trained how you wish. if you have reservations then dont let her. damage can be done very quickly- horses learn good and bad through repetition and it doesnt take long to learn something.
 
I have to say that I agree with the majority of folk who have said not to allow anyone to teach Parelli to your horse.

Your horse should only be introduced to Natural Horsemanship if you, yourself are interested and committed.

It really isn't fair to the horse to be managed in both a Natural way and a Conventional way, as the confusion would be total.

Obviously there is an awful lot on Youtube where Natural Horsemanship is featured, not just by the Parelli's but numerous other trainers, like Silversand and Quantum Savvey as well as others which is worth looking at if you are at all interested.

Lots of people try Natural Horsemanship and just don't get it, others take to it and have success with it.

Whatever you choose its only fair that the horse should be treated consistently, either one way or the other.
 
suzi said:
Ok - I have seen some of the debates on here before and know that many are not fans of Parelli (putting it mildly). I have no intention of starting this debate again and I share most of your feelings but I do have a question.

One of the girls who rides my horses occasionally also rides for someone else. This someone else does a lot of Parelli and has sent her on courses etc.

She wanted to try some bits with my horses and I said yes if I could watch what she was doing (ready to step in and stop her!!!!!).

The Connie and the New Forest she seemed to lunge but with the halter thing whereas I would use a lunge cavesson and she had their whip whereas I would hold a lunge whip. Apart from this she seemed to lunge in a similar manner to me but without really using her voice.

I also have a 2 year old and she just seemed to be messing about with him touching his side etc (good as he was barely handled until he was 18 months old) and that was about it.

She also played 'games' with them getting them to follow her.

I'm not that knowledgeable on the subject and I haven't held what I do know in very high regard.

My concern is that this girl (now it's winter) will be coming to ride before I finish work so I can't watch and I know that the other person she has been riding for wants her to go on another course.

What should I do? I trust her with looking after them / riding them etc but am concerned that the Parelli stuff might progress to something that I am not happy about.

She knows that I am skeptical to say the least but is adament that it works - we had a debate about the 'Catwalk' issue and she says that she has never seen anything like this on her courses etc.

How is it likely to progress, is there any 'damage' to be done by her continuing to do what she has been doing with my horses and where would your concerns lie??

Maybe I'm just being daft but I just have reservations about the whole thing!?!?!

Hot chocolate and cookies for everyone who has got this far.

Sensible replies please - I don't want to be responsible for another Parelli rant!!
Click to expand...

I'd just tell her you don't want her to use ANYTHING she has learned on your horses, personally I think if she is handling them in one way and you another it will confuse them
 
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